Friday, June 24, 2016

Flashback Friday- HLCCA Conference 2013

The clock is ticking—Conference is just three weeks away! So for Flashback Friday, let’s go back three years and check out the HLCCA’s 15th Anniversary Celebration at Conference 2013. 

Conference 2013
15th Anniversary Celebration
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Embassy Suites) 
Dates: July 11–14, 2013
Activities: 
• Welcome mixer: “The Fabulous Fifties”
• Day trip to East Liverpool for tours of HLC, Hall, and shopping

• 2 seminars
• Friday night consignment auction
• Show and Sale

• 8 judged exhibits
• Floral arrangement competition
• Tablescape competition
• Awards banquet 
• Post-banquet auction

• Business meeting and closing session 

Judged Exhibits: 
Celestial Fiesta — exhibited by Ryan Goldner
A complete collection of the Fiesta pieces created for the American Museum of Natural History and the opening of the Rose Center for Earth and Space, along with supporting materials. 
Fiesta Mixing Bowl Lids…a True Rarity! — exhibited by Bill Beck and Kevin McCarty
Vintage mixing bowl lids in all the colors and sizes, with their corresponding bowls 
Harlequin at Woolworth’s — exhibited by Frank Russo
Dishes and ephemera illustrating the relationship between HLC and Woolworth’s, and its exclusive Harlequin line.

Little Bitty Casseroles — exhibited by Pat Keith
An extensive display of solid and decorated Kitchen Kraft individual casseroles.
Laughlin Art China — exhibited by Ken Clardy
An amazing array of pieces from HLC’s Art China line. 
Harlequin Animals and Their Maverick Friends — exhibited by Steve Douglas 
A veritable menagerie of cute, colorful animals, both those made by HLC and those of other origins.
Halloween Fiesta and Black Riviera — exhibited by Roger Chandler
A stunning display of rare pieces of black Riviera, accented with other colors in a Halloween setting.
A Rose by Any Other Name…the Rhythm Rose Decal — exhibited by Andrea Bradford
The Rhythm Rose decal, as found on many different HLC wares. 
Seminars: 
“Come Over to My House” — Kathy Holley (presenters Marianne Becton, Emma Jost, Melissa and Eliza Hedger)
“Conversation with HLC” — Dave Conley 

Awards: 
Grand Award: Ryan Goldner
Gold Awards: Bill Beck and Kevin McCarty, Andrea Bradford, Ken Clardy, Steve Douglas, Ryan Goldner, Pat Keith, Frank Russo, Roger Chandler 
People’s Choice Award: Ryan Goldner
Floral Arrangement People’s Choice Award: Elaine Epperly
Runners up: Ken Clardy, Sheri Wadkins
Tablescape People’s Choice Award: Harold Cook
Runners up: Andrea Sunnen, Jimmie Schilling
Favorite Dish Article: Richard Mayberry, “Recreating Mom’s Fiesta Table”
Homer and Shakespeare Award: Jeff Kolodey
President’s Award: Michael Bailey
What a Dish—Best Banquet Costume: Lisa Dion
Raspberry Award: Melissa Hedger

Conference exclusive pieces and gifts: 
Blue stripe placesetting: dinner plate, teacup, and saucer
Centerpieces: Blue stripe teapots
   Dancing lady cookie jars
   Lapis pyramid candleholders
Ornaments: Blue stripe with HLCCA logo
   HLCCA 15th Anniversary logo on marigold
   A Rose by Any Other Name
   First Fire Lapis (table prize, not given to all)

Highlights:
It was all about blue at Conference 2013: the new color that year was lapis, the big surprise available exclusively at the HLC outlet was lapis mugs and salad plates with white polka dots, and the debut of HLCCA’s exclusive blue stripe dinnerware. A one-of-a-kind lapis 2-cup teapot, courtesy of HLC was one of the highlights of the Saturday night auction. And during Dave Conley’s annual seminar, he previewed a lapis presentation bowl being produced exclusively for Dillard’s.
Fun abounded at the fifties-themed opening mixer. Costumes included poodle skirts, greasers, soda jerks, Elvis, and an unforgettable Lucy and Ricky. Games continued the theme, with a blue plate special, a drive-in movie, and diner derby.
The HLCCA’s 1945 commemorative juice pitcher was unveiled: The End of the War—Victory, on peacock.

Another HLCCA exclusive was rolled out at this Conference: the unique fan/horizon mugs in new shades of sunflower, lemongrass, peacock, and tangerine. 


Friday, June 17, 2016

Flashback Friday- HLCCA Conference 2012


It’s Flashback Friday—and with just four weeks to go to this year’s event, we’re going to take a look back at Conference 2012 in Kansas City! 
Conference 2012
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
(Embassy Suites Country Club Plaza) 
Dates: July 12–15, 2012
Activities: 
• Welcome mixer: “We’re Not in Kansas Anymore”

• Afternoon shopping event at Pryde’s of Old Westport
• 4 seminars
• Friday night consignment auction
• Show and Sale
• 10 judged exhibits
• Floral arrangement competition
• Tablescape competition
• Awards banquet 
• Post-banquet auction
• Business meeting and closing session 

Judged Exhibits: 

Fiesta Juice Pitchers and Tumblers—exhibited by Andy and Jane Flachs
Fiesta, Rhythm, and Jubilee sets, featuring pitchers and tumblers in all the proper shades. 
HLC Ephemera—exhibited by Andy and Jane Flachs
A wide assortment of Fiesta and Fiesta Kitchen Kraft price lists. 
Homer on the Range — exhibited by Melicety Deatherage
An extensive sampling of the many Western-inspired patterns found on HLC dinnerware. 
Wells Art Glazes—exhibited by Ken Clardy
A broad array of the distinctive shapes and glazes in the Wells Art line. 
That’s All, Folks — Jennifer Flory
The partnership between HLC and Warner Brothers yielded some great Fiesta pieces decorated with many of the familiar WB characters. 
Swing Eggshell: Homer Laughlin’s Most Delicate Shape — Andrea Bradford and Jerry Lefever 
Settings of four key Swing decorations and examples of nearly all available Swing pieces. 
Fies-tada! — Joe and Michele Boeckholt
Surprising illusions featuring HLC pottery. 
Homer Laughlin: The Early Years, American Domination of Whiteware — Jeff Kolodey and David Schaefer
Examples of shapes introduced 1873–1919, as HLC was becoming the “Greatest china factory in the world.” 
Flat-Bottomed Teacups and Flat-Bottomed Saucers —exhibited by Ben Brian C. Buckles
Conference-goers had the opportunity to see and feel the difference between regular and flat-bottomed Fiesta teacups. 
American Provincial–Rhythm — exhibited by Larry Brantley and Tom Healy
Six placesettings and many serving pieces in Rhythm with the American Provincial decoration.
Seminars: 
“Inventing the Modern World—decorative Arts at the Worlds Fairs, 1851–1939” — Michelle Boeckholt
“HLC’s Swing Shape” — Jerry Lefever
 “Come Over to My House” — Kathy Holley (presenters Lynne Liberato, Harold Cook, and Rebecca Donaldson)
“Conversation with HLC” — Dave Conley 

Awards: 
Grand Award: Jeff Kolodey and David Schaefer
Gold Awards: Joe and Michele Boeckholt, Andrea Bradford and Jerry Lefever, Ben Brian C. Buckles, Ken Clardy, Melicety Deatherage, Jennifer Flory, Jeff Kolodey and David Schaefer. 
Silver Award: Larry Brantley and Tom Healy, Andy and Jane Flachs
Bronze Award: Andy and Jane Flachs 
People’s Choice Award:  (tie) Joe and Michele Boechelt / Andrea Bradford and Jerry Lefever
Floral Arrangement People’s Choice Award: Trish Loven
Tablescape People’s Choice Award: Trish Loven
Best Dish Article: Ryan Goldner, “Big Apple Fiesta”
Homer and Shakespeare Award: David Schaefer
President’s Award: Dave Conley
What a Dish—Best Banquet Costume: Saarin Schwartz
Raspberry Award: Craig Wiman

Conference exclusive pieces and gifts: 
Red stripe pedestal bowl
Centerpieces: Red stripe teapots, Red stripe cream and sugar sets
Ornaments: First Fire Flamingo ornament, HLCCA logo on black ornament

Highlights: 
The Conference location offered lots of opportunities for off-site treks: great barbecue restaurants, a wonderful exhibit at the Nelson-Atkins Museum, and of course, shopping and margaritas at Pryde’s of Old Westport, with an amazing array of Fiesta, linens, kitchenwares, and delicious baked goods. 

The opening mixer combined a wild mix of characters and games inspired by the movie “The Wizard of Oz” with a healthy dose of Fiesta’s newest color, flamingo! Decorations included origami ruby slippers and handcrafted red poppies, accented with inflatable flamingoes and pink feather boas.  
An amazing “family reunion” took place at this Conference, when two rare vintage Fiesta jugs (1 pint and 1-1/2 pint) joined their familiar big sibling, the 2-pint jug for a special display. 
The HLCCA’s 1944 commemorative juice pitcher was unveiled: Dancing to the Big Bands on marigold.