Once again the weeds around the shop caught my eye!
I was attracted to the large leaves and the unusual patterns along their edges.
WIthout cutting or folding, I arranged the leaves to show the beauty of the edge patterns.
I added one sunflower to accent and provide contrast to the greenness.
Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. --Miyako
All photos by the ikebana shop. All rights reserved.
We are very happy to have here at the shop some works by Montreal-based artist, Heather Midori Yamada.
(Dimensions: 21 x 28 cm.)
Her work uses different textures and abstract shapes, employing among others, washi Japanese paper. All the swatches of paper you see here have been painstakingly dyed by Heather herself.
(Dimesnions: 10 x 26 cm. each)
We can also see elements of shodo Japanese calligraphy.
(Dimensions: 21.5 x 28 cm.)
Heather's art exudes spontaneity and openness that pique our contemplative side.
(Dimensions: 13 x 21 cm.)
Artist profile taken from Heather's website:
Heather Midori Yamada is a Montreal visual artist and teacher who works with Japanese washi papers in paintings, collage and installations. Having begun in Toronto`s Open Studio during the 1980`s Heather primarily used washi papers in monotypes. These works explored natural plants as imagery and actual plants imprinted. These washi, etched & embossed, monotype-print constructions were often marouflaged onto western paper supports. The work evolved into mixed media and collage paintings.
Available for sale at the shop.
Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation will comes into effect on July 1, 2014. The spirit of this law is promote a safer online environment and to protect Canadians from scams and disruptive/unwanted emails. We are all for that!
The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has outlined 3 rules that must be followed when sending out a commercial electronic message (CEM).
To be clear, we do not send out spam. We also do not "harvest" or purchase email addresses.
However, we do send out the following unsolicited messages to an email list:
These messages can be technically categorized as CEM and therefore subject to the Anti-Spam Law. The email addresses in our mailing lists have been painstakingly collected through the years from people with whom we have had direct contact. They have expressed interest in our activities. It is unfortunate that we did not keep any kind of proof of consent. Some email addresses were given to us by phone, by little slips of memo paper, by a business card, etc. None were archived in any organized way.
Sooooo, we're going to push the re-set button. We will delete our mailing lists and start with a clean slate.
If you would like to continue (or begin) receiving our ikebana lesson schedule updates and/or our origami & other workshop announcements, please send us an email saying:
I subscribe to your ikebana / origami & other workshops [choose one or both] mailing list.
In the same way, you will be able to un-subscribe by sending us another email to tell us to remove you from the mailing list(s)....and we will do so promptly (as we have always done till now).
Thank you very much for your understanding.
This day, I had monstera leaves and oriental lilies.
The monstera leaves proved to be too big so I ended up with cutting a leaf to fit in the container's opening.
I used one lily bud and then some grass to show lines, a contrast to the large surface of the monstera.
Here is the whole arrangement.
I hope you like it. --Miyako
All photos by the ikebana shop. All rights reserved.
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
All photos by the ikebana shop. All rights reserved.
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. :-)
Image courtesy of Helen MacLean.
Image courtesy of Helen MacLean.
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.
All photos by the ikebana shop except where specified. All rights reserved.
It's that time of the year when the azaleas start to bloom in Halifax.
Tucked in the southwest corner of the Halifax Public Gardens (near the corner of Spring Garden Rd. and Summer St.) is a special azalea bush.
Here is a closer look at the plaque.
Wish we could find a photo of the bush when it was first planted back in 1986 to see how much it has grown!
May the friendship between Halifax and Hakodate grow and deepen further!
All photos by the ikebana shop. All rights reserved.
It was our first time to do an ikebana demonstration outdoors. It was a bright, warm, sunny day. We were surrounded by wonderful trees. The setting was perfect....
....until the wind started to blow! By normal standards, it was a mildly pleasant breeze. By ikebana standards, it was a bit scary! :-) Those rocks on the table were not ornamental. They were there to keep the table cover from flapping about!
Anyway, Miyako started doing what she did best. At first there were only a few people...
...but not long after, people started to take notice.
Something beautiful was being created here!
And more people came to watch.
Pretty soon, there was a good-sized crowd.
The Public Gardens had let us take some branches from the trees and bushes, like these beautiful rhododendrons. (We added rocks on the kenzan to give it more weight to withstand the wind!)
Also some very lovely crab apple blossoms! Unfortunately, the wind gods were merciless with this arrangement. It got knocked over right after completion! At least people still got a glimpse! :-)
At the end, some curious members of the audience wanted to try using the kenzan!
We thank everyone who spent the afternoon with us. We hope you enjoyed the "show". Thank you to the Halifax Public Gardens, most especially to Ms. Helen MacLean, for making this possible (and for letting us take some of your branches!) Thank you also to Miyako's students who came to offer support. You know who you are!
All photos by the ikebana shop. All rights reserved.
Due to unavoidable circumstances, the schedule has been changed as follows:
*Advanced registration for workshop is necessary. Please contact Halifax Public Gardens directly.
Our apologies for any inconvenience. See you there!
In celebration of the Nova Scotia Gardening Week, we are working together with the Halifax Public Gardens to present an ikebana demonstration and workshop at The Lord Nelson Hotel (1515 South Park St., Halifax NS) on June 8th, Sunday, 1-4 p.m. The workshop is suited for those who have never tried ikebana before!
The cost for the activity is $30. You get to bring home your arrangement! We will prepare the containers and flowers but participants are asked to bring with them their own floral clippers (your regular gardening clippers are OK!)
Advanced registration is required. Please contact Halifax Public Gardens directly by phone (902) 490-4518 or email.
We hope to see you there!
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
All photos by the ikebana shop. All rights reserved.
