Shinichi Nagatsuka [永塚慎] - Easy Ikebana: 30 Beautiful Flower Arrangements You Can Make in Three Simple Steps

ABOUT THIS BOOK

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This book is designed to help beginners who have no experience in flower arranging to learn the basics through three simple steps. We introduce flowers you can find in supermarkets and flower shopsmaybe even in your own gardenso that anyone can enjoy learning the art of flower arranging. offers ideas and techniques for creating beautiful yet simple arrangements to suit a variety of spaces and aesthetics. Every arrangement will use limited numbers and kinds of flowers so they can be arranged daily. There is no need to take flower arranging too seriously. You can do itall you need are a pair of scissors, a vase, water and flowers.

We hope this book will help you lighten and brighten your life with flowers. CHAPTER 1 GETTING STARTED Whether your approach to arranging starts with the flowers or with the vase that holds them, or your tastes lean toward wild flowers from your daily walks or toward the most exotic flowers in your local shop, its easy to make arrangements that resonate and please the eye. Here, we show you a few tips for getting ready to start, before moving on to flowers and techniques in . THE ONLY TOOL USED IN THIS BOOK

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The only tool used in this book is a pair of scissors. All you need to do is to prepare a vase of your choice and the flowers youd like to use. FLOWER SCISSORS Use flower/gardening scissors rather than crafting scissors.

A variety of flower scissors can be found at nurseries and home centers as well as online. Buy a pair that will fit your hand comfortably and is fluorine-treated. Fluorine-treated scissors are easy to maintain as well as rust-resistant. Wash soil off with water and dry completely after use. Store them in a dry place. Use these scissors only on flowers, leaves, twigs and plants.

Especially avoid using them on wire or other metal, as this will damage the blade. Left-handed scissors are also available. BUYING FLOWERS AND KEEPING THEM HEALTHY

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Here are some things to remember when buying cut flowers and keeping them healthy until its time to arrange them. HOW TO CHOOSE FLOWERS Though the important details to watch for may differ from flower to flower, one common detail is that the flower should be fresh. It is important that the flowers be free of dings and scratches and do not look dry or withered. Some flowers (such as gerbera and lisianthus) produce pollen in the late stages of blooming.

Choose flowers without pollen. It is important that the leaves be firm, healthy and green. In shops that allow you to hand pick your flowers, choose flowers with firm stems. THE BASICS OF WATERING

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Watering is just thatgiving flowers water to keep them healthy. Flowers purchased at flower shops and supermarkets have generally been kept in water, so can be arranged as soon as they are brought home. Next page