Ikebana, or "making flowers alive" in Japanese, is the ancient art
of formal flower arrangement.
Practiced since the seventh century, the true goal of Ikebana is to take
a few beautiful flowers and plants and tastefully present them in very
simple containers to enhance home decor. The 53 elegant designs featured
in Japanese Ikebana for Every Season are perfect for special
occasions--Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, birthday, anniversary--or any
event that calls for a flower bouquet.
The key to proper Ikebana arrangements is to understand a few
straightforward principles--like the idea of mitate, seeing old things
with new eyes--and to learn a few easy techniques to stabilize and
support plants inside a vase or container. Using common flowers and
plants from the garden, a nearby field or forest, or the local florist,
anyone can easily create lovely Ikebana in just a few minutes.
Authors Rie Imai and Yuji Ueno explain how to select flowers and
containers from things that are already around--and then turn them into
something special. The basic instructions in the book cover a wide range
of styles that encourage readers to use their own creativity rather than
copying traditional and highly technical Ikebana design concepts.
No matter what time of year it is and regardless of your taste or
budget, the arrangements in this book will lend a touch of Japanese
elegance to your home.
