Faded Beauty-A workshop Using Dried Materials

Demo. by  Midori Tanimune

Demo. by Ronell Douglass

Ronell Douglass

Ronell Douglass

Ronell Douglass

 At workshop by Chih Huang

Chih Huang

Sensei Ms. Meei-Huey Lin

Doris Liu

Demonstration by Sensei Ronell Douglass of the Ohara school and Sensei Midori Tanimune of the Sogetsu school, inspired us with arrangements using only dried materials.
A workshop follower up where we able to create arrangements using things we find in our winter gardens or provided by our Ikebana members (1-20-2015)

In a Suiban without Kenzan

Materials: Dried  branches, carnation,,mum and baby breath.
Container: Triangle ceramic suiban (made by Chih)

From different angle

The whole structure to be securely in place without Kenzan  was today's class.  Therefore, I choose  the shape of triangle container for this arrangement because the shape, the colors and the texture of the Suiban will be present in the composition. The way of  fixing may be different depending on the overall structure of the arrangement.  (1-20-15)

With flowers only

Materials: Carnation , pectic, tulip and baby breath
Container: Ceramic vase made by Chih 

With one walking stick

By Doris Liu

By June Wu

It was a challenge to make a arrangement with two or more kinds flowers only. Here were our arrangements today in the class. Each of them were so created and beautiful.

My container was a bit small for the arrangement after critics, the solution was add a object to extend the length to look bigger for the container. (1-20-15)

Free Style - Lunar New Year

Materials: Nandina, winterberry, black pine and mum
Container: ceramic vase and  wooden stage (created by Chih)

This is an arrangement for a celebration of Lunar New Year. Red and Gold are the main color for the Lunar New Year to bring happiness and prosperity to all.(1-13-15)

Miniature arrangement

Using 5 or up miniature containers created an arrangement.January 13, I arranged a Miniature arrangement at class. The color combinations and placement for the each containers were much much better. It was a better arrangement I thought. It is  a view from above and beautiful from every angle.(1-13-15)

  During the holiday I arranged this arrangement at home to make up the class which I was absent from.  (before)  I am getting improved  isn't it?      (12-23-14)

You in Ikebana -on holidays

Materials: Holly, winterburry, pointetia and painted bamboo
Container: Ceramic vase created by chih

My sensei Ms. Lin would like us to arrange this expressing arrangement. It can reflect the one's thinking either now or past.  Ikebana was always my passionate and now I able to arrange the flower also can create my own container for my Ikebana in the golden age.  I thanks God's grace and mercy special on Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus.    (12-16-2014)

Center piece for the Christmas party in Grace Church on 12-21-14

The winter is here

Materials: dried branch and banana leave, calla lily and baby breaths.
container: ceramic suiban

The trees are bare and the ground is all covered with the dried leaves.   It is the scene of winter.  We had couples of snow shows but big one yet to come according to what people predicted.
Here is my arrangement for scene of winter.(12-16-2014)

Dried materials and midollinos

Materials: Branches,hydrangea,philodendron  pepper and midollinos
Container : Ceramic vase.

Ms. Lin's Demo- Branches,midollinos and calla lily

An  assignment for this class is using dried branches which Ms. Lin gave to us and created a design with midollino's stick.  I was inspired by persimmon's tree this trip of Japan . Three persimmons made from midollino sticks were hanged on the dried branches and a spider web on it. (11-25-2014)

Thanksgiving arrangement

Today is the November's only class and two days before Thanksgiving holiday. So here we are using fruits and vegetable for thanksgiving arrangement to thank God for he so kind to us,thanks our country to protect us, our community,friends,family and everything we have .  We are so lucky indeed. (11-25-2014)  

Satojima 佐渡島,君の名は

The movie「君の名は」was shot in here (Satojima)

Beautiful coast line

Author 菊田一夫     and   His famous movie   「請問芳名」-9/15/1953 by 岸惠子 and 佐田啟ニ
The movie was a big hit when its played in Taiwan so many years later , I still remembered people stood in the line waiting to purchase the ticket even they had three parts.
Dean sang the song of「君の名は」 in front of  the monument (big stone) with another tourist. We were moved by them.

Shukunige village

Ship shaped Warehouse

佐渡小木たらい舟

Wood tub-shaped boats

Sato island lies off the coast of Nijgate prefecture and is one of the Japan's largest island. A way of life that respects the environment to exist in harmony with nature the true Japanese spirit.
Ogi town located on Sato island's southern coast is a small port town know for taraibune (wood tub -shaped boats)  were originally used for collecting seaweed from the water around Ogi and became a tourist attraction today .
Shukunige Village used to be a ship building town and a number of its house are built out of lumber salvaged from boats hulls.  The entire village had preserved its old town looks until  today. (10-17-2014)

Kurobe Gorge, Tateyama 黑部峽谷和立山

Those pictures were taken from inside the train

The bridge built for monkey to cross river

The original resident 

Hurobe Dam

Having seen modern and historical Japan, It is time to see the beauty of natural Japan.
The Kurobe Gorge was carved by the Kurobe river, a deep,steep sided canyon with breathtaking cliffs dropping straight into water of the upper and middle basins of the Kurobe river. The rugged terrain has allowed the Kurobe Gorge to remain in its natural state.  For a truly inspirational journey.we took the train along the Kurobe Gorge railroad that runs through the Gorge and experienced its beautiful untouched forests and steep cliffs.
The Kurobe Gorge Railway, a sightseeing train originally built to aid the construction of the Kurobe Dam. The exciting 80 minutes journey leads across more than 20 bridges and through over 40 tunnels and offers visitors panoramic views of the gorge below.  The trains stop at a few stations along the way where visitor can get off and explore. (10-15-14)