FLOWER TALK                                                                                Issue #17

In this Issue:

• Ikebana: Flower Arranging Japanese Style
• Special Thanks to My Subscribers
• Using Flowers to Decorate
• Graduation or other Occasion Arrangement to Make
• Visit My new Blog
• Tell Us What You Think

Japanese culture seems to be flourishing in the West. Everywhere you look, you find art, literature, and interior decoration relating to Japanese traditions. Japanese styled flowers, called Ikebana, is also growing in popularity.

Ikebana, meaning “flowers kept alive,” is a much more complex way of arranging flowers than the traditional, symmetrical Western style. It is so intricate that there are special schools to teach the art. The most popular of these schools are Ikenobo, Sogetsu, and Ohara. Each school is unique to a different style, depending on the plants and vases that are used.

Founded by Buddhist priest Ikenobo Senkei in the 15th century, Ikenobo is the oldest school of Ikebana. It is believed that Senkei developed the style of rikka, meaning “standing flowers,” to express the beauty of nature with seven branches representing hills, waterfalls, and valleys. The branches are arranged in a formal way.

From the formalized rikka style came the seika or shoka style, a much more simpler form of the art. Seika or shoka uses only three branches, known as ten (heaven), chi (earth), and jin (man). The style is used to highlight the beauty of the plant.

Nageire, another old form of Ikebana, is used in traditional tea ceremonies.

Ohara, developed by Ohara Unshin when he broke away from the Ikenobo school in the 19th century, is a more modern style. The Ohara school uses moribana, or piled up flowers, in a shallow, flat container. Moribana was developed at a time when Western culture was very influential in Japan. Because of this, many Western plants are used in the arrangements, but they remain formal.

It wasn’t until the artistic movements of the 20th century that Ikebana became more of a free form with the development of jiyuka (free-style).

Founded in 1927 by Teshigahara Sofu, the Sogetsu school was characteristic of the style zen-eibana or avant-garde Ikebana. With zen-eibana, all different kinds of materials are used—plastic, plaster, and steel.

To create a typical Sogetsu school arrangement, a pattern, or kakei, can be used. Three main branches, called shushi, are arranged—the shin (truth) branch, the soe (supporting) branch, and the hikae (moderating) branch. Appropriate branches or flowers are chosen for the shushi and trimmed if necessary. The stems are cut to correct lengths according to a set formula. The kenzan, or spiked metal holder, is placed in the vase and just covered with water. The shushi are fixed to the kenzan in order. Jushi or short supplementary stems are added to support the shushi and give depth to the arrangement. Finally, the composition is examined and any finishing touches applied.

Special Thanks to My Subscribers

I just wanted to take the time to thank those of you who provided such wonderful feedback for my new website Petal Picker. 

Just to show you that I do indeed take feedback suggestions seriously, I want to give special  thanks to "Vicki C." and "Pam".  Vicki's suggestion was to be able to pick a flower from the results and save it so that the user can build a bouquet with multiple choices.  This feature is now a reality.  We even went one further and gave the user the option to email the selections.  Pam suggested having Petal Picker also work in reverse, by  making it possible to look up a particular flower and find it's meaning.  This too has been added to the website. Thanks gals, you have helped me to make it a better site.

(Special Note to Vicki and Pam:  I am so thrilled with your suggested enhancements, that I am sending you a FREE copy of my eBook, "Flower Arrangements Made Simple".  Look for the download instructions in your email soon.)

Using Flowers to Decorate

In our busy lives, time is very precious. Most of us have the schedule from hell, with the school run, overtime at work, clubs for the kids, and so on. This leads to the dilemma of how best to decorate our homes with little time to spare. One answer is to use flowers to full effect, and utilize their beauty to enhance our living space. A well-arranged vase, for example, can liven up any room, no matter how tired.

A simple arrangement can make your home ten times more inviting. Even if you don’t have the slightest idea of how to arrange flowers, most trends in this day and age are geared towards minimalist and simple arrangements. Taking the time to learn a few techniques can lead to your home being a more homely and welcoming place to be.

Flowers have been proven to lift our moods. Try it and see. If there is anyone you know who has been a little down lately, just go to the florist and choose a nice arrangement, or make a unique floral arrangement of your own. It would be a very hard person indeed who did not let slip a tiny smile upon seeing the flowers. They make us feel happy, and it is for this reason alone that you should work towards including them in thoughtful ways in your home.

One look to go for is the Modern Look. Minimal in nature, an arranger is going for the Modern Look when they display a single orchid in a short vase, for example. The clean lines and muted colors of many modern homes are complemented by such a discrete aesthetic. If you are trying for this look, try orchids for starters, and then choose beautiful flowers and place them individually around the home, and note the effect. One good tip is to use a few white flowers. These are sophisticated and elegant, and can be quite moving.

The Country Look is all about colors. So think purples, pale reds and yellows. This can prove to be quite a relaxing look for a home, and can really serve to de-stress someone who returns home after a hard day at work. These flowers were made for a centerpiece on a low table. A dining table is ideal for a centerpiece like this. When going for the Country look, try and aim for uniqueness. Pick a couple of strong colors and place them in between the calmer ones. The effect will be pleasing for all.

You can go for bright colors as an overall look. This has quite a summer feel. This effect is most pleasing during the winter when all too many homes can turn dark and dull. Find a nice spot and arrange some strong vibrant colors. This will instantly warm your home and make visitors feel welcome. The mood lifting will happen too, there is nothing like a burst of color on a dull day. When arranging strong colors, however, take care not to overdo it by having too big a display. Color can look great, but it is best not to beat people around the head with it.

Finally, using plants to decorate is an option that has been around since year dot. Choosing a cactus for the work environment has always proved popular. Perhaps due to their uniqueness, they often liven up the workspace, and definitely prove to be a talking point. If you wish to include exotic plants in your home or office, be aware that they may need extra care and attention. Read the instructions on how to care for them and stick to them.

Color can be used to create a theme. In fact, any plant or flower, when chosen carefully, can set the tome in a house. Experiment with different colors and shapes, and see which mood you can introduce into your home. It is lots of fun, and a hell of a lot cheaper than getting the decorators in.

Create this Graduation or Other Occasion Arrangement

Get your instructions here

Visit My New Website Petal Picker

When you get a change I would love for you to come and visit my newest website at http://www.petalpicker.com.  Come spend some time and learn the meanings of various flowers for all sorts of occasions.  If you feel like it drop me a line with the inline form provided on the site and let me know what you think or perhaps what you would like added to the site.  I am always happy to have visitors and any feedback is welcome.

Tell Us What you Think

We'd love to hear what you think of this issue!  Please send your comments, questions and ideas for upcoming issued to us at:  judybabb@artisticflowerarrangements.com

You could take a floral arranging course at your local college or
design school and easily pay $700 or more for training as a floral design specialist.  It could take you a year or more of having to do arrangements the way a teacher explains them instead of allowing you the freedom to experiment and unleash your own hidden potential.

Flower Arrangements Made Simple