What ikebana Can Do Today - A Workshop Led by Helen Wareham

May 10, 2026 Ikebana Wellington

Helen arranging magnolia leaves in a beautiful cane basket

Our May workshop was held in Khandallah Presbyterian Church Hall venue on Sunday May 10. ‘What Ikebana Can Do Today’ was led by Helen Wareham and was very thoughtfully responded to by our creative members.

Helen provided the following notes:
In this theme, think about what roles ikebana can play in your future.

It may be that you do an ikebana arrangement to display in a new place,
Lead a workshop for people who wish to learn about ikebana,
Make an arrangement which shows your thoughts on ikebana,
Maybe for a special occasion,
Highlighting a special material or container.
I will talk about various opportunities we have to display our ikebana and also my experience with workshops for beginners. Our ikebana Wellington group has several items that we can use for ikebana exhibitions and workshops, including publicity materials and tablecloths and our teachers are happy to share their advice. Teaching regular classes does not suit everyone, but you can learn by helping at a beginner workshop.

Helen showing how to use kensan

Helen demonstrating an arrangement of a branch of pittisporum and freesias in a suiban container

Helen demonstrating using magnolia branches and nandina in a cane basket

Helen used two red glass containers to show anthurium flowers and leaves

Adriana used two glass containers to show three agapanthus stalks and large leaves

Elizabeth arranged a variety of lilac material in a cane basket

Sudama showed her growth in learning ikebana with camellia flowers and branches in a beautiful container from Nagoya

Lyn arranged flax leaves, dried grass and branch with beautiful dark red camellia flowers in a tall containers

Glenys arranged alstroemeria with curved flax leaves and driftwood in an interesting vase

Setsuko arranged erica sprigs, leucadendron with driftwood in a pottery vase to be viewed all round

Sandi arranged a variety of materials, including lasiandra/tibouchina in two vases

Kate found a fallen lichen-covered branch in her garden to arrange across two low containers with azalea and bare branches

Kathy arranged three agapanthus heads, fuschia, leaves and wisteria vine with a tall piece of bamboo in an interesting container

Yoko arranged lilies, small chrysanthemums and guava fruit in two ceramic containers

Masako arranged umbrella reeds, salvia and small pink flowers and large leaves in a suiban container

Workshop led by Takako Oshima. Theme: Composition Expressing a Movement

April 12, 2026 Ikebana Wellington

Takako demonstrating how to create 'bloom' using roses showing through muehlenbeckia

Our April workshop was held at our usual venue. Takako Oshima led the workshop with the theme from Book 5, lesson 18, Composition Expressing a Movement.

Takako provided the following notes: “For our workshop, I am using Text 5–18, “Expressing Movement,” as the theme and approaching it in a slightly playful way.

I will prepare slips of paper, each with a single verb written on it (such as “fall,” “play,” “jump,” or “resist”) and place them in a box. Participants will then draw one slip at random, like a lottery, and create a work using the flowers and materials they have, based on the verb they draw.

It may be challenging to express an unexpected theme, but that is also part of the fun and the reward. Of course, if the verb you draw really doesn’t suit your flowers or container, you are welcome to draw again.

To make it feel a bit like a game and to allow for more possibilities, it might be nice if you can bring a few different materials.

This exercise is meant to test our imagination and flexibility in responding to a given theme. By making full use of your skills and creative ideas, I hope it will be a fun and stimulating challenge for everyone.”

Takako demonstrating 'undulate' using dried agapanthus stalks and a single large leaf

Takako created 'tangle' using anthurium flowers with twisted vine and red stalks in a low ceramic container

Takako demonstrating how to create 'bloom' using roses showing through muehlenbeckia in a tall vase

Sandi created 'stretch' like a newborn baby stretching, using variegated flax leaves, billy button flowers and a single sunflower in a matte black container

Masako created 'tumble' using knotted flax leaves, and red flowers in a tall black container

Nicole created two arrangements showing 'smoke' using a variety of materials

Setsuko created 'explode' using leaves, hydrangea and a single yellow chrysanthemum in two matching containers

Lyn created 'tear' flowing through three containers using magnolia leaves, a seedhead and flowers

Sharon created a 'clash' of different materials in two low containers

Yoko created 'pop' using umbrella grass, small red flowers and seedheads in three similar-shaped containers

Glenys created 'run' using a variety of materials to personify herself as a strong, young runner (hydrangea) and a weaker older runner (small pink flower) in an interesting vase

Elizabeth created 'curl' using broom, rosemary, curled flax leaves and bright yellow flowers in three matching containers - the middle one empty to create space

Kathy created 'overflow' using a variety of materials flowing out of a glass container

Kathy created 'overflow' using mainly dried material flowing from a low container and a hollow bamboo piece

Helen created 'leap' using flax leaves and a single hydrangea leaping out a slim tall vase

Nicole's fire creating 'smoke'

A beautiful arrangement of white lilies and roses displayed in the Khandallah Church

A Workshop led by Adriana Nickless with the Theme: Disassembling and Rearranging Materials

March 8, 2026 Ikebana Wellington

Our workshop was held in our usual Khandallah Church Hall venue at 2pm to 4pm on Sunday March 8. Our Ikebana Wellington AGM preceded Adriana’s workshop. The present Committee are happy to continue in their roles.

Adriana provided the following notes: “My theme combines elements of Disassembling and Rearranging the Materials (Book 4 Lesson 9) and Simplified Arrangement (Book 4 Lesson 8).

In particular finding new and interesting ways to arrange materials while, as Lesson 8 notes achieving “maximum expression possible…by the minimum parts possible”. Also, as we move from Summer into Autumn, those attending the workshop may find it helpful to take some inspiration from the observable effects of seasonal change on available material.”

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