Hello all,

Over the years I have received a number of requests or suggestions to write a book. I didn't give this much consideration because I don't think any publisher would consider an Ikebana book by a relative unknown, financially viable. 

However, my most recent such request from a lovely lady in South Australia included a suggestion of a series of instructional videos, to which people could log in and watch. This is doable. I would like to ask for your feedback on the idea and an indication of whether you would be interested in watching such videos. Of course, there would be a fee but I haven't figured out what that would be or how it would be implemented.

Before I put in all the work required, I would like to have some idea of the number of people that might be interested. Please be assured that I am not asking for a commitment, merely a show of interest. Feel free to email me on emilykara@optusnet.com.au with any questions, suggestions and, hopefully, a show of interest.

OK. So back to ikebana. In my previous Wednesday class I had set a double theme for the advanced students - 'Shape of the Container' and 'Colour of the Container'. 

Mine is the example at the top of this post. The colour of the metal container is slightly changed with  the reflection of the surface but it blends with the smoke bush (cotinus Grace). The colours of the Louisiana Iris and the variegated cordyline also tone in with the brown colour of the smoke bush. The shape of the smoke bush flower repeats the shape of the vase.

Nicole used a deep purple coloured, glass vase for her arrangement, below. She used dried weeping willow sprayed white to complement the curve of her vase and vibrant pink crucifix orchids to tone in with the colour of the vase.

Jenny used silver birch branches inside and outside of her vase, which has a pattern of thin branches at the front. Her white roses reflected the colour of her vase.

Vicky chose to complement the shape of her container but to contrast the colour. She used kiwi vine to create a loop extending away from the container and placed a green goddess lily in the space created. Another green goddess and a sprig of alstroemeria close to the mouth of the container, completed the arrangement.

Wendy had a lot of fun creating miniature arrangements, which she placed on an irregularly shaped board made of Huon pine.

Often, during class, a student will finish her arrangement early and will be sitting idle. I usually encourage her to make another arrangement for which materials from my garden can be accessed. Below are three such examples.

Below is Vicky's second arrangement on the theme. She used a monstera deliciosa leaf which she curled onto itself to repeat the shape of the ceramic container by Graham Wilke. A gymea leaf out of the bucket and some left over alstroemeria flowers and the arrangement was complete.

This particular day, Vicky was quite prolific, making a third arrangement. This time it was just a freestyle, using left over kiwi vine and a strelitzia reginae in a tall vase.

Nicole also made a freestyle arrangement with whatever materials she had left and some roses from my garden.

Below is an arrangement that Lucy put together using only materials she found in my 'bucket' - a gymea leaf and three variegated cordyline leaves.

Bye for now,

Emily