Filtering by Category: ikebana

The Barrington Street Bouquet

Added on July 23, 2017 by the ikebana shop.

Our friends at Argyle Fine Art called on us for a street art collaboration...turning a sidewalk garbage can into a floral installation! The idea was inspired by the work of NYC floral designer Lewis Miller who used his excess bouquets to beautify New York City's trash cans.

We wanted the flowers to last for at least a week so we decided to use potted plants rather than cut flowers. It was also a sensible choice for the budget we have. Of course, we added other things to make it all lively! The objective was to brighten up downtown Halifax a little bit more with flower art.

The installation is at the corner of Barrington and Blowers Streets in downtown Halifax.

The potted flowers of choice were mandevillas. Our florist assured us that they bloom well and that the flowers last for a while. We also used dried gourd cups (which we hand-painted) to add more colour.

The pinwheels went to the bottom...and they do spin when there's a breeze! A little extra motion to catch people's eyes! Look here.

And there it is! It will be up until July 29th, 2017 (Saturday). Take down will be on Sunday, July 30th, morning. Please come and see it!

Many thanks to Argyle Fine Art, the Downtown Halifax Business Commission and the City of Halifax for making this possible!

My Ikebana: Like Sumi-E

Added on July 20, 2017 by the ikebana shop.

For this arrangement, I took inspiration from sumi-e (墨絵 - the art of Japanese ink painting). It is an isshu-ike (一種生け - arrangement with only one kind of material) using only pussywillow branches. The branches were like sumi ink, used to paint a picture.

We rendered the image in black and white. Can you recognize the nijimi (滲み - brush stroke with a full charge of ink) and kasure (掠れ - brush stroke with drying ink)?

I hope you like it. --Miyako

My Ikebana: Hanging A Watering Can

Added on July 2, 2017 by the ikebana shop.

Tsuribana (吊り花), "hanging flower", is one of the themes in the new Textbook 5. The problem with trying to suspend a ceramic flower container is that it becomes too heavy! So I decided to use a plastic watering can and dangle it from a curtain rod. The window provides a good frame although it is backlit in the daytime!

I cut palm buds in long strips and bunched & curled them together. Wine red gerberas provide accent and colour.

Working on a hanging arrangement is quite a different experience. Be prepared to step up and down a chair many, many times! Also, lack of stability is a difficulty because the container does not sit steadily on a flat surface.

I love this challenge because it further expands the possibilities for ikebana.

I hope you like it. --Miyako

My Ikebana: Overflow

Added on May 27, 2017 by the ikebana shop.

One of the themes in the new Sogetsu textbook #5 is "Composition expressing a movement." From a list of "action" words, we have to choose one and express it in our ikebana. For this arrangement, I chose to focus on the word "overflow".

in a top-heavy container, gypsophilia were arranged to look like they were bursting out and forming a mass at the container's opening. The red dogwood and myrtle branches seem to be carried to somewhere far away by the flow.

Here is the whole arrangement.

I hope you like it. --Miyako

My Ikebana: Just Tulips

Added on April 13, 2017 by the ikebana shop.

Spring is in the air in Halifax. Tulips should be blooming soon!

Tulips growing tall and straight are wonderful signs of strength and fortitude.

But wouldn't it be interesting for tulips to show some curves too? I bent some stems in this bunch of tulips to show a sense of motion and portrayed them to be in a light-hearted dance.

Here is the whole arrangement.

I hope you like it. --Miyako

My Ikebana: Magnolia Branch Only

Added on April 2, 2017 by the ikebana shop.

The challenge was to create an arrangement using only magnolia branches. This style is called "isshu-ike" (一種生け), "arrangement with only one kind of material".

The leathery leaves have different colours on either side--dark green on one side and orange-brown on the other. This colour difference was used to show contrast.

After the framework had been determined, the leaves were arranged to form a somewhat checkered pattern (市松模様 ichimatsu moyoh).

Here is the whole arrangement.

I hope you like it. --Miyako

My Ikebana: Folded Salal

Added on January 15, 2017 by the ikebana shop.

This is an arrangement using unconventional materials.

Salal leaves were folded crosswise and lengthwise to present a different shape from what we are used to seeing.

Next, I used the Sogetsu steel hanadome (花留め）not as a flower holder but as part of the arrangement to create lines.

Complementing the black, thin and angular hanadome are two wooden boards, also painted in black.

Here is the whole arrangement.

I hope you like it. --Miyako

My Ikebana: Black Branches

Added on December 24, 2016 by the ikebana shop.

I had on hand some wonderful dried branches. I thought I'd have fun with them. I painted them black.

Adding pink, yellow and green accents brings the arrangement together with a stronger impact.

Here is the whole arrangement.

I hope you like it. --Miyako

My Ikebana: Creating Mass With Lilies

Added on November 13, 2016 by the ikebana shop.

When we want to create mass in an arrangement, it is often easier to use floral materials like spray mums, baby's breath or alstroemeria. These flowers are easy to bunch together, leaving very little space visible between them.

For this arrangement, however, I challenged myself to create mass with lilies. The reason is simple: I had a lot of lilies leftover!

I used two black containers to highlight the yellow of the lilies. The mass was set on top, accented with solidaster and one chrysanthemum bloom below to regain some balance.