AusBonsai

This has been Craig's Japanese Maple for a few years now; he was one of my very best friends. Some of his ashes are in the soil. A few years back, a hail storm broke the sashieda and I changed the front. Tonight, I restyled the tree, removing moss from the trunk and roots; lifting the whole tree to put the new front at the best part of the pot (away from some kiln chips); carving a sabamiki where the old sashieda was; wiring the tree to lower the apex and create a new sashieda; winter pruning to encourage ramification; and cleaning out the stubs between the new buds. I hope you like it, it is one of my favourite trees in my collection.

Wow i like the restyle but i love the respect paid to your mate. Ive always been on the fence about where i'd like my ashes spread, and i wanna be mixed in with trace elements and fed to my bonsai collection. Thanks for sharing.

It's a very special tree Shane! It's not only a pretty decent little tree, but it obviously has sentimental value as well. Not sure I'd have wired the branches down ala pine, but somehow it works. The tree has enough character to pull it off. I think it has a bright future.

Love your work really like this how long have you had this tree
It's got a great future in your hands
Cheers

That is a very nice tree shane a,wesome job. I like the movement in the
Branch on the left sorry mate.

Thanks all. Meagi, I think I've had this tree for about five years now.

Andrew, some of the lateral branches have yet to develop the length I want for them, so it should lose the sharp triangular look when they grow. Cheers Shane

Cleaned up the silhouette, and lowered the rear pad a bit.

Yep.

I like this one.
Just has a good vibe going on I reckon.