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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

My first public exhibition, at the National Arboretum as part of Ikebana Internatiknal Chapter 1 Washington DC. This is a Hana-Isho Rising Form arrangement of the Ohara School using pink dogwood branches, protea flowers, and beech fern.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

This is the arrangement I made at this afternoon’s Ikebana International workshop. The idea was to use glass, whether as the container or in the arrangement. The glass here is actually a lantern, and a small container inside holds the cedar branches and red and white flowers.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

This the arrangement I made for our ikebana workshop this afternoon. The idea was to use glass, either as the container or in the arrangement. The glass here is actually a lantern, and the glass has bubbles in it.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

I made this one-row arrangement in Ikebana class this morning. I added a little to the difficulty by choosing a very narrow container. What do you think?

Ikebana flower arrangement with three parts in a long, narrow low vase. The main materials are cedar branches, along with light-purple ranunculus blossoms, small white star-shaped phlox, and a larger greenish-purple Star-shaped flower whose name I can’t remember.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

My first Moribana Kansui-kei (Water-Reflecting Style), and also my first time working with shippo. I’m very happy with how it turned out. #Ikebana #Ohara

Ikebana flower arrangement of three large yellow chrysanthemum blooms plus five pussy willow branches, in a low blue round container.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

My daughter loves Disney movies and gave me this lego set, so I made this arrangement showing Moana escaping from a huge wave to mark Shichi-Go-San (7-5-3), the day celebrating children in Japan.

Ikebana arrangement in a low blue container incorporating a LEGO set of an oceangoing canoe from the Disney movie Moana. The plant materials are little leaves to suggest the wave cresting over the canoe and small white daisies to suggest foam. A separate piece of carved wood suggests an island behind the canoe.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

The altar arrangement I created for tomorrow’s worship service.

Altar arrangement incorporating several large winter squash, pepper bushes, ornamental kale, magenta Gerbera daisies, and a pomegranate.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

My Moribana Chokuritsu-kei upright style) from today’s #ikebana class with my #Ohara-ryu sensei Yuko Wain.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

I just finished Crossing the River, by Caryl Phillips. What a novel. About the African diaspora. In the hands of a very, very assured writer. Oh my.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

I decided the fireplace is boring when there’s no fire.

Ikebana of white and yellow daisies plus a single rose in a shallow dark grey container, placed on a wooden pig board in a fireplace with a black background, with a ceramic tea bowl and a cloth showing carp placed nearby.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 06/07/2025

I just created this #ikebana arrangement using the #tenugui that my son gifted me yesterday.

Ikebana with sunflowers, nandina leaf fronds, dried Chinese lantern pods, and a light-orange-and-white patterned cloth in a one-row container.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

Today’s altar arrangement for Westmoreland Congregational #UCC in Bethesda Maryland.

Altar arrangement incorporating deep red gerbera daisies, red dahlias, orange ranunculus, and a large bright yellow bowl tipped up to look almost like a sun. Also greens and several candles.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Today’s meeting of Ikebana International Chapter #1 (Washington DC), focused on creating #ikebana representing each level of a Japanese pagoda, was outstanding. I’m lucky to live in a city with such a vibrant chapter and with such talented ikebana artists for me to learn from!

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Arrangement by Alice Litchfield (Ichiyo school) representing Space or Sky, for the 5th level of a five-level pagoda, and responding to this Basho haiku: From time to time The clouds give rest to The moon beholders. At today’s #Ikebana International Chapter #1 (DC) program on Japanese Pagodas.

Arrangement incorporating a shallow container on a tripod, a length of bamboo balanced at a diagonal, several branches of greenery protruding from the bamboo, and a large white hydrangea representing the moon.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Arrangement by Patti Lemmerman (Sogetsu school) representing Wind, for the 4th level of a five-level pagoda, and responding to this Shiki haiku: The lantern blown out; The sound of the wind Through the trees. At today’s #Ikebana International Chapter #1 (DC) program on Japanese Pagodas.

Arrangement incorporating a vertical container, strongly right-swept branches and greenery, silver leaves, and several white flowers, also strongly swept to the right.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Arrangement by Alice Buch (Ohara school) representing Fire, for the 3rd level of a five-level pagoda, and responding to this Basho haiku: You make the fire; I’ll show you something wonderful: A big ball of snow. Built at today’s #Ikebana International Chapter #1 (DC) program on Japanese Pagodas.

Arrangement incorporating two pieces of wood, flowers in red chrysanthemum and kangaroo paws representing embers, orange lily and gerbera daisy representing flames, a few Japanese maple, and in a separate container a large white hydrangea representing a ball of snow.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Arrangement by Lanna Mai (Ikenobo school) representing Water, for the 2nd level of a five-level pagoda, and responding to this Basho haiku: Petals of the mountain rose Fall now and then: The roar of the waterfall. At today’s #Ikebana International Chapter #1 (DC) program on Japanese Pagodas.

Arrangement incorporating greenery falling like water, a leaf flowing out to the side representing a river, flowers in purple, red, and peach representing villages, greenery representing mountains, and a branch of rose with petals ready to drop.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Arrangement by Susan Kasa (Saga Goryu school) representing Earth, for the first level of a five-level pagoda, and responding to this Basho haiku: Along the mountain road Somehow it tugs at my heart: A wild violet. At today’s #Ikebana International Chapter #1 (DC) program on Japanese Pagodas.

Arrangement incorporating a strong container, triangular rock, several branches, several kinds of greenery, and small yellow coreopsis, the color representing earth.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Altar arrangement celebrating our Music Director. His favorite colors are blue and silver/grey. #Music #Ikebana #FlowerArranging #UCC

Altar arrangement combining a keyboard, a trombone, a French horn, dark blue delphinium, light blue hydrangea, and several dried flowers that are grey or silver.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

I did this arrangements at today’s workshop for #Ikebana International Chapter No. 1 for the Washington DC area. The idea was simply to use tulips to convey the transition from late winter to spring. These tulips (plus one daffodil) came from my yard, and are paired with a nearly-dead plum branch.

Arrangement using one fully open tulip of red with orange trim at front, one red tulip at lower left, one peach tulip at upper left, one plum branch with remains of blossoms thrusting up and to the right, and one white daffodil with yellow-and-orange center, all in a tall straight brown ceramic vase with a pattern slanting down and to the left.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Exhibited at the Ohara Spring Social hosted by my sensei, Yuko Wain of MaYu Ikebana Studio. #Ikebana #Ohara-Ikebana

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Exhibited at the Ohara Spring Social hosted by my sensei, Yuko Wain of MaYu Ikebana Studio. #Ikebana #Ohara-Ikebana

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

#Ikebana using equisetum, by a member of the Saturday workshop of Ikebana International Chapter #1, Washington DC. Isn’t it beautiful?

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

#Ikebana using equisetum, by a member of the Saturday workshop of Ikebana International Chapter #1, Washington DC. Isn’t it beautiful?

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Exhibited at the Ohara Spring Social hosted by my sensei, Yuko Wain of MaYu Ikebana Studio. #Ikebana #Ohara-Ikebana

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

#Ikebana using equisetum, by a member of the Saturday workshop of Ikebana International Chapter #1, Washington DC. Isn’t it beautiful?

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

My first Hanamai arrangement, done under the tutelage of Sub Grand Master Jose Salcedo at the Southeastern U.S. Ohara Chapter workshop. (I ended up trying several versions, so maybe I’ll post some photos of other versions.) #Ikebana #Ohara-Ikebana

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

My Moribana Slanting Style arrangement done under the tutelage of Sub Grand Master Jose Salcedo at the Southeastern U.S. Ohara Chapter workshop. #Ikebana #Ohara-Ikebana

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

My Heika Rising Form arrangement done under the tutelage of Sub Grand Master Jose Salcedo at the Southeastern U.S. Ohara Chapter workshop. #Ikebana #Ohara-Ikebana

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

My Hana-Isho Upright arrangement in a hibiku vase done under the tutelage of Sub Grand Master Jose Salcedo at the Southeastern U.S. Ohara Chapter workshop. #Ikebana #Ohara-Ikebana

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

My Moribana Upright Style arrangement done under the tutelage of Sub Grand Master Jose Salcedo at the Southeastern U.S. Ohara Chapter workshop. #Ikebana #Ohara-Ikebana

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

My first Traditional Arrangement of Rohdea japonica, done under the tutelage of Sub Grand Master Jose Salcedo at the Southeastern U.S. Ohara Chapter workshop. #Ikebana #Ohara-Ikebana

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Two #Ikebana using equisetum, in similar vases, by two members of the Saturday workshop of Ikebana International Chapter #1, Washington DC. Aren’t they beautiful?

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

My first Moribana Slanting Style arrangement, from this morning’s class at MaYu #Ikebana Studio of the Ohara School.

Moribana slanting-style ikebana arrangement using pussy willow and magenta chrysanthemums in an oval container.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

Two #Ikebana using equisetum, in similar vases, by two members of the Saturday workshop of Ikebana International Chapter #1, Washington DC. Aren’t they beautiful?

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

#Ikebana using equisetum, by a member of the Saturday workshop of Ikebana International Chapter #1, Washington DC. Isn’t it beautiful?

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

#Ikebana using equisetum, by a member of the Saturday workshop of Ikebana International Chapter #1, Washington DC. Isn’t it beautiful?

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

At my #Ikebana dojo, MaYu Studio, with my #Ohara-ryu sensei, Yuko Wain, shortly after #girlsday.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

#Ikebana using equisetum, by a member of the Saturday workshop of Ikebana International Chapter #1, Washington DC. Isn’t it beautiful?

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

#Ikebana using equisetum, by a member of the Saturday workshop of Ikebana International Chapter #1, Washington DC. Isn’t it beautiful?

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

My first #Ikebana using Equisetum! This was with the Saturday workshop of Ikebana International Chapter #1, Washington DC.

Ikebana in a low container with three equisetum bent to the right and up and another one with the same lines but lower framing a flower of intense orange blossoms. A stalk of blue blossoms rises on the left, and the Kenyan is hidden by part of a monsters leaf.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Lifetime performance on Washington Post’s “Keyword” game: 505 total plays, 6.34 average guesses (embarrassingly poor!), and 0:59 average time. I truly will miss the Post—which is, after all, my local paper—but I would rather support David Shipley than a fascist.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Expected Inflation Highest in 30 Years I’m worried about the #economy. Firings and threats of firings may suppress consumer spending and increase recession risk, but inflation and threat of inflation may prevent anti-recession policies. (I post a lot about macroeconomic conditions on LinkedIn.)

Chart shows expected inflation over the next 5 years at 3.5%, the highest reading since April 1995, according to the University of Michigan Survey of Consumers.

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

Age yourself with a movie you saw in the theater

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

Am I the only one who thought Paul McCartney struck the only real sour note of SNL50?

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Chapter 10 of @richardschoch.bsky.social’s “How #Sondheim Can Change Your Life” obsesses on “Passion.” How I love this most Kierkegaardian of Sondheim’s musicals! “A story so outrageous, doing such violence to all propriety, that no tidy bargain can be made with it.” Love, with fear and trembling!

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Brad Case, PhD, CFA, CAIA @bradcasephdcfacaia.bsky.social · 08/02/2025

Chapter 10 of @richardschoch.bsky.social’s “How #Sondheim Can Change Your Life.” “Assassins.” “…the gigantic narcissism of such characters…. Like tough guys playing the ‘strongman game’ at a carnival they delight in displays of raw strength. But really they exhibit only their weakness.” Yes.

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