26th Jun, 2023

 

Hello all,

For class last week I had set a particularly challenging, combination theme. I hadn't realised quite how challenging it was until I attempted it myself. We were to make an arrangement 'In a Tsubo Vase' but, also, 'Emphasising Lines at the Base'. Ordinarily, Lines at the base is simple enough when using a kenzan, however, a kenzan is not used in a tsubo vase arrangement. Instead we use a number of different mechanics and we rely on resting one or more stems on the rim of the container. In this situation, we could not use a kenzan and we could not rest the stems on the rim. It made the exercise quite difficult. In fact, I don't think I ever heard as many expletives during class as I did on that day.

In my arrangement, above, I employed two parallel, horizontal fixtures, one higher than the other. I, then, split the lower part of my main stem of Japanese flowering apricot (Prunus mume) and fitted it over the top horizontal fixture and then rested one split half behind the lower fixture, thus holding the branch upright. I was able to work the rest of the materials around the main branch.

Nicole used camellia stems and crucifix orchids in a ceramic vase.

Jenny used bare magnolia branches, arum lilies and Dutch iris in a large ceramic vase.

Lucy's camellia stems had a slanting habit and needed to be arranged that way. She managed to achieve that without resorting to resting on the rim of the container. She followed the same line with the arum lily.

Vicky, after considerable struggle, created an elegant arrangement using Siberian dogwood (cornus Siberica alba) and gladioli in a ceramic vase.

Shaneen had the dubious honour of making the Japanese Narcissus arrangement in Book 5, which requires us to remove a small sheath at the bottom of the stem of jonquils or narcissus, rearranging the leaves and flower and, then, refitting the sheath back. It's a tedious process but Shaneen managed it and then arranged the materials in a vase with many holes. She added a little accent with a sprig of money tree (Crassula ovata).

Wendy's curriculum exercise was 'Simplified Arrangement', where we trim our material down to its very basic elements. She used a single stem of Pincushion Hakea (Hakea Laurina) and removed all but one flower, one leaf and one seed pod.

 

Having finished rather quickly, Wendy made another, smaller arrangement and placed the two together.

Lei's lesson was from Book 5 - Tate-no-soeji-dome - Vertical type fixture. She used holly (Ilex aquifolium) and Chinese lantern plant (Abutilon) in a ceramic container.

Bye for now,

Emily