Guess what this giant cupcake-like thing is? :-)
Gently lift the top and twist open....
...and take a peek inside. We've filled it with 10 assorted chocolate truffles!
Lovingly hand-made in-house, right here in Nova Scotia! The fabric is from Japan. The chocolate truffles are from Truffini (made in BC). Of course, once the chocolates are gone, you can still use the box!
Available for a limited time at the shop. Get one for this year's Valentine's gift!
Sometimes, it is interesting to create ikebana with unconventional materials. Such material could draw out the charm of flowers in a different manner compared to those using only plant material. It is precisely because the material is unconventional that we are able to come up with a unique expression.
I set my sights on the wrapping paper that we use at the shop. This paper is used to protect fragile, ceramic items like teacups, bowls, etc.
The paper, when stretched, produces a lattice-like pattern with a rough but soft texture.
I used the paper together with daisy mums and some dried branches.
Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. --Miyako
UPDATED 20-Jan-2016:
We are postponing this workshop to Jan 31st, Sunday, same time 2:00-3:00 p.m.
The weather forecast for Jan 24th, Sunday, doesn't look very good. It looks like a considerable amount of snowfall is expected!
Apologies for the inconvenience.
We are planning our first for 2016 origami workshop on Jan 24th, Sunday. In this workshop, we will make origami that go in motion. One is a pinwheel that will spin when you blow on it and the other is a spinning top!
See a quick demo of the spinning top here!
Date: Jan 24th, Sunday
Time: 2:00-3:00 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!
No, it's not really a price increase! We've just streamlined the blade sharpening pricing schedule to simplify things.
The following pricing schedule will be applied from 2016:
Cost / knife
$8.00
$10.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$15.00
$10.00
$12.00
no extra cost
$5.00 extra
Regular & Serrated Kitchen Knives
up to 4" blade
more than 4", up to 9" blade
more than 9" blade
Japanese traditional knife
Cleaver
Non-kitchen knife (hunting, folding)
Ikebana clippers
Scissors
Minor chip repair* ( <2mm)
Chip & tip repair*
*Chip repair must be incorporated with sharpening order.
Note: If your knives or clippers need extra special attention, we will let you know the expected cost and obtain your agreement before starting any work on it.
Prices are subject to HST.
Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu!
If you are out shopping for a car, visit the Toyota Lexus showroom in Halifax!
We put up an ikebana installation there. Way up there above the showcase shelving! See it?
Toyota and Lexus being Japanese brands, we hope to show a little bit more of the Japanese aesthetic in the showroom. We express through flowers elements of the automobile design: elegance, boldness, power.
Sometimes, it is good to work outside the studio and create something BIG...a very different experience from the usual table-top arrangement. The project is a collaborative effort by Miyako and her advanced students : Val S., Susan R., Jean H. and Patti V.
Toyota Lexus had asked for something that could stay in place through the Christmas season. So, dried materials were used. Apart from the bleached palm, all other plant materials were those that can be found in Nova Scotia.
Bleached palm leaves.
Gold maple leaves and Canada holly (ilex) among others.
We also used Japanese obi.
We searched far and wide to get the right material! :-)
Planning, designing, creating the mock-up took an effort. But we enjoyed doing it! With everyone working together, there was an excellent exchange of ideas.
(L-R) Miyako, Jean and Patti.
Val.
Since the arrangement was to be placed atop a 2-metre high shelf, we had to imagine it being viewed from the below.
Susan and Miyako.
The other challenge, of course, was bringing the work to the showroom...and the actual installation. Many thanks to Val's engineering & carpentry skills for coming up with a great "scaffold"!
Here are more views of the installation.
The installation will be there throughout December, 2015. Please visit when you have the chance!
We are very grateful to Toyota Lexus Halifax for generously allowing us to use their showroom. It is never easy to find big spaces for big arrangements!
Thank you to Val, Susan, Jean and Val! We hope you enjoyed the project. We are proud of your work. As well, thanks to Susan and Patti for sharing your photos with us!
Fresh sunflowers and dried hydrangeas...a contrast of old and new.
For this arrangement, I combined use of hanadome wire and flower container.
Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. --Miyako
We had a great time at Hal-Con 2015. We would like to thank everyone who visited our booth, including many fabulous cosplayers! You kept us busy. We couldn't even take a break...and we love you for it! :-)
Our special thank-you to the organizers and volunteers. You did one heck of a job. Everything was smooth. 100% successful event!
We hope to see you all again next year!
Sincerely,
the ikebana shop
An arrangement using two containers. On one side, light pink anastasia...
On the other side, dark red Asiatic lily.
Apart from the contrast, I also wanted to show the purity of water...
...and the space created between the two containers. Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. -- Miyako
We are pleased to announce a workshop in notebook-making with Japanese decorative paper.
The instructor is Jamie Pratt. She is the Halifax representative of the Japanese Paper Place (based in Toronto) and has extensive experience in papercraft.
You will learn to make 3 small notebook styles--the 3-hole pamphlet, the teabag notebook, and the meandering notebook. Many different patterns of beautiful Japanese decorative paper will be available for you to choose from.
The 3-Hole Pamphlet Notebook.
The Teabag Notebook
The Meandering Notebook. Not as simple as it looks!
Workshop Date & Time: Oct 17th (Sat), 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Place: Our studio above the shop
Cost: $20.00 plus HST (materials included)
Participants from 12 years old and above.
Maximum: 10 persons
Please register in advance. First come, first served.
Register by phone (902-407-0487) or email shop@theikebanashop.com
Hope to see you there!
