At last month's Ikebana International meeting I won a bunch of gypsophila in the raffle. I don't use this material very often so I welcomed the opportunity to have a play with it but I didn't have the time to come up with some creative way of using it. So, I used the large bunch in a mass and line arrangement. The thick, branch is of tortuous willow, from which I removed the bark, then sprayed black. The camellias are Kamo-hon-ami.

Last Saturday our Sogetsu group had a special workshop with a guest presenter - Elin Dahlin from Stockholm, Sweden. Elin set us the theme 'Sculptural Arrangement using a combination of Vegetables/Fruit' and 'Unconventional Materials'. We were to bring containers and the unconventional materials. The fruit and vegetables were to be provided. We each received a combination of fruit and vegetables with which to work and it was up to us to decide how much or how little to use.

I chose to make a more sculptural piece using some flashing material and added two cherry tomatoes and two small, yellow capsicums. I chose the ceramic container for its metallic  patina.

Having finished early and at Elin's suggestion, I made another arrangement, using some of my leftover materials and a container I had brought along for choice. My unconventional material was a ribbon made of metal mesh. I used a custard apple, cherry tomatoes and a green chilli, which, by the way, is not resting on the rim of the container.

Christopher will, in due course, post details and photographs of the workshop in our blog Sogetsu Ikebana Victoria.

Below are a few arrangements I made just because I had the materials in my garden and couldn't bear not to use them.

Wall arrangement with leucadendrons

Original Arrangement, Magnolia soulangeana, cymbidium orchid and port st John creeper leaves

One day later

Japanese flowering quince (Chaenomeles japonica) and camelia

Contorted hazel (Corylus avellana 'Contorta') and arum lilies in self made container

I'd like to share with you the process of making my next, simple looking arrangement. I've been watching my prunus elvins as it came into bud and is about explode with blossoms. I found an interesting branch and removed subordinate stems leaving the strong angle and just two finer stems with flowers. I chose a container that, I thought, would be suitable.

The container is too narrow for a kenzan to fit and hold up the branch, so I had to come up with a different fixing device. I cut a strip of bamboo the length of the container. I chose bamboo because it is strong as well as flat and screwed it onto the branch.

Imagine my chagrin when I realised my mistake. The opening of the container was too small for the bamboo strip to fit through. 

On to plan B. I unscrewed the bamboo and replaced it with a much narrower one, which had some bend to it. It took some effort to bend it and get it inside but I managed it.

The branch held securely and I, now, needed to find a suitable flower to go with it. I picked two arum lilies, which I had manipulated to create curves. I figured one of them would do but, no, they were both unsuitable. One of them faced downwards and the other towards the back.

On to plan C. I looked for camellia stems with some angle or curve to suit my branch. The first one I tried failed miserably. 

And on to plan D. This time a much more careful selection of a camellia stem. Trimming off superfluous leaves and stems, it was looking good. Now, how to secure it without a kenzan. My trusty screw driver was on hand and I screwed the camellia stem to the prunus stem. Finally, I dusted the  cut edges with dark eye shadow to take away the rawness of them.

....and the final result -

I should point out that the camellia sits forward, in front of the prunus.

Bye for now,

Emily