From Dull to Bright and Interesting

For September’s class lesson would be applying gold leaf to any kind of container:  bamboo, cardboard tubes, ceramic … your choice.  So, I was looking for my container collection, I eyed this dull, rounded black basket, I thought I could make it to look more attractive just applying gold leaf to the color black, it would pop the whole thing!  Hata Sensei said that my design and arrangement were all good!

Rearranged at home, I think it’s better

Do you like my gold leaf design on basket?

back view 

Gold dust on philodendron 

September’s First Class Lesson - Apply Gold Leaf to Create a New Look Container

I ordered my gold leaf from Amazon, 100 sheets for six dollars only. Hata Sensei showed us how to apply gold leaf to the container you brought in and arrange in it, using your own materials. 

Here were some of our classmates’ arrangements: different containers and different gold leaf designs.  (9/16/2025)

Sensei made the wood structured container and showed us how to 
apply gold leaf on it (using any suitable kind of brushes)

Apply gold leaf to my round basket container to be looked
more unique and beautiful 

Embrace the Fading Day of Summer

Summer has flown by and all the activities are starting this month; our MainLine Branch, it’s first class of the new season will be in September 16, I thought I would like to use the container that my brother gave me, but the subject of the class lesson is something different than usual! It will be applying gold leaf to any kind of containers to challenge your creativity!  But I really want to make an arrangement using this new container, so here comes the title “Embrace the Fading Day of Summer”. 

Hydrangeas, lily seed pods, dried wood 

And Philodendron 

Different angle

Side view 

Back view 

Two Containers - The Gift from My Brother

My youngest brother who is a dentist, practicing in Kwansi our hometown. Occasionally he will voluntarily provide free dental treatment to the aboriginal communities in remote areas.  Besides, his hobby is fencing; recently, he represented Taiwan in an international competition in Tokyo, Japan, and won silver medal in the senior group. I am so proud of him! 

Ceramic vase, he loves to give me for Ikebana 

Other side of the vase

Another gift bamboo tall vase

Late Summer - Free Style

I have not done Ikebana for the entire month of August, because I have still immersed myself in writing my “Taiwan Trip” blog while the memory is still fresh.  But I would like to start doing Ikebana today, the materials are readily available! I make it effortlessly and named “Late Summer” arrangement.  Using hydrangea, philodendron and painted mitsumata / basket   (7/7/2025)

Another Chapter of my life

We have been home from our Taiwan trip for about three weeks now. Everything is back to normal. Up to this point I should focus on moving to our new house, that’s because my children would like us to live nearby, close to them and surrounded by grandchildren, it should do a lot of good for us physically and mentally, especially for my husband’s early stage dementia.  I have been gradually accepting this moving idea for a year. I think it will be my final chapter of my life!  (9/3/2025)

Below is my one last time to visit my brothers and see the house of my childhood during Taiwan Trip. Please google “ Shude Hospital, Guanxi - Historic clinic or Heritage building in Guanxi, Taiwan 関西樹德醫院”

My birth home. My father was a physician, he built this house 
in 1936. Western and Japanese touch construction. It’s a historic 
site and landmark building now. My brothers are still practicing 
medicine and dentistry here. 

Other side of the house 

My husband’s hometown elementary school 

School closed for summer vacation 

The stairs become learning places, English to Hakka