On Saturday 29th, my teacher Shoso did a demonstration at the Made In Japan shoo. Rather than showing the usual traditional moribana, Shoso Sensei has shown us the tips and tricks to achieve a more professional result.

He first made a small arrangement to illustrate what was a good base and how important it was. Also, demonstrating the methods to create the "Good base" - one that will keep the work intact.
Techniques like bending a small branch, wiring etc were all used in the 3 arrangements he made.

The last piece was a "larger" arrangement which Shoso Sensei started by building the framework with branches. He spent a long time in making that, carefully explaining that, the longer you spend on the base structure, the better it would be for the design. Then adding floral would take less time.

I think it was a very interesting workshop. Many only see ikebana in very traditional styles but there is a lot more to be seen from the Sogetsu ikebana. And the workshop was just a glimps of it.

I started my love of ikebana at church.  About 12 years ago I was asked to make florals for the Sunday service but I knew nothing about flower arranging.  Who know that a simple need for some aesthetic guidance at first has turned into a passion for the art which I am still pursuing after more than a decade.  I am privileged to be able to make arrangements for churches in different occasions other than weddings.  Working within a religious space, I tried to put more attention on the work and its meaning in that space.  Though many churches today have "modern spaces" which visually present a very nice "backdrop/ background" for the arrangements, the significance of the spiritual religious importance is so strong that, it can not be seen merely as an "exhibition" space.  The many layers of religious ideas open up a whole new world of inspirations.  Resulting something that can have such rich meaning interlacing with that space.  For me, the most basic thing is, having arrangements in the church is bringing part of God's creations back in His "home".  

Which little part of the creations I want to "bring" in today?

Then, I get to build on that as I design the work.