This arrangement only allows to use one kind of the material. In this lesson, I used Iris and a large Suiban with sufficient water surface. Using three Kabu to create fish pond like arrangement . I am happy with the idea for the composition. Below is Ms. Lin's demo. She used three groups of containers with different height and placement to avoid boring dullness. The top two pictures was taken from different angles.(3-15-2011)
The key point of this lesson is to choose the materials suitable for "Intertwining"; leaves, grasses or bendable branches which can be used for Intertwining. Intertwined two groups of weeping Willows with one braided grass stem toward the front and a group of Calla lilies in between. My teacher suggested me to move front the first container a little bit to improve three dimensional effect. It's worked. (3-3-11)
Those flowers were the left over of the last lesson. My friend Betty wanted to show her sister how we arranged the flowers in the class, and so I went with them.
It is hard to find any fruiting materials for us at the beginning of March, especially at Northeast area in U.S. So the teacher allowed us to stick branches into the fruits. The lesson turned out so interesting and we had a great time. In order to secure my big branch, I used Hananome technique, sticking four mandarins in angular shape of branch. The top mandarin was a strongest statement of this arrangement. I added a piece of driftwood, two pom pom mums and pines to complete my assignment. (3-1-11)
s. When we have this assignment for today's lesson, Adam needle jumped right out of my mind . Combining two Pom Pom Mums to match it and colorful Calla Lilies are presented with the effect of the contrast in it. I used wide open space container to highlighten the water. Top one was taken from Above. I am delighted with it. (3-1-11)
In this lesson, one of the dried, bleached or colored materials alone can be arranged,or can be combined with the fresh plants. Dried walking sticks were tied together with two Pampas grass combined with fresh flowers to finish my assignment. At the begining the two Pampas grass were apart ,it looks beautiful from the front, after teacher pointed out to move closer, it could be viewed from all directions. So amazing !(2-15-2011)
"Less is more", our teacher always remind us on every class,every arrangement. By removing unnecessary parts from the materials is always essential in making arrangement.
In this lesson ,we have different approach and try to focus, develop your ides of the arrangement from the container.
Combined Mass and line in one composition is the subject of this lesson, but do not mix the straight and curved line together in one arrangement.
Snow storm sweeping East coast again. I missed two classes, so at home I arranged the top one just for fun. Paphiopedilum ,Lady's-slipper orchid bloomed on December, 23 2010, it was just in time to bring to show table for January Orchid's meeting. I will let you know what it get next time. (1-2011)
,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.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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.
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)
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)
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)
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)
