A CHILDREN'S WORKSHOP.

The first event in 2020 for the Melbourne Chapter of  I.I. was held on Thursday 23rd January during the summer school holidays. Members of Ikebana International Melbourne Chapter conducted two Children's Ikebana Workshops at the MUJI Chadstone store. 

The workshops were led by Chieko Yazaki and assisted by Helen Marriott, Rachel Lok, Chiemi Daly and Jenny Loo. Our Chapter President, Trish Ward and two MUJI staff were also present.

The 45 minute workshops were designed for up to 10 children between 5 and 12 years of age. In all 18 children participated, some of whom were outside the planned age range. 

Chieko gave a brief talk about Ikebana and showed the basic structure by a sketch and then demonstrated the exercise.

Each child was given a plastic vase with oasis, a pair of hasami (scissors) and a bunch of material including: Emu grass, Gerberas & Alstromeria.

The children could hardly wait to start and worked enthusiastically finishing their arranging in 20 minutes.

The parents and helpers were busy watching children handle hasami safely and assisting where necessary. Mothers were busy taking photos of their children with final arrangements. 

The Children and mothers were very happy making their ikebana and were pleased to be able to take their creations home after the workshop. Some said that they will place the Ikebana arrangements on the Chinese New Year celebration table. 

The workshop was successful as it was conducted safely and everyone involved was happy. This workshop was the first such event at the MUJI Chadstone store and the culmination of many meetings over a period months between I.I. and MUJI management.

The children proudly received a Certificate of Achievement for participation, which was designed by Rachel Lok.

LAST MEETING FOR 2019

The last meeting of the Melbourne Chapter for 2019 was held on Tuesday 12th November attended by forty three members and two visitors. This was the final meeting of our 60th year which was full of exciting activities including our 60th birthday meeting and exhibition at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show that took place in the last week of March (The blue text are links that will take you to the posts about those events). 

As is our practise at the last meeting of the year members donated money and Christmas gifts for the children's charity, Cottage by the Sea.

Margaret Wilson, a Sogetsu practitioner gave a demonstration of ikebana on the theme of a New Year Celebration. She commented that she deliberately decided to make her work informal and to use Australian native materials as the main focus of her ikebana. The large red flowers are Warratahs, the State floral emblem of New South Wales. The soft blue-grey mass is Cushion Bush. 

Margaret playfully added a spiral of gold and silver mizuhiki to give her ikebana a lighthearted celebratory feel.

Below are arrangements on the same theme made by members at the meeting.

Anne Conrick, Ohara School.

Betty Karanikolopoulos, Sogetsu School.

Chieko Yazaki, Shogetsudo koryu School.

Elizabeth Angell, Sogetsu School.

Emily Karanikolopoulos, Sogetsu School.

Felicia Huang, Ohara School.

Helen Gray, Sogetsu School.

Helen Marriott, Shogetsudo koryu School.

Josephine Tan, Ohara School.

Judy Hajdu, Ohara School.

Lee Johnstone, Sogetsu School.

Margaret Leung, Sogetsu School.

Midori Nakajima, Sogetsu School.

Nicole McDonald, Sogetsu School.

Rachel Lok, Shogetsudo koryu School.

Sally Wilkinson, Ohara School.

Toula Karanikolopoulos, Sogetsu School.

BOTANICA FESTIVAL at RIPPONLEA

This year, the 60th anniversary of the Melbourne Chapter of Ikebana International, has been a very busy one with many activities in addition to the monthly meetings and workshops. Some of these have been on a smaller scale involving fewer members but still presenting the art of Ikebana and promoting the activities of the Melbourne Chapter. 

Most recently, following the interest created by the members' workshop during the the Chapter visit to the Ripponlea Estate, we were invited to exhibit in the mansion to support the Botanica Festival on Sunday 20th October. This is a garden and sustainability festival that attracted 1,600 attendees to Ripponlea. Ten ikebana works were displayed in selected locations within the mansion. These were domestic scaled works that brought the fresh life of ikebana to both reception and private rooms.

Table in the Entrance Hall. Helen Marriott, Shogetsudo koryu School.

Side table in the Drawing Room. Felicia Huang, Ohara School.

Circular Table in the Drawing Room. Yukako Braun, Ikenobo School.

Small Table in the Conservatory. Margaret Wilson, Sogetsu School.

Table in the Sitting room. Marjorie Campkin-Smith, Sogetsu School.

Side table in the Sitting Room. Lorraine Langley, Ikenobo School.

Hall-table opposite the foot of the main staircase. Katrina Cunningham, Ichiyo School.

Table beside the main staircase. Josephine Tan, Ohara School.

Carved stone pedestal in Master Bedroom ensuite bathroom. Beverley Webster, Sogetsu School.

Breakfast table in Master Bedroom. Trish Ward, Sogetsu School. 

Editors note: This photograph is taken from the back of the arrangement for the purpose of showing the work in the context of the room.