I wanted to have a workshop on the arrangements in Sogetsu textbook 1 and 2 as these are the basis of Sogetsu ikebana and every student studies them for the first 40 classes. However, once students advance to the next textbooks they do Freestyle ikebana and sometimes forget how useful the beginner ikebana can be. It is easier to show these arrangements in moribana (flat) containers as there are proscribed positions for the kenzan (pin holder).
I decided to prepare several arrangements in matching glass bowls, using the same greenery for the 2 longest branches, Shin and Soe. This meant that I could cut the branches beforehand and it was quite easy to put them quickly on the kenzan. I used shop bought flowers for the third main line, Hikae.
After the arrangements were done, I asked the workshop participants to identify each arrangement from the textbook and then members created their own textbook arrangements. At the end the group reviewed all the ikebana works and identified the particular textbook lesson for each.
Members seemed to enjoy the workshop and the discussion about the textbook. View arrangements here.