Filtering by Category: ikebana

My Ikebana: Swirling Eucalyptus

Added on March 12, 2013 by the ikebana shop.

The idea to twist eucalyptus branches round and round came from the shape of the container. I thought of using only the heart-shaped one.

When I finished, I felt the arrangement uncomfortably incomplete.

So I expanded the work using the second container.

I used the single aspidestra leaf embedded in the eucalyptus swirls to create a connection with the second container.

Also with the help of hydrangea blossoms, the arrangement with two containers was now a unity.

Hope you like it. --Miyako

Horizons - Ikebana Exhibit

Added on March 6, 2013 by the ikebana shop.

We are a proud sponsor of Horizons, the 2013 exhibit of the Ikebana International, Ottawa Centennial Chapter 120. Please visit if you are in the area!

Links:
Ikebana International Ottawa Centennial Chapter 120
Canadian Museum of Nature

On The Radio

Added on February 14, 2013 by the ikebana shop.

Miyako and one of her students, Jean, were featured on a short radio documentary that was broadcast last February 7th on CKDU 88.1 FM in Halifax NS.

Here is the clip, which we put together as a slideshow. It was too bad we were not able to take photographs during the actual interview. (In fact, during the interview, we were not even sure what kind of piece would come out!) So we just used some images from our archives to complement the presentation.

Many thanks to Emily Kitagawa, a student in the School of Journalism at University of King's College, Halifax NS. You did a splendid job!

This clip was broadcast as a short radio documentary on CKDU 88.1 FM in Halifax NS on February 7, 2013. Audio clip produced by Emily Kitagawa, a student of the School of Journalism at the University of King's College, Halifax NS. Featuring Miyako Ballesteros, ikebana teacher, and her student, Jean Henshall.

Erratum: The 80 variations that the narrator talks about actually refers to the 80 lessons of the basic curriculum of the Sogetsu School of Ikebana.

My Ikebana: Fallen Maple

Added on February 9, 2013 by the ikebana shop.

Recent windy days afforded me the opportunity to pick up interesting branches that fell from the trees around Halifax. Thank you to the snow for providing some cushion!

The dried moss gave an extra flavour to this branch. Using it together with a thick piece of driftwood, I found a strong framework for the arrangement.

The arrangement needed a bit of colour so I unobtrusively inserted a few stems of red roses.

Since last year, I find myself creating arrangements that are more artificially "sculptured" (as opposed to using the natural shapes of the plant material.) In this arrangement, I used the flowers not as "flowers" (i.e. not trying to show the beauty of the roses) but rather as a tool to add colour to the work.

I hope you like it! --Miyako

My Ikebana: Disassembling and Assembling Salal

Added on January 26, 2013 by the ikebana shop.

I found myself with a lot of salal branches this week so I thought I'd make an arrangement featuring salal.

However, the salal leaves were quite big and would completely overpower the snapdragons that I planned to use. So I thought of a way to show only the salal branches. Remove the leaves!

Sometimes, by disassembling the material into its smaller parts, we discover some new characteristics.

Here is the finished arrangement.

I put the salal leaves together with the snapdragons and green hypericum so that people would know what kind of branches were used!

I also removed the budding tips of the snapdragons because I did not want to introduce another "line" element into the arrangement.

By the way, the flower container was made by our friend, Nova Scotia pottery artist, Mindy Moore.

The holes at the top came in very handy for this arrangement!

Hope you like it.

Miyako

My Ikebana: "Sculpting" With Straw

Added on January 11, 2013 by the ikebana shop.

Our backyard is entombed in snow and it was difficult to pick branches so I decided to use some dried susuki (Pampas grass) that a friend had given to me a while back. I had been saving them for a rainy day and I thought their time finally came. Not on a rainy day...but on a snowy one!

Because the stalks were very dry and brittle, many stems broke completely. It was a challenge to blend angled lines with the flower container.

I wanted to project this arrangement in 3-D. The lines were placed such that the viewer would be able to enjoy different expressions from many angles.

The alstroemeria, though more commonly used to create mass, were used to show movement this time.

The two colours--pink and orange--inserted on either side of the arrangement, helped to show depth.

I hope you like it.

Miyako

My Christmas Ikebana

Added on December 13, 2012 by the ikebana shop.

Ikebana is not always limited to showing simple lines using branches. Sometime we want to work on something more resplendent...especially for festive seasons like Christmas. Here is my Christmas arrangement.

To take advantage of the lines formed by the eucalyptus and bells of Ireland, I chose a "compote-style" container with a very tall base.

The lilies provide gaiety.

The deep red alstroemeria tightens the arrangement into a whole.

And some white carnation provide a fresh look when the arrangement is viewed from the side.

Wishing everyone Happy Holidays!

Miyako

This arrangement is currently displayed at the shop. The scent of lilies and eucalyptus is yet another sensory experience so please come visit us!

My Ikebana - Holiday Mass & Line

Added on December 1, 2012 by the ikebana shop.

When making a mass-and-line composition, my usual habit is to start with the mass and then work on the lines to add a certain flow and movement. Mass is "easy" to tackle first because it is static...almost stoic and uncomplaining while a line is more hard-to-please!

Anyway, with this work, I started in reverse and formed the lines first. The beautiful dogwood branches had much to offer. The vase I had chosen turned out to be too small so I ended up using the outside of the vase. Do you see the "star" amidst the dogwood branches? That was not intended! I noticed it only while putting the branches together.

The vase, by the way, is not a traditional ikebana vase. It is actually a candleholder! I liked the shape and the clear crystal reminded me of ice (and the cold of winter!) It went well with the shiny green of the oregonia and the deep red of the carnations.

I hope you enjoy this arrangement.

Miyako

My Ikebana - Keeping It Natural

Added on November 16, 2012 by the ikebana shop.

Recently, I have been concentrating my ikebana studies doing "formative" creations. That is to say, the works were designed to form a certain shape that I had envisioned. I took apart leaves from branches and put them together again!

This time, after looking at the branches available, I decided that a "natural" style of arrangement would be better. I had 2 kinds of branches--alder and an unknown one with little black berries (Does anyone know?) and two kinds of mum--yellow cremon and green pom-pom.

I chose a wide suiban container because I wanted to show the height of the branches. First I put together the skeletal frame of branches. Next, where to put the flowers? I wanted to keep the focal point of the arrangement up top so that's where the flower went. At the same time, I showed a clean base (notice that the branches seem to sprout up from one origin as opposed to being all over the place) leaving it stark in order to further emphasize the top focal point. I removed all the leaves from the mums except for the 2 leaves of the cremon in front. By doing away with the leaves, the slender lines of the pom-pom mums could be clearly seen, adding flavour to the arrangement. Lastly, I created some space by adding that branch on the left. It helped give the arrangement a sense of motion... to prevent it from looking like it was only sitting idly on the vase!

I hope you enjoyed this arrangement.

Miyako

See more of Miyako's work here.

Ballroom Arrangement

Added on July 7, 2012 by post@theikebanashop.com.

Some weeks ago, we had the honour of putting up an arrangement for a speaking engagement. It was at the Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, Halifax Ballroom...the best ballroom of the hotel!

The client gave us a free hand and only asked that the flowers should be equal in stature as the speaker on the podium. We hope we did not disappoint.

Have a closer look.... Lilies, sunflower, carnation and weigela.