Setsuko Yanagisawa
Yuga Floral Design
Floristry Teacher
location_on Glebe, Sydney
local_activity classes: Ikebana • Flower Arrangement • Christmas Wreath • Dried Flower Arrangement • Floristry
4.9 (436)
1k followers
I am a passionate qualified florist and teacher, with over 15 years of experience in floristry. I am the founder of Yuga Floral Design in Glebe.
I am specialised in Japanese (Ikebana) and European styles of arrangement. My work expresses a contemporary marriage between the exquisitely refined traditions of Japanese floral art Ikebana, and the vibrant textures and colours of Australia. I regularly provide flower arrangements for Sydney University, Sydney restaurants like Masuya Group, weddings, and more.
My Ikebana journey started at a young age, with the Ikebana that my mother created with flowers picked from the fields and gardens around our home, and has continued and evolved ever since.
Flowers to heal your soul.
Let's arrange flowers.
Classes
Gallery
Reviews
(436)
Helen Molloy • Nov 2023
Had a very enjoyable afternoon with Setsuko. We learnt about the philosophy behind Ikebana. Then observed Satsuko put together two flower displays and we also got to create two flower displays. Then critiqued and assisted to improve by Setsuko. The flower choice was really lovely.
Jessica Lightfoot • Oct 2023
Setsuko was a wonderful teacher and an extremely talented artist. We had a great array of flowers to learn with and gained a great understanding of the concepts of Ikebana!
Therese Phu • Oct 2023
Setsuko was an amazing teacher. We learned a little about the principles of Ikebana and Japanese culture. The class was hands on and it was a lovely way to spend a morning. Thank you!
Yasmyn Molina • Oct 2023
Setsuko was so sweet and patient and knowledgeable. She gave very easy instructions and the kindest feedback to our flower arrangements! She made the experience so peaceful and it was so inspiring to see her passion for this art. I loved this class so much and Setsuko was so inspirational and kind!
Elizabeth Bourikov • Oct 2023
2 ClassBento workshops attended
We loved Setsuko's ikebana class. She gave us some theory before we started and a quick demo. We got to do 2 arrangements with a quick critique for each person (this was very helpful in seeing how little changes could make a big difference). It was a very relaxed and comfortable atmosphere with all materials provided. We went home with some beautiful flowers too! We would definitely recommend the class to others
Katie Pennel • Sep 2023
Lovely intimate class with an amazing large and luxurious bouquet to take home! The whole experience was very relaxing and in a lovely environment surrounded by beautiful flowers
Jessica Bray • Sep 2023
Teacher was amazing! So lovely and kind, and so skilled. We loved every second of it! Highly recommend
Kerrie Peterson • Aug 2023
3 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews
A lovely restful way to spend a couple of hours seeing flower arranging with fresh eyes. Our lovely instructor, Setsuko was very knowledgeable and provided some beautiful materials - vases and flowers to work with.
Sophia Le • Aug 2023
2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews
We were awed by the beautiful and peaceful space that Setsuko created for us to learn in.
Surrounded by plants and flowers, we welcomed Spring with a 2 hour beginners session that flew by far too quickly. My mum and I had a wonderful time and I was inspired by the history of Ikebana that Setsuko shared with us. Embracing the beauty of life and death in nature and appreciating what we have available to us.
Would recommend this class to everyone wanting to reconnect with their natural abilities to create and learn new ways of viewing the world.
Elizabeth Devine • Aug 2023
Sestsuko is a delightful teacher. The class was conducted in beautiful surroundings and using fresh and stunning flowers. She created an encouraging environment to learn and provided gentle and helpful feedback on our designs. A wonderful introduction to Ikebana. Highly recommended.
Monisha Chippada • Aug 2023
This was such a beautiful class. Setsuko is incredibly knowledgeable, experienced and has a lovely energy that creates such a nice atmosphere to learn in. A great use of two hours.
Jana Hyskova • Jul 2023
I have spent a lovely and relaxing couple of hours on Sunday morning with Setsuko. Setsuko is a great teacher, she introduced us to the fundamentals of Ikebana in a very simple yet informative way. I was amazed with the arrangements we have produced under her guidance!
Highly recommend this class.
Jenny Morris • Jul 2023
Just spent the most beautiful relaxing and informative 2 hours learning Ikebana. I loved the teaching perspective which was so much more than just the technique but included holistic mind/soul references ( very subtly). I was so pleased with what I produced. Highly recommend! Jenny.
Naomi Martin • Jul 2023
2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews
I had great time at this class. I was actually the only one for the session, which made it much more personalised and I got loads of tips! I had a beautiful bouquet and was super happy with a wholesome morning. Thank you for having me!
Edwina Lye • Jun 2023
We had the loveliest time learning Ikebana. The teacher is very good at expressing the elements to a successful arrangement and it's so amazing to see all the interpretations from other people in the class. Was something I did with my mum as a gift, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. A great skill to have for my next dinner party
Hong Dou • Jun 2023
Beautiful venue with a passionate teacher. I have had a very enjoyable time and met lovely classmates. Everyone’s creative flower arrangement is so pretty and impressive under our teacher’s guidance. Such a great experience and good value for money. Highly recommended.
Joanne Rutkowski • Jun 2023
7 ClassBento workshops attended • 7 reviews
Booked this for mum on Mother's day and she had a ball. A peaceful and lovely way to spend the afternoon.
Amanda Han • May 2023
My mum and i really enjoyed Setsuko‘s ikebana class for mother‘s day, the two hours flew by and we got to make two beautiful arrangements. We loved the small class size and the history behind the practice, would highly recommend!
Yuni Prasetianingsih • May 2023
Learn a basil trick to make a hand bouquets in few styles . All materials were provided so it’s easy & no hassle , and going home with a beautiful flowers bouquet
Elaine Sander • May 2023
2 ClassBento workshops attended
The Ikebana class was better than we hoped with a lovely mix of flower arranging and mindfulness.
Mirjam Grari • May 2023
Great ikebana flower arrangement workshop at Setsuko’s lovely home and studio in Glebe. Setsuko will give you feedback and help you arrange your flowers in a way that you’ve never thought of before. Great for friends-groups, couples or solo.
Michelle Brown • Apr 2023
13 ClassBento workshops attended • 9 reviews
The venue was filled with the most gorgeous flowers. The flowers for our bouquet were in the most lovely shades and there was a variety of blooms to use. The teacher was highly experienced and i would definately go to another class.
Michelle Brown • Apr 2023
13 ClassBento workshops attended • 9 reviews
Such a beautiful experience, the teacher was fantastic, creative and knowledgable. I would highly recommend this class for anyone who loves flowers and being creative.
Sara Fearnley • Mar 2023
A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Setsuko was lovely and provided us with all the materials we needed, including a variety of fresh flowers. One of the best parts of the workshop was being able to take home our creations - wrapped in beautiful paper.
Emily Shen • Mar 2023
This is a wonderful class that is really relaxing to do on the weekend. As part of the class, you get to witness a number of different arrangements and styles and then you get the opportunity to do two arrangements of your own. All materials are provided on site and you get to keep your flowers at the end.
Setsuko is very knowledgeable and has a great eye - she made a few tweaks to my arrangements that really took them to the next level.
I highly recommend this class and will likely return again in future!
Viola Tanaya • Mar 2023
7 ClassBento workshops attended • 8 reviews
I love the class with Setsuko. She gives direction according to our own arrangement ideas
Mike Simmons • Feb 2023
Learned alot about how to care for flowers and how to arrange them
Came home with beautiful bouquet
I would not recommend going if you have mobility issues as the staircase is treacherous
The teachers were both very informative
Candice Care-Unger • Feb 2023
2 ClassBento workshops attended
We had a lovely afternoon. Good size class (small) and an encouraging and helpful teacher. Everyone left with something beautiful (even those with no idea).
Nicola Guy • Feb 2023
2 ClassBento workshops attended
A fabulous class led by Setsuko. An amazing selection of flowers with great balance between teaching by Setsuko and finding your own creative flair. A lovely sized group too.
Bruce Remmer • Jan 2023
Setsuko was charming and delightful. What a wonderful class surrounded by such beautiful flowers. Highly recommended.
Dana Bourke • Jan 2023
2 ClassBento workshops attended
Overall a very enjoyable experience! Setsuko provided great guidance and was very knowledgeable. She was very good at providing guidance while also giving us space to experiment. Would recommend.
Daphne Liu • Jan 2023
The class with Setsuko was great fun and it was an enjoyable learning activity to do with friends or family! :)
Ann Arnott • Jan 2023
2 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews
A calming learning experience from a caring teacher. How to make so few flowers and greenery look so good! Highly recommend. And then quench your thirst at the nearby watering hole, too handy.
Ann Arnott • Jan 2023
2 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews
A calming learning experience from a caring teacher. How to make so few flowers and greenery look so good! Highly recommend. And then quench your thirst at the nearby watering hole, too handy.
Erin Ireland • Dec 2022
What a fantastic experience. Setsuko was patient and explained everything well. The venue and supplies were faultless. I highly recommend this class to any novice to bouquet making flower loving out there!
Eugenia Vo • Nov 2022
Setsuko is very knowledgeable in the art of ikebana. It was very interesting to learn about the history of Japanese flower arrangement. Setsuko was very welcoming of us into her home, and was gentle, patient and helpful in her teaching. There were a vast variety of florals to choose from during the class, and we were able to bring our arrangements home. I highly recommend Setsuko's class for anyone who is looking for a calming and enjoyable activity to spend your afternoon.
Viola Tanaya • Nov 2022
7 ClassBento workshops attended • 8 reviews
The teacher is very knowledgeable regarding the topic. I love the class (especially the japanese maple and peony flowers!), i think it is also a healing for me.
Jessica Blackburn • Nov 2022
4 ClassBento workshops attended • 4 reviews
Teacher very knowledgeable and very interesting. The class was taught from her kitchen table in her kitchen. The flowers were good quality and very beautiful, but at the end of the class you remove your flowers from their arrangement and just wrap them up in cellophane to take home, this sort of defeats the purpose of making a striking arrangement. You also need to buy separately the special stand that the flowers sit on, to make them stand up ($35) if you want to recreate the look at home.
Kerrie Acocks • Nov 2022
A wonderful workshop, very patient teacher. Would recommend this class to anyone but loved doing it with one of by girlfriends. Stunning and fresh flowers in a beautiful surroundings.
Penelope Walster • Nov 2022
2 ClassBento workshops attended
I highly recommend this class, I learnt so much about the the techniques of putting together a beautiful bouquet of flowers from fresh market picked flowers. The teacher Setsuko was very friendly, helpful and very informative. I am definitely going back to do the Ikebana Flower Arranging Workshop she offers!
Andrew Hickey • Oct 2022
The class was excellent. Setsuko was an experienced and patient teacher who provided an interesting and easy to understand demonstration.
Students were then given freedom to create their own arrangements with any of the flowers available. Everything was provided and the whole process was fun and relaxing. The class was held in a cozy and welcoming environment. I would definitely recommend this class, especially for a group of friends coming together.
Susan Cruickshank • Oct 2022
The teacher was gentle in how she instructed us and gave us insights in to how to place the flowers in the vase and a reason for placing them in certain ways. We had more than enough choice of flowers for what we wanted to do.
Katie Mackey • Oct 2022
Setsuko is a lovely & supportive teacher.
Lots of flower varieties available.
Fun, enjoyable and informative class.
James Anvia • Oct 2022
41 ClassBento workshops attended • 26 reviews
great teacher and helpful and suportive and created nice arrangement
enjoyable and venue good and nice supportive enviroment ,,,great experience
James Anvia • Oct 2022
41 ClassBento workshops attended • 26 reviews
great teacher indeed and helpful knowledgable
great venue good helpful ,,, had support all time and thanks so much
Jae Chung • Oct 2022
Our teacher was very friendly and instructive, and the small group cap made it a more intimate and enjoyable experience. Happy to try again in the future!
Faria Ahmed • Oct 2022
Loved the class size and the nice space to get creative. Learned alot and was very inspired to make my own at home. Thank you to Setsuko Yanagisawa for hosting and teaching us.
Great experience!
Vanessa Mozayani • Sep 2022
25 ClassBento workshops attended • 25 reviews
Setsuko was a friendly teacher. I attended the class with my sister and mum. We loved learning about the ikebana artform and we’re encouraged to create two beautiful arrangements. Setsuko gave great feedback to improve our arrangements.
Kerry Cheng • Sep 2022
3 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews
I really enjoyed the class! I learnt about how to set preserved flowers today. Thank you setsuko!
Sabrina Khong • Sep 2022
Class was great and setsuko was very thorough and attentive. Thank you for the pretty flowers and the experience. I’ll definitely come for more !
April • Sep 2022
Very informative and fun, we learned a lot about the basics of ikebana and did 2 flower arrangements. Setsuko was also super engaging and the time flew by!
Ming • Sep 2022
Setsuko Sensei was a patient and funny teacher, and her sensitive remarks and observations are endearing and humbling. We found time flew by quickly as we immersed ourselves with observing the flowers and Setsuko’s teachings closely. It was a really calming experience and has made me want to have a go at home!
Patti Bai • Sep 2022
Setsuko was a wonderful teacher with a calming presence and gave us a clear introduction to Ikebana. My friends and I had a lovely morning and were pleasantly surprised by how well our arrangements turned out.
Sarah Bakker • Aug 2022
Lovely and helpful teacher. Learnt a lot and got to keep a beautiful bouquet at the end. Highly recommend. A very peaceful way to spend an hour
Minnie Cai • Aug 2022
4 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews
Enjoyable class to attend with many flower choices to make arrangements. Setsuko was very helpful and friendly
Briar Clark • Aug 2022
2 ClassBento workshops attended
Such an informative class, learned so much about the history of ikebana as well as the technical aspects of the arrangement style. Very helpful and attentive. Flowers were very good quality and there was a diverse range of blooms to use.
Kate Lark • Aug 2022
My sister and I did this ikebana session together for my birthday. Setsuko was fabulous and beautifully demonstrated the basics of flower placement into the vase: the vase; the flowers, the stalks and leaves; and the lines. We created two each of our own choosing, took the flowers home, and did it all over again.
We had such fun, thank you so much Setsuko! Highly recommended!
Dawn Uchida • Aug 2022
8 ClassBento workshops attended • 6 reviews
Setsuko's class was wonderful, her teaching was clear and we made two different styles of Ikebana. I did this with my mother and we had a great time learning the beautiful beginnings of Ikebana. Highly recommend and looking forward to doing more classes in future!
Liliana Paton • Aug 2022
The teacher was great very helpful and it was a rewarding experience one I would recommend to many.
Tamesin Elliott • Aug 2022
This was such a great experience! The space was lovely, the Ikebana vases were exquisite, and the teacher was beautiful. I loved every minute. Very peaceful and relaxing, the perfect Saturday afternoon. I went by myself, and everyone else in the class was lovely.
Marianna Clark • Aug 2022
2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews
Setsuko was a wonderful teacher! Not only did she provide a vast array (but curated, so as to not be overwhlemed) of dried & preserved flowers/grasses/leaves/etc. but with the small class size it was so easy to get her advise and encouragement as you put your arrangement together. I would definitely recommend this class - I had a lot of fun, and came away with a lovely finished product.
Novita Yudhiari • Aug 2022
Had a good time joining this class . Teacher is friendly and very helpful Thank you
Kara Garrett • Aug 2022
Great experience! The teacher was very flexible in helping us create our vision and gave lots of tips and tricks without taking over. The flowers provided were gorgeous!
Jade Wood • Jul 2022
Setsuko's class was amazing! She was very skilled and knowledgeable and enabled us to create amazing floral arrangements.
Robyn Freer • Jul 2022
Lovely workshop with lots of great ideas and quality flowers - I’m so happy with my bouquet! Thank you Setsuko for sharing your talents
Michelle Redfern • Jul 2022
Setsuko is patient, inspiring and relaxed. She is a lovely story teller with lots of interesting information about the culture and history of Ikebana. Her studio is full of beautiful flowers in abundance! Very artistic approach to display the arrangement of flowers. Thank you :)
Cheree Martin • Jul 2022
Great, Setsuko makes it easy to comprehend and understand. Lovely teacher. Thank you. We had a great day :)
Julienne Gillam • May 2022
This was a delightful way to spend 2 hours having a go at ikebana.
It was a wonderful introduction to the history of ikebana followed by along two different demos and then giving it a go!
Setsuko is a gem.
Joshua Cruz • May 2022
Setsuko was a great teacher. Showed us how to make it first and guided us when making our own. Had a nice little balcony where you can take photos with your completed bouquets. It’s pricey but considering you get to keep your bouquet which would often cost over 2/3 the price this is actually a pretty decent deal. Overall very pleasant and relaxing way to spend the afternoon with mum on Mother’s Day.
Caitlin Rose • May 2022
3 ClassBento workshops attended
Very relaxing class and teacher, it is self paced and so easy is definitely beginner friendly.
Tegan McLaren • Apr 2022
Absolutely amazing, great way to start a Saturday morning, would recommend for friends to do together.
Naomi Long • Mar 2022
My friend and I attended the preserved flower arrangement class and had a blast! The teacher Setsuko was really lovely, gave us guidance and helped us perfect our arrangements as we went. We both walked out of the class very happy with two beautiful arrangements.
Chloe Wu • Mar 2022
5 ClassBento workshops attended • 5 reviews
Setsuko was kind and helpful. This is my first time trying ikebana and I totally loved it! Also loved the teaching environment, very calming and comfortable.
Anna Jahjah • Feb 2022
Teacher was lovely and very knowledgeable.
We had a lot of fun and will be practicing at home.
Materials were abundant and high quality
Marie Seizilles • Feb 2022
3 ClassBento workshops attended
Great class with Setsuko.
She is an experienced florist with great tips. You can really express your creativity in this class but she is also here to help if needed.
Caroline Tai • Jan 2022
Very interesting enjoyable couple of hours
The teacher is very informative
I Will take another friend for her birthday.
Sukanya Jampakaew • Jan 2022
It was enjoyable day , the teacher is so lovely and kind, i know nothing about the bouquet of flowers now i can do my own one after this workshop , will definitely joy a class again .
Berty Lissan • Dec 2021
3 ClassBento workshops attended • 4 reviews
Have no doubt if Setsuko always great for the art of ikebana. But I will not suggest to take the class during summer. Attended her class with my friend on the 18/12/21 and it was quite a hot day. The class was stuffy and hot like in the sauna, no air conditioning or a fan. Therefore, I couldn't do what the instruction being given, then she started to raise her voice to me. I'm getting better after cooling down with a glass of ice water being provided, and everything back as good as before.
Definitely would love to go back for another class with her, but after summer time.
Regards,
Berty Lissan
Sue Ong • Dec 2021
Setsuko was great! She provided great tips and demonstrated how to put together a lovely bouquet easily.
Jay Marshall • Dec 2021
We had an excellent time with Setsuko. Thoroughly enjoyed our lesson and the explanation of the concepts and history behind ikebana.
Yena Jeong • Dec 2021
Awesome experience. Easy to follow, the teacher gives feedback and it was really great. Recommend this class.
Berty Lissan • Dec 2021
3 ClassBento workshops attended • 4 reviews
Setsuko was amazing, She's explained and teach the art of Ikebana very clear and details. The provided materials were good and the venue really relaxing and home-sweet-home. It's a small class, therefore she gives a good attention to each person during the class time. Definitely will back for Ikebana course or even other floral design class by Setsuko.
Aura Cabaero • Nov 2021
2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews
Setsuko is AMAZING! Very friendly and patient ❤️; she'll teach you re blending and colour balance. All materials provided. Venue is great - I feel at home
I will certainly do more class with Setsuko!
Diana Su • Nov 2021
This class was lots of fun, relaxing and enjoyable. Setsuko was warm and very informative and I will definitely come back again!
Peter Cannan • Nov 2021
2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews
Miss Setsuko was very well set up & prepared.A nice peaceful & relaxing 2 hours. A fun & enjoyable time,learning something new from a passionate & knowledgeable lady! Thankyou
Rukmini Singh • Nov 2021
11 ClassBento workshops attended • 5 reviews
Setsuko san is a great teacher and the content for the class was very interesting.
Raphael Gorrez • Nov 2021
2 ClassBento workshops attended
Flower arrangement class with my mum for her birthday. My mum absolutely loved it. It’s not the sort of thing I normally do but I found it really enjoyable and would definitely do it again! Honestly would go again by myself ahahaha. Setsuko is great and really knowledgeable, she had so many good tips for us. Her place is so beautiful too, such a lovely ambience and made us all feel really relaxed and happy. 10/10 recommend!
Clare Thirimanne • Nov 2021
2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews
I thoroughly enjoyed this class and was surprised that I created a beautiful masterpiece all thanks to Setsuko’s guidance. Setsuko gave background info on preserved flowers and then demonstrated how to arrange them whilst giving tips. There was a range of preserve flowers available to select a colour scheme. Definitely worth the money and you get to take your masterpiece home
Sarah Martin • Oct 2021
5 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews
What a lovely few hours with a wonderful teacher and beautiful flowers. I felt so happy and well afterwards
Louise Looi • Jun 2021
6 ClassBento workshops attended • 7 reviews
Setsuko was a great insightful teacher who shared her passion and knowledge about floristry and ikebana. Her florist teaching space was lovely and she had a great range of flowers to choose from. Would recommend this course anyone interested in dipping their feet into learning a bit about ikebana.
Molly Weems • Jun 2021
2 ClassBento workshops attended
Really enjoyed the bouquet workshop! I was the only person to book that day and the class still went ahead which was amazing. The teacher was detailed and made me redo the bouquet to get it perfect which I thought was great as she really made sure I knew what I was doing. Great variety of colours and flowers. Very happy
Carmen Ginardi • May 2021
4 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews
I found the class good, only 3 students.The teacher explained the history and idea about Ikebana.You are able to do a couple of arrangements and take the flowers home. If coming by car the parking is only 1 hour in the area.There is a cafe next door if you feel like a coffee.
Wenyen Wei • May 2021
5 ClassBento workshops attended • 5 reviews
Overall good. I’d expect a bit more dried flower selection and colors to choose from and a bit more instruction on different dried flower styles.
Winchelle Garcia • May 2021
It was a very casual workshop. Sets ulo was very kind and personable and she had the magic touch when it came to arranging bouquets.
The venue smelled of fresh flowers and was welcoming.
The flowers provided were good although I wish there were more variety in colours but overall it was a good workshop!
Jen Jones • May 2021
My Mum and I had the best time at our Ikebana class with Setsuko. Setsuko is a warm and very talented teacher.
We look forward to putting our new skills to practice and returning for a refresher class in future.
Angus Laws • May 2021
Definitely good value considering the amount of materials provided and what an arrangement of a similar size would cost at a retail store.
Not a step by step class, instead, the teacher provides loose guidance so you can create your own masterpiece. Every single arrangement in our class turned out beautifully, but all were very very different. It was a surprise date for me fiancé, and she loved it.
Jovita Natalie • May 2021
Really enjoy the session and the teacher gave clear direction, great selection of flowers to practice with too.
The venue was homey and easily accessible even with public transport. The fact that the session today was not full capacity makes it even better with space ☺️
Sadly we do not have the option to bring back our creation.
Natacha Quinteros • May 2021
Beautiful and amazing class, the teacher knows very well about flowers art, was very useful and lovely to learn new skills and I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves flowers and decoration. Thanks for this interesting class, from the introduction till the flowers arranging.
Samantha Cheung • May 2021
A great introduction to ikebana. Setsuko先生 first gave a brief intro/history of japanese culture and ikebana. We then get to try two arrangements.
Courtenay Turner • May 2021
10 ClassBento workshops attended • 7 reviews
Loved this moment of calm during my day! I feel inspired to keep experimenting with Ikebana at home. Setsuko really inspired my mum and I to see beauty in simplicity.
Corinne Lee • May 2021
Really enjoyed our class today on Mother's Day. My mum was so happy and had a lot of fun. Setsuko our teacher allowed us to use our creativity to make our bouquets and then gave us great tips on how to make it look even better. I feel that the class was worth it because you get to take your bouquets home ! The atmosphere was chill and the shop was cosy and a great learning space. Would definitely recommend the class to others.
Melissa Fagone • Apr 2021
2 ClassBento workshops attended
Setsuko was so patient and encouraging she also gave me a little bit of background into the Japanese cultures and influences. I really appreciated her taking the time to explain everything
Clare Thomas • Apr 2021
3 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews
Setsuko was a great teacher and very patience. There was a good selection of flowers, leaves, etc to choose from. With a little help and advice from Setsuko, our creations turned out very nice. A lovely, relaxing afternoon.
Grant Hemphill • Mar 2021
It was a great class that covered several aspects of the Japanese culture as well as being informative in Ikebane. An eye opener on different methods of presentation and vases
Mandy Fung • Mar 2021
2 ClassBento workshops attended
This class was amazing! Setsuko was such a good teacher where she introduced how to arrange flowers nicely for beginners with no knowledge. She was also always there to help with positioning and trialing different styles.
The flowers she provided were absolutely beautiful and there were lots of them as well I highly recommend this class if you’re looking for a new hobby and love flowers.
Sue Yates • Feb 2021
Such a lovely birthday experience.
It’s not just about the flowers, but the history and philosophy of making beautiful arrangements inspired by nature
Can’t recommend highly enough.
Suzie Sabahi • Feb 2021
Setsuko is a most creative and Aesthetically talented Ikebana teacher. An engaging teacher who blends the skills of traditional, fusion and contemporary flower arranging with Japanese culture.
Anthony Ta • Feb 2021
Absolutely enjoyed the class. Would do it again. I highly recommend this class for anyone who is interest in Japanese flower arrangements.
Bronislawa Withnall • Feb 2021
My friend and I really enjoyed Setsuko’s class, and have left with a greater appreciation for floral arrangements.
There was a wide variety of flowers and greenery to choose from, and freedom in creating your arrangement. Setsuko provides ample instruction and explanation of the thinking behind ikebana in a very relaxed, almost meditative way.
Would highly recommend this course for any lovers of flower arranging or Japanese culture!
Wenyen Wei • Jan 2021
5 ClassBento workshops attended • 5 reviews
Love the flower selection, bouquet is a bit challenging but really like the outcome! Thanks Setsuko!
Penny Beck • Jan 2021
Setsuko was friendly and an excellent teacher. Her florist shop is clean and beautifully decorated. The workshop was fun and informative - a great introduction to flower arranging for beginners. I would highly recommend it to others
Georgina Binns • Jan 2021
What a fantastic class!
Our sensei Setsuko gave us a wonderful history lesson prior to starting, we created two arrangements each, which we took home. The studio was lovely and calm, easy to find and well-stocked with gorgeous flowers and plant parts. Would recommend to anyone!
Lydia Saputra • Jan 2021
5 ClassBento workshops attended • 4 reviews
Very relaxing and meditative. I would highly recommend this class to anyone and I would definitely come back for more. Setsuko is a great teacher who will make suggestions without interfering to much with your creativity.
Sasha • Jan 2021
Teacher was very knowledgeable and I enjoyed learning the background history of Ikebana.
The venue was intimate, perfect for a small group, and the materials supplied were beautiful.
Setsuko showed us many of the design secrets and was very helpful in showing us how to improve our designs.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who loves flowers.
Anna Pihan • Jan 2021
Setsuko was a great teacher, giving us information, direction and also freedom to express ourselves while providing gentle feedback on our creations. She was very generous to give us all the flowers and leaves we used for our individual arrangements to take home with us. The class was situated in her floristry shop filled with beautiful flowers which was a perfect venue for this workshop. Would highly recommend.
Gina Koutsogiannis • Jan 2021
2 ClassBento workshops attended
Great to get some historical background on Ikabana. Was great to see Setsuko make some amazing arrangements and applying principles and concepts to our design.
Joan Lee • Jan 2021
3 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews
Setsuko-san was a lovely teacher, and it was great to learn a little bit about Japanese history before diving into the ikebana workshop. The florist space is so cosy and just the right size for the class. It was my first ever ikebana class and I’m keen to go back for more!
Brook Ayrton • Jan 2021
2 ClassBento workshops attended
Great experience, Setsuko was lovely and taught us the aesthetic principles for the art form of Ikebana. We got to practice using the materials provided and we were able to take our arrangements to be re-designed at home. We did the course for our wedding anniversary and it was a lovely and relaxing experience.
Wenyen Wei • Dec 2020
5 ClassBento workshops attended • 5 reviews
The teacher demonstrated how to do the arrangement and we follow using a range of flower selection. And then the teacher give advice how to improve it (the improvement was a few small changes but turned out quite nice). Overall I think it’s a good way to spend a weekend morning. I do would like to learn more techniques.
Roxanne Phan • Dec 2020
11 ClassBento workshops attended • 11 reviews
Thank you so much! Nice small class and lovely venue at the flower shop. There was a great selection of flowers to choose from, the instructions was very straight forward and easy to follow. I liked that Teacher Setsuko Yanagisawa reviewed and offered suggestions to make the two arrangements we made on the day better :)
Laura Goudswaard • Dec 2020
2 ClassBento workshops attended
Great class! The teacher was friendly and knowledgeable and had a lot of different materials and flowers for us to choose from. My friends and I all ended with a beautiful wreath!
Aimee Okuda • Dec 2020
2 ClassBento workshops attended
Setsuko is a lovely teacher and the class is a lot of calming fun. She talks through a brief history of Japan and gives us pointers as we construct our pieces.
Jessica Cook • Dec 2020
2 ClassBento workshops attended
Setsuko is a gorgeous person. We thoroughly enjoyed her class and are delighted with our wreaths. What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday - thanks Setsuko!
Deb Munro • Dec 2020
2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews
A great class with beautiful flowers provided to make something I would never have thought I could. Setsuko gave guidance and support but allowed my style to come through. So happy with my end result!
Anonymized Customer • Nov 2020
6 ClassBento workshops attended • 3 reviews
Setsuko was a great teacher and really knows her stuff! You learn a little history about Ikebana before getting to try out a few arrangements as well. The mindfulness aspect of the class is great as you learn to take time to reflect on your work and what you're doing. Although it takes years to master the skills I definitely recommend this class to anybody wishing to relax and take a few moments for themselves and enjoy some beautiful flowers in the process!
Michelle Dyball • Nov 2020
Absolutely sensual loved loved loved
We were all so different in our creative wreath Will definitely go again
Janelle Goulding • Nov 2020
Such a great class! Teacher was lovely and helpful. Would definitely recommend doing this workshop.
Emma Prineas • Nov 2020
Excellent experience, the teacher was very knowledgable and shared her passion for her culture and ikebana.
Lauren Ang • Nov 2020
2 ClassBento workshops attended
Good intro to ikebana. Really enjoyed the setting, the 1-1 feedback and small class size. Would’ve liked a bit more on the theory at the beginning and perhaps some background music :)
Sarah Bellon • Nov 2020
7 ClassBento workshops attended • 7 reviews
Setsuko was a lovely teacher. There were onky 2 of us in the class which was lovely. I attended a Sunday class which waa great as I was able to park right in front of the venue. It was a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.
Liz Myers • Nov 2020
Easy parking
Lovely teacher
Beautiful flowers
100% satisfaction
Great value for money
Would go again
Hannah Millen • Nov 2020
2 ClassBento workshops attended • 2 reviews
Really enjoyable class with a teacher that gives great direction, and you learn a bit about the history and background of the type/style of flower arranging.
Jacquelyn Arnott • Oct 2020
The teacher was very informative and knowledgeable.
She gently assisted us in making our flower arrangements more visually.
It was a nice way to spend a Saturday morning, playing with flowers.
Bill • Oct 2020
The venue was quaint but very suitable. The instructor gave a historical background which really set the scene fir the course. The material and tools were great. Overall a very enjoyable experience and would recommend it to others.
Paula Tambolero • Oct 2020
Wonderful class! We were taught by Setsuko, who has years of experience in the field of floristry. She made it look so easy! I struggled a bit but she was so helpful and made sure I had a beautiful arrangement. The class was set in a stunning flower shop and she had a great sense of humour that made the class fun :)
Would definitely love to do this again!
Kay Vargas • Oct 2020
Really enjoyed our class.
Setsuko Has a relaxed and calming manner which set the tone for class. She briefed us on a side of Japanese culture we didn’t know.
The space is filled with plants and flowers your surrounded.
Her instructions were clear and concise without a lot of rules. When it came to our turn to create we felt open to try without feeling inhibited. We were given 3 variations to experiment.
Loved them all.
There were lots of healthy beautiful stock to choose from.
I recommend this as an activity to do on a girls day out and for couples.
It’s a very calming and relaxing an enjoyable art to do.
I will be taking what I’ve learnt into my home.
Thank you Setsuko
Toni George • Oct 2020
A lovely workshop providing great take home skills. I feel inspired and confident to arrange beautiful displays in my home or birthday gifts to friends. 2 arrangements were accomplished in the 2 hours. Everyone in the 6 people class looked very pleased with there own arrangements.
Thankyou Setsuko
Joanna Frank • Oct 2020
Our teacher was wonderful, we learnt about some Japanese history, then made 2 floral arrangements, both different styles. I had a great time, it was so relaxing and would definitely go again.
Mandy Alice • Sep 2020
What a special morning spent with Setsuko. She has a lovely, gentle energy, interesting history and knowledge of Japan and of course the joy of Ikebana and being creative with really valuable feedback from Setsuko. We got to take home our flowers and we’re spoilt for choice while creating. Definitely worth doing.
Ellen • Sep 2020
Lovely atmosphere and very relaxing/fun session. We all had loads of fun and enjoyed it very much. Thank you Setsuko Sensei, you were very helpful and had great sense of humor! We will definitely come back again!
Katharine Pan • Sep 2020
Setsuko is a wonderful, charming, and patient teacher. The venue reflects her style, and it is a beautiful maximalist place with dried king proteas, vibrant statice, an elegant mirror, and potted plants. The flowers are fresh, conditioned well, and the sweet peas we used in our bouquets have an enchanting fragrance. I appreciate the variety of wrapping she has to offer, the ribbon quality is very nice, and I think the use of raffia to tie up our bouquets is ingenious as it is both sustainable, and less time consuming compared to other methods. Setsuko offers a unique perspective on floristry with her background in both Japanese, and European style floral design, both novice and more seasoned florists can appreciate. This workshop is great value for money considering the costs of flowers nowadays are much more higher due to COVID-19, the quality of flowers you can find at the Sydney flower markets by yourself can be a bit subpar, but Setsuko has a great eye for quality flowers.
Overall, the workshop has a personable, relaxed, rejuvenating feeling and I highly recommend Setsuko. Although car is recommended, it’s still worth the train trip. Looking forward to future flower workshops.
- Sasha and Katharine
Jill Bethwaite • Sep 2020
Friendly and engaging creative direction. The passion and background story made the course more enjoyable. Beautiful setting in the floristry shop being surrounded by all the fresh flowers and bouquets! All 5 of us throughly enjoyed it and are talking about wanting to do it again!
Jo Garsia • Sep 2020
2 ClassBento workshops attended
A wonderful morning of ikebana to celebrate mum's birthday! Setsuko's studio is such a peaceful setting full of beautiful flowers- a saturday morning sanctuary! Under her gentle guidance and artistic eye we were all proud of our ikebana arrangements! Setsuko was a fabulous teacher, sharing the history of ikebana and gentle feedback on our individual designs. She kindly gave mum lots of tips for her own vases she brought along from home too! Although we couldn't purchase the equipment after class this time, we did get to take the gorgeous fresh flowers with us to brighten our homes! Couldn't recommend higher, thank you!
Suzanne Robbins • Sep 2020
I really enjoyed the history of Ikebana and tradition mixed with hands on learning with Setsuko.The constructive feedback was very helpful and I plan to use these skills in my studio Bold Botanicals.
Alice Ma • Aug 2020
2 ClassBento workshops attended
Very enthusiastic and dedicated teacher. A lovely range of flowers to chose from and a bit of history about the aesthetic and japanese history
Barbara Subilia • Aug 2020
I really enjoyed Setsuko workshop. I learnt a lot about flowers and had such a lovely time talking with her. The bouquet looked just amazing thanks to her great advices. Thank you so much! Highly recommend this course for everyone in need to connect with nature in working with some beautiful flowers!
Elizabeth Jeffery • Aug 2020
The whole experience was fabulous - even while masked for COVID purposes. Setsuko was interesting and an excellent teacher. The venue was gorgeous, being surrounded by flowers. Great value. We'd love to do it again.
Chloe Pierre • Aug 2020
Lovely teacher for an intro to floral arrangements. Quality flowers and foliage provided. Good fun!
