Filtering by Category: ikebana

My Ikebana: Garden Branches

Added on June 12, 2014 by the ikebana shop.

One of the greatest joys for an ikebanista is to be able to wander around a large garden and gather branches to one's heart's content. A few days ago, I had that opportunity because I conducted a workshop sponsored by the Halifax Public Gardens. (See previous post.)

There were leftover branches after the workshop. I used them. This is my thank-you-to-the-Gardens arrangement!

Dogwood and magnolia...

Lilac and other branches whose names I didn't know!

The arrangement is currently displayed at the shop.

I hope you like it. -- Miyako

Halifax Public Gardens Ikebana Workshop

Added on June 11, 2014 by the ikebana shop.

The Halifax Public Gardens organized an ikebana workshop at The Lord Nelson last June 10th.

First, Miyako created these two moribana arrangements on-the-spot to give the participants an idea of what they'd be making.

Next, it was their turn...and the fun really started! :-)

One great thing about having the Public Gardens as a sponsor was that we had an abundant supply of branches! Early morning that day, Miyako had visited the gardens and had "helped" with the pruning. :-)

All the participants were intent on learning more about ikebana. They asked many questions and really thought carefully about the placing of the blooms and branches.

Everybody enjoyed!

See the results. Wow! They did not disappoint. Hard to believe everyone was experiencing ikebana only for the first time that night.

By the way, Miyako arrived at the function room early and had a bit of time in her hands so she made a few free-style arrangements to welcome everybody!

Thank you very much to all who joined the workshop. We hope you had an interesting evening. May your interest in ikebana grow further! Thank you Halifax Public Gardens for organizing this event.

My Ikebana: Just Maple

Added on May 31, 2014 by the ikebana shop.

Around this time of the year, young branches start to shoot out of the thick trunks of big maple trees.

I took a few branches and decided to use nothing else. This is called isshu-ike (一種生け), creating an arrangement with only one type of material.

It does not possess the colourful gaiety that flowers could bring but branches are great for showing lines and space!

Here is a shot in black-and-white. Please enjoy the space between the branches!

...and here is the whole arrangement.

I hope you like it. --Miyako

My Ikebana: Perpendicular Lines

Added on May 19, 2014 by the ikebana shop.

For this day's challenge, I had chosen a box-like container and had hoped to show some sort of contrast between the corners of the vase and the curves of branches. However, on the branches I had available, there were a few stems that would not allow themselves to be curled into submission. They kept bouncing back! So I decided to use those stubborn parts to put more focus on the perpendicular lines instead.

I set about cutting away the smaller stems. I used pink and white alstroemeria to create mass.

Last but not least, I added a branch that connects the flower container to the ground.

Here is the whole arrangement.

I hope you like it. --Miyako

My Ikebana: Sculpting Salal

Added on April 27, 2014 by the ikebana shop.

Salal leaves are already beautiful in themselves so normally, I never think of trying to alter their shape; but my challenge today is to make something "sculptural" with salal!

Salal is not a leaf/branch that bends to one's will easily. If I try to make them curl or force them to take a certain angle, they always bounce back. So, after folding, I slice across the crease. Then, I insert another leaf into the slit to create a three-dimensional shape.

The activity feels more like paper craft than flower arranging!

I add one carnation stem for extra colour.

Here it is... my salal sculpture arrangement!

I hope you like it. --Miyako

A Small Private Workshop

Added on April 9, 2014 by the ikebana shop.

Last night we were host to a very genki (means "lively") group of friends who came for a private ikebana workshop.

Despite some weather setbacks (the workshop, originally planned for last week, had been postponed due to a snowstorm....yes, you read that correctly...snow in April!), we finally got around to doing it!

We hope you enjoyed the workshop!

Thank you everyone for coming. Our special thanks to Shannon P. who organized the whole thing. We really appreciate it!

Learn more about ikebana workshops here.

My Ikebana: Bridging Containers

Added on April 7, 2014 by the ikebana shop.

Today, I used two containers that have very strong flat surfaces. I made them to lie on their sides, one overlapping the other, to form a kind of bridge.

I used a mix of pink anastasia, dark red carnation and orange lily to make a low (not tall) composition.

Plus, some white hypericum to draw out a light and gentle line.

Here is the whole arrangement.

....and viewed another angle.

I hope you like it. --Miyako

Momentum - Ikebana Exhibit

Added on March 16, 2014 by the ikebana shop.

We are a proud sponsor of Momentum, the 2014 exhibit of the Ikebana International, Ottawa Centennial Chapter 120. Please visit if you are in the area!

My Ikebana: Bittersweet Vine

Added on February 15, 2014 by the ikebana shop.

I am very thankful to our friend, Patti, who brought us a bunch of bittersweet vine branches last autumn.

I had let them dry entwined. Now I used them for this arrangement.

It was no longer possible to bend or shape them because the branches were dry and would break easily so I had to use them in their natural state. But, I could still cut and trim, of course!

I arranged the branches to show a climbing movement from the bottom of the vase, merging with other branches at the top of the vase and still reaching further upwards. The ornithogalum moved in the same rhythm as the bittersweet.

Here is the whole arrangement.

I hope you like it. --Miyako

Japanesque at SMU

Added on February 4, 2014 by the ikebana shop.

The annual Koshogatsu (Little New Year) celebration at St. Mary's University has evolved into Japanesque, a Japanese cultural festival. With the new format comes more flexibility as the event can now be celebrated at different times of the year and not be tied down to the Little New Year (which occurs at the first full moon of the year). This year 2014, the inaugural Japanesque was held last Sunday, Feb 2nd at SMU's Sobey building.

Dr. Alexandre Avdulov, coordinator of the Japanese Language and Culture Program, gives the opening remarks.

The event was organized by the Japanese Language and Culture Program, Department of Modern Languages and Classics of St. Mary's University, with the support of the Consulate General of Japan at Montreal. Members of the local community also shared their time and skills. Plus, the Japanese-Canadian Cultural Exchange Society of SMU was involved too.

There were many cultural demonstrations and workshops...

Kyudo

Shooting two arrows as a rite of purification.

Dancing!

Iaido

Chanoyu - Japanese Tea Ceremony

Dr. Avdulov performs the tea ceremony.

Ikebana demo

Shodo - Calligraphy

People gave the calligraphy brush a try!

Japanese Paper

People learned the many different uses for Japanese paper!

Incense

Taking a whiff of magically fragrant incense!

Matcha

We were fortunate to partake of matcha and Japanese sweet (wagashi) hanabira mochi!

AKB48...SMU version! :-)

We were honoured to give the demonstration of ikebana.

L-R: Dr. J. Colin Dodds, President of St. Mary's University; Miyako Ballesteros, ikebana artist; and Mr. Tatsuo Arai, Consul General of Japan at Montreal.

Thank you to all who joined in the activities. We hope you enjoyed the afternoon! Thank you to all the organizers, supporters and sponsors for making this happen. It was a wonderful event and we hope to see you again next year.