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JMSDF Training Squadron, Welcome To Halifax!

Added on by the ikebana shop.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces Training Squadron will make a port call on Halifax, July 8-11, 2013.  

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There are some events that are open to the general public! 

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Schedule of activities:

  • July 8th and 9th, 1:30-3:30 p.m.  Ships are open to the public. At the waterfront.  Come aboard and explore!
  • July 9th, 4:00-5:00 p.m. The squadron band will perform at Grand Parade. Brass band & taiko drums!
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Please drop by and say "Hello!"  See you there! 

Poster is courtesy of the Consulate General of Japan at Montreal.
All photos by the ikebana shop.  All rights reserved. 

The Crafty Owl Workshop

Added on by the ikebana shop.
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Many people have asked us about the little ornaments and other hand-made items we have on our shelves.  So we thought we'd have a little workshop and share with you how we make one of our bestsellers--the owl on a branch!​

If you know how to sew a little bit, then this workshop is for you! (No lesson on how to thread a needle!)  We'd also need you to bring a few of your sewing needles.  Join us!  It's going to be fun! Contact us to register here.

April 26th (Fri) 10-12 in the morning at our studio.​

 
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Nocturne Notes

Added on by the ikebana shop.

​Thank you to everyone who visited our Nocturne exhibit last Saturday, Oct. 13th!  

​We thought we'd share with you a few side stories behind the arrangements.  (A link to the complete gallery can be found at the end of this blog post.)

Blue Moon by Val Spencer​

Val found this big and beautiful branch while passing through a cemetery in Halifax. It was too big to use at home but she kept it anyway...kept it for a year!  The hydrangea are from her garden.  It had been a struggle ​to strike the right balance, hanging the whole arrangement by one wire; but Val got it right in the nick of time!

Silence by Miyako​

​The silver dollars came from the garden of Beverly, a friend who knew we were always on the lookout for interesting branches.  The dried pine came from the backyard of our friend, Libby who must've been puzzled when Miyako offered to clear some of the pine detritus off her property! Thank you for sharing the bounty of your gardens!

Untitled arrangement by Marina Sokolenko​

Marina mixed reds and oranges with a brillant touch of green pine.  We don't know if you noticed but the flower container was actually made of glass and not ceramic.  Stained grey, the vase was the perfect vessel for this simple arrangement.​

13-Year Old Daughter by Miyako​

Her 13-year old daughter is learning to play the guitar and is training her singing voice. Did you see the "guitar" in this piece? The red leaves represent her beautiful voice. Miyako had had a hard time choosing the focal flower​ for this one. In the end, she settle on dried corn flower, picked up from Annapolis Valley the week before!

Front Yard and Back Yard by Susan Robertson​

So what's behind the title?  The hosta came from Susan's backyard. The hydrangea came from a friend's front yard.  All from Nova Scotia's South Shore. The balding hydrangea reminded us that the summer had passed on the baton to autumn!​

Self-Made Vase by Miyako​

The inspiration for this arrangement came from Miyako's father.  Visiting Halifax from Japan last summer, he had made a little fence for the garden using sticks of bamboo and hemp rope. Taking his cue, Miyako fashioned her own "vase" for this arrangement.

Quince by JB​

To be honest, we didn't realize quince fruit could grow so big! These lovely fruit-bearing branches came from JB's garden. Some time after Nocturne, these fruit will be turned into jam! Didn't we mention JB makes the most delicious of jams!​

Basic Slanting by Patti Vaison​

Despite being tied up with the activities of the African Violet Society the whole of  Saturday, the day of the exhibit, Patti managed to create this moribana arrangement of yellow and black with a beautiful reflection on the water! Did you also notice the little berries under the roses? They're called bittersweet. In time, the yellow berries turn red.

Halloween by Miyako​

The dried leaves used for this arrangement had come from the Caribbean.  The leaves had been ​quite thick and had dried up to perfection! The photo on the right is the actual plant (whose name we don't know). It grows abundantly by the sea!

Roses by Xuejun Wang​

Her first time to join us for an exhibit, Xuejun started actual work on her arrangement the day before. After choosing an elegantly long curly willow branch to be her shin (main "heaven" branch)​, she got creatively stuck. A good night's rest worked wonders and she finished magnificently with this creation!

Autumn Abundance by JB​

Nothing like a stroll through the Farmers' Market to make one realize that autumn is upon us. The abundance of the autumn harvest and its golden red colours were what JB took as inspiration for this work. Many people liked the idea of the pumpkin used as a vase!​

Untitled arrangement by Marina Sokolenko​

Marina thought she was done when she saw the delphinium and tropical leaves left in the bucket...unused.  They were so pretty that she had to do something with them! Thus came this last-minute arrangement that ended up welcoming our visitors at the door!​

My Mother's Vase by Miyako​

The container used was Miyako's mother first ever ceramic work of many, many years ago. Amateurish, perhaps, but special to her. The apples and amaranth were from Annapolis Valley whilst the big pine branch was picked up right on Spring Garden Road, undoubtedly a ​victim of Halifax's sometimes gusty winds.

We hope these little annotations makes the Nocturne exhibit a bit more interesting for you!  You can see the complete gallery on our flickr page. ​

(All photos by the ikebana shop.  All rights reserved.)​

Nocturne 2012 Is Coming!

Added on by the ikebana shop.

​Nocturne: Art At Night 2012 is this coming Saturday, Oct 13th, 6PM~midnight.  Our shop becomes an ikebana gallery for the night.  We are #63 on the guide.  The Nocturne courtesy bus (Route B) also stops right in front of our shop!

Some of the ikebana material have been chosen!​

Miyako and her tireless assistant choosing flowers and branches for the exhibit! ​

Miyako and her students have been working hard, preparing many ikebana arrangements.  Please come see them!​

(All photos by the ikebana shop.  All rights reserved.)​

Ikebana In Action

Added on by the ikebana shop.

We'd like to share with you the ikebana arrangements we did for a week-long seminar a few months ago.

This paired arrangement welcomed the participants at the reception area. 

This arrangement was set in the dining room.

This is a large arrangement on-stage to accompany the various speakers!

The name of the organization has been blotted out for privacy purposes.

(All photos by the ikebana shop.  All rights reserved.)

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Ikebana Demo At The Eastern Shore Garden Club

Added on by post@theikebanashop.com.

Last night we were guests of the Eastern Shore Garden Club. If you must attend one of their meetings, make it August...because that's the month when most everyone brings lovely blooms from their gardens. And so we were lucky to be treated with an array beautiful and fragrant flowers! 

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We thank the Eastern Shore Garden Club for giving us the opportunity to demonstrate what ikebana is all about. 

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It was the first time for Miyako to wear a headset microphone too! Looked more professional! (^_^) 

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We hope you enjoyed the arrangements. 

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We were very happy to see many people interested. Hopefully we were able to answer most of your questions! 

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Feedback:
*We are all so pleased with your presentation last evening. The response from all members is most positive.... The nine years I have been a member I don't recall this much enthusiasm. * ----Nora, Program Director.

*Well I hate to go on and on about the great presenter we had tonight because those of you who were not there might be injured by kicking yourself too hard for not being able to attend BUT they were very, very good!* ---Darlene, in an email to her fellow members

Thank you to everyone at the Eastern Shore Garden Club!

(All photos by the ikebana shop. All rights reserved.)