Here are the photos for today’s Ikebana class. What a fun moment!
Materials: Scented Geranium, dhalia
Class photos: 9/21/2017
How to Decorate Different Rooms with Same Flowers
If flowers are in full bloom in your back yard, why not bring them in the house? You don’t have to stay in the sun long time in order to appreciate them.
No problem if you have only one kind. Here is how you can decorate different places in your house with the same flowers.
Flowers in the Living Room
You would want to enjoy flowers in the room where you spend most of your time. May it be your living room or dining room, find a flat surface, like on the sideboard or cabinet.
Next, pick your favorite vase in the house. Chances are that the vase has never been accompanied with real flowers. With fresh flowers in companion, your vase will look different.
Flowers in the Bath Room
With flowers
Without flowers
How many times do you visit this rather tiny room in your house? I do, quite often. Why not enjoy your beautiful flowers there?
Good news is you don’t need a lot of flowers. Place them near the mirror, like shown in the photo, then your flowers look twice as much with the reflection.
Flowers in the Entrance
Give a warm welcome with your beautiful flowers to anybody who opens the front door. You don’t need a big space for that. Find a little opening where you can place a small vase or cup, fill it with water, and put a stem or two.
Who will find it first?
Flowers in the Bedroom
How about ending your day with a moment of calmness? Your flowers will help you relax. In the dim light in the bedroom, your flowers will look so different from the ones in the living room.
Class photos: 9/16/2017
Here are the photos from today’s Ikebana class. For some of them, it is their first ever Ikebana arrangement. Great work, everyone!
Materials used today:
Hypericum, Peony foliage, Raspberry foliage, Iris foliage, Marigold (orange, yellow)
Why Fran’s Chocolates Hosts Ikebana Classes
The Georgetown store of Fran’s Chocolates is housed in an old brick and mortar building which used to be a brewery. Anybody who visits the space falls in love with its serene and tranquil atmosphere.
I’m so thankful that Fran’s hosts my Ikebana class in this beautiful space twice a month. I would like to express my gratitude here.
Chabako Box was a Trigger
I was intrigued when I saw at first the Japanese Chabako Box at Fran’s downtown store. Chocolates in a Paulownia tree box wrapped in Washi paper?
Being a Japanese, I’m familiar with Paulownia tree box and Washi paper. Never have occurred to me, though, to store chocolates in it!
Senses from Japan Event Led the Way
Three years ago, a group of us were looking for a venue to host a small trunk show, named Senses from Japan. Preferably near Kyoto Art and Antiques, to coincide our show with their warehouse sale. What about Seattle Design Center? Or Nagomi Tea House at Uwajimaya?
After the meeting, we walked into Fran’s Georgetown store which was newly opened. And we all said, “Wow! This is the perfect place!” But how should we approach Fran’s? Over coffee and hot chocolate, we started our discussion again.
Guess who came down the stairs right then…. Fran, the owner! I rushed and introduced myself to her. “As your Japanese Chabako Box represents,…” I asked her if I can propose an event about Japan’s traditional crafts. Fran, although had never met me before, gave me her business card!
Ikebana Class was Launched
The trunk show in the fall of 2015, became not the only but the first Senses from Japan event at Fran’s. A year later, we held it again with a tea ceremony demonstration. Then at the third Senses from Japan event this April, we added Ikebana demonstrations.
“I would love to learn Ikebana, but too bad that there is no class nearby.” When I overheard somebody say that, I took that word as an order. It was time for me to start teaching Ikebana again. No more procrastination.
Ikebana Class at Fran’s Chocolates Welcomes You
It is such an honor and joy for me to hold Ikebana classes there. Thank you, Fran, and everybody at Fran’s Chocolates who supports my class.
If you are interested in Ikebana, come join us at Fran’s Chocolates in Georgetown. Please visit iloveikebana.com/schedule to check out the next class. I hope to see you there soon!
Which Tools I Need to Make an Ikebana Art
Now you know the true meaning of Ikebana. You feel like trying it. You want to give a new life to flowers! What tools do you need? Here is a list of things you need for Ikebana.
Three Must Haves
For Ikebana, you need at least these three items:
- Scissors
The most common type is called Ikenobo hasami (hasami means scissors in Japanese).The tip of the handles is curled up, giving appropriate weight on the handles. They are mainly made of iron orstainless steel. The size is about 6-7 inches long.
- Kenzan
The pinfrog is called kenzan. For the container with 12 inches diameter, a round kenzan with 2.5 – 3 inches in diameter would be appropriate. The kenzan shown in the photo above is called Sun and Moon. I recommend this type, because often times you will use the moon-shaped one as weight if you use a heavy branch.
- Container… A round, shallow, flat-bottom container as shown in the photo above is most versatile for a beginner. Twelve inches in diameter is a good size. A square or rectangle shape will work, too. Any material would do, either ceramic, glass, or plastic. Make sure there are no holes or leakage!
Also Need to Haves
- Small bowl… You fill the small bowl with water and keep it beside the container. Whenever you cut a stem, you cut it under water. A bowl with 4-5 inches in diameter will be large enough.
- Towel… In order to keep your scissors from rusting, you want to wipe out water from the blades after you cut stems. An old hand towel will be handy.
Nice to Haves (later, but not now)
Those items listed above are all you need to start Ikebana. As you keep practicing it, the next thing you want to add is a tall, slim container. With two containers, one flat and one tall, your Ikebana repertoire will drastically expand.
As you further advance your skills, you will find yourself adding such items below in your Ikebana tool kit: Wires, pins, staples, pliers, gloves, nails, hammers, etc.
What Is True Meaning of Ikebana
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of ikebana is “the Japanese art of flower arranging that emphasizes form and balance.” This definition, however, doesn’t quite capture the true meaning of the original word in Japanese. What does Ikebana really mean?
Ikebana’s Literal Translation
Let’s decompose the Japanese word “Ikebana.” The word is composed of two kanji characters, “生” and “花”. The first character means life, to live, to give life, or to be alive. The second character means flowers.
- Ikebana = “生” + “花”
- “生” = a life, to live, to give life, to be live
- “花” = flowers
Ikebana, in Japanese, literally means “to give a life to flowers.”
More than Flower Arrangement
“To give a life” is, obviously, not merely “to arrange” flowers.
But wait! Flowers in the nature are alive. In order to make Ikebana artwork, you have to cut flowers and branches out of the living plants. Isn’t cutting off of the original plants killing? How can it possibly “give a life”?
In Ikebana, cut flowers and branches are used not to merely mimic the nature.
Just like a painter uses oil paint or watercolor, and like a sculptor uses a block of wood, you use flowers as medium to express yourself. An artist in you, give a new life to the flowers through your creativity. Your life, not the flowers’, is given to the creation.
Combining these flowers and branches, you create something unique and remarkable, something that never existed before. Just as no two persons are the same, no two Ikebana works are the same, even if the same flowers are used.
True Meaning of Ikebana
As you see now, you, who give life, not the flowers, matters in Ikebana. True meaning of Ikebana is not about flowers, but about YOU! YOU, the creator, give a new life to flowers. That is the true meaning of Ikebana.
Class photos: 8/12/2017
Here are the photos from today’s Ikebana class. Enjoy!
Flowers for the Ikebana Class Tomorrow
Euphorbia….also called Snow on the Mountain. Interesting variegated foliage.
Raspberry foliage…..a little spike on the stem, so be careful handling.
Sedum….. the thick leaves are interesting.
Lisianthus…also called Prairie Gentian. The fancy flowers look like roses.
Your First Ikebana Arrangement – Step by Step
Before
After
More Photos of the Workshop
Here are more photos!
