Journal archive
December 9, 2011
Another attempt at “simplified expression”, this time I pared it down to try to get the feel I wanted. It’s close, but still not quite what I wanted. Getting that feeling of simple grace and ease with a few materials is a lot of work and just not that easy. However I have a better […]
Read story →December 8, 2011
Simplified expression is the theme for today’s arrangement, done with evergreens and a white phalaenopsis orchid bloom. I did the arrangement and later on decided to review the textbook and read the description again to get a better feel for it. While the one I did was ok, I need to really be more radical […]
Read story →December 7, 2011
It’s been raining all day here, a record winter rainfall of 3.1 inches fell today. Our average total rain for December is 3.05 inches. Tonight the temperatures are falling steadily and I thought I should use the scented geranium before we get a freeze in the next day or so. This got me thinking about […]
Read story →December 6, 2011
With some of the remaining materials from class last night I made this arrangement, mass and line. I think I would have preferred a longer rose stem to show the line more, but sometimes you have to work with what you have. The mass of course is the evergreens and shorter rose. I had six […]
Read story →December 5, 2011
From my Sogetsu ikebana class tonight, ikebana using only branch material. My sensei brought us branches of dirrerent evergreens and some red and green roses and asked us to choose a lesson from either book 3 or 4 of the Sogetsu textbooks. I choose to use the evergreens to do an arrangement with only branch […]
Read story →December 4, 2011
The theme of holiday ikebana continues today with traditional colors once again. I reused the red branch from yesterday and I added more pine and some white chrysanthemums. Not only are white chrysanthemums elegant and somewhat traditional for the Christmas season, they are long lasting as well. So now I need to think about some […]
Read story →December 3, 2011
This holiday inspired arrangement began with with the phalaenopsis orchids that I used last night, I wanted to make another ikebana arrangement with the white one instead. With the white I also wanted to bring in some traditional red and green Christmas colors. The green glass vase is gorgeous, but it’s hard to use. It’s […]
Read story →December 2, 2011
Phalaenopsis orchids are some of the most beautiful, delicate flowers around. I had several stems to use today, and I started working with the stems trying to mass them. They look great together in a vase, but a little bit harder to try show their sleek lines and try to have mass at the same […]
Read story →December 1, 2011
What do you get when you have no materials to make ikebana? A challenge! I meant to get flowers today, but I had too many other things going on and forgot. So for my arrangement I had to see what I could pull together. I had a nice branch of driftwood that my partner Frederick […]
Read story →November 30, 2011
Once again Buddah’s hand is making an appearance, but this time with some added “fingers” in the form of red peppers. Buddha’s hand or fingered citron(Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis )is very fragrant and is used predominantly by the Chinese and Japanese for perfuming rooms and personal items, such as clothing. The fruit may be given […]
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