This arrangement uses an easel as a frame!
Things around the house could be made part of ikebana arrangements. Do you have any ideas?
Ikebana Homework: Try Aluminum Foil
Most of us are probably staying at home in self-isolation as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on. We miss doing ikebana together and hope that we can enjoy making flower arrangements together again soon.
For those of us with some time in our hands, let’s try some ikebana at home!
Let’s try to use something that is normally found in our kitchens: aluminum foil! The challenge is to use aluminum foil to create your container. Here are some guidelines:
The lead “character” is the container. Any flowers you add should be there to help the lead character.
You may use a different container to hold water or to help you with forming the shape (if you need). This other container may be completely hidden or could be showing as part of the arrangement. It’s completely up to you!
You may use kenzan, if you need. Again, completely up to you!
There are no other rules. Have fun with it!!
Share your work with us! Tag us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!
Shop Closed Indefinitely
And here is the first “further notice”….
With further escalation of the COVID-19 situation, our bricks-and-mortar shop will be closed effective Mar 19, 2020 until further notice.
We will continue to process online orders for as long as Canada Post is in operation. There may be some delay in our response time. Thank you for your understanding.
We look forward to getting back to our normal routines. In the meantime, stay safe. Be kind. We are all in this together.
Reduced Shop Hours
Important Announcement:
Please be advised of our reduced shop hours as we battle COVID-19:
Monday-Saturday 12 noon – 3 p.m. until further notice.
• Message ahead to let us know what you want to buy. We’ll have it ready so you just pick-up and pay.
• We can be contacted via email, FB Messenger, Instagram and Twitter DM. We’ll do our best to stay on top things. [Our handle is @theikebanashop]
• If you need ideas, let us help you find what you need via online messaging first. We can even send pictures!
Stay safe. Be Kind.
We are all in this together.
Ikebana Lessons Cancelled Until Further Notice
As the COVID-19 situation escalates and we see the whole province battling hard to contain it, we also want to be pro-active in our own little way. We have taken the hard decision to cancel ikebana lessons, effective immediately, until further notice.
We think that this is the prudent and socially responsible thing to do at this time. We are all in this together and we will win this together. We hope to make beautiful flower arrangements again with you some time in the future.
Please take care and stay safe. Thank you for your understanding.
"Sō" Magazine February, 2020
Our ikebana demonstration at the Ross Creek Centre For The Arts is featured in the February 2020 edition of "Sō" (「草」) magazine, the official publication of the Sogetsu Teachers' Association.
Welcome East Peak Climbing!
Congratulations to our new neighbour, East Peak Climbing, on their grand opening today, Feb 29th, 2020! East Peak has converted the inside of the old Oxford Theatre into a fabulous indoor climbing gym…and they’re right across the street from us!
Here is a welcome ikebana to our new neighbour. This arrangement was inspired by the rock climbing walls found inside the gym.
Hope you see the connection….
The photo of the climbing wall is from this CTV News article. Hope they don’t mind that we used it for inspiration. Please read the article as it gives us the inside story of how hard the folks there worked to get this gym up and running.
Happy climbing on Quinpool!
My Ikebana: Toying With Tulle
One of Sogetsu Ikebana’s themes challenges us to use unconventional items together with fresh material. (生の植物と異質素材). Here, we play around with a piece of tulle fabric.
It was fun to blend the synthetic bright blue netting with the natural plant colours. Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. —Miyako
Happy New Year 2020!
Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu! 明けましておめでとうございます。 It’s the dawn of a new decade! We opened back in December, 2009 and so it is also a decade for our shop! We give thanks for your support through the years and look forward to another 10 years, at least! Will it be another “Roaring 20’s” ? :-)
We wish you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2020.
My Ikebana: Holiday Arrangement
A little red and green with a holiday theme!
It is placed in the living room to spread some holiday cheer to everyone in the house!
I hope you like it. —Miyako