San Francisco Bay Area Chapter #31 

Katsuko Thielke studied Ikebana Sogetsu and earned her teaching degree in 1969. Katsuko has been teaching Ikebana for over 45 years. Her work has been displayed in the annual Bouquets to Art show at the de Young Museum for over 25 years. Katsuko is also the author of five beautifully illustrated books on the art and technique of Ikebana.

Yvonne Ip was introduced to Ikebana Sogetsu while studying retail floristry at Mission College in Santa Clara in 2009. After completing that program, she enrolled as a student of Katsuko Thielke. She has been learning and practicing Ikebana Sogetsu and has received her teaching certificates.

Jennie Cho Li’s journey into the world of Ikebana began in 2018 under the guidance of my sensei, Katsuko Thielke, who opened the door to this beautiful art form. Through Ikebana, she has developed a deep appreciation for the life cycle of plant materials—their past, present, and future—each stage holding its own unique character and creative potential. She has exhibited her work at Boutique to Art and is a member of the flower committees at the De Young Museum and the Asian Art Museum.

Diane Shen is an artist with over six years of dedicated experience in the Sogetsu school of Ikebana. Her passion for floral artistry extends beyond personal practices, and she specializes in creating modern, expressive floral arrangements that blend traditional Japanese artistry with contemporary creativity. She crafts her own vases, designed to complement her floral creations. This unique combination allows her to achieve a cohesive artistic vision, enhancing the beauty and meaning of each arrangement.

Sutthisri “Bisu” Watson studied the art of Thai flower arranging as a child in Bangkok. She relocated to the US in 1970 and after her retirement in 2005 she went back to study flower arts again but this time to study Sogetsu Ikebana with Katsuko Thielke. She received her teaching certificate from Tokyo head quarter in 2013. She participated in several flower shows in San Francisco. Her special interest is working with bamboo.

Ayako Yamamura was born and raised in Japan and then moved to Northern California. In 2017, she started attending Sogetsu School by Katsuko Thielke. Since then she has participated in Sogetsu ikebana events in the US and Japan, and has received the Sogetsu Teacher’s Diploma.