Ikebana {Leaf work}

The first lesson I tackled in the Sogetsu School of Ikebana book three was called:

"With Leaves Only"
So I used one Monstera leaf, two Kiwi ti leaves, and two New Zealand Flax leaves that I twisted to created a sort of windblown horizontal look.
Super simple, but I liked it a lot. So did Soho because she didn't move a thing!

See, here's the thing with Ikebana instructors, they move stuff to show you how to correctly make the placement, or they add stuff or remove stuff to create balance.

Soho is super cute because she has funny little sayings that keep you laughing even as she is tearing apart your arrangement.
Like lets say two flowers are too close together, she will say:
"These two ladies gossip too much. We need to separate so they can be peaceful"

or if you have three flowers that are not facing each other she will say:
"Look, mother and father are in a fight and the baby doesn't know where to go.
Everyone is lost"

My favorite is if you have something that is too tall and the next flower is too far away:
" Upstairs downstairs, these two are headed for divorce"

Haha,she cracks me up!
As she is telling you this she is re-arranging your flowers and the little way she will face something makes a completely different arrangement sometimes.
That is what 50 years of Ikebana does for you .

So when she doesn't move anything, it is quite a compliment :)

Here was my arrangement before.

Here is it afterward.

Notice how she added height? Made it more exciting she said, and I agree.
Man. Why didn't I think of that? She says I need to think big sometimes, not to be afraid.
Word.

Here is a closeup of the lovely red and white variegated anthuriums.

Name That Flower {Ikebana Edition}

I am at a loss for the name of this flower......
It's driving me CRAZY!
Does anyone know? It's in the amaryllis family but its not an amaryllis...or is it?
This beauty was made by Soho for our lesson
"Composition of Curved Lines"

I *LOVE* it! :)

Sneak Peak at a Lavender Ikebana Bride

Here's a tiny peak at my Ikebana Wedding today.
I'm super tired! I had to get up at 4:30 am to travel across the Bay to Berkley today.
Now I know that it's nothing to a Bay Area person since I am at the very edge of San Francisco, and with no traffic I'm about 20 minutes away. But this Labor Day weekend, they closed the Bay Bridge so I had to get across the water going about 57 miles out of my way....fun stuff.

So I will share pictures tomorrow :)
I made some double Tsustu arrangements as well as some simple low arrangements along with this place card mat made out of horsetail that I love and can't wait to share!