Home Matters: Explore Japanese art of ikebana flower arranging

As a young girl, Flo Bowen learned ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, from her mother, who worked in Vietnam in the 1970s.

“All the secretaries, to relieve themselves of stress, would meet at lunch and learn ikebana,” said Bowen, 54, who lives in Bee Cave. Her mother passed down this love of the art to Bowen.

“She encouraged me to do it,” says Bowen, who recently led a presentation at a monthly meeting of the Austin Ikebana Study Group at Zilker Botanical Garden. Other places also have such study groups.

At the meeting, more than a dozen women watch quietly as Bowen demonstrates creating two arrangements. Bowen carefully places plants such as tulips and variegated ginger into containers, using a “kenzan” flower holder with sturdy needles to hold up the stems.

“It’s following a few classic rules, with your own personal touch,” she says. “I just love the three basic lines.”

Bowen says that, compared with large Western arrangements, “When there are fewer flowers, you appreciate it more.”

The study group was founded by Isamu Taniguchi, who also built the Isamu Taniguchi Japanese Garden at Zilker Botanical Garden. Taniguchi, who died in 1992, wanted membership to be made up equally of people of Japanese and non-Japanese ancestry, according to the study group’s mission statement. In addition, membership is limited to “approximately 20,” and a person needs to have finished one year of ikebana classes before becoming a member, the mission statement says.

According to the book “Ikebana the Art of Arranging Flowers” by Shozo Sato, “ike” means “to arrange” or “put” and can also mean “alive”; “bana” or “hana” means “flowers.”

Ikebana has “been practiced for more than 600 years,” according to the website of Ikebana International, a nonprofit cultural organization with chapters worldwide including in San Antonio.

Ikebana “developed from the Buddhist ritual of offering flowers to the spirits of the dead. By the middle of the 15th century, with the emergence of the first classical styles, ikebana achieved the status of an art form, independent of its religious origins, though it continued to retain strong symbolic and philosophical overtones. … As time passed, many different schools arose, styles changed and ikebana came to be practiced at all levels of Japanese society.”

There are many different schools and styles of ikebana, so a member always can learn more, Austin group president Dolores Rumpf says. Members rotate leading the demonstrations.

“We have some really talented people,” Rumpf says.

At the study group, Bowen reminds members to “honor active empty space” in their arrangements.

Anita Inglis, who first learned ikebana from her mother, says that space is an element of the arrangement. (Inglis plans to attend an upcoming Ikebana International World Convention in Okinawa, Japan.)

Similarly, the container is another important element. Each group member also brought a container to create the same arrangement and to receive input. The containers were made of diverse materials, such as clay, metal and glass.

Tracy Williams, 75, a potter, says she got involved with ikebana to make containers.

“It was wonderful learning the relation between the vase and the flower,” she says. “It has to be a marriage between the two.”

At the start of the meeting, members are reminded of “workshop etiquette,” with a list of guidelines such as, “Place your scissors on your hand towel so they do not bang on the table,” and, “Do not begin your arrangement until the instructor tells you to begin.”

Velia Sanchez, 74, says she loves the simplicity of ikebana, and it has made her more aware of her natural surroundings.

“The way they design is so in tune with nature,” Sanchez says. “I can’t walk without noticing how the tree branches are bending.”

Beth Zimpelman concurs that she is drawn in by the simplicity.

“It takes very little to make a gorgeous arrangement,” she says.

As participants began to work, Bowen gives them some thoughts to consider, such as, “What gives you joy? That should be your theme throughout your day.”

In addition, she gives practical advice, such as using a pencil to curl a leaf.

At the end, Diana Rogers took apart her arrangement “in order to get it home” easily, she says, and redo it later.

MENSWEAR

Get custom clothing made at Texas Clothier trunk show

Have you ever considered getting a shirt or suite made just for you? Eddie Barnett of Individualized Shirts and Mark Schreiber of Hickey Freeman will be at Texas Clothier 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 1. They will take measurements and guide customers through the process. At the event, Hickey Freeman is offering 15 percent off a custom suit or sport coat and pant combination. And if you buy seven or more custom shirts, you get 15 percent off.

Find Texas Clothier at 2905 San Gabriel St. Suite 100. texasclothier.com

BEAUTY

Make your own beauty products with a class from Make it Good Apothecary

Austin food blogger Mary Helen Leonard has a new venture — Make it Good Apothecary. Just off her first book, “The Natural Beauty Solution,” Leonard is hosting an upcoming class to teach people how to make beauty products from their kitchen.

Make it Good will offer a build-your-own facial masks class 11 a.m. March 5 at Love Ding. Stephanie Circhirillo of Stephanie Aesthetics will give you a miniconsultation before you make two facial masks. The class includes complimentary refreshments. $40. Love Ding, 10516 Manchaca Road, Suite 210. Register at withlovefromding.com.

SHOPPING

New resale clothing store opens second Austin store

Late last year Style Encore opened its first Austin store at 14010 N. U.S. 183. Last month, it opened a second store at 4211 S. Lamar Blvd. Like the first store, the South Austin store focuses on selling recycled, trendy clothing for women in their 20s and older. You also can sell your gently worn, name-brand clothes that are less than 18 months old to the store.

Both stores are open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. style-encoresouthaustin.com