As I’ve progressed along this journey I’ve focused on the shin, soe, and hikae of a fairly straightforward moribana-style arrangement, and the low natural shapes and textures of a rougher natural arrangement. For this one, I wanted to focus on the concept of “unbalanced balance”, weighting something off-centre while still evoking a feeling of pleasant balance. … Read more
I’m flying out to southern California today, and will be there for a month. ✈️ I’ve got some entries drafted up and will have access to the internet but my free time will be reduced and I won’t have access to my kimono or the mannequin. Entries will be sparse for a while, but I’ll be … Read more
Erstwilder is a small Australian company that makes some of the most fun and funky accessories out there. So when I was presented with the opportunity to review some pieces from their new Japan-themed Nihon Journey collection, you can bet I was over the moon. I selected three pieces; the Mysterious Maiko brooch, the Nishikigoi brooch, … Read more
It’s no secret that a huge part of Star Wars’ visual identity owes much to traditional Japanese aesthetics. From Darth Vader’s samurai-like helmet to the kimono-inspired robes of both the Jedi and Sith, the influence is apparent in many facets of the Universe. May the Fourth is known as Star Wars Day to many people, a … Read more
I said I’d be trying to do at least one ikebana arrangement per month, but that was the bare minimum. I was inspired to do a second before April ends. I wanted this one to feel much more natural and organic, a bit like a rock garden at the edge of a pond. I … Read more