APRIL MEETING - KOKEDAMA

The guest speaker at Tuesday's meeting was Rachael Binnie, a plant enthusiast who is keen advocate of DIY activities. She is a self-taught expert in the art of making Kokedama, Japanese moss balls. 

Ms Binnie became fascinated by Kokedama when she spent three years living in Japan. At the meeting she demonstrated two styles of making Kokedama, while dispensing practical information about the process of making and maintaining your Kokedama.

This example was made with a very loose style of binding that holds the moss around the outside of the soil mass. 

In her second example Ms Binnie used more twine around the outside moss covering. In some examples the binding is applied in such a way as to make decorative patterning.

Following the guest speaker's presentation Betty Karanikolopoulos demonstrated three examples of Sogetsu Ikebana inspired by Kokedama. Here she is explaining how she covered an inflated balloon with pine needles to resemble a Kokedama.

This is her completed work.

This second example features a sphere covered with Aeonium rosettes.

The third example was made using a sphere of narrow strips of brown paper. The lightness of the materials was such that it could be arranged in a small vase.

Below are members examples of ikebana on the themes of using green materials and inspired by Kokedama.

Lucy Papas.

Angeline Lo.

Chieko Yazaki.

Jenny Loo.

Helen Marriott.

Sally Wilkinson.

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW 2024

At this year's Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show there was a bold display by members of five ikebana schools belonging to the Melbourne Chapter of Ikebana International. The theme was celebration, for the 65th anniversary of the Chapter. Each of the ikebana arrangements presented characteristic styles of their schools and featured gold and silver Mizuhiki. All of the works were presented in black vessels on white plinths. The ikebana stood out against the red wall at the back of the display but were united by their colour themes. 

The Display won a silver medal in the "Floral Design" section. Below are the individual arrangements shown from left to right in the photo above.

Lucy Papas, Sogetsu School.

Chieko Yazaki, Shogetsudo Koryu.

Magdelena O'Kane, Shogetsudo Koryu.

Angela Chau and Joanne Huang, Ikenobo School.

Felicia Huang, Ohara School.

Emily Karanikolopoulos, Sogetsu School.

Naomi Cullen, Ichiyo School.

Cym Reeves, Sogetsu School.

Celebrating the opening of the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show left to right: Chieko Yazaki - Head of Shogetsudo Koryu Melbourne, Mrs Shimada - Patron and wife of the Consul-general of Japan in Melbourne, Julie Ireland - Exhibition Coordinator, Ms Miguchi - Vice Consul-General of Japan.

Thanks to Lei Wang for the photography and post production work on the images above. 

MARCH MEETING

The March meeting marked the 65th anniversary of the Melbourne Chapter of Ikebana International. As has become our custom, a birthday cake was made by Marjorie Campkin-Smith.

The cake was cut by Mrs Shimida (right), the Co-patron of the Chapter with her husband the Consul-General of Japan. In the centre is Elizabeth Angell, the 16^th President of I.I. Melbourne, and on the left Marjorie Campkin-Smith, the 23rd President.

The Guest speaker at the meeting was Anna Konecny, who has become an expert in the art of making Mizuhiki jewellery as well as other decorative forms. 

Anna has been making Japanese Washi paper for a long time but only in recent years has she developed a strong interest in making Mizuhiki jewellery which has gained wide attention. Mizuhiki is made from tightly wound Washi paper. 

At the meeting she showed examples of her work and taught the members how to make a plum flower with Mizuhiki.

This Omukaebana, welcoming ikebana, was created by Chieko Yazaki using bare branches, fresh pine, a pine cone and two elaborate Mizuhiki knots. 

Below are ikebana arrangements made by some of the members present at the meeting.

Yuko Asano

Emily Karanikolopoulos

Betty  Karanikolopoulos

Midori Nakajima

Karen Thode

Wendy Sun

Akemi Suzuki

Nobuko Kobayashi

Beverley Webster

Helen Marriott

Reiko Ito