Orchids

Dec.16, 2010 was last lesson of our Ikebana class . After which ,we had ten people attended the luncheon at Yantze restaurant, saying thanks to our master,for the hard work in the past year . The food was excellent,we really enjoy the gourmet cuisine.
I was inspired by my friend Lynn, who encouraged me to post orchids which I had planted for some years. The top one is White Bridal Yuki x Hawaiian Wedding song "Virgin".

BL.Mem.Bernice Foster. I was surprised, for first time it bloomed three flowers after some years.

Horizontal Composition-New Years arrangement

This is New Year arrangement in Horizontal composition. With no rule as to the ratio between vertical length and the horizontal width for the composition. Use the materials which look beautiful by being horizontally. Keep simple,it gives you a good chance to observe the plants and discover the characteristics. Pine, Bamboo,...Mizuhiki are traditional materials for New Year in Eastern Style. You can see some of them in my arrangement, combined yellow mums small red carnations and painted silver branches to complete my assignment. (12-14-2010)

Vertical Composition

There is no rule for vertical length and horizontal width in this lesson. Look the materials carefully, using the beauty of the natural lines which the plants originally have at upward tip and make vertical composition. The composition in this lesson is rather simple, but keep plants characteristic . (12-14-2010)

Holiday arrangement

In today's class, we had four choices but pick two for class. Above two were my teacher's new years arrangement. She placed the arrangement at corner of stairway with pines ,calla lilies,mums,black branches and mizuhiki(Japanese paper strings)very beautiful indeed. The first one was added on Dec.14.Miss Lin changed flowers and became another arrangement. The bottom is my Holiday arrangement. Pines, poinsettia, white mums and shiny accessory all were traditional materials for holiday.(12-07-2010)

Two or more containers

The containers can be chosen and coordinated as wished. The expression of soft to strong, tall ,firm to short, gentle, or same material compliment to each other. You need to pay attention the placement of the containers, such as front and back or side by side . Holiday is approaching, in this arrangement, I used berries, hollies,pines and white mums for my assignment . (12-07-2010)

Thanksgiving Dinner at Church

I missed the November 16 class, which we had to arrange for the Thanksgiving dinner table, and using vegetable, fruits,... and to be viewed from all angles.

This is my arrangement for Thanksgiving Dinner At Grace Church , November 28, 2010

Vines

What is "Vines" ? I asked my teacher in the class. We can use any branches which can be bent or fixed in this lesson. Here,the bittersweet branches with three white calla lilies and mums are firmly fixed. I bent bittersweet branches to incorporate the container and express the delicate and powerful lines. (11-09-2010)

Sorry to delay my post and I also missed Nov.16 class due to Boston trip and computer breakdown.

Variation No.6. Slanting Style Moribana

Variation No.6 Slanting Style is from Basic Slanting Style . But their directions are shifted to have them 120 degtees apart from one another. This style is called "the style to be viewed from all angles". Therefore, keep in mind to add the subordinate stens to fill in empty parts in order to make the arrangement be viewed from all directions. The materials for this arrangement were Red Gerbera daisies and Euonymus with red berries. (11-09-2010)

"Boo!" October Litter Show

This was October Litter Show from Martha Washington Garden Club. Our October 27th Meeting Design "Boo!" which created a design using pumpkins, gourds, and squash.
I used all the required materials with my Ikebana technique to create this arrangement. At last, I got second prize for this design (10-27-2010)

New Technique- Teacher's Demon.

Today we leaned a new technique to arrange the composition of straight lines. Ms. Lin used Bamboo and fresh cut Wheat for materials to show us. In order to secure the Bamboo, she used a piece of wood with nails, some were 3 or4 a group and some 1 or 2, depending on your design. So to use nail instead of big long Kenzan is a very good idea and cheaper for this kind of arrangement. This piece of wood with nails was treated as a big Kenzan.(10-19-2010)

showing lines at Base

This is a composition which requires extra attention to the relationship between the container and the materials. Trimming materials to create a sense of artistic simple form is important for this lesson. I used discolored Maple branches, almost bare Bittersweet branches and one stem of Autumn mums. My teacher said I did very well in this assignment. (10-19-2010)

Variation No.6 Horizontal Style Nageire

Horizontal style is placed Shin almost horizontally(85 degrees) or extended nearly to the side from the mouth of the vase. And make sure each of the three main stems are 120 degrees apart from one another. I used beautiful Berry branches for Shin and Soe with Dahlia and Autumn mums to complete this assignment . I like this arrangement very much.(10-19-2010)

Autumn is coming

Autumn splendor arrives in the northeast areas. One favorite is taking place in nature's rainbow show, the leaves were changing their colors. In today's class we arranged "Autumn is coming", in which I used dried burning bush branch, bittersweet, maple leaves, dahlia and marigolds to arrange and create the fall scenery. The dahlia and marigold's colors repeated golden and deep orange color of bittersweet. My teacher ripped off some leaves of the branch, the dried leaves falling down to the table. I felt, the real Autumn was coming. (10-5-2010)

Variation No.4 Hanging Style Nageire

Hanging Style means you arrange Shin downward from the mouth of the vase. Its angle is prescribed about 135 degrees at maximum. To do so,choose a branch which is soft and in hanging shape or one which can be bent. I like this style,for the tip of branch sustains the strength of the main stem and shows its character. I got my branches from township baseball field on one rainy day. I walked around and waited for 15 min. for police car was there. My classmate said the branches were beautiful and graceful, so I thought it was worth to wait. Two pastel roses were the last roses of summer from my yard. (10-5-2010)

Harvest Exhibition 2010-秋 之 展

It was a great and fabulous exhibition. Thank you very much for your help, and your participating the event. You, spent so much time to prepare and stayed all day long at church to help. I have no words to express my thanks to you all . Those were the pictures that I took at the show.The flower arrangement was created by Betty Tsai, Chih Huang, Doris Liu and Lynn Lee.

Harvest Exhibition 2010-秋 之 展