Rest in Peace, Becky Turner

Becky S. Turner
1954 - 2011

We are deeply saddened to report that Becky Turner passed away today in her sleep.  Becky had planned to attend this year's HLCCA conference in Pittsburgh, PA, but was admitted to the hospital at Vanderbilt University early last week.  Becky was a long-time member of HLCCA, where she served on the Board and was Treasurer until the early 2000s.  Becky was a knowledgeable and generous collector, with a particular passion for Harlequin dinnerware.  Becky had struggled with serious health issues for the past few years, but had recently completed a trip to France, and had attended her daughter Tori's graduation and her daughter Abbey's wedding.  She will be sorely missed by her family and friends.

(Photo credit: Becky Turner's Facebook page)

UPDATE 7/31/11 6:57 PM: Click here for Becky's obituary in the Huntsville (AL) Times.

So Long Until Next Year!

HLCCA Conference 2011 concluded this morning with the business meeting and a breakfast buffet.  Prelimimary plans were announced for next year's conference in Kansas City, MO, to be held from July 12-15, 2012.  The Top of WV Convention and Visitors Bureau also made a pitch for us to consider holding a future HLCCA conference at the Mountaineer Resort and Casino.  We wish everyone safe travel home!

HLCCA Congratulates its Newest Board Members

The votes have all been tabulated and we're pleased to announce that Jeff Kolodey and Melicety Deatherage are the two newest members of the HLCCA Board of Directors.  Also re-elected were The Dish Editor David Schaefer, Vice President Kit Fox and Board Member Susan Tucker.  All newly-elected and re-elected Board Members will serve until 2013.  We thank all of the candidates and everyone who voted for their participation!

Congratulations, Candy Fagerlin!

Candy's article for Volume 13, No. 4 of The Dish won tonight's annual award for Best Article.  The article featured a re-creation of the famous 1936 Delineator ad of cobalt and ivory Fiesta photographed by Margaret Bourke-White.

Double Win for Ryan Goldner!

HLCCA member Ryan Goldner won both the Tablescape and Floral Arrangement competitions at this year's conference. The winners are selected by a popular vote of conference attendees. Congratulations, Ryan!

Spectacular Tablescape at Tonight's HLCCA Banquet

We were greeted with the spectacular sight of Marigold Fiesta on the tables at tonight's banquet.  Each attendee received a Marigold Fiesta embossed teapot ornament and a pair of Marigold Fiesta stick-handled --yes, you read that correctly, stick-handled -- demitasse cups and saucers, as well as an etched 75th anniversary wine glass.  During the table drawings later this evening, one lucky winner per table won a Marigold Fiesta soup tureen and another won a pair of Marigold Fiesta tripod candleholders.  We thank HLC for it's generosity and assistance with tonight's banquet!

A Conversation with Dave Conley

Conference attendees enjoyed the annual "Conversation with Dave Conley" at the conclusion of this afternoon's seminars.  Dave shared information about the Fiesta utensils and the Macy's and Dillard's exclusive bowls (i.e., the individual pasta bowl and rice bowl, respectively).  In the photo to the left, Dave shows off the new Frederick Hurten Rhead postage stamp issued by the US Postal Service.

DISHES: A Documentary About Collecting Fiesta

This afternoon's seminars started off with a screening of Amy Levine Stermer's DISHES, which was filmed (in part) at HLCCA's 5th annual conference in Pittsburgh, PA in 2003. This was the first time that we screened DISHES at an HLCCA conference since 2005, and it received a very warm reception.  For more information about the film, click here.

Highlights of This Year's Exhibits

Here are just a few photos highlighting this year's juried and non-juried exhibits. Find more photos on the HLCCA Facebook page.

HLCCA Awards on display

HLCCA display of upcoming
Red-Stripe Fiesta items

Sue Bishop
(Gold Award)

Chuck Denlinger
(Silver Award)

Steven Douglas
(Gold Award, Grand Award and People's Choice Award)

Jerry Lefever and Elaine Epperly
(Gold Award) 

David Schaefer
(Non-juried)

Jerry Lefever
(Gold Award)

Sid & Maryann Cannon
(Bronze Award)

Annual Show & Sale

The crowd gathers....

Crowds lined up early for this year's Show & Sale, where dealers had lots of beautiful and unusual items for sale.  The HLCCA booth was very popular, with displays of the latest Embossed Teapot Ornaments (Plum, Paprika and Turquoise this year) and Retro Red-Stripe items.  The Top of West Virginia Convention & Visitors Bureau also set up a booth, offering limited-edition "Fiesta Festival" items and gift baskets.

Top of WV CVB booth

Pizza and Pottery

HLCCA hosted a pizza buffet during the auction preview at this year's Friday night auction.  Once we all had a chance to peruse the wares, the bidding began.  Among the highlights was a pair of rare Post-86 Millennium II vases donated by HLC's Judi Noble.  Jeff Kolodey served as our able auctioneer, and was assisted by Andy Flachs, Brad Carnes, Bill Beck, Alex Silva and Jeff Stout.

Biennial Pilgrimmages to HLC and Hall Factories

Sign in HLC Factory

Conference attendees spent Friday, July 22nd in Newell, WV and East Liverpool, OH touring the Homer Laughlin China Co. and Hall China Co. factories (and factory outlets), respectively.  HLC was our first stop, with a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of the lower plant.  There was also plenty of time to shop in the HLC Outlet, where many attendees stocked up on Marigold Fiesta (and picked up awesome deals on other HLC seconds).

Marigold soup tureen bases
emerge from kiln at Hall China

Next, we headed over to the Hall China factory for a tour.  This was the first time that we'd visited Hall during an HLCCA conference since 2001--also the first time since Hall was acquired by HLC.  During the tour, it was very interesting to realize that all of the large, 75th anniversary Marigold Fiesta exclusives have been manufactured at the Hall factory.  We also checked out the "Hall Closet," Hall's factory outlet.

The group then migrated back to downtown East Liverpool for lunch (Doc C's Place on E. 5th St. was very popular) and shopping at Pottery City.  Many of us also took time to visit the Museum of Ceramics (which offered free admission to conference attendees) before heading back to Pittsburgh this afternoon.

More photos of Friday's tours can be found on the HLCCA Facebook page.

Welcome to Pittsburgh!

HLC fans have begun to arrive in Pittsburgh, PA for HLCCA Conference 2011 (although some folks have been here since the beginning of the week).  We'll see you all tonight at the annual mixer in celebration of the 75th anniversary of Fiesta dinnerware!

Join Us at HLCCA Conference 2011 This Week!

Even if you can't make it to Pittsburgh this year, you can still follow all of the exciting goings-on at this year's HLCCA conference on our blog and Facebook page.  Check back beginning on Thursday, July 21st!

Long-Range Weather Forecast for Pittsburgh, PA

The 10-day forecast is calling for mostly hot and sunny weather during HLCCA Conference 2011, but with a chance of some thundershowers.  Pack accordingly!

Rare Post-86 Fiesta Item for Friday Night Auction

HLC's Judi Noble will be bringing this rare item to HLCCA Conference 2011 for inclusion in Friday night's auction.  It's a Millennium II vase, glazed with CHARTREUSE on the exterior and ROSE on the interior.  As Post-86 collectors probably know, this shape and these colors were discontinued quite a while ago.  According to Judi, there's an interesting story behind this vase that will be shared at the auction.

(Photo credit: Judi Noble)

Pioneers of American Industrial Design Stamps Now Available

The United States Postal Service's Pioneers of American Industrial Design stamps are now available. The series includes a stamp commemorating Frederick Hurten Rhead, the designer of Fiesta dinnerware.  His stamp features the iconic Fiesta disk pitchers (water- and juice-size).  Click here to order the stamp sheets and other collectibles from the USPS website.

Happy 4th of July!

HLCCA Celebrates 235 Years of American Freedom!

(Photo credit: David Schaefer)