My Ikebana: Contrast

Added on May 24, 2013 by the ikebana shop.

This time, I brought out this black-and-white glass vase. I remember purchasing it because I was drawn to the contrast.

I had in my hands two different colours of chrysanthemums, which I thought would look good against something black. I decided to use the mums as "colour" rather than as "flower". I placed them on the black side of the vase.

The yellow and pink against black stood out clearly enough...but, there was something lacking on the white side of the vase. I wanted to show contrast (as the vase dictated) but the yellow and pink against white was not strong enough. So, I placed dark purple statice in the middle to intensify the difference in space. The statice were made to look like the blooms were overflowing from the vase.

The next question was how to make use of the space on the white side. I needed lines to complement the mass on the black side. I stripped myrtle branches of all their leaves and fashioned them into circular shapes.

Black side = mass. White side = line.

Back view: did you notice my little eryngium helpers? :-)

Here is the complete arrangement. I hope you like it. --Miyako

Macaron Ring Case

Added on May 16, 2013 by the ikebana shop.

We took inspiration from that delicious snack, the macaron, and used its shape for something completely different.

Ring cases!

They open-and-close through a zipper. They are cushioned inside. The perfect place to put your ring when it's not on your finger! Some earrings would fit too!

By the way, this is not our original idea. It's been all the rage in Japan a few years back but... these ones are hand-made in Nova Scotia, Canada!

Available at the shop or online.
4.50 CAD each (plus HST where applicable).

Our Facebook Shop

Added on May 15, 2013 by the ikebana shop.

Online shopping just got a little bit easier for facebook users. Now you can check out our products without leaving facebook! Just click on the "Shop" tab.

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My Ikebana: Maple Lines

Added on May 13, 2013 by the ikebana shop.

In our parking area, there is a maple tree. Close to its trunk, there are many new maple branches sprouting, probably from seeds that have fallen from the mother tree. I decided to use some of them.

The little buds and young leaves were a breath of new life of spring.

This arrangement is all about showing lines. Most of them were very straight branches. But there were at least some that curved a bit...or some that bent with a little "encouragement"! I chose a container that showed a strong surface to contrast against the lines.

I wish I could take a three-dimensional picture. It is not easy to express the depth on a flat photograph!

Here is the complete arrangement.

Hope you like it. --Miyako

The 2013 ISKF National Karate Championships in Halifax

Added on May 7, 2013 by the ikebana shop.

2013 ISKF Canada National Karate Championships will be held in Halifax May 18th~19th. We are a proud sponsor! Osu!

(ISKF = International Shotokan Karate Federation)

My Ikebana: Only Branches

Added on May 1, 2013 by the ikebana shop.

After a particularly strong snowstorm last winter, I picked up some branches that had fallen off a maple tree. I kept them until now.

Finally, long winter is over and we start to smell the earth, the grass and the trees again. The branches have started to flower!

For this arrangement, just the branches were enough. I decided to make isshu-ike (arrangement with one type of material only). No more flowers. And since the branches were quite thick, no kenzan either.

I did not have an appropriate container that could match the strength and heaviness of the branches. So I decided to use 4 containers. I used two of them simply to enlarge the space and showed only water.

Here is the whole arrangement. I had fun making this! Hope you like it. --Miyako

Our New Nageire Containers

Added on April 26, 2013 by the ikebana shop.

Lately, it has been getting more and more difficult to find nageire containers. So we thought we'd get some made for us...right here in Nova Scotia, Canada...a place abounding with pottery talent!

We gave our minimum specifications from the ikebana point of view and left the artist to play with everything else! We asked that the vases be thick enough to withstand the crossbar fixture. (Yes, we had broken a few vases in the past because the vase walls had not been able to withstand the pressure!) We also asked for grooves on the inside for better traction.

We left the artist free to choose the type of clay, glaze and texture...with beautiful results! Here are the first 6 pieces. Each vase is hand-made. Each vase is one-of-a-kind. Proudly made in Nova Scotia, Canada.

For more images and details, click on the individual image.

The Crafty Owl Workshop

Added on April 17, 2013 by the ikebana shop.

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.

My Ikebana: Pussywillow And Water

Added on April 10, 2013 by the ikebana shop.

I was so excited to find these long pussywillow branches that I did not even think to choose what kind of container to use. My mind simply started imagining what I could create with these branches.

The branches felt good in my hands. I bent, twisted and coaxed them to form different shapes and angles. I was playing and having a lot of fun! Before long, I had an objet in front of me.

Next, the container. The work turned out to be quite big so I decided to use a combination of two suiban containers. The pussywillow branches went to the first container. I did not want to cover the lines so I used very sparse flowers.

I used the second suiban to show water. I let some alstroemeria blossoms float to show a flow from one container to the other.

The image of hana-ikada was in my mind. (花筏 hana-ikada = literally "flower raft". This term is used to describe sakura petals that fall in a pond or river.)

Here is the full arrangement.

I hope you like it. --Miyako

Mahone Bay Ikebana Workshop

Added on April 8, 2013 by the ikebana shop.

We're visiting Mahone Bay (again!) :-) Join us for an ikebana workshop on April 28th, 1-3 p.m. at the Mahone Bay Centre.

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Click here to find out what our ikebana workshop is all about.