My Ikebana: The Nambu Iron Ashtray

Added on by the ikebana shop.

For this arrangement, I used a very unusual "container".  It is an old ashtray made of nambu iron (the same type used for the cast iron teapots.)  I found this ashtray in a flea market in Tokyo.  Though I didn't smoke, I saw its potential to become a flower container!

I wanted to show the fine intricacies of the tiny branches so I made the arrangement short and horizontal so that the viewer may have a closer look.  I also tried to show the "feet" of the snapdragon stems coming out of the container.  It adds a little vertical component to contrast the very horizontal nature of the arrangement.

Here is the whole arrangement.

I hope you like it.  --Miyako

My Ikebana: New Year Tulips

Added on by the ikebana shop.

For the start of 2015, I thought it was appropriate to use bamboo containers.

One part of the arrangement has lovely tulips in different colours to bring a touch of gaiety.  Another part is made up simply of curly willow and dried mountain ash branches to show lines.

The two parts of the arrangement are made to like they are moving to meet up in the space above!  Here is the whole arrangement.

I hope you like it.  --Miyako

My Ikebana: Hemlock And Lily

Added on by the ikebana shop.

As Christmas approached, I decided to create something in green and red.

I intertwined some dried pine with hemlock branches, forming a wreath-like structure.  The branches were inserted inside the narrow opening of the container to look as if they were flowing out as one.

The flow of the branches followed the shape of the container as well.

Here is the whole arrangement.

I hope you like it.  -- Miyako

Ikebana Workshop At The Japanese School Part 2

Added on by the ikebana shop.

In fact we conducted 3 ikebana workshops at the Japanese School of Halifax.  The first one was with the older boys and girls.  (No pics, sorry!)  The second one was with the wee ones...and weren't they cute?  See here.  And the third group had their workshop about a week or so ago.

The tweens group...in between being very cute & cuddly and very beautiful & handsome!

Everyone was very focused on their ikebana work.  They all created beautiful arrangements...to the delight of their parents too!

Unknown to Miyako-sensei, while she was having a good time with some of the children, the parents, staff and other children were in another room busily preparing these thank-you cards!  

How thoughtful and touching!  To all the children of the Japanese School of Halifax: a big THANK YOU from Miyako-sensei.  Many thanks too to all the parents and staff of the Japanese School of Halifax.

My Ikebana: Red Dogwood

Added on by the ikebana shop.

Trying to mimic the wonderful mizuhiki knot art, I bent and twisted the red dogwood branches.

The curls matched the light rhythm set by the Japanese rose branches.

This arrangement has no focal point flowers.  I used Baby's Breath to add volume.  This arrangement was all about lines.  Here is the full arrangement.

It is currently displayed at our shop…in case you'd like to see it in person!

I hope you like it.  -- Miyako

Holiday Goodies

Added on by the ikebana shop.

Here are some holiday goodies you can find at the shop!

Santa Gift Box
Kids love getting many things...no matter how little!  So we put together a bit of this-and-that into a gift pack and put it inside a special Santa box.  The contents are worth more than $20...and we're offering them at $15, including the Santa box of course!

Fabric Crane Ornaments 
They're back!  Ready to adorn your Christmas tree!  These origami cranes are Hand-made in-house with brightly coloured Japanese fabric.  

Cat Ornaments
At first we made only a few.  We wondered if people would really want a cat on their tree?!?  :-)  But people kept asking for more so we made some more.  All hand-made in-house.

Christmas Tree Lavender Sachet
Last year, we made these little trees and sent them to Halifax's sister city, Hakodate. (See here.)  We thought we'd reprise it this year. They are made with Nova Scotian tartan and inside is fragrant Nova Scotia lavender.

Holiday Origami Workshop

Added on by the ikebana shop.

Updated Dec 7th, 2014:

Thank you to all who attended the workshop.  We hope you enjoyed.  These two young ladies certainly did! :-)

Updated Dec 2, 2014, 4:00 p.m.:

The 3:00-4:00 p.m. workshop is also now fully booked.  Thank you all!

Updated Dec 2, 2014, 10:00 a.m.:

The second workshop (3:00-4:00 p.m.) is confirmed!  We have a few spaces left.  Thanks and see you soon!

Updated Nov 29, 2014:

The 1:00-2:00 p.m. workshop is now fully booked.  Thank you very much!

We will start accepting bookings for a 3:00-4:00 p.m. workshop.  We will have the second workshop if we get a minimum of 6 participants.

Wait-listing (in case of cancellation) for the 1:00-2:00 p.m. workshop is also welcome.

We are planning an origami workshop in the first week of December where we will make some Christmas ornaments.  We will also string them up and maybe add some ribbon and beads.  

Date: Dec 6th, Saturday
Time: 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Venue: our studio (right above the shop)

Cost: $7 plus HST per person.  All materials are included.
Max 10 persons.  Advanced registration is required.  First come, first served!

Please call or email to book your spot.
Tel (902) 407-0487
email: shop@theikebanashop.com

If we get fully booked and more people are registering, we might open another workshop at 3:00-4:00 p.m.  But this is not guaranteed yet.

Hope to see you soon!

Postage Stamp Gift Tags...Free!

Added on by the ikebana shop.

Back by popular demand!  :-)  The postage stamp (yes, they're real stamps!) gift tags are free with any purchase, while supply lasts.  

We get a lot of postage stamps from Japan through the year and so we collect them and make them into little gift tags for you!

Thank you for shopping with us!

Ikebana At The Japanese School Of Halifax

Added on by the ikebana shop.

We spent an enjoyable morning with the little ones at the Japanese School of Halifax.  We were happy to introduce ikebana to the little ones!

Miyako phone_000295.jpg

It was a great opportunity for the children to connect to a part of their cultural heritage even whilst they are very far from Japan.  Everybody did a great job!

We are also conducting workshops for the older boys and girls.  But this group is the cutest of them all! :-)