Apr 11 2013

Show Set Up Day One

Last night saw us starting to get the club show set up. We had to collect the stands from one side of Belfast and transport them over to the venue at the other side. Easy? No! Not when there is a bad accident on the motorway!! This is Phil’s van loaded with the stands stuck on the motorway. Yes I used my mobile in the car, but we hadn’t moved in about 30 minutes at this point!

We did however eventually make it to Hillside Nursery Centre where some more helping hands appeared and we managed to get more done than we expected. We got there to find the space not yet cleared and we had to lend a hand to get things moved.

The chuckle Brother Graham and Adrian.

To Me, To Me 🙂

Starting to take shape.

As straight as a dog’s hind leg Adrian 🙂

Two more nights of this and we’ll be ready for the public !

Apr 2 2013

EBA 2013 Links

Been perusing the net trying to find photos from the EBA Exhibition in Audincourt France. If I find any more I link them as well as it looks like a great exhibition with that usual European tilt. Looks like the French Federation of Bonsai have done themselves proud.

Feel – Spirit Bonsai #1

Feel Spirit Bonsai #2

Bonsaiolo’s Academy

Matsugawa Bonsai Club

Google Gallery

European Bonsai Forum

Mar 29 2013

Sagami Exhibition Japan

Whilst everyone is in Shohin mode I thought I would share these photos from the Sagami Exhibition shared via Yama-chan Blog

Mar 28 2013

Shohin UK The Final Montage

Mark Cooper kindly offered me these photos from the Shohin UK event last weekend. They give an excellent overview of the day and also capture the great atmosphere that everyone refers to about their day there.

BCI Award - Martin Shepherd- Black Pine_IMG_2608

BCI Award of Excellence - Martin Shepherd - IMG_2648

BCI Award of Excellence - Wirral Bonsai Societies' display - IMG_2678

BCI Award of Excellence - Wirral Bonsai Society IMG_2645

Best Accompanying Accent Award _ Simon Jones (left) IMG_2655

Best Accompanying Accent Award _ Simon Jones- detail

Best Accompanying Accent Award _ Simon Jones

Best Tree & Pot Combination award - Duncan Heild- Boston Ivy - Koyo pot combination

Best Tree & Pot Combination award presented by Andy Pearson (Stone monkey ceramics) to Duncan Heild-Boston Ivy - Koyo pot

BSA Best Chuhin (Trident Maple - Reg Bolton) IMG_2660

BSA Best Mame award - Bill Gordon (left) IMG_2631

BSA Best Mame Bill Gordon - Lonicera Nitida IMG_2590

BSA Best Shohin Award - Acer. Palm. - Andy Jordan IMG_2594

BSA Best Shohin Award - Andy Jordan (left) IMG_2633

EBA Award - Andy Jordan -Euonymus IMG_2649

EBA Award- Andy Jordan_ Eunoymus Arakawa IMG_2598

FoBBS Award - John Armitage_4 tree shohin display - detail

FoBBS Award - John Armitage_4 tree shohin display IMG_2663

Ian Stewardson being presented with a birthday cake IMG_2685

Mark & Ritta - special thank-you gift presentation to them both IMG_2659

Shohin UK Award - Best Chuhin Display - Martin Shepherd (left) (Ritta RHS) IMG_2643

Shohin UK Award - Best Chuhin Display -Martin Shepherd- Black Pine_IMG_2608

Shohin UK Award _ Best Chuhin Display- Martin Shepherd (Black Pine) and BCI Award of Excellence

Shohin UK Award of Merit _ Chuhin Display - Ian Stewardson IMG_2513

Shohin UK Award of Merit _ Chuhin Display_ Ian Stewardson (right) _ Itoigawa

Shohin UK Award of Merit- Shohin Display_ Duncan Heild (right) IMG_2641

Shohin UK Award of Merit- Shohin Display_ Duncan Heild IMG_2697

Shohin UK Award_ Best Shohin Display- detail J Armiitage Chojubai IMG_2612

Shohin UK Award_Best Shohin Display- J Armitage IMG_2524

Shohin UK Award_Best Shohin Display- John Armitage IMG_2639

Shohin UK Exhibition_ Best Shohin Display-detail - J Armitage Itoigawa IMG_2605

Shohin UK Exhibition_ Mame display Award of Merit- Bill Gordon (right)

Wirral Bonsai Society's display - IMG_2706

Mar 25 2013

More From Shohin UK

The Winners

And some more photos over on the IBC Forum

Mar 24 2013

Shohin UK 2013 More Photos

Click on the Image to visit the Gallery on the Swindon Club Site.

Mar 24 2013

Shohin UK 2013

First photos from Shohin UK courtesy of Paul, cheers mate. Anybody else luck enough to be there with a camera, I’m happy to share 🙂

Mar 11 2013

Lodders Spring Show

Well worth a share, Jerry’s set on FlickR showing Lodders and the Spring Show. Just click on the image below to view.

Feb 27 2013

Sunday’s Workshop

Sunday’s Willowbog Workshop with Peter started with the usual ‘sit down and discuss ‘ of all the main trees to be worked on during the day. We had six participants on the day plus our junior member Jamie, was was there to observe and assist as needed. He worked pretty hard on the day as it turned out and there was me thinking all teenagers were lazy!

The initial chat about the trees is a great way for everyone to learn a little more, even if it’s not their tree. It is a popular segment for members.

As the day progressed we saw a lot of repotting taking place. Two maples a Chamaecyparis and an Elm featured strongly. Towards the end of the day the carving tools came out and the sawdust was flying.

Alan’s Elm before repotting

Should it stay branch?

John’s Juniper

Stephen’s Maple before potting

nice

Alan’s Chamaecyparis before work

Geraldine’s Maple before potting

Piotr’s Juniper before repotting

The now famous opening discussion

Spot Waldo again 😉

Stephen begins the repot

Alan gets stuck in

John Black Pine getting some attention.

I’m making sure we have it all on video

Ben preserving the deadwood on his maple

PPiotr repotting his Southern Beech

Geraldine starts the maple

discussion

Get to it John

Jamie assisting Geraldine in the repot

Teamwork

explaining root selection on nebari

it’s all go

Ben’s Hazel before carving

the new pot

Larry Grayson, ‘Shut that door!’

Sale tree for Ben 🙂

Watch the new carpet

Alan’s Chamaecyparis getting potted

for scale

Wired in

Alan moves on to the Elm

John’s Juniper carving

Helping Geraldine with a tricky Larch

More coffee for Stephen

Piotr on his 4th tree 🙂

Potted up

The longest repot in history!

study

really nice

Ben’s Maple pot virtual to follow soon.

Ready for the pot at last.

dust flying

audience ready to learn

Jamie’s mother’s Day Presents

Stuffing his face 😀

Piotr’s slab project

Alan’s Elm potted

Clay wall on the slab.

getting the mix in

work commences on the Hazel

smile!

finer work

Piotr’s potted

nice image

Hazel after

detail

more detail

Piotr’s Juniper potted

Alan’s Chamaecyparic potted

the aftermath!!

Stephen’s maple potted

Feb 26 2013

Saturday’s Willowbog School

I’m only getting time now to have a look at what photos I have taken over the weekend. It’s been a hectic but rewarding last 5 days both in my bonsai life and in my work life, however a little sleep would be nice about now

I have already reblogged a few related blogs from friends who were there, but now it’s my turn.

Peter arrived on Friday and it was good to have a catch up and a glass of vino before the hordes descended on the Saturday morning. We decided to leave unpacking the van until the morning. As we walked out the door at 7am to get started, the snow started to fall.Must be a Willowbog left over 🙂 It didn’t amount to much but I was glad we had made a few additions to the heating of the garage for this school.

We got the trees out in record time and Roy B was first to arrive for the pre-school browse. Others soon arrived and pots seemed to be in demand as expected.

The school got underway and and Peter talked though the events of the last months, namely the Noelanders Trophy and then the Ryan Neil weekend. During the day we covered topics such as wiring, Larch bonsai, seasonal tasks, a repotting recap, and much more besides.

The day was a great success, with the only problem being the lock on my back door breaking and everyone being locked out! Photos can be seen HERE on Michael’s blog.