Naoko
Zaimais teaches classes about how to create ikebana arrangements and
sells her arrangements through local stores. She is very affirming and believes
that all Ikebana is precious, beautiful, and loveable—because it has been
created using a sense of feeling and is a reflection of a person’s spirit and
state of mind. She has also recently started a minimalist jewelry business
called The Sheek. She is from Japan but now lives in Santa
Monica, California.

1. History of ikebana.

• There are various theories about the origin of ikebana. But it is thought that ikebana was started as Buddhist ritual flowers. Then ikebana was established as traditional Japanese art of flowers during Muromachi Period. (late 14th century – mid 16th century)

• Even with small amounts of materials (about 3-10 stems), you can make a dynamic, yet poetic arrangement.
• With big amounts of materials, you can also create gorgeous arrangement.
• Dialogue with flowers. Dialogue with the space. Dialog with yourself. (Connecting with inner self.)
• From minimal to dynamic style.

• Kenzan. (Flower frog)
• How to choose a useful size and type of kenzan. (No small kenzan, they can’t hold materials firmly.)
• Ikebana scissors.
• Where to buy Kenzan, scissors, and other tools? (Most things are now available on Amazon.)
• Other useful tools for ikebana. (Green wire, brown wire, pliers, saw, etc.)

• Suitable vessel.
• How to use kenzan well to fix materials firmly.
• How to arrange branches? (Bending branches technique.)
• Vertical composition & Horizontal composition.

• Suitable vases.
• Cross-Bar fixture to fix materials firmly.
• Vertical composition & Horizontal composition.

• Negative space is also a part of the work.

• By using 7-10 stems of 1 kind of flower to create a beautiful arrangement. (Flowers from the grocery markets like Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s are sold by bunch.)
• How to make a focal point.
• Organically-moving arrangement.

• Gorgeous arrangement.
• Big arrangement.
• Arrangement on the floor.

• Using recycling materials.
(Dry materials.)

• Hanging arrangement with wall vases.
• Wreaths. (One of kind style wreaths.)

• Floating arrangement. (Especially for summer.)
• 360 degrees arrangement for table.
• Nice for a dinner party.

• Simplified arrangement.
• The beauty of less is more.
• The beauty in imperfection.

• Only a few kinds of flowers with no leaves or branches.
• Organically-moving arrangement.

• Only a few kinds of leaves with no flowers or branches.
• Palm leaves, monstera, aspidistra, fern leaves, air plants, etc.
• Composition of mass and line.
• Intertwining plant materials.

• Only a few kinds of branches with no flowers or branches.
• Composition of line.
• Vines.

• How to arrange flowers and leaves in a glass vase.
• Cleanly organize the inside of the glass vase.

• By using multiple small vases to make a fun arrangement.
• This arrangement is useful for where the space is limited.

• Using kales, cabbages, Swiss chard, dills, asparagus, more.

• Techniques for personify flowers and plants.

• Similar colors.
• Opposite colors.
• Pastel colors
• Vivid colors.

• Create a rustic and natural yet sophisticated beauty to make a difference than other flower arrangement.