May 31 2011

Movie Maker

I spent a few hours today putting together a video to show case our club display at the weekend. Nothing too fancy, just something put together with Movie Maker. I’m getting to grips with the camera and it’s video functions. I even managed to find time at the show to take a few clips of individual bonsai.

I’m amazed by the success of our Club You Tube Channel that started back in November and has nearly 13,000 views to date!! I know I trawl around looking for good quality or informative bonsai videos on the net, it appears I’m not alone 🙂 With a little extra effort we have been able to put together clips of tree progressions, shows and the popular Bonsai School. These seem to be what people want. They are not up to the standard of the Graham Potter, Bonsai Basho, Atelierbonsai or Bjorvalabonsai, but add to the total of the online bonsai community.

If you want to have a look at the latest video, it’s just went live on the channel. Click below to view.

NIBS Spring Display 2011

May 30 2011

The Rest…

Here’s the rest of the photos from the NIBS Spring display.

May 29 2011

Shattered!!

After a day setting up the display and 2 days of demos and tree critiques, I’m absolutely shattered!! Was it worth it? I had great fun and the help from new club members, and there obvious enjoyment of the event, made it all worth while. I got to meet some new people who visited the display over the two days and were obviously keen to learn. Lets hope they seize the day and join the club. Here’s a few photos from the display.

Tree Critique in progress

That’s it, enough’s enough, I’m away to bed. More tomorrow.

May 29 2011

Hectic!!

Hardly have time to post anything yesterday and today with our club display in full swing. Nursing a fuzzy head this morning after last nights celebratory beers watching the Champions League Final. I’ll have plenty of stuff to add during the week.

I had a great time yesterday doing a tree critique session with some members and the public.

May 27 2011

More Drama…

After getting the big OK last night that the display was going ahead as planned, Dobbies tried to shaft us again this morning. Wanted us to have demo and display in the middle of a bloody restaurant for 2 days so a 1 hour kids party could use the display room. Make sense? Not to me!! Car was already packed so I went over and chewed out 2 managers who didn’t have a leg to stand on. After a heated exchange, mostly on my part, they backed down when I said we were walking away and reverted to the original plan. My secret spy on the staff says the minions working there are delighted 🙂

So, drama over this was my day in pics.

Trees from here…

to here…

to this..

which we changed to this…

and then to this..

The usual tweaks to be made to the display in the morning when more trees arrive. Now looking forward to a few days of pure bonsai 🙂

Plenty more photos being taken tomorrow.

May 26 2011

What do you mean, double booked??!!

After spending 4 hours today getting trees sorted out for the club display this weekend, I got a phone call from the garden centre to say the room was double booked!! After being offered a very poor second area for the display, I reminded them that it was they who invited us this weekend, we had advertised the event, we had booked it first and we where using it for 2 full days not a private party for 2 hours.

After informing them that if we couldn’t have the room, then we were binning it and they could tell the visitors why there was no bonsai, they changed their minds and let us have the room. Not a great start, lets hope the set up goes better tomorrow. Here’s a few trees I’m putting in. As I’m doing a tree critique, and want to talk about specific things, these trees have been picked to allow me to babble away merrily.

In for the flowers only.

May 13 2011

You Tube Video Clip

Here’s a link to another nice clip from Erik aka Atelier Bonsai Element showing the bonsai garden of Miroslav Škrabal this Spring. A stunning set up it what looks like a stunning location.

Bonsai Garden of Miroslav Škrabal

May 12 2011

One less job to do today

Guess I don’t have to water the trees today. Just had the heaviest shower I seen here in a very long time and it lasted about 30 minutes. I braved a shot out of the window just as it was easing off 🙂 This is back to front week on my benches so the trees get even light.

May 8 2011

Accents

A few more. They still need to fill out but they are starting to look the part.

Wild Strawberry

May 5 2011

Bronze Sculptures

I have been admiring the bronze Sculptures being used in recent shows and have been thinking about making a purchase. I just love these ones by Henk Fresen.