My Ikebana: Pink Like Sakura

Added on by the ikebana shop.

Spring comes late in Halifax.  I put together this arrangement early April of this year.  The sakura were already blooming in Tokyo and I longed to see them.  I decided then to use pink blossoms--a mix of spray carnations and alstroemeria--to remind me of pink sakura.

I took care not to let the flowers and branches sit heavily onto the vase.  Rather, I made them "float" a bit from the mouth of the container.  This lent an air of fragility to the arrangement.

Here is the whole arrangement.

 
 

I hope you like it.  -- Miyako

My Ikebana: Free Style Kabu-wake

Added on by the ikebana shop.

The maple branches that I have been keeping have bloomed!  I decided to use them for a kabu-wake arrangement.

Kabu-wake is a type of arrangement where two separate groups are made inside one container, with a special focus on the water and the space that separates the two "islands".

I chose gently curving pussy willow branches to match the maple.

Here is the whole arrangement.

I hope you like it.  --Miyako

Spring Origami Workshop

Added on by the ikebana shop.

It's really finally spring time! :-)

We are planning an origami workshop on May 23rd, Saturday.  In this workshop, we will make a Morning Glory wreath and a butterfly! 

Date: May 23rd, Saturday
Time: 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Venue: our studio (right above the shop)

Cost: $8 plus HST per person.  All materials are included.
Max 10 persons.  Advanced registration is required.  First come, first served!

Please call or email to book your spot.
Tel (902) 407-0487
email: shop@theikebanashop.com

Hope to see you there!

Say Hello To OrigaMirna

Added on by the ikebana shop.

It is always a pleasure to meet another person who shares an interest in one of the things we are passionate about: ORIGAMI!  Mirna is originally from Croatia.  She moved to Canada with her husband and four-year old daughter in 2013.  She recently visited our shop and brought with her a lot of origami energy in the form of these mini kusudama set as mini origami trees.

Kusudama is a type of origami where many identical pieces (usually conical or pyramidal) are sewn (or glued) together to form one ball of flower.

Kusudama-making images courtesy of Mirna Blažinčić Čonkaš.

Mirna's love for origami began when a cousin introduced her to the art.  She was 8 years old.  She was fascinated by the fact that a sheet of plain square paper could be transformed into something complex (though not necessarily so!) and beautiful.  In time, she not only learned more complicated pieces but also came to appreciate the process itself.  

 
“The process of folding a complex model is like meditation. I forget about plans for the next day. All worries and fears disappear. And when I’m finished, in addition to a beautiful flower or a mysterious unicorn, I feel relaxed, refreshed and empty-­minded. In a positive way, of course.”
 

We are happy to have some of Mirna's work available at the shop.  Every piece is unique and made with plenty of love, patience and attention to detail.  All hand-made, of course!

Please also visit her facebook page to see what else she's been up to!

 
“Although I’ve learned many complex models since then, I’m always happy to return to the crane and try fold it as perfectly as possible.”
 

Image courtesy of Mirna Blažinčić Čonkaš.

Geequinox 2015

Added on by the ikebana shop.

A BIG thank-you to everyone who visited our booth at Geequinox Ver 2.0 last weekend!  Many of you came in your wonderful cosplay.  Here are some images at the event.  Wish we could have taken more pics!

The Attack On Titan Survey Corps descended on our booth!

Here's Luffy from One Piece!

Sayaka Miki from Madoka Magica!

Celebrity cosplayers too!

Buzz Lightyear looking all serious in a meeting. :-D

Wasn't that fun? :-)  A BIG thank-you to the organizers who made this happen.  See you in Ver 3.0!

My Ikebana: Showing Water

Added on by the ikebana shop.

I use a simple glass container to show purity of water.

Inside, statice stems are arranged in a horizontal manner to contrast against the long, tall cylindrical vase.

A small mass of statice blooms is created not only on the inside but also on the outside to keep the arrangement a bit off-balanced.  (How does the statice mass stay in place?  Secret revealed below!)

Here is the whole arrangement.  

I hope you like it.  --Miyako

 

Here is the secret to affixing the blooms at the top of the container: Plastic kenzans!  They have suction cups to keep them in place.

Find out more about the plastic kenzan here.

My Ikebana: Simple Pine Re-Construction

Added on by the ikebana shop.

This arrangement's theme is about deconstructing and re-inventing a pine branch.

After being separated from the branch, the pine needles are re-arranged to show a certain flow, somewhat a downward cascading movement.  At the same time, the tiny branches shooting from the main pine limb are displayed.   The yellow freesia reminds us of the coming of spring. 

Here is the whole arrangement.

I hope you like it.  --Miyako

My Ikebana: Curved And Straight Lines

Added on by the ikebana shop.

This arrangement brings together curved and straight lines.

Myrtle branches make the straight line component whilst eucalyptus and birch branches provide the curves.  

The chrysanthemums on the left side look as if they are peeking through the eucalyptus to give the arrangement a sense of depth.  One bloom mixed with the towering myrtle puts more emphasis to the unbending component.

The connection of birch branches combine the two elements into one whole arrangement.

I hope you like it.  --Miyako