Collage Diva

Playing with Celery

I had some tired celery.

When I cut the base, it reminded me of a kenzan, the Japanese pin holder we use in ikebana to hold the branches and stems. I hear my American peers call it a "frog." I cut additional slits into the stalks and bent them a bit. It looks like a flower, doesn't it?

The three stalks sort of remind me of a tail. I enjoyed having this little arrangement on my kitchen windowsill.

I've missed my ikebana lessons but as you can see I'm getting creative. 

I'm thinking of playing with more food. Let's see what is in the fridge...

Enjoy!

Kathryn, Collage Diva

 

Ikebana - Beauty in the Broken

This is one amazing ikebana arrangement made by a fellow student at Ikebana Flower in Nashua. The vase had mysteriously split in half one day. It was a clean cut, like it had a stress fissure and it was a matter of time when it would break. The two pieces were used in this arrangement and provided a unique look at how something broken can hold so much beauty.

I apologize up front for my poor quality photos. It was crowded at the student show and I rushed to snap shots of the arrangement. From this angle you can see the beautiful lines and movement.

I adore calla lilies and these orange ones are magnificent. The callas look like trumpets heralding good news.

If you've been following my blog, you read this week that I received some upsetting news. I felt broken much like this vase with a quick clean and unexpected cut. Looking at Shari's arrangement, I can see how beautiful even something broken can be. It may take rearranging the pieces a bit, but there is always a place for love, light, and beauty.

Namaste,

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Ikebana: Rejoice!

Here are some photos of an arrangement that my instructor designed. We were hired to provide the flowers for a special dinner party. I thought this arrangement of blue thistle and white callas was simply perfect for Easter. The thistle reminds me of Lent and the callas are like trumpets offering a message of hope.

Happy Easter Monday!

May all of your Easter wishes come true.

{Namaste}

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Ikebana - Spreading

Here is an ikebana arrangement that I made several weeks ago and haven't yet shared here. The lesson or design challenge as I like to think of it, is to create a spreading arrangement that doesn't use a holder. This is a freestyle arrangement and I could do anything I wanted. 

I was drawn to the horsetail - it was fun to bend it to create triangles. I felt like an architect designing a frame or trellis for the orchids. Each triangle was interlocked and balanced to create a spreading arrangement for the center of a table.

I slit a leaf to create a "nest" for the single orchid on the right.

While working on this arrangement I experienced the "messy middle" that point where I felt the struggle. I couldn't quite get the pieces together. I took a break to look at another students work. Walking away from the design challenge was just what I needed. I came back relaxed and loose. The pieces then just clicked into place.

I find this in my life again and again. When I struggle with something or feel resistance, there comes a time when I need to surrender - to let go and allow the pieces to fall together. It calls for trust, trusting that we have what we need. While on my morning walk I was imagining all of my hopes and fears being placed in some strong and capable hands. I could feel those hands cupping mine. The burden seemed small in those hands. In my mind I heard, "You don't have to figure it all out. All you need to do is love." With each step I took on my way home, I wore a smile on my face, knowing that I'm right where I need to be and all I need to do is take the next visible step with love in my heart.

Do you find yourself in the "messy middle" today? Try letting go of your frustration, resistance, and burden. Go for a walk and imagine turning over the burden. Trust that you too have everything you need.

Namaste,

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Ikebana Floating Arrangement

The lesson this week is a floating arrangement.

I'm eager to see the white cherry blossom throughout the week.

The flower is a tulip that I opened up. Doesn't it look like a water lily? The leaf curled so easily in my hands. It is a simple and lovely arrangement that reminds me of spring.

Enjoy!

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Ikebana - Book 2 Lesson 15

I selected Safari Sunset (the red flowers) and Grevallia (the unusual yellow flowers) for this arrangement. Both materials are from South Africa.

This is a view from the back side. Careful consideration was given so the arrangement looks good from all sides.

Here is a look at how my little kitchen is transformed into a photo studio. Pretty high tech, eh?

When I zoom in on the materials I notice more of the details.

I love all of the different textures and colors.

When selecting the materials for this arrangement I started with this unusual flower from the protea family. I try to use at least one different material for each lesson.

Although I don't have a garden, I am delighted to be able to bring nature into my home each week with a new flower arrangement. I've never met an Ikebana arrangement I didn't love.

Namaste,

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Ikebana - Hope & Joy

The lesson this week in my Ikebana studies is an arrangement for a tabletop. The materials are placed low in the dish so the guests around the table can see one another. Consideration of each flower and branch is given so the arrangement looks lovely from all sides.

No matter what arrangement I make, I love it from this angle. Check out the great shadows in this shot.

White containers are only used during the winter snowy months and in the summer when we need to cool down.

I selected calla lilies for their long sweeping stems. This arrangement would work well on a large dining room table. The calla lilies look like trumpets heralding the first signs of spring as seen by the yellow hyacinth. The hyacinth are among the first to break through the cold, hard ground. When I look at this arrangement I see hope and joy.

Additional leaves were carefully placed to hide the kenzan. I love how it fills in and gives the impression of how they might look in a garden bed.

The yellow hyacinth, so sunny and fragrant, is a picture of joy.

This arrangement would make a lovely centerpiece for an Easter table. 

It is time for me return to my kitchen table and sit with this arrangement and my journal.

Thanks for stopping by!

Namaste,

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Ikebana - Leaning in

This week my ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) lesson revealed so much about an old pattern I have in dealing with strong emotions of the heavy hearted variety like disappointment and sadness. In the lesson we are taking the materials that would be in one kenzan (holder) and we are splitting them into two kenzans.

I arranged the materials on the left kenzan first and as I was working on the right side, my teacher observed that it looks like I'm having a conflict in a relationship. I know I looked at her with wide eyes with surprise as I was feeling heavy hearted about a relationship. "How did she know?" I thought, "Am I that much of an open book? I haven't said anything." In the photo on the left above, look at the branch on the right. This is the supporting "companion" material for the orchids just in front of it. Notice how the line is so straight compared to the beautifully curvy branches on the left. To remedy this problem, I selected another branch, one with a better curved line as seen in the photo on the right. 

It seemed easier with the flowing line of the branch to place it in harmony with the orchids.

Additional small branches were added to the arrangement in the right kenzan. In the photo on the left, you can see how there is too much space between the two arrangements. My teacher described it as if these two arrangements were having an argument. It does look as if the arrangement on the right is looking away from the left one. The fix was to add another stem of orchids. I knew to place it leaning toward the other arrangement as if it was reaching out.

When photographing my arrangements, I like to look at the relationship of the companions. Here we can see how the branch and the flowers work together.

At the other side of the container, the orchids fill the space between the branches. It feels like an embrace, doesn't it?

Here is another angle showing this embrace.

When I looked behind the arrangement, I noticed how the materials were reflected in the water.

It is almost as if there was no gap between the two arrangements.

Here is a look at the arrangement in the Tokonoma. Every time I work on an arrangement and step back to look at it, I feel a warmth around my heart and then an explosion like fireworks. Last night was no different. I selected the bleached kiwi branches to represent the starkness of winter. The vibrant orchids reflect how passionate I feel these days and also make a great tribute to the Chinese New Year celebration. Last year was the Year of the Tiger. In 2011 we enter the Year of the Rabbit, a more peaceful time. It is good that I removed all strife from this arrangement, it is a better reflection of the type of year I want to have - in balance, harmony, and peace.

Although I had entered class last night with a heavy heart, I softened and discovered something new - next time I will try leaning into difficult emotions rather than pulling back and retreating. This morning while photographing the arrangement, I realized that creating art whether it is a flower arrangement, collage, or photograph, is an essential way for me to communicate my ideas and feelings. This morning I felt like I heard my heart and it is happy that I get it.

Today's Zen Card is on balance:

The center is not

always the point of

balance. When you find

that place where

BALANCE is

achieved, peace will

result in all situations.

There is no conflict, for

everything RESTS

without strain.

Ikebana is about finding balance. Not all students consider how their arrangements are a metaphor for balancing the relationships in their own lives. For me however, ikebana is so much more than creating a pleasing arrangement - it is a very personal and transformative experience.

Today I am filled with so much gratitude for the opportunity to learn ikebana from my teacher Antoinette.

 

Christmas Decorating - Collage Diva Style

I have affectionately called my small place a tree house. Rather than setting up a large tree I pulled out this slender one.

Silver glittery stars, white lights and ribbons, keys, and origami birds decorate the tree.

A couple of Laini's Ladies found a home nestled among some white pearl-like berries.

This pheasant ornament, a gift from last year, is perched in a red martini glass. Left over dried red celiosa flowers add a touch of texture and color.

Next to the tree is one of my recent ikebana arrangements. The lesson was "freestyle" which meant I didn't have to follow any rules.

I can see the influence of my lessons in how I cut and arranged the white spider mums.

I had never seen eucalyptus pods before. They remind me of little bells.

I love the contrast of lines in the vase with the curved lines in the branches. Even the colors of the pods and the vase are akin.

In our assignment we were to look at the details and make discoveries. I gently bent and twisted the branches to curve, twist, and interlock. Here you can see how I used the tight twist of the branches to hold the flower stem in place. I like the subtle distinction between the fresh stem and the dried branches.

Here is another interest pattern with the lines of the branches. In most western arrangements, it is hard to notice these details.

My favorite shots seem to always be the macros. Here we can really pick up on the texture and colors of the pods and vase.

Wishing you and your family a lovely Christmas!

{soul hugs}

Kathryn, Collage Diva

Ikebana Book 2 Lesson 11

In today's lesson, the materials are split between two kenzans. Notice how each side is perfectly balanced and would work on their own. The space created between the two ends is really important.

A bird's eye view.

View of the tokonoma. 

Materials: Bleached kiwi branches and Queen Protea

The petals of the flowers look like feathers and the inside of this flower is soft like a black sweater. Not only do I love working with exotic materials but in Ikebana every flower, leaf, and branch is important. I've seen protea in Western arrangements but haven't really seen them as they get lost in the mass of other flowers. My color choice, red and white, was selected to create a stunning Christmas showpiece.