Waiting for Christmas

Cypress, taxus, amaryllis, carnation, ilex

Calla Lillies with Vines

Calla lillies, vine branches
front view

I love using vines branches. They are wonderful to focus on linear expression in ikebana. Very branch has its own characteristic and using them in unexpected combinations give strength to the arrangement. 

Here the unusual shape of the ceramic vase -heavy, rough, sturdy stoneware- necessitates a powerful statement of lines combined with a mass of beautiful calla flowers. 

For an other arrangement using vines, check this earlier post (in Turkish).

Calla lillies, vine branches
side view

Slanting Style Nageire

Sogetsu Variation No:3 Slanting Style Nageire
Frontal view
Protea, Aspidistra

Sogetsu Variation No:3 Slanting Style Nageire
Side view

Cycad Leaves and Deep Time

Cycad Leaves, (fresh, dried and colored)
Protea, Salix tortuosa, Chrysanthemum

I have recently read Oliver Sacks's memoir, On The Move: A Life. I love the book and the brilliant man behind, a scientist and a writer, a curious human being. There, in the book, I discovered his deep interest among many others for the cycad trees, whose existence goes back to Paleozoic era, roughly 520 million years ago. Through a plant, a cycad leave, one can reflect on the nature of deep geologic time. 

Chrysanthemum Challenge

Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums with their countless varieties, colours and shapes are very much appreciated and used in Ikebana. As you may know, it also represents the emperor. The imperial seal of Japan is a yellow chrysanthemum. More details are in this previous post: The Imperial Chrysanthemum.

Although I enjoyed a lot while doing this all-chrysanthemum arrangement, I also find it tough to find the right balance. Creating a mass expression with flowers are usually more challenging than the ones focusing on lines.

Floating Flowers of Misho School

Misho School Floating Flowers
My second arrangement at home

Today, I participated another workshop organized by Ikebana International Geneva Chapter. 

The workshop was given by Regula Maier and Monika Nussberger, teachers of  Misho Ikebana School on October 5th, 2015.

We are told that  'Floating flowers' is a typical arrangement of Misho School dating back to 19th century founded by master Ippo Mishosai.

Arrangement by Agnes Merz

All the flowers and plants should be arranged and secured in their place  in the transparent tall vases before the water added which is quite a challenge since it is not easy to fix the flowers. We used some materials such as invisible nylon wires and tiny plumb weights or aluminium wire mesh or asparagus branches striped from their leaves.

Some arrangements from the workshop

It was a good experience and the large number of participants seemed quite enjoyed learning a new technique from an other Ikebana School to deepen their knowledge and producing pleasing arrangements at the end.

Arrangement by Ms Maier

Red Cascade

Anthurium, Aspidistra,
Euonymus europaeus 'red cascade'
Free style,
inspiration Sogetsu Variation No:4 Hanging Style Nageire

My First Sogetsu School Certificates Arrived

Since I have begun my ikebana learning journey in 2012, my mentor Agnes and my master teacher Elsbeth encourages me to study Ikebana in a double-disciplined Japanese-Swiss manner which leads to getting Sogetsu School Certificates. 

A small arrangement to celebrate.

Voila, the result: The First (Yonkyu) and the Second Certificates (Sankyu) of Sogetsu Curriculum arrived which prove my learning of the first two books through a method called Kakei-ho. 

In order to be able to master a high level of self expression through flowers, one must learn the basic skills of ikebana through actual interaction with plant materials.

There are still three certificates more to go before I may begin to study for qualifying as a teacher. Yes, you guessed well, Japanese takes schooling very seriously :)

Birds in The Jungle

Typha latifolia, strelitzia, aspidistra

Horsetail Geometry

Horsetail (Equisetum), Peonies
view from front, slightly above

Horsetail (Equisetum), Peonies
sideview

Horsetail (equisetum) is a wonderful plant materiel to play with in Ikebana arrangements. With the help of an iron wire inserted into the cavity of the grass, it can be bended and twisted into any form.

For other arrangements using horsetail check this post from 2014 and this one from 2013 both in Turkish.

Sunflowers Delight

Sunflowers and hosta leaves,
multiple containers,
Sogetsu Freestyle Arrangement

This free style arrangement uses multiple containers. You can see better these three plastic suiban containers on the photo below.

For more sunflowers, check this earlier post where you can see a beautiful Sogertsu School Variation No:7 Floating Style arrangement.

Yet another sunflower post here. A Sogetsu School Variation No:2 Slanting Style Nageire arrangement.

Peonies and Geometry

Peonies and Spirea

Sideview,
peonies and spirea 

I love this arrangement. Pink garden peonies are so beautiful within the geometrically arranged leaves in a rectangular glass container. The spirea flowers add depth as you can see in the sideview.


For another see-through arrangement in the same glass container, you can check this earlier post.

Interplay of Light and Shadow

Date Palm Branch and Tulips

Delightful Date Palm

The sculptural quality of the date palm is the focus of this arrangement. 

In my first trial, I combine two tulips only with the date palm in a triangular vase. Madame von Siebenthal told me that this arrangement will be more powerful if it is put above the eye level to be viewed from below.

Ikebana arrangements look entirely different depending on how they are viewed.

In the second trial, I have added more tulips and three curved leaves to give more depth and interest to the arrangement.

Waiting for Cherry Blossoms

Cherry Branches and Tulips
Moribana Arrangement without kenzan

I am quite impatient to see these wonderful cherry branches blossom in my living room. In a few days, there will be a fire of sakura to enjoy.

This is a moribana arrangement without kenzan which is a new experience I welcome.

Arrangement without kenzan
detail

Serene Magnolia

Magnolia, tulip
Sogetsu Simplified Arragement

Magnolia season is on with all its glory in Geneva. In this time of the year, various varieties with different shades of white, pink, purple flowers blossom in the parcs and gardens of the city. You can see one of my favorite magnolia trees in the Parc Bastion in this earlier post (in Turkish).

Above is a Simplified Arrangement from Sogetsu School curriculum using one magnolia branch with one simple tulip. "Less is more" is the motto. In order to make an arrangement which is simplified to its limit yet beautiful and expressive, trimming the unnecessary is the key. I also concentrate on the relationship between the container and the plant material more than any other type of arrangement. I am waiting with impatience for the flowers to open.

To the Loving Memory of My Grandmother

My beloved grandmother Halime is passed away recently, leaving us with her ever lasting love and endless memories. This year's Japanese Girls Festival arrangement (3rd day of March) is dedicated to this wonderful women who is the center of gravity of my personal existence.

Blooming Peach Branches with Narcissus

Halime Demiriz with her daughters Ayşe, Neşe and Yıldız

For other earlier Japanese Girls' Festival posts, check here (2013) and here (2014).

Inspiring Kiwi

Kiwi Branches

Delicate Mimosa

Dogwood, salix, mimosa

A combined style arrangement from Sogetsu School curriculum: Moribana with Nageire. I used red dogwood, curvy salix branches and delicate mimosas which blossom quite early this year.

You may also like to check this post for another arrangement that dogwood plays the major role. And this one for more mimosa and combined arrangements.

Ikenobo Workshop: My Very First Shoka

Shoka Arrangement, Ikenobo School 

I went to the Ikebana International Geneva Chapter's Ikenobo Workshop which is held on January 23, 2015.

It was a great experience. I loved the simple beauty found only after abiding the strict rules of the arrangement.

This is my very first shoka arragement with three different sorts of plant material. 

Madame Yumiko Shimada and her assistants
 Geneva Ikenobo Study Group

Freesias with Sculptural Palm Tree Bark

Palm tree bark, salix tortuosa, freesia

Free style Ikebana with palm tree bark, salix tortuosa, freesia
 Side view

Happy New Year to All

Zencefilin Çiçeği Böyle Oluyormuş!

Tanıştırayım, bu görkemli, güzel, koyu pembe çiçekler zencefil: hani şu köklerini taze ya da kurutulmuş baharat olarak kullandığımız, uzak doğu mutfağının vazgeçilmez lezzet vericisi. 

Bu çiçekler de çok sayıda farklı türü barındıran zencefil ailesinin bir üyesi. Bu tür daha çok kesme çiçek olarak yetiştiriliyormuş. Vazoda giderek büyüyüp açılarak üç haftadan fazla yaşadı benimle. Uzun ve çok sert kalın dalları var. Kenzana sabitlemek kolay olmuyor.

Bu düzenleme için, zencefilin görkemli çiçeklerinin yanında aslanlar gibi durup ezilmeyecek, en az onlar kadar etkileyici bir başka bitki gerekiyordu, gördüğünüz dev ortanca bence harika oldu.

Vazo da benim ikebana düşleyerek yaptığım ilk seramik kaplardan.