24TH FEBRUARY, 2025

 

Hello all,

Last week we had our first Sogetsu meeting and workshop, which was conducted by Aileen Duke. The theme was 'Working with Aspidistra Leaves'.  My arrangement, above, was made by attaching wire on the underside of each aspidistra leaf, using double sided sticky tape, and then bending them into shape. I kept the look monochromatic, using leek flowers and squiggly grass.

I had missed the part of the instructions which stated that we were to use a combination of fresh and dried leaves, so I only brought fresh leaves to the workshop. After realizing my mistake I added a partially dried leaf provided by Aileen. However, I didn't like the result and removed it when I brought the arrangement home.

Please go to Sogestu Victoria for photographs of Aileen's demonstration pieces as well as those of the members.

I have a large pot in which I grew leeks and left them to go to seed. I did, however, manipulate them whilst they were growing to create interesting curves to the stems. I made one arrangement with two of the flowers four weeks ago and it still looks as good as when I first made it. I wanted to use the rest before they die. I had the glass vase with the black wire waiting to be put away, after the previous arrangement had died, so rather than look for other containers, I chose this one. Then I had the challenge of not showing the stems in the glass. The black wire came in handy both for covering the unattractive stems as well as some support for the flowers.

 And now to class. It's always a good idea at the beginning to each year to go back to basics. I set the lesson 'Variation No 8 - Moribana and Nageire'. This meant that the students had to make two basic arrangements, one moribana and one nageire, then place them close together to create one arrangement.

My example, below, is of Variation no. 4 slanting style nageire, reversed and Basic Upright moribana. I used crabapples, agapanthus, camelia and hydrangea. The colour of the containers is the linking element.

Lucy used Chinese privet (Ligistrum sinense) and liliums. Her arrangements were Variation No 4 slanting style moribana, reversed and Variation No 4 hanging style nageire. The yellow lilies are the linking element.

Jenny's arrangements were Variation No 4 slanting style moribana and Variation No. nageire, reversed. Her materials were crepe myrtle with seeds, Japanese maple and roses as the connecting element.

Nicole used the same materials for both arrangements - Hawthorn berries and leucadendrons.

She made a Basic slanting nageire and a Variation No. 1 slanting style moribana, reversed.

Cymbie made two Variation No. 4 upright arrangements, using American pokeweed (Phytolacca americana), Star of Bethlehem Plant (Ornithogulum saundersiae) and Globe Thistles (Echinops Ritro).

Vicky, true to form, made an extra tall arrangement - Variation No. 3 Upright style nageire and Variation No. 4 Slanting Style moribana. For both arrangements Vicky used quince branches and marigolds.

Mary used camellia and Japanese maple branches and lisianthus. She made a Basic Upright moribana and Variation No. 4 Slanting style nageire, reversed.

Lei's lesson was to 'Arrange from Behind, moribana'. She chose Basic Upright and when she completed her demonstration, I suggested she make a nageire arrangement to make it into a Variation No. 8, thus joining the advanced students. I supplied her with a Japanese maple branch, which she used to create a Variation No. 4 Slanting style nageire, reversed. 

Wendy has just started Book 5 and her first lesson was 'Seasonal Materials'. In this lesson we are required to use materials that are only available in the current season. Wendy used crepe myrtle with flowers and seeds, hydrangeas changing into their autumnal colours and crabapples. She used two, recently acquired containers.

Bye for now,

Emily