What’s your “Super Bowl”?!

- Fiesta’s 75th Anniversary Marigold Soup Tureens rolling out of the kiln.

photo: Elaine Epperly, 2011

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!

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.

Fiesta Soup Tureen Available for Pre-Order

Beginning today, you can pre-order your Fiesta Soup Tureen Set on the Homer Laughlin China Company website.  Priced at $279.99, each set includes an embossed 75th Anniversary Platter, the 3-quart Soup Tureen Base, the Soup Tureen Lid and a forged stainless steel with ceramic handle Ladle, all in the special 75th Anniversary color MARIGOLD.  Each set will be numbered (limited to 10,000 sets) and will feature a 75th Anniversary Decal.  Sets are expected to begin shipping on June 1st.  Be sure to order your set soon!

(Photo credit: http://www.homerlaughlin.com/)

Introducing the Fiesta Soup Tureen!

The current issue of The Dish provides a sneak preview of the Fiesta soup tureen set in MARIGOLD.  The 4-piece set includes the tureen, lid, underplate and ladle.  The underplate has an embossed 75th anniversary Fiesta design and the stainless steel ladle has a ceramic handle.  The production run of this set will be limited 10,000 individually-numbered pieces, only in MARIGOLD.  We love the vintage look of the handles on the tureen and the finial on the lid.

The "official" announcement of the soup tureen set will be made at the International Housewares Show in Chicago, IL in March 2011.  At the same time, MARIGOLD will be announced as the new Fiesta color for 2011.

We gratefully thank HLC for allowing us to share these photos and information with you a little bit early. Now, go make some room to display this fabulous set in your china cabinet!

(Photo credits: HLC and David Schaefer)