Before there were kenzans, people use traditional fixtures and stones to stabilize the stems when creating Ikebana. Strong twigs or stems are placed in the container as fixtures to help maintain the structure and balance of the materials. Last Tuesday during my special lesson with my sensei, I tried to use a natural fixture for an arrangement. This is a type of fixture that uses the original angle of the.. Read More
Spring blossoms are here again! Quite early still but since mid-January we have already some in our flower sets. And last Tuesday, I am very happy to find some sweet peas and peach blossoms. Spring Blossoms Ikebana This year, my peach stems have finally bloomed. I usually get those that have big buds but never open. Please note however that they were in full bloom a day after I took.. Read More
Celebrations in Ikebana was the main theme for the recent Autumn Semester at Best Living Japan Ikebana Class. During each lesson, we first introduced the principles of Ikebana. Then we apply them to our arrangements for western festivities like Thanksgiving and Christmas. We also introduced Japanese traditions such the appreciation of autumn colors or Koyo. Western Celebrations in Ikebana For our Autumn semester, we conducted three classes – once a.. Read More
There are a lot of Tokyo parks to visit when in Japan. Each has its own unique feature that goes well for every season. While most tourists from abroad visit Japan to see the sakura in spring, the changing colors of the leaves are as fascinating. For this year, my husband and I were able to visit a few parks in Tokyo which are popular for autumn viewing. Tokyo.. Read More
I have always been curious about Villa Escudero. I read a lot about the place from local and foreign travel blogs. However for some reason, going there seem like forever for me. It is located in Tiaong, Quezon which is about 3-4 hours drive from Makati on normal traffic. Since I live on the other side of Manila, for me it would be about double the travel time. But fate.. Read More