Supplementary post

 

Hello all,

When I published my post last night, I forgot to add the information, below. I had added it as an update but, those of you who subscribe to my blog, will not receive it. Hence this supplementary post. My apologies to those who will receive it twice.

I'd like to let you all know that due to unforeseen circumstances, Sam and I have decided to bring forward our plans to downsize. This decision is a particularly difficult one for me as we have loved living in this house that we built ourselves and the garden that I have developed for 32 years. I fear my ikebana will suffer greatly without the resource that is my garden.

So, enough with the sop story. In order to prepare the house for sale, we need to do some decluttering, in particular of our storerooms. To that end, I have notified the ikebana community that I will be selling some of my ikebana 'stuff'. This will include a huge number of dried materials, unconventional materials, ikebana containers and some other odds and ends. In the interest of full disclosure, I will not be selling my best containers, as I will continue to teach and run this blog but there will be quite a few to choose from.

I will also be selling some of my better clothes that, sadly, no longer fit me. They will all be sized 12.

This event will take place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th June from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm. If anyone wishes to attend but does not have my address, you can email me and I will give it to you.

Bye for now,

Emily

PINWHEELS AND MORE

 

Hello all,

 Nature did all the work in creating the shape of the mahonia in the arrangement, above. All I had to do was trim it right back, removing leaves and leaving only the ones that create the pinwheel effect. The tall, thin, stainless steel vase was perfect to showcase the shape and the hydrangeas add the floral accent.

Inspired by the shape of the mahonia, I reused a piece of dry Japanese maple that came from a large, standard tree, which has died. This time I used it in a wall arrangement and added hydrangeas and cotoneaster berry branches.

Autumn in Melbourne is truly glorious. Below are two views of my persimmon (diospyros kaki 'Fuyu').

This is just a small example of northern hemisphere trees changing colour. My back garden is flanked by a mature golden elm on one side and four, mature English elms on the other. They are all in their autumnal colours and the effect is extraordinary.

Can't get enough of autumnal arrangements. Admittedly the foliage does not last very long in this state, requiring frequent replacements. 

Possums, or maybe rats, have defoliated my entire smoke bush (cotinus 'grace'). A few leaves have survived at the very tips of the bush. If you look closely at the branch in my arrangement, below, you'll see the partially eaten leaves at the top.

My sister-in-law, Toula had given me lots of chrysanthemum seedling a couple of years ago, which I planted and which are going gang busters. They have extremely long but thin stems, which are not able to hold up the heavy clusters of flowers. I staked them in the early stages of growth but, then, forgot about them so they created long curved stems with the heavy flowers resting at the top of the pots. I was determined to find a way to use them in ikebana and, below is the best I could do. I hasten to add that the stems were much longer and had to be trimmed back.

And here's a simplified arrangement using a pomegranate in the same container.

The fruit in the next arrangement is an astringent persimmon. The one and only fruit produced by this tree this season.

Mary's class theme was 'In a suiban without a kenzan'. She used viburnum opulus branches, one strelitzia leaf and Dutch iris in a ceramic suiban.

Before I sign off, I'd like to let you know that due to unforeseen circumstances, Sam and I have decided to bring forward our plans to downsize. This decision is a particularly difficult one for me as we have loved living in this house that we built and the garden that I have developed for 32 years. I fear my ikebana will suffer greatly without the resource that is my garden.

So, enough with the sop story. In order to prepare the house for sale, we need to do some decluttering, in particular of our storerooms. To that end, I have notified the ikebana community that I will be selling some of my ikebana 'stuff'. This will include a huge number of dried materials, unconventional materials, ikebana containers and some other odds and ends. In the interest of full disclosure, I will not be selling my best containers, as I will continue to teach and run this blog but there will be quite a few to choose from.

I will also be selling some of my better clothes that, sadly, no longer fit me. They will all be sized 12.

This event will take place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th June from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm. If anyone wishes to attend but does not have my address, you can email me and I will give it to you.

Bye for now,

Emily

22nd May, 2023

 

Hello all,

The Sogetsu workshop last week was presented by Lara Telford who set the theme 'Ikebana Incorporating Wood'. We were to avoid using branch material but, rather, driftwood, old, weathered wood etc.

Mine is the arrangement, above. There are two pieces of weathered wood joined together, resting on the ceramic container I found the larger of the two pieces in a ditch, covered with mud in the early days of my ikebana journey. It was at a time when I had little in the way of materials and containers, so, I was ecstatic at finding this piece. I took it home and cleaned it, then, after it dried, I sprayed it with a clear, mat spray to protect it. I used some of my pomegranates, two of which had split open revealing the jewel-like seeds. To the back I added hydrangeas in their autumnal colours. The large board adds a certain formality to the arrangement. 

Lucy's arrangement, below, was made up of a thick stump cut vertically and the two halves placed on a board. She emphasised the 'chasm' between the two pieces by placing a camellia through it, with its stem in a small, round vase at the other end.

For photographs of arrangements by Lara and the other members, please click on Sogetsu Victoria and then on Recent Workshops.

For class last week the senior students were to make an autumnal arrangement in a tsubo vase. I always make an arrangement of the theme I set for the class. I like to show them an example but, also, I need to keep practicing and challenging myself.

In my arrangement, below, the method that I used for fixing the magnolia branches was 'Yoko-ichimonji-dome' (Horizontal single-bar fixture). I used orange and yellow chrysanthemums and a stem of amaranthus'

Nicole used crepe myrtle and viburnum opulus branches, which she split and fitted into each other. She finished the arrangement with hydrangeas.

Cym borrowed my tsubo vase made of stone (I think it's travertine) and used viburnum plicatum tomentosum branches, chrysanthemums and pomegranates.

Lucy used a tsubo vase in a vibrant blue colour, which contrasted well with the warm, autumnal colours of the persimmon branches and the orange chrysanthemums. She added a third element towards the back with the Japanese anemone seed heads.

Mary's lesson was from Book 5 - 'Jumonji-dome' (Cross bar fixture). She used viburnum opulus branches and disbud chrysanthemums in a ceramic vase.

Dianne's lesson was 'Colour of the Container'. She used a ceramic suiban in a bricky-red colour which was picked up by the flower buds of the Laurustinus branches. The pink kaffir lily (Schizostylis Plant) also had a reddish colour in the centre of each flower. Dianne based her arrangement, loosely on Variation No. 4 - slanting style.

Lei's lesson was 'Focusing on the uses of Water' She used fatsia leaves trimmed and three hydrangeas. She kept the arrangement low and hovering over the suiban container, bringing the focus onto the water.

Wendy' lesson was 'A variety of materials'. This is a challenging exercise, often looking crowded or messy. Not so with Wendy's arrangement. She kept to a pastel palette and created both space and movement with curved materials. I don't know the name of the dry material but the others were Dutch iris, snapdragons, chrysanthemums and salvias. She used pebbles to cover the kenzan.

Bye for now,

Emily

MASTERCLASS # 15 - POMEGRANATES

 

Hello all,

For Saturday's masterclass I provided all the attendees with pomegranates from my small tree, which was quite prolific this year. I, then, gave them different dried materials from my hoard in the storeroom and some, other fresh material. They were to choose their own container which had to be heavy enough to carry the weight of the pomegranates.

As there were two students absent, I took one lot of materials, which comprised of dried palm inflorescence, pomegranates and variegated New Zealand flax and created the arrangement above. I should point out that the dried piece is not touching the tabletop but hovering just above it.

Christine had an unnamed piece of dried material, pomegranates and two monstera deliciosa leaves. She chose a tall, heavy, nageire container, the colour of which picked up the blush on the fruit. She kept the fruit close to the container (and the centre of gravity) and added interest by featuring the underside of the  large monstera leaf.

Vicky had a bunch of dried corky elm, pomegranates and a hanging amaranthus. She chose a heavy container with a split down the middle. She, wisely, avoided filling the gap made by the split.

Having finished early, Vicky, then, picked up the materials which were for the second absent person and made another arrangement. This time she had a large, dry palm inflorescence, pomegranates and aspidistra leaves. Vicky managed to balance the heavy materials onto the strong, stone container and softened the harshness of the dried materials by draping two aspidistra leaves over it.

Cym had a large branch of dried, contorted hazel (Corylus avellana contorta), pomegranates and hydrangeas. She chose a large, donut shaped container with three holes. She arranged the contorted hazel around and through the container and added the pomegranates through the top hole. She, then, placed one hydrangea to the side of the hole, allowing some space on the left.

With some left over fruit I made a couple of arrangements. I don't think they need much explanation. I call the first one 'The Kiss'.

Mary's class theme this week was 'Green Materials Only'. She used keffir limes, spent Japanese anemones and one New Zealand flax.

Bye for now,

Emily

8th May, 2023

 

Hello all,

So I had a milestone birthday last week and, no, I'm not going to tell you which one. 

My family pulled out all the stops to give me a fabulous celebration. A High Tea was held at my daughter's and son-in-law's place with the assistance of the rest of the family. Vicky made the most delicious cake, Madeline and Jeannine made a whole lot of restaurant quality cakes, finger food and sandwiches, with Parthena as sous-chef to Madeline. Lucy created the gold crown and officiated over the coronation, with the appropriate pomp and circumstance and Dennis provided old, family videos which he had digitised. The grandchildren greeted the guests and took their bags and coats, took them upstairs and labelled them with the owner's name.

The queen and her consort

Just us girls!
From left - Queen Emily (it has a nice ring to it), princess Madeline, mum, sister Vicky, sister Lucy,
Hermione and Aria

After having overindulged on bubbly and irresistible food, I cut the cake together with cousin, Steve, who was also celebrating a birthday.

We, then, sat around, with belts discreetly loosened, around the large screen TV and enjoyed old family videos. We laughed, we cried and generally had a wonderful time looking back. The most poignant part was seeing loved ones that we have lost. None of us wanted to leave but children needed to get to bed so, reluctantly, we left. I could not have hoped for a happier celebration.

And now to ikebana. Most of the advanced students were absent from the previous class and missed out on workshopping the large yucca leaves. So, I set them the same task with the exception of Vicky, who had done it previously.

My arrangement was still looking fresh, in fact, it improved with the passage of time because the agapanthus started turning yellow as did the tips of the yucca leaves, which now pick up the colour of the lip of the container.

Original

Two weeks later

Lucy challenged herself to make the yucca leaves stand on their own without any support. She balanced them on a tin lid, which she used as a container. She added nandina domestica nana to complete her arrangement.

Jenny used an unusual, ceramic, two coloured container. She created drama with the yucca leaves jutting outwards, but softened the arrangement with the hydrangeas which have changed colour into warm reds and oranges. This is a good example of 'Colour of the Container', where the colour of the materials relate to the colour of the container.

Nicole bent the leaves creating a dramatic arrangement in a ceramic tsubo vase. She, too, added nandina domestica nana to complete her arrangement. 

Lei's curriculum lesson was 'Colour of the Container'. she used a bright yellow, glass vase, which she contrasted with purple lisianthus and pink chrysanthemums, allowing the yellow berries to make a subtle connection to the container

Wendy's lesson was 'Using one Kind of Material'. She chose taro, which she used most effectively, including a flower and a spent flower together with the leaves.

Dianne's lesson was 'Colours in Contrast'.She used red dogwood stems (cornus siberica alba) and pink roses which she contrasted with the young green, echinops in a ceramic suiban.

I set Vicky the task of making a nageire arrangement using the technique 'Tate-no-Soegi-dome' - vertical fixture. She used apple branches and yellow chrysanthemums from her garden.

Mary's lesson was 'A Table Arrangement'. She used hydrangea stems just starting to turn colour and deep purple lisianthus in an oval shaped suiban. It's an arrangement that must be kept low so as not to obstruct guests at the table. Also, it will be viewed from all sides and this must be taken into consideration. Mary based her arrangement loosely on Variation No 6 horizontal.

This has been an extra long post and I thank you for making it to the end.

Bye for now,

Emily

1st May, 2023

 

Hello all,

My Kamo-Hon-ami camellia always began flowering in April. This year, along with all other flowers in the garden, it is about three weeks late. A weather issue, obviously but I was delighted to find two opened flowers this morning.

A few weeks ago, my student Mary Sutherland gave me a bunch of gorgeous, dark purple lisianthus. They had a somewhat droopy habit and were a challenge to arrange. I settled on a tall, black vase and added this orange, metal objet d'art (for want of a better word).

The object sat well on top of the vase but was so heavy that I felt it could do with some securing. I utilised the lip on the inside of the vase to secure a horizontal fixture, to which I wired the metal.

My clematis had been all but destroyed by someone who  did some gardening for me. So, imagine my delight when Sam showed me two flowers lying flat on the ground. They had to be picked and arranged immediately.

A single plant of cosmos self seeded this year from last years planting. It fell to the ground and the flowers were facing sideways. Arranging it was a challenge. I needed a tall vase so the flowers could hang down. This metal one was just right. Then I needed accompanying material to go with it. I wondered around the garden for a while before settling on the geranium.

My wisteria is hell bent on climbing the nearby trees. I'm constantly removing vines from the trees. The piece that is in the wall arrangement, below, was wound around the trunk of my gingko biloba. I had to climb a ladder to unwind it so that I could use it. I didn't have the heart to cut it, so I let it hang almost to the ground. I added a couple of amaranthus and orange/gold chrysanthemums.

A stunningly beautiful, yellow nerine (lycoris aurea) appeared in a pot that looked like it held only soil. It was so pretty that it just needed to be put in a vase. Still, I looked for some greenery to put with it. I trimmed a mahonia stem leaving only two leaves 'hugging' the flower.

Closeup of nerine 

The palm frond, below, is very long lasting. This is the third time I've used it in an arrangement. I'm fond of this container but it is quite a challenge to balance the materials so that they don't fall forward or backward. I bent the stem of the frond to go into the container and reach the water and wired it to a horizontal fixture. I, then, wired the two agapanthus stems together and attached a horizontal fixture to them also. The end result is a simple arrangement with complicated mechanics.

My agapanthus are lovely when in flower but deadheading them is quite a chore. This year I employed a couple of strong men who completed the job in under an hour. We discarded the straight stemmed flowers but I kept some of the curved ones - always fun to play with.

Bye for now,

Emily