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

A Workshop lead by Els Schnabel demonstrating the use of various Fixtures in Ikebana Arrangements

March 9, 2025 Ikebana Wellington

Els demonstrating a fixing method in a tall glass container

On Sunday March 9, we met in the Khandallah Presbyterian Church, 33 Ganges Road for a workshop lead by Els Schnabel. She demonstrated various methods of fixing material in a tall glass container. A handout sheet with instructions, diagrams and photographs allowed members to follow Els demonstration. A tall glass vase was used to show the fixings and an arrangement in a tall ceramic vase to show the result of fixings.

Els demonstrating a fixing for material to stand in a vase without touching the side of the container

Els discussing Elizabeth's arrangement of erica branches and nerines in a matching tall red vase

Julie's arranged white flowers and olive branches in a tall blue vase

Jackie arranged chrysanthemums and ornamental grape branches in a tall ceramic vase

Sharon arranged white chrysanthemums with grape branches in tall, decorated container

Glenys arranged nerines and rosemary branches revealing fixings in a tall glass container

Helen arranged kohuhu branches, leucadendron and alstromeria flowers in a tall steel vase

Setsuko arranged a single hydrangea with branches of griselinia-kapuka in a white U-shaped container

Bron arranged nerines and delicate flower sprigs with broad leaves in a tall ceramic container

Elizabeth arranged erica branches with nerines in a matching tall red container

Masako arranged a sprig of yellow flowers with a magnolia branch and greenery in a tall shiny vase

Takako arranged protea flowers with a kowhai branch and foliage in a tall ceramic vase

Takako arranged orange flowers with ngaio branches revealing fixings in a tall glass container

Sandi arranged small green chrysanthemums with a Japanese maple branch in a tall yellow vase

Nicole arranged lilies and a ngaio branch and foliage in a tall glass container to reveal fixings

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