Kathy demonstrated from Book 4 lesson 2, ‘With Leaves Only’.

May 11, 2025 Ikebana Wellington

Kathy showing how to arrange leaves in a tall black container

Our Ikebana Wellington workshop was held on Sunday May 11 at 2pm in Khandallah Presbyterian Church Hall. Kathy demonstrated four arrangements from Book 4 lesson 2, ‘With Leaves Only’.

Kathy suggested: ‘Leaves Only’ arrangement focuses on using a variety of leaves to create a unique and visually interesting composition, encouraging creativity and freedom of expression, allowing for manipulation of leaves like folding, rolling, or tearing to highlight their different textures, shapes, and colours. This lesson encourages exploration of the hidden beauty of leaves by presenting different sides and exploring the plant material.

Kathy demonstrating an arrangement of various leaves including a fern leaf and a curled leaf in a narrow container

Kathy showing her four arrangements

Kathy used a large banana leaf, a silver beet stalk, a ribs only leaf and a dried leaf in a tall black container

This arrangement includes a red-veined beet stalk and a tall dried leaf

Kathy bent astelia leaves to match the shape of a triangular container

Kathy used delicately veined dried leaves in a miniature vase

Adriana arranged two different large leaves in a tall glass container with a white one inserted inside

Nicole arranged bent and knotted asteleia leaves in a tree-sided black container

In a low, wide, blue container, Alyson arranged tractor seat leaves with lancewood leaves woven into them

Our group listening and watching Kathy giving feedback

Takako arranged a variety of leaves in a low, round black container

Yoko arranged a variety of leaves including dark canna and flax leaves in a white ceramic vase

Setsuko curved variegated flax leaves and woven flax flowers in a beautiful dark red container

Helen arranged curved and straight leaves in a low basket container

Glenys arranged maple and a variety of flax leaves in a tall black container

Elizabeth used three tall glass container to arrange a variety of leaves

Penny arranged a variety of leaves in a low, black container

Anna arranged fern fronds and yellow kawakawa leaves in a low, round, black container

Lyn arranged a variety of leaves including a lettuce leaf in a low, white container

Lyn arranged three types of leaves including yellow leaves to match the ceramic vase

Flax, cabbage and fern leaves arranged in a narrow-necked white container

The Sogetsu Branch AGM followed by a Workshop lead by Adriana on arranging Miniatures Ikebana

April 15, 2025 Ikebana Wellington

Our April workshop started with the AGM of our Sogetsu Branch. It was not a full election this year.

The AGM, was followed by a workshop on the Book 5 lesson, Miniatures Ikebana, lead by Adriana. Miniatures have been part of Sogetsu studies for many years and were a speciality of the second Headmaster, Kasumi Teshigahara. Members used several of their smallest containers and grouped them on a base plate, tray or paper. Many beautiful arrangements were created.

Adriana's miniatures arrangement on a cork board

Adriana's miniatures arrangement displayed on a round wooden board

Mythi's miniatures arrangement displayed on a raised mirror

Masako's miniatures arrangement displayed on white paper

Setsuko's miniatures arrangement displayed on a lacquered plate

Yoko's miniatures arrangement displayed on a round glass plate

Alyson's miniatures arrangement displayed on a wooden board

Nicole's miniatures arrangement displayed on an orange plastic board

A student of Sandi's miniatures arrangement displayed on a round ceramic plate

Helen's miniatures arrangement displayed on a raised ceramic plate

Sandi's miniatures arrangement displayed on a black wooden tray

Glenys's miniatures arrangement displayed on a wooden board

Lyn's miniatures arrangement displayed on black cardboard

Julie's miniatures arrangement displayed on two mirrors

The Japan Festival and Japanese Embassy arrangements

March 14, 2025 Ikebana Wellington

Teacher Kate Graham designed the ikebana and was assisted in collecting materials and setting up by Teacher Masako Crawford.

A fantastic free standing ikebana arrangement was constructed by two of our members for a special event held by the Embassy of Japan to celebrate the Emperor’s birthday in March 2026. This event was held last week at the Great Hall at Massey University campus and the ikebana was in the centre of the large hall.

The Emperor’s birthday party was attended by 240 people, so the arrangement was seen by many Wellingtonians.

Teacher Kate Graham designed the ikebana and was assisted in collecting materials and setting up by Teacher Masako Crawford.

On September 14, 2024 the Japan Festival was held in the Michael Fowler Centre, in central Wellington. Several of our members worked on creating two arrangements to celebrate all things Japanese.

A beautiful arrangement using flax, bird of paradise flowers and rolled bark

Complementary arrangements in six blue vases

The Japanese ambassador with Tory Whanau, Mayor of Wellington

Celebrating 70 Years of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) with Ikebana. We were honoured to have the Ikebana Wellington club demonstrate the beauty of Japanese arrangement at the 70th JSDF Day reception. The art of ikebana added elegance and symbolism to this special occasion, representing harmony and resilience - a fitting tribute to the enduring Japan-New Zealand friendship.

Helen demonstrating at the Japanese Ambassador's residence in Wellington

Helen's arrangement at the Japanese Ambassador's residence in Wellington

Yoko's arrangement at the Japanese Ambassador's residence in Wellington

Masako's arrangement at the Japanese Ambassador's residence in Wellington

Our Ikebana Wellington group were invited to do ikebana arrangements for a Japanese Embassy event on March 4, 2025, to celebrate the birthday of the Emperor of Japan.

Masako's arrangement on the rostrum

Kathy's arrangement at the entrance

Helen's arrangement on the drinks table

Masako's arrangement

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