This week in the studio felt like a quiet little experiment. I played with two different ikebana styles, letting each arrangement find its own mood and rhythm.
It’s always fascinating to me how the same process can lead to something completely different.
Tulips Steal the Show (of course they did)
Sogetsu lines—Shin, Soe, and Hikae—with tulips and calla lily.
Let me tell you how this one came together… because it had the personality of Sogetsu style.
I started with a long stem tulip placing it first as my Shin, the main line. It already had so much movement; I didn’t want to overthink it. I just let it stretch and lead the way.
Then I added calla lily as my Soe. They felt like the calm, elegant support, following the long tulip, not competing with it, just quietly keeping everything in harmony.
And then, two more tulips arrived. Sweet, simple tulips, right? Well, not really. The moment I placed them as the Hikae, they completely changed the mood. Suddenly everything felt warmer, softer… and just a little more fun.
I stepped back, made a tiny adjustment, and there it was. One playful line, one graceful support, and one cheerful little heart.
Nageire Show
Soft, romantic blossoms and a pink tulip in a tall blue vase.
Let me tell you how this one came together… because this one definitely had a soft, romantic mood from the start.
I began with the branch of blossoms, placing it first as my Shin, the main line. It stretched gently from the center of the container to one side. Almost like it was opening its arm. I didn’t want to interrupt that movement, so I just let it flow naturally across the space.
Then I added a second branch as my Soe, supporting that horizontal line and giving the arrangement a bit more fullness and rhythm. It felt like the blossoms were having a quiet moment together.
And then came the beautiful soft pink tulip as the Hikae. I placed it near the mouth of the vase, and suddenly everything softened. It became the heart of the piece, warm, gentle, and just a little bit dreamy. The tall blue container grounds everything and lets the blossoms feel even lighter, almost like they’re floating.
To me, this arrangement feels like spring showing off just a little. Soft, graceful, and quietly joyful… like the season finally saying, “Here I am.”
Quick Ikebana Tip
Did you know? Nageire is a traditional ikebana style from the Ikenobo school, usually created in tall vases called Heika. The word Nageire means the art of “thrown in,” but don’t let that fool you. It’s about placing each stem in a way that feels easy and natural, like everything just happily found its place on its own.