Journal archive
November 20, 2011
The Bradford pear branches are in full color today, so I clipped some on my walk today. I’ve waited for the leaves to turn, and the cold weather earlier in the week helped speed that process along. The arrangement is done in two containers, both designs relate to each other to form one arrangement. I […]
Read story →November 19, 2011
The rust/red chrysanthemums were so beautiful that I decided to use them again to create a different design. This vertical composition with the chrysanthemums also has akebia vine and dried aspidistra leaves. The rule for a vertical compostion is that the movement of the design must continue upward, lines can be straight, vurved, zig zag, […]
Read story →November 18, 2011
Hooray! I think that I have my groove back, today’s ikebana arrangement seems to confirm that too. Manipulated curly willow branches and rust/red chrysanthemums were used to make this fall nagiere. This is what an arrangement with chrysanthemums should look like. Only a few were needed, and there is some interesting negative space created with […]
Read story →November 17, 2011
The first frost of the season is coming tonight, the temperatures have been dropping all afternoon. The chrysanthemums were in bloom and I wanted to use them before they were gone. I’m not so sure about this mass of flowers, maybe a bit too symetrical for me. But I did promise that I would show […]
Read story →November 15, 2011
A freestyle arrangement today, with the fruit “hand of Buddah” and locally grown red tulips. The hand of Buddah is actually lemon, which I spotted in the grocery store with two others. I don’t see them often but I grab one if I do. Truly a special visual treat,and this time I might even try […]
Read story →November 14, 2011
Intersecting lines of burgundy wheat celosia and ligustrum, both have nice slight natural curves that are flowing in opposite directions. They are a few more of the flowers and branches left in the garden. It’s mid November and the temperature today was 73 degrees(and I won’t even mention global warming). This arrangement was just another […]
Read story →November 13, 2011
One leaf, one flower. Such a simple concept, right? Well yes and no, it can come together with little difficulty or be a struggle. The first photo is one I had done a few weeks ago, orange zinnia and a Japanese butterbur leaf. The combination of the two and the container worked quite well and […]
Read story →November 12, 2011
One of the lessons in the old Sogetsu textbook inspired me today, using wood without a container. It’s mean to be more of a sculptural design lesson, and stresses making the piece stand on it’s own. I had a few scrap pieces of curly willow that I have been saving for a while, perfect oppportunity […]
Read story →November 11, 2011
Today one of my friends gave me a small ikebana vase, the small kind that potters make with the kenzan already inside. I’ve sure many of you have seen them, and they are cute but not an easy thing to work with. I did try my best tonight to make this piece, and i relaly […]
Read story →November 10, 2011
Heliconia and kiwi vine made a chilly day brighter and seem just a little bit warmer. Maybe the fact that I was daydreaming about a trip to a tropical climate helped things too. My first verson of the arrangement was more vertical, not bad but just not working for me. I thought it would look […]
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