Satomi demonstrated how to arrange dried materials

June 13, 2021 Ikebana Wellington

Satomi demonstrating using dreid muehlanbeckia with fresh chrysanthemums

Satomi lead a workshop demonstrating how to arrange dried material. It was from Book 4, lesson 13. She showed three arrangements to inspire us. Each used both dried and fresh materials. She stressed the importance of keeping the dried materials out of water as the stems will rot, whilst making sure the fresh materials are in water.

Her first arrangement involved fixing dried strelizia leaves through the hole in the middle of the vase, then adding little bunches of dried statice, then finally a variegated leaf.

The second featured bunches of divaricating muehlenbeckia to build up volume, then adding some fresh flax leaves woven through it, and some chrysanths to finish it off. Finally, her last arrangement involved wiring a tin container in a nook in the branch which allowed the hebe and chrysanths to sit in water, tucked in amongst the dried puka leaves.

Satomi used dried muehlenbeckia with fresh flax leaves and chrysanthemums

Satomi used dried puka leaves in a branch with fresh hebe and chrysanthamums in water, tucked in amongst the dried puka leaves

Satomi used dried strelizia and statice with a fresh variegated leaf

Julie used a dried palm pod, eucalyptus seed head and fresh cotoneaster berries

Kathy used dried flax seed pods with fresh azalea flowers

Setsuko used fresh astelia, alstromeria flowers and dried vine and leaves

Lihong used dried cabbage tree and poppy seed pods and fresh daffodil air plants

Helen used dried flaxheads and yellow seed pods with fresh astelia

Misako used dried fern and toi toi grass with fresh leucadendron

Nicole used dried agapanthus, bamboo grass and palm fibre

Elizabeth used dried puka leaf and muehlenbeckia with fresh primula

Yoko dried fern with fresh yellow daisiess

Adriana dried muehlenbeckia and vine with fresh fatsia leaves and Singapore orchids

Lyn used dried branches and hydrangea seed heads with fresh palm and orchids

A Workshop lead by Sandi Hurnard - using driftwood in an arrangement

May 9, 2021 Ikebana Wellington

Sandi arranged single chrysanthemums and Japanese maple leaves with driftwood in a black container

Sandi gave a workshop at our May meeting. She demonstrated how to use driftwood to effect in an arrangement.

Sandi demonstrating arranging materials with driftwood

Kathy used azaleas and Japanese maple with driftwood

Julie used protea and gum tree seedheads with driftwood

Sandi used red roses, wild broom and lotus seedheads with driftwood

Sandi used agapanthus seedheads and stems, dried grass seed heads and driftwood in an interesting container

Setsuko used hydrangeas and driftwood in a moribana container without kenzan (suiban)

Detail of the suiban arrangement by Setsuko

Elizabeth used chrysanthemums and driftwood in a brown ceramic vase

Masako used lilies and succulents with driftwood in a low container

Lyn used orange chrysanthemums and dried hydrangeas with driftwood.

Kathy used strawberry tree berries, mirror bush leaves and driftwood in a round green container

Helen used protea, and gum leaves with driftwood in a low yellow container

Elizabeth used a round piece of driftwood echoed by the swirl of the fern and swirls in the glass vase. The rose is Cecile Brunner

Chrissiji used flax, mirror bush and succulent with driftwood

Sandi used lilies and varigated flax with driftwood

Our Sogetsu AGM followed by Kathy Kerry leading a workshop using reeds and rushes

April 15, 2021 Ikebana Wellington

On Sunday, April 11, in the Khandallah Town Hall our Wellington branch of Sogetsu Teachers’ Association held its Annual General Meeting before the monthly workshop. Officers are elected every 2 years so the current committee will serve until March 2022. Helen Wareham our president and Alyson Howell, secretary ran the meeting. 12 enthusiastic members were present.

Some discussion was had about sharing the workload amongst members especially when we have visiting teachers and events. Otherwise the efforts fall on only a few members.

After the AGM Kathy lead an interesting workshop by demonstrating how to arrange ‘Reeds and Rushes’. These were fun to use and combined well with other materials, in a basic or freestyle arrangement. There were many creative arrnagements made. See them in the gallery below.