Huge Fiesta Collection to be Auctioned

Strawser Auctions will be offering more than 3,000 pieces of Fiesta and other vintage HLC wares from the collection of the Kristopher Hardy estate, beginning on Friday, September 10th in LaGrange, IN. Click here for more information.

(Photo credit: www.StrawserAuctions.com)

New Embossed Fiesta Teapot Ornaments Now Available in the HLCCA Store!

The latest additions to our exclusive collection of embossed Fiesta teapot ornanments are now available on the HLCCA website store. The newest colors--SUNFLOWER, PEACOCK and LEMONGRASS--are wonderful complements to last year's colors: SCARLET, TANGERINE and EVERGREEN. Ornaments are available for sale to HLCCA members and non-members alike.

(Photo credit: David Schaefer)

8-Inch Fiesta Red-Stripe Vases Available Now at the HLCCA Website Store!

The newest addition to the HLCCA-exclusive Retro Red-Stripe Fiesta line is the 8-inch vase. This Fiesta shape has been discontinued by HLC and only 250 pieces will be produced. A small number of these fabulous vases are now available to HLCCA members only on the "Exclusives" page in the HLCCA website store.

(Photo credit: David Schaefer)

UPDATE 7/24/10 1:02 PM: The current supply of vases is sold out. More are on their way, and we'll let you know again as soon as they're available. Thanks!

More HLCCA Exclusive Items

We just realized that we never posted about the new HLCCA exclusive items that were for sale at the Saturday Show & Sale. They included the embossed Fiesta teapot ornament in 3 new colors--LEMONGRASS, SUNFLOWER and PEACOCK--and a new Retro Red-Stripe Fiesta piece: the 8" vase. These items will all be available soon in the HLCCA website store. We'll post detailed pictures just as soon as the UPS truck arrives!

(Photo credit: David Schaefer)

Your Faithful Blogger is Home

Thanks for following the exciting goings-on in Nashville. Stayed tuned for information about next year's 13th annual HLCCA conference in Pittsburgh.

So Long Until Next Year!

Conference attendees gathered this morning for the annual farewell breakfast in the Crown Ballroom, with stunning views of downtown Nashville and the surrounding countryside. Thank you to all attendees, and most especially to everyone who donated a little of their time and talent to make HLCCA Conference 2010 a record-breaking success!

See you all next year for HLCCA Conference 2011--celebrating the 75th anniversary of the introduction of Fiesta dinnerware--in Pittsburgh, PA from July 21st though 24th.

(PS - this is our 250th post!)

Raspberry Fiesta Presentation Bowl Fetches $5,300

The piece de resistance of tonight's auction, the RASPBERRY Fiesta presentation bowl (number 126 of 500), sold for $5,300. This rare and stunning piece was generously donated by Joe Wells III and HLC, with all of the proceeds from its sale benefitting HLCCA. Congratulations to the high bidder!

HLCCA Conference 2010 Exclusives Nos. 2, 3, 4 & 5

Conference attendees collected more great exclusive items at tonight's banquet, starting with a "First Fire" PAPRIKA Fiesta ornament and a "Rosie the Riveter" WHITE Fiesta ornament. Everyone then received a 2-piece SCARLET-and-WHITE polka dot Fiesta placesetting (to match Rosie's bandana). Finally, two lucky folks at each table received a WHITE Fiesta disk pitcher with the "Rosie the Riveter" decal. The "Rosie the Riveter" decal will also be featured on this year's exclusive Fiesta juice pitcher in WHITE, honoring the year 1942.

HLCCA Members' Creativity on Display

This year's tablescapes, floral arrangements and exhibits

are simply spectacular!

See more photos on the HLCCA Facebook page.

Friday Night Auction Highlights

Tonight's auction was a great success, thanks to Jeff Kolodey, Andy Flachs, Bill Beck and Brad Carnes! See more photos on our Facebook page.

A Conversation with Dave Conley

During his presentation this afternoon, Dave Conley introduced conference attendees to several new Fiesta dinnerware shapes (see above). Clockwise from the top left: the new Oval Baker in PAPRIKA, the new Rectangular Baker in IVORY, the new Napkin Holder in SCARLET and the re-designed 1/4-Pound Butter Dish in LEMONGRASS. These pieces were then generously given to four lucky HLCCA members. Thanks, Dave and HLC!

(PS - See more photos on the HLCCA Facebook page!)

Happy Birthday, Ruth Gladstone!

HLCCA honors conference attendee Ruth Gladstone on her recent 90th birthday. We're so happy you're here with us, Ruth!

HLCCA Conference 2010 Exclusive No. 1

This banjo design on a SUNFLOWER Fiesta spoon rest was the first conference exclusive this year, distributed to attendees at last night's mixer. There are more exciting surprises to come!

The Mad Potter's Tea Party

Alice took a wrong turn down the rabbit hole and ended up in Nashville. Check out our Facebook page for more photos of tonight's festivities. This fabulous Pottery Cat was created by HLC's Judi Noble, and will be auctioned at Saturday night's banquet.

Blogging on the go

Your faithful blogger is leaving on Wednesday morning for Nashville. Look for daily Conference updates on the HLCCA blog and Facebook page beginning on Thursday, July 15th.

Absentee Bids Due Tomorrow by 2:00 PM CDT!

If you want to place an absentee bid on the Raspberry Fiesta Presentation Bowl to be auctioned at HLCCA Conference 2010 on Saturday, July 17th, your absentee bid form must be received via e-mail no later than 2:00 PM CDT tomorrow, Wednesday, July 14th. For those of us who can't keep our time zones straight, that's 3:00 PM EDT, 1:00 PM MDT and 12:00 PM MST (Arizona) and PDT.

Absentee bid forms should be sent to Michael.Bailey@HLCCA.org. You can download an absentee bid form by clicking here. Don't miss the opportunity of a lifetime!

Packing for Nashville

We're getting packed and ready to head to Nashville in a couple of days. Check the Nashville weather forecast so you can pack appropriately.

HLCCA Conference 2010 Music Coordinator Needed

HLCCA Conference 2010 needs a Music Coordinator for the Thursday night mixer. Please contact Daphne Durham if you can bring an iPod or CD boombox and provide an appropriate Nashville soundtrack for our revels.

Many Thanks,
The HLCCA Board of Directors

Don't Forget About the Friday Night Auction, Too!

In all the excitement about the Raspberry Fiesta Presentation Bowl auction on Saturday night, don't forget about the Friday night auction that's been coordinated by HLCCA members Jeff Kolodey and Andy Flachs. Click here to preview photos of the beautiful lots.

T-Minus 1 Week and Counting!

Looking forward to

a great time in

Nashville, TN

beginning next Thursday!

HLC Fiesta® Raspberry Commemorative Bowl

The Homer Laughlin China Collectors Association, in concert with the Homer Laughlin China Company, will be auctioning one of the company’s rarest treasures, the much sought after Fiesta® Raspberry Commemorative Bowl.

The Raspberry Bowl, a specially designed Art-Deco centerpiece by Jonathan Parry in a rich raspberry hue was originally produced in 1997 to commemorate the 500 millionth piece of the company’s signature brand, Fiesta®. Previously, these pieces were only available to stockholders of the company and the winning bidders of several charitable auctions and scholarship funds around the factory. Winning bids for the 15 bowls donated to charity averaged about $5,000 with the highest bid coming in at $7,000. All accounted for, the 15 bowls netted over $77,000 for area charities and scholarships.

When asked why the Homer Laughlin China Company had decided to donate one of these bowls to the HLCCA auction, Joe Wells III, president of the Homer Laughlin China Company, said, “We wanted to give the HLCCA our support as they have supported us through the years. And with the 75th Anniversary of Fiesta approaching, we felt it was the right time to do this.”

The bowl will be auctioned during the HLCCA’s Conference 2010, Saturday, July 17, 2010, held at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. The event is part of the Association’s awards banquet and is not open to the public. However, absentee bids will be accepted on the Raspberry Bowl. Those interested in placing an absentee bid on this signature piece can do so by filling out the Absentee Bid Form and emailing it to michael.bailey@hlcca.org on or before July 14th at 2:00 PM Central Daylight Time. The Absentee Bid Form can be downloaded by clicking here.

Article about Fiesta Collecting in the Lincoln Journal-Star

There was a great little piece in the Lincoln (NE) Journal-Star this past weekend. Check it out!

(Photo credit: JournalStar.com)

A Very Special Auction Item....

In the next day or so, we'll be announcing a very special lot that will be included in the auction at the Saturday night banquet at HLCCA Conference 2010. Keep watching this blog!

Happy 4th of July!

HLCCA Celebrates 234 Years of American Freedom!

(Photo credit: David Schaefer)

2 Weeks Until HLCCA Conference 2010!

See Y'all Real Soon!....

....and don't forget about the

Mad Potter's Tea Party

at Thursday night's mixer and the

Vintage Costume Contest

at Saturday night's banquet !