Snow White - AKA Xavier

 

Rapunzel - AKA Aria

Hello all,

Last week was Book Week at my grandchildren's school. Most of the children dressed up as a character from a book and, in the afternoon, took part in a parade. I made costumes for Aria and Xavier, something I enjoyed immensely. I went to the school parade, filled with pride for my grandkids. Each grade took turns to walk around the oval. Xavier's grade was last, being grade 6. When he nearly finished the walk, he took a bite from the apple he was carrying and promptly fell down 'unconscious', to resounding applause. Shy and retiring he is not!

At our recent Ikebana International AGM, as is the custom, the 5 heads of schools demonstrated an arrangement each. Please go to II Melbourne for more information and photographs of the 5 arrangements as well as photos of works by members. 

We did not have a theme for our arrangements. The previous day I had been clearing up some of the philodendron patch which is threatening to overtake half my garden. One of the leaves had an interesting curve, perfect for an arrangement for the meeting the following day. I removed the bulk of the leaf, then thinned out what was left to lighten it. I had a long kenzan inside the container but it was not enough to support the heavy leaf. I placed a stick horizontally from the left side of the container and wedged it against the thick stem of the leaf. It worked a treat.

 Below is the side view of the arrangement because the curve of the stem, which is the main feature of the piece, can't be appreciated just from the front view.

In the philodendron patch I found other materials that were, also, suited to ikebana. I treated the leaf in the next arrangement the same way as the one above but, this time, I used two, unripened, philodendron fruit to complete the arrangement.

For class last week I had set a rather challenging exercise for the advanced students. It was a combination of two themes - 'In a Suiban without a Kenzan' and 'With Leaves Only'. I have to admit that we all struggled with our arrangements and some colourful expletives were heard but, in the end, we all managed it and felt a real sense of achievement.

Below is my arrangement. I used New Zealand flax, monstera deliciosa and arum lily leaves in two, triangular suibans. The arum lily leaves I folded and pinned to create a tighter design.

Cym's glossy, purchased leaves had rather short stems so she struggled a bit to get them to balance but she managed it. Three aspidistra leaves added to the design. This arrangement could be viewed from all sides.

Jenny used strelitzia reginae leaves with a couple of pinky coloured flax leaves, which picked up the colour of the spine of the strelitzia leaf.

 Nicole, also, used New Zealand flax, strelitzia reginae leaves and a single, shredded aspidistra leaf.

In a large, round suiban, Vicky used gymea leaves and a single, partly shredded strelitzia reginae leaf.

Lucy used philodendron leaves, which she reduced greatly. She also used a strelitzia reginae leaf from which she removed some segments then added two pinky coloured flax leaves.

Dianne's curriculum theme was 'Composition of Surfaces by Using Leaves'. She used large, variegated flax leaves and Kamo-hon-Ami camellias.

Lei's Curriculum theme was 'Jumonji-dome (Cross bar fixture). She used pine and Geraldton wax, which related beautifully to her ceramic vase.

Wendy's lesson was 'Using both fresh and unconventional materials'. She used polystyrene to create a geometric design, which she placed over a cylindrical vase and added, for the fresh materials, Japanese flowering quince and daffodils. 

Mary's theme was 'Miniature Ikebana'. Always a fun exercise.

Bye for now,

Emily