Hello Monday and hello Torquay and Friends and Pots and more...

Hello Monday, my name is Jen and I am a collector. 

Through and through, since I was a little girl I have loved pretty, hand made things and many a love affair, adventure and pursuit have come my way with my special treasures and things.

You really are a collector, or not. You are born that way...

Among my oldest and most treasured collections is Torquay (said Tor-key) Pottery....as ceramic folk art, it has had my heart for many, many years, and the story of how the potteries were started in Devon as rural economic redevelopment effort during the industrial revolution speaks to my interests as an urban planner...

I got my first piece when I was 17 on a trip to England with my parents...

It was this lovely lustrous pot with a deep blue glaze and had -- 

in a folksy, sgraffito writing this quote:

"Life is mostly froth and bubbles,

Two things stand like stone.

Kindness in another's troubles,

courage in your own."

Can you see how this spoke to me as a teen...

well, I fell in love and then as I learned more about this type of pottery 

and how and where it was made, I fell deeper...I needed to know more, needed to learn about the various patterns and potteries....

Without getting to much into that now (we'll save some for a later date), I am just happy to share how an appreciation for British Ceramic Art has brought these wonderful folks into my world.

 I had a wonderful visit from Kathy Collins and Brenda & Ian Kimber...

what a great morning we had...

Hello friends!

The North American Torquay Society (NATS) is the US enthusiasts club and organization....the folks are great fun and I am hoping to steal away to TN in late September to join them for their annual convention, but we'll have to see what time allows....

You can visit the NATS site for more info on domestic events and such...

The British Society -- of which I am also a member is TPCS...their site has a wealth of info on the history of the potteries...

I will be blogging more about the history of this fabulous ceramic art...I have a photo shoot scheduled at Kathy's house for this week and I am hoping to share more image of her collections here and via some of the mags you read.

I adore and respect these lovely ladies and

 I am grateful to know them and share a passion...

 

Hello Monday and HELLO Shelby and Charlotte!!!

Hello to friends near and far, it's wonderful to find something in common with folks out there...

Hello to getting on the road, heading to Boston soon.

Hello dusting, ummm you see this cabinet, yeah, well it needs it!

Hello to the summer, it's looming large and the list of summer projects is looming larger!!!

Hello to my dear friend Anne....this wonderful Aussie is coming in soon...she loves Warwick! 

xxoo and hello Monday and a good week to you all

Jen