Antony and Mavourneen Smith ...aka ‘Willow Bonsai Pots’ are a wonderful couple from Pretoria, who have been passionately pushing the boundaries for South African bonsai and have become popular on the European bonsai scene. Antony demonstrated at the U.K. National Bonsai Show 2019, and whilst in London, I took the couple to visit leading potters; Stone Monkey Ceramics and Walsall Studio Ceramics. Having spent some time with them, it really was inspiring to see their dedication to bonsai and to creating attractive, useable and affordable pots.
 
We are excited to announce that Willow Bonsai Pots are producing a limited edition EBPC Stamped range of their beautiful pots, with some of their best forms and glazes. These will be available in the EBPC store, and will be released at ‘The Trophy’ exhibition, in Belgium at the end of February 2020.
 
Congratulations also to Willow Bonsai on their new website – being launched NOW – as this article is published! 

• So please check it out at  www.willowbonsaishop.com

 
But first, you can read more about them and see a selection of their pots on their ‘Potter Profile’ here.

     The EBPC are very excited to be attending and supporting one of Europe's premiere shows, and one of our personal favourites - the EBBS in Saulieu France next weekend. This is an open hall exhibition with everything in one enormous room. The ex-cattle market has imposing vaulted ceiling beams and ample light flooding in, making it an ideal venue. 
This exhibition has improved year on year and the standard of trees, demonstrations and traders is superb. The organisers have also done an incredible job creating a show with a warm friendly atmosphere. 
With many of Europe's finest trees on show, and demonstrators on the level of Bjorn Bjorholm, Mauro Stemberg, and Jan Culek, including many other attractions (superb new EBPC pots for example!) this is a show not to be missed!  

A beautiful handmade EBPC trophy kindly made by leading ceramist Sabine Besnard of France will be awarded to the winner of the category 'Best European Bonsai Pot and Tree Combination'. ​ The trophy is of an Ume branch in flower ,with a matching bowl on wood, and is laser etched and has both the stamps of Sabine and the EBPC.

As with each year, the EBPC will also donate a prize for the increasingly popular 'Tombola raffle'. This year a stunning pot by the fantastic and highly skilled artist, Ian Baillie of Scotland will be donated and taken home by one lucky winner. 

We are especially excited about the EBPC trade stand this year, as we ave had some fantastic new pots in especially for this event, by some of the most sought after artists in Europe! .. Be sure to stop by the stand and say 'hi'!

Thank you for reading and we hope to see you there! 
Alex

We are thrilled and honoured to be supporting the Bonsai San 2018 exhibition in France this October. In addition to trading some of Europe's best pots, we are also contributing to the Tombola raffle, and presenting the trophy for 'Best European Pot / Tree Combo'.
The trophy is now finished and these great pictures from designer Nino in Croatia show the trophy off in all its glory. Nino does a lot of design work for Harry at Bonsai4Me.com and for the EBPC and as always, has risen to the challenge and smashed all expectations! 

The EBPC is proud to announce new members to the Collective; Me and Raimondi. You can find out all about them in their EBPC POTTER PROFILE, which also shows examples of some of their fantastic work. 

A video showing Me & Raimondi branch pots under construction...

The bonsai workshop was busy again, and some great trees were worked on over the two days. A variety of games and raffles were also arranged, with many local businesses around Ashford kindly donating raffle prizes. In addition to raising money for a great cause, a fun weekend was had by all. 

We are very proud & excited to welcome a wonderful new member to the EBPC - Guerao. 
An superb European bonsai potter, passionate about classical Japanese design and form, and experienced & knowledgeable with trees too.
Read the EBPC 'Potter Profile' for this wonderful artist here.

.. A selection of his works are available to buy in the EBPC online store here.

Spain is a leading European country where bonsai is concerned - with some of Europe's finest nurseries, museums, artists and collectors of trees and bonsai ceramic. Spain also boasts some fantastic bonsai potters, such as Maria José González Rodríguez, Carles Vives & Jose Antonio Guerao Navarro!
​
The European Bonsai Potter Collective has therefore become a member of the ABE and are proud to support this great organisation, and to help spread the great Spanish bonsai pottery to bonsai enthusiasts around the world.

This event will be held on 3rd & 4th November 2018, for more information, please visit the ABE website at: http://www.abebonsai.es/ ​ 

http://www.abebonsai.es/ 
​#MareaABE #CongresoABE #EBPC #EuropeanBonsaiPotterCollective