My next commision, test pots

Got a request for a 14" diameter bonsai pot, he wants the fissures to golden yellow and the dark brown with a rim. After some thought I made these to see how easy/difficult it would be to create.

1st attempt the rim came out too heavy and the walls too vertical


2nd came out much better, nice round shape with a finer rim.

One more test before starting the large pot, stay tuned....

Saggar test

I've been reading about saggar firing and found a guy in England that does it in an electric kiln. After seeing his work I thought it was time I tried. Using an old stoneware nursery pot, kiln batting and a kiln shelf (for the lid). Now I just needed a shino recipes, selected Malcolm Davis just because of the least ingredients. Not sure how to apply the glaze and how many coats to get the best results I simply brushed it on.


Not bad, just need to play with glaze application some. Most exciting thing is I can now do some reduction work!

Conophytum springbokensis

Purchased this for a $1, not really into Aizoaceae but I was told this one quite old.

Looks pretty good in one of my 3in round pots

Pachypodium brevicaule

Purchased this beauty in 2006, the winter of 2007 it rotted. I cleaned out all dead tissue and was left with half the plant. I was told the only way to save it was to graft it onto lamerei. I'm not a fan of graft so I attempted to root it. After 16mo it started to push new foliage, I knew it had finally rooted and flowered soon after



Made a simple shallow bowl to be able to show it off


While it looks kinda cool I wasn't happy with the presentation. It needed a wider container, I started playing with ovals until I created something worth of this baby.



2 months later I entered it in the 25th Inter City C&S Show and won a blue ribbon and outstanding specimen!