Freestyle Using Mitsumata

June was a busy month! My last arrangement in June for my own pleasure was freestyle using two main materials; Mitsumata and painted allium which were just sitting in the Ikebana room, the rest of the other materials were easy to find from my garden. They were hydrangeas (two kinds) and Stokes Aster. (6/27/2024) 

Arrangement with Bamboo Mat

I have been playing and trying to make an arrangement with bamboo mat (or sheet), for the purpose of future workshop. See below: I used two kinds of containers, ceramic vase and suiban. 

Hydrangea, Solomon seal and dried palm (6/24)

Using leftover mums, feverfew and Mitsumata

Friends Remembering Friends

June/18/2024 was the last class of the season. It was a lovely ending to our year of ikebana with so many memories of friends who are no longer with us. Our arrangements were expressions of what ikebana means to each of us, and sharing the memories of our friends in Ikebana. We all had a wonderful and meaningful time!  

My arrangement was an expression of my memory to a friend who was always dear to me in the class room. I would like to use her wood structure which I owned through raffles during her memorial service two years ago. I missed her!

The wood structure was made by Midori Sensei 

The back view 

My first attempted design 

Feverfew and Blue Crystal Bowl

Actually, feverfew is an herb; you can make tea from it, fresh or dried. It has been called “medieval aspirin” or aspirin of the 18th century.” Feverfew is used mostly to treat headaches. Do you believe it or not?!

The Purple Japanese Iris

The yellow and white Japanese irises are gone, only few purple Japanese irises remaining. But tiny white “feverfew” flowers are just starting to bloom, which are spreading a lot more this year. I think they are an invasive plant! (6/1/2024)