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