21st December, 2020

 

Hello all,

'Tis the season' and all that. Hence my arrangement, above. The vase is a recent op shop find which turned out to be quite a treasure. I was attracted to the colour and the almost metallic patina but, on closer inspection, I discovered it is actually lacquerware and of quite high quality. The base is about 10 cm thick, presumably to provide the weight for stability. Anyway, I was delighted with it and enjoyed using it for this Christmas arrangement. I used calla lilies and alstroemeria psittacina and the sprayed leaves are strelitzia.

Last  Wednesday we had a much anticipated lesson after so many months without. We were a small but happy group with everyone keen to get stuck into the creativity that is ikebana. Our theme was an obvious one - a Celebratory arrangement. It gives me enormous pleasure to include the work of my students. Please bear in mind that some of them are still studying the curriculum and freestyle work is challenging. But, the important thing was to have a go and enjoy it.

Wendy Sun, bamboo, pine and geranium

Nicole McDonald - cedar, kangaroo paw
and sprayed weeping willow

Dianne Longley - Siberian Dogwood, David Austen roses and agapanthus

Jenny Loo - Gypsophila, celocia and bamboo sticks
sprayed white

'...And a partridge in a pear tree....'
Mine -Pear branches, hydrangea quercifolia and
strelitzia reginae

Lucy Papas- Cedar, Hydrangeas, agapanthus and sprayed
strelitzia leaves

Vicky Kalokathis - Cypress, altissimo roses and net

Shaneen Garbutt wanted to do some revision to finish off book 3.

With leaves only - Canna lily leaves, cordelines
and aspidistra

Vertical Arrangement- Umbrella
grass and alstroemeria

This next photo is of a large arrangement sitting under the staircase at the entry of the house.

Cedar, hydrangeas, agapanthus and
mizuhiki

When our lesson was over we moved to the balcony, where the table was set for a sumptuous lunch, to which everyone contributed. And a good time was had by all!

I'd like to wish you all a very happy festive season and, most importantly, a safe and healthy one.

You'll notice that I did not once bring up Covid but I will now by giving a big shout out to all the scientists around the world, who have performed nothing short of a miracle in coming up with vaccines so quickly. All strength to their arm.

Bye for now,

Emily