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Dear Friends, It’s hard to believe that 25% of 2013 is gone - I haven’t even made my New Years’ Resolutions! That’s the bad news. The good news is that its spring - time for blooming and leafing branches and flowers everywhere. Make the most of all that spring has to offer and create some beautiful ikebana arrangements. At our March 18 program, Taeko Horwitz set the bar really high. She, along with Yoko Cotton, Aki Ishiguro, Kiyomi Kurihara and Masako Nakahashi, presented a program on “Go Sekku,” the five festivals in the Japanese year. We learned about Seven Grasses Day, Girls Day, Children’s Day, Star Festival and Chrysanthemum Festival.

All around the room numerous tables were filled with items that represent these festival days. Taeko gave a presentation about each of the festivals, and the other participants displayed flower arrangements that would be common on the festival day. Brian Dalton brought his Hani Doll display, which was worthy of all the oohs and ahhs that it got! In addition, Aki make sweets for everyone who came to this meeting. They even formed an impromptu singing group and sang, in Japanese, songs that are typical for each festival. This was a great program on Japanese culture, and it was FUN. By the time our next program comes up, tax day, April 15, will have come and gone – so you can’t use “I have to do my taxes” as an excuse for missing our program on Thursday, April 18. Tokiko Matsumoto, Director of the Ohara School in Houston, will be our guest demonstrator for “Ohara in the Springtime.” Ohara School emphasizes arranging to characterize the seasons, the beauty of natural settings and the patterns of growth in nature. Our April 18 program is a very fitting way for us to prepare for Earth Day, which is on Monday, April 22. (http://www.earthday.org/2013/) MEMBERSHIP DUES – let’s keep this really simple: $75. - If you pay on or before April 18, 2013 $80. - If you pay after April 18 $80. plus Ikebana HQ penalty if we receive your payment after June 15

Bring a guest to our April 18 program, And we’ll give you a real deal $70. – – Same as this year’s dues.

In friendship through flowers, Patricia O’Reilly ~ President

April & May Events

Thursday, April 18 I.I. Dallas Chapter #13

Ohara in the Springtime! ~ Tokiko Matsumato,

Director, Ohara School, Houston – Demonstration and

a mini-workshop, followed by an optional boxed lunch

with Sensei Matsumato St. Basil Byzantine Catholic

Church Community Hall; 1118 East Union Bower Road;

Irving 75061 (see details and directions on following page)

Friday, April 13 I.I. Fort Worth Chapter #38 Hanging Arrangements ~ Sharman Palmer, Sogetsu School.

There will be new items in Chapter 38 Ways & Means

Texas Garden Club Headquarters, Fort Worth.

Thursday, April 25 Sogetsu Dallas Branch

Composition of Straight & Curved Lines ~ Book 3, Lessons 5, 6, and 7 ~ Nan Mitchell, Sanyo Lovers

Lane United Methodist Church.

Friday, May 10 I.I. Fort Worth Chapter #38

End of Year Luncheon ~ Installation of Officers for 2013 – 2014 Joan Stanley’s Home (RSVP)

Thursday, May 16 I.I. Dallas Chapter #13 55th Anniversary Celebration with Catered Luncheon ~ Installation of Officers for 2013 – 2014 Sue Smith’s

Home (RSVP by May 1)

Thursday, May 23 Sogetsu Dallas Branch

Using Both Fresh and Unconventional Materials ~ Amira Matsuda, Somu ~ Book 4, Lesson 11 Lovers

Lane United Methodist Church, Dallas

Dallas Chapter 13

Follow us on www.ikebana-dfw.org

April 2013 Newsletter

APRIL 18 KEBABANA MARKET

LOTS OF NEW MERCHANDISE – END OF YEAR PRICING!!

CONTAINERS FROM JAPAN, KENZANS MADE IN USA,

OTHER SPECIAL MERCHANDISE

Come Early for Best Selection

(Cash, Check, Credit Card)

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OHARA IN THE SPRINGTIME April 18, 2013

April 18, 2013 Program Location St. Basil’s Byzantine Catholic Church

1118 East Union Bower Road Community Hall Irving, TX 75061

Get map here: http://mapq.st/12tFZpp or http://y.ahoo.it/oAGGwQ1L

TOKIKO MATSUMOTO

President, Ohara School, Houston Chapter and Sub-Grand Master of the Ohara School of Ikebana

Join us for a fascinating Program by Tokiko Matsumoto Sensei showing us how to enjoy the springtime pleasures of the Ohara arrangement. After her demonstration, Mrs. Matsumoto will conduct a mini-workshop, demonstrating a basic Ohara arrangement that we all can enjoy. If requested, she will provide advice on your arrangement, but will not do a critique. After our Program (approximately 12:30 pm) we will have a “Meet and Greet” Luncheon with Matsumoto Sensei, both welcoming her to Dallas Chapter 13 and thanking her for her Program. Demo & Mini Workshop No Charge!! Optional Lunch $10 Lunch will be an assorted sandwich platter, with condiments, side salad, fruit salad, cookies, and beverages. – A good deal for $10! Great News! – Mary Lib Saleh, herself an Ohara Sensei, will be joining us, and will serve as an assistant for Mrs. Matsumoto.

Please email or call Diann Contestabile: Marydiann36@aol.com

972-717-7416

Let Diann know that you are coming to the Program and whether or not you are staying for

Lunch. You can pay the day of, but once you commit, we will expect you to honor it.

Pictured on the right: The Go Sekku Program Team - Kiyomi Kurihara, Aki Ishiguro, Masako Nakahashi, Yoko Cotton and Takeo Horwitz

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SPECIAL UPCOMING EVENTS!

Saturday, April 13 ~ “Flowercade”Ways & Means and Ikebana Exhibit at Fort Worth Botanic Garden—Deborah Beggs Moncrief Garden Center; Sponsored by the Garden Club Council of Fort Worth Saturday & Sunday, April 13 & 14 ~ Local Artist Exhibit and Ikebana by Sogetsu Dallas Branch. Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Road, Dallas 75220. Saturday & Sunday, April 20 – 21 ~ Japanese Spring Festival at the Japanese Gardens, Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. Fort Worth Chapter 38 will exhibit members’arrangements, do demonstrations and sell ikebana-related items. Show your support by offering to bring an arrangement, or stopping by their exhibit.

Saturday, May 25 ~ International Festival – Along Flora Street in the Dallas Arts District (10 am – 7 pm). Dallas Chapter 13 will have an exhibit tent, where members will exhibit arrangements, do demonstrations and sell ikebana-related items. This will be a fun event for both children and adults and a great opportunity to spread ikebana spirit! Please sign up to help in the planning phase, or agree to make an arrangement, do a demo, sell merchandise or just be a good ikebana ambassador. Contact: Patricia O’Reilly at 214-680-9986.

Gosekku Festival Days