“The Tao of Bamboo” Stone Monkey Ceramics Collectors Pot 2009

This year’s collector’s pot from Stone Monkey Ceramics is entitled “The Tao of Bamboo” I was inspired by antique Chinese Pots that I saw from daily trips to the Victoria & Albert museum in London, just round the corner from where I do my day job.
As with last years collectors pot it will come in a bespoke handmade box with a silver Stone Monkey chop set in the lid. Here are a couple of taster pictures, more will follow prior to the release date of 01/10/09 see here for more details.
The box is made from Malaysian Jelutong wood and finished with a silver Stone Monkey in the lid. The colour change in the glaze round the pot depicts the rising and and setting of the sun showing different aspects of the Bamboo with two of the leaves on each panel in the beautiful plated 99.9%silver. More pictures can be viewed here

Honourary Monkey

Yesterday I had a visitor all the way from sunny Scotland, Fiona. After a good curry on Tuesday night at Simon’s and a some good old Bonsai banter we visited a friends Bonsai garden then Fiona came to the Monkey’s den and she wanted to make a few pots. It was a great time and Fiona discovered “it’s not as easy as it look” to throw on the wheel. Thanks for a great time guys and Fiona I will get your pots fired and they will be one their was to Scotland. Here are some more pictures and words in Fiona’s immortal prose
Fiona in full on Monkey mode

Southend 30th Anniversary Bonsai Weekend

A big thanks to Chrissie and Joe for having the Stone Monkey down at Bushukan Bonsai in Hockley Essex for the 30th Anniversary show for Southend Bonsai Society. A great weekend was had and there were some great trees on display. Also a big thanks to Paul and Steve Finch for letting me ask too many questions at the demo’s. I did not come away empty handed as I purchased a lovely contorted Scots Pine that was orginally in the possesion of the master himself Mr Kevin Wilson. The tree has had its main styling done its needs further refining and repotting. I shall post pictures when further work is underway.

My own little Shop!

Two of the trees styled by Paul Finch a student of Kevin Willson

Wirral Club July Tree of the Month

I had a nice surprise today when I looked at the Wirral boyz Blog to see the joint winners of the July Tree of the Month, both in Stone Monkey Ceramics Bonsai pots.

Ceramics South East

Over the weekend of 26-28th June I attended the prestigious Ceramics South East Festival. There were over 70 potters from the South East of the UK and a few international potters. I set up my stand on the Thursday, my work and the Bonsai I desplayed was well received. Along with other things there was a attempt to break the Guiness World record for the most number of pots thrown in one hour, all pots had to be the same size and thrown to a gauge. The current record stood at 87 and the holder of the record for the past 7 years was there to defend her title. The record was smashed with an incredible 150 pots by Billy Byles from the Aylesford Pottery in Kent. Well done Billy nice to see the record now resides in Kent. Here are a few pictures of the weekend including my stand and the record attempt

Kent Bonsai Show Part 2

The weather over the weekend was glorious and there was a very good standard of trees exhibited. Here are a few more pictures of the weekend

Les on loan from the Wirral Crew
The former “Italian Job” now renamed by Simon as “Sleeping Dragon” or in Italian should be proper “Drago Addormentato” as the dead wood at soil level resembles a dragons skull


Keith W’s Maple on Rock

Kent Bonsai Show Part 1

Over the weekend 0f 13th & 14th June 09 a Bonsai weekend was held at The Bonsai Shop, owned by Nick Pearce, in Dargate near Whitstable in Kent. A good weekend was had by all in the weather was glorious. Here are a few shots of the weekend.

Les’ Juniper just repotted


Dean in carving mode

An Azalea belonging to a Kent Bonsai Club member

Me in carving mode

Deans White Pine

Time for a cuppa

Keiths Hawthorn

Keiths Landscape

Keith W’s Birch on Rock

The 3 wise Monkies

Stone Monkey Ceramics

My Yew

Dean’s Juniper

Dean on the job

The club display

More to follow in part 2

The Final Journey of “Big H”

I collected this Hawthorn with Mick Sherman back in 2004. It has been a long road but the final image came to me today whilst sitting at my desk in London and doing some virtual, if crude, pruning and placing of foliage. So much so that I have a good feeling about my first BIG piece of Yamadori.
The collected tree on a rainy November day up North.

The first repot back at Mick’s house after the long drive home.

The tree last year, and after the first styling. Very healthy and full of vigour!

And now for some virtual pruning and styling, not that good mind but the idea is there. Hmmm best get my potters head on and see what I can come up with.

More Stone Monkey Show Dates

I am going to sell my pots at a few extra shows this year. Please see http://www.stonemonkeyceramics.co.uk/news.asp

Best of British Bonsai Show Video Footage

 For a video tour of the show courtesy of Gerry at Dragon Bonsai click this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?hl=en-GB&v=K9Jr1Kd_2VU

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