Matcha and Suikinkutsu at Jomyo-ji, Kamakura

Added on July 26, 2015 by the ikebana shop.

We went to Jomyo-ji (浄妙寺), a Zen Buddhist temple in Kamakura with the express intention of visiting the tea house Kisen-an (喜泉庵).

It is a spacious tatami tea room, with the engawa (縁側) porch looking out to a serene karesansui (枯山水) Zen rock garden.

It is a very peaceful place.

The temple serves matcha and wagashi (Japanese sweets). There is no better place to enjoy such a treat!

Tucked in the left corner of the garden is a suikinkutsu (水琴窟). You can't see it because it is underground. All you can see is the stone basin with a little water trickling on it.

Source: http://www.suikinkutsu.com/image/suidanmen.jpg — Source: http://www.suikinkutsu.com/image/suidanmen.jpg

The suikinkutsu is a domed installation with a pool of water at the bottom and a tiny hole on top to allow water to fall in drops. The sound of the water drops echo inside creating a very pleasant (or shall we go as far as saying "mystical"?) sound.

The name suikinkutsu literally translates to sui = "water" , kin = "koto" (a string musical instrument), kutsu = "cave".

Next to the stone basin is a long bamboo pole that extends all the way to the engawa.

Put your ear close to the end of the pole and you can hear the melodious and soothing sounds of the water drops. Almost other-worldly!

We found a video of Jomyo-ji on YouTube. Enjoy the sound of suikinkutsu at around the 2:48 mark.

鎌倉五山「浄妙寺」喜泉庵の水琴窟。水琴窟の音を愛でるには、まず喜泉庵の座敷に上がってお茶やお菓子を注文します。そして、庭園の奥にある水琴窟から縁側へ渡された竹筒に耳をあてます。この日は雨。竹筒に当たる雨音のトレモロが一緒に聞こえてきました。訪れる人が少ない日で、ゆっくりと庭園を眺めながら録音できました。評判の石窯は休みでした。

My Ikebana: Using Cardboard

Added on July 13, 2015 by the ikebana shop.

I was in the middle of putting together some fir branches for an arrangement about disassembling-and-assembling branch material when I realized that the vase I was using did not really fit.

I could not find another suitable container so I decided to make one...with cardboard!

In the Sogetsu textbook, there is also a theme about using unconventional materials. I decided to give that a try too! Here is the whole arrangement.

I hope you like it. --Miyako

Hydrangea And Iris

Added on June 29, 2015 by the ikebana shop.

June is the time of the year when the hydrangea (ajisai) and irises (shobu) bloom in Japan. Hydrangea can be found most everywhere!

Growing wild on the roadside...

In temples and gardens...

Irises are less easier found. We went to a park in Saitama dedicated to irises. It is called the Someya Hana Shobu En (染谷花しょぶ園) and it opens only in June every year, when the irises are blooming.

We feel very lucky indeed to catch the blooms this year! After our walk around the garden, we treated ourselves to some wagashi sweets, appropriately iris-themed!

My Ikebana: A Little Tension

Added on June 23, 2015 by the ikebana shop.

Adding an unstable element creates s a little tension in an arrangement...and makes it more intriguing.

Roses that bring a weighty feel sit in contrast with the lightness of baby's breath.

Then, gentle wavy branches.

The arrangement is intentionally put off-centre to create a sense of instability.

Here is the whole arrangement. Do you feel the slight tension?

I hope you like it. --Miyako

"Sō" Magazine June 2015

Added on June 11, 2015 by the ikebana shop.

The large ikebana instalment that Miyako and her students created at St. Mary's University was featured in the June, 2015 edition of "Sō" (「草」) magazine, the official publication of the Sogetsu Teachers' Association.

L-R: Jean H., Patti V., Val S. and Miyako.

The arrangement was part of the Japaneseque event at SMU. Great job ladies!

Summer Arts Program 2015

Added on June 9, 2015 by the ikebana shop.

We have teamed up with some friends to offer the Summer Arts Program for children ages 8-10 years old at the Shambhala Centre! It will be 5 days of fun, crafts and creativity. Parents get to see a presentation on the final day. Space is limited so please register as soon as you can!

Activities

Ikebana: the art of Japanese flower arranging,
based on 3 main elements: heaven, human & earth.

Gagaku: Ancient Japanese Court Dance and Music. We learn simple percussion on the drum, and its accompanying dance. The
movements are clear and open.

Calligraphy: disciplines of brushwork moving into open forms. We start with black ink and classical forms and move into color and free forms.

Origami: the art of Japanese paper folding. A great tool in developing spatial reasoning and geometric understanding, origami also teaches patience and concentration.

Etegami: means “picture letter.” It is a picture and a message. There are no rules Just draw and write what you feel in a moment of inspiration.

Bookmaking: each child creates a hand-made book

Teachers

Miyako Ballesteros is a qualified instructor in the Sogetsu School of ikebana. She owns the ikebana shop (6417 Quinpool Road, Halifax, NS). Miyako is passionate about sharing Japanese culture. Apart from ikebana lessons, she also conducts workshops in origami and etegami at different venues such as her shop studio, IWK, Dalhousie University, Halifax Public Libraries, etc.

Sarah Cox holds a Certificate in the Performing Arts in Dance from Naropa University. She is a long time student of Japanese Court Dance and also studies calligraphy and Japanese Tea Ceremony. She has taught children as well as adults for many years.

Jamie Pratt, Halifax representative of the Japanese Paper Place (Toronto), has long been fascinated by bookmaking arts. Through many workshops and studies she has learned various handmade book techniques and produced her own books.

For further information and registration:
Please contact Jeff Scott at the Shambhala Centre, tel 902-420-1118 ext 131.
Email: pathandculture@gmail.com

P.S. Healthy snacks will be provided but participants are asked to bring their own lunch.

We Are Taking A Break

Added on June 6, 2015 by the ikebana shop.

Important Announcement:
We are taking a short holiday. The shop will be closed from Jun 12th (Fri) to Jun 21st (Sun). We will come back refreshed (and jet lagged!) and re-open on Jun 22nd (Mon)

My Ikebana: Pink Like Sakura

Added on June 4, 2015 by the ikebana shop.

Spring comes late in Halifax. I put together this arrangement early April of this year. The sakura were already blooming in Tokyo and I longed to see them. I decided then to use pink blossoms--a mix of spray carnations and alstroemeria--to remind me of pink sakura.

I took care not to let the flowers and branches sit heavily onto the vase. Rather, I made them "float" a bit from the mouth of the container. This lent an air of fragility to the arrangement.

Here is the whole arrangement.

I hope you like it. -- Miyako

My Ikebana: Free Style Kabu-wake

Added on May 16, 2015 by the ikebana shop.

The maple branches that I have been keeping have bloomed! I decided to use them for a kabu-wake arrangement.

Kabu-wake is a type of arrangement where two separate groups are made inside one container, with a special focus on the water and the space that separates the two "islands".

I chose gently curving pussy willow branches to match the maple.

Here is the whole arrangement.

I hope you like it. --Miyako

Spring Origami Workshop

Added on May 11, 2015 by the ikebana shop.

It's really finally spring time! :-)

We are planning an origami workshop on May 23rd, Saturday. In this workshop, we will make a Morning Glory wreath and a butterfly!

Date: May 23rd, Saturday
Time: 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Venue: our studio (right above the shop)

Cost: $8 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

Hope to see you there!