Monstera leaves are always very interesting to use because of their wide surface and unusual patterns. However, I wanted to use monstera in a different way this time. I curled the leaves into a ball, overlapping and weaving together!
I had to pay attention not to make it look too heavy! I added a light, gentle horizontal line using branches stripped of their leaves.
Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. -- Miyako
I have this beautiful Shunkei lacquer vase with a long and elegant handle. I decided to intertwine palm leaves around it to show a climbing arrangement, almost like a vine!
To the left of the arrangement, I added steel grass as an extension and overflow of the motion created by the entwined palm.
Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. --Miyako
It is summer and it is green! I took some wild greens growing on the roadside. These stems are interesting. If you look closely enough, you will notice some leaves are flat but others are slightly curled.
I decided to take them apart and re-assemble them to show a climbing motion. The leaves were plucked carefully because I also wanted to show the calyxes.
The bare stems continue the upward movement of the leaves below.
In the midst of the leaves, I placed on lily bud...like something to be found in a treasure-hunt! The dark pink alstroemeria blooms serves to emphasize the contrast between the cream container and the green leaves.
I hope you like it. --Miyako
I have many blue containers and so I thought it would interesting to use a few of them like building blocks. I placed a half-moon container on its side to show a strong face.
To further emphasize this strong surface, I placed flowers behind it. The chrysanthemum on the lower right is made to look as if it is peeking out from behind!
Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. --Miyako
A friend gave me mountain ash branches from a fallen tree. They were from the top of the tree, something not usually easily to get at! The container is a vase that my mother made. It is a solid and hefty piece that goes perfectly well with the strong branches.
Sunflowers herald the coming of summer! Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. --Miyako
We were quite fortunate to get holly branches from someone who was pruning her garden! The leaves were a deep green with a beautiful sheen. I wanted to use the branches even if Christmas season was already over. So I avoided reds and whites and decided to go with what we call in Japanese "vitamin colours" (ビタミンカラー). These are colours that citrus fruits normally have, like orange, yellow and green.
The branch is extended far out to the left in order to create space underneath. This space allows us a glimpse of water below.
I hope you like it. --Miyako
I am very thankful for the opportunity to prepare an ikebana arrangement to accompany the recent Easter Liturgy celebration at our children's school.
I used white palm leaf as a backdrop, a symbol for the sun, dancing for joy! Fresh flowers--chyrsanthemums, alstroemeria, and, ornithogalum.
Perhaps a bit more difficult to notice in the photo are the maple branches behind the white palm. These branches actually have buds on them. Inside are the young leaves getting ready to spring forth!
After the Liturgy, the arrangement was displayed in the school chapel.
I hope you like it. -- Miyako
I thought I'd play with some old pine branches this time. They have been cut quite a while back and the needles have lost their luster. So, I added colour by painting them in gold!
...and some pink lilies to enliven the arrangement!
I hope you like it. --Miyako
Each leaf was peeled off the palm buds and then intertwined to create this "sculptural" arrangement. The idea is to integrate the shape of the braided palm leaves with the the container.
The centre is formed with solidaster and dianthus green trick.
Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. -- MIyako
After a recent storm, I was fortunate to find a fallen branch. This branch had many buds on it, telling us that spring is finally coming!
The little twigs together become strong and provides good balancing contrast to the blooming mums and lilies.
Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. -- Miyako