Over the weekend I attended the North American Torquay Society convention in Rogers, Arkansas. It started on Thursday evening with a member open house, hosted by Ernie and Judy Grant. Then Friday morning the convention began. This was my second convention to attend. My Aunt, Judy Grant, has been a member of NATS for 22 years. I have been a member for about 4 years. While my husband and I lived in Pennsylvania she invited me to attend the convention in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with her in 2006. I did, and found the pottery to be very interesting and loved hearing the history of the pottery and about the people who made it. I also met some very kind, funny, and caring people who were also members of NATS. My weekend at the convention in Pennsylvania was great and I knew this weekend in Rogers, Arkansas would be great too. I was excited to see some of the people I met several years ago, and renew old friendships and hoped to meet new people and make some new friends too.
My Aunt Judy was the host for this year's convention. I knew, over a year ago, when she told me excitedly, that the convention would be held there and she was the host, that I wanted to go and help her with whatever she might need me to do for her and the others attending the convention. I was able to help Judy with the Open House at her home on Thursday evening. Then we set up the convention room late that night so it would be ready for Friday morning when all of the NATS members arrived to visit and catch up on each other's lives, learn more about the pottery they all LOVE, oh and ah over each other's pots, and laugh together.
The theme of the convention this year was "Let's Create a Museum Exhibit of Torquay Pottery". There are several museums in the Rogers area that visiting NATS members were encouraged to visit including the Rogers Historical Museum, the Museum of Native American History, Peel Mansion, Crystal Bridges Art Museum, and The Rogers Daisy Airgun Museum. Members were also asked to bring a pot to display and share on the Theme Display table. About 14 different Torquay pots were brought and shared, making the Theme table a roaring success this year!
In the picture below, from left to right are, Pauline, myself, and my Aunt Judy. It was lovely to meet Pauline! She was born and lived in Torquay, England for the first four years of her life. Then her family moved to London. After marrying and having three children she and her husband moved to Australia 1964. She still lives there. She has been away from home travelling and visiting friends for over a month now. The NATS convention was her last stop on her trip. This week she will go through five different airports as she makes her way make to Australia. She is a very kind, spunky, funny lady! I enjoyed talking to her, learning more about England and Australia, and hearing about her life.
Judy opened the convention with a few remarks and handed the floor over to Barbara, the NATS President. Barb started out by telling us all the three reasons that people collect things. (And, everyone collects something!) Think about this... What do you collect? If not Torquay Pottery, then what? Is it postcards? Maybe dolls? Stamps? Fabric? Aprons? Rocks? Your children's report cards and arkwork? Santa figures? Rulers? Photographs? Old tools? Books by a certain author? Jewelry? One thing I love to collect is Coca~Cola Memorabilia. My Dad collects several things, one of them is Nativities. My sister loves anything with Sunflowers on it. My brother likes Fiestaware. We all laughed about our collections COLLECTING dust! Whatever it might be though the question remains, WHY do you collect? One, to record history. Two, for sentimental reasons. And, three, you enjoy the quest. The hunt for that perfect piece, the hard to find item, the great deal, the one thing to complete your collection. The ONE thing you would give too much money for, and would do the happy dance if you got it. The QUEST.
Barbara and Kathy discussed a "Mystery pot" that someone brought.
Next, Each person who brought a pot for the Theme Display got a chance to share their pot and any interesting stories or history that go along with it. Judy started with her teapot and coordinating bowl.
She was followed by Lynn and Carol, then Kathy, and a few others.
My favorite pieces of Torquay the whole weekend were brought and displayed on the Theme table by my new friend, Jen O'Connor. She brought these two matching vases. They are at least 100 years old, but look new! The colors are BEAUTIFUL and I LOVED them! (The next day Jen sold them at the Sales Mall, but not to me. However, I have a little connection to the lady who bought them **wink wink** so I am hopeful that someday maybe these two beautiful little Torquay vases could "visit" my house...)
Jen gave me lots of advice this weekend and I thank her very much! She said a lot of things to me that were very helpful. My favorite Jen quote of the weekend was "The pots are great. The people are better." Right on, Lady! Right on. She is a strong smart lady and I am glad to have her as my friend. Jen is the owner of Earth Angels Studios.
Please read more about
Jen and Earth Angels Studios by CLICKING HERE.
Below, the Torquay vases that I loved!
We got to listen to three very good talks given by NATS members Jen O"Connor, Bob Collier, and Pauline Showell. They each had pottery to show and a wealth of information to share with us about their pottery.
Above and below are some of Will Young's sculpted Widecombe Fair characters and figures. He also made ashtrays, bottle stoppers, hand bells, character faces and Toby jugs. This pottery was started in the 1950's.
Below, in the foreground are the desirable "Cats Sitting on the Wall" pots and in the background, a Devon "Witch" pot c1913.
Always a source of excitement, a little bit of teasing, and some healthy competition is the silent auction. Members bring pots and pay a small fee to enter it into the silent auction. There were some GREAT pieces of pottery on the silent auction table this year. Many bidding wars took place all day long and right up until the last seconds of the auction.
Another exciting moment that fills each member with eager anticipation every year is lining up to wait for the Sales Mall to open Saturday morning. Five members brought pots to sell this year to other NATS members. And when the doors were opened at 9am there was a mad rush, like always, to review, grab, and pay for new pots.
As I walked around looking at each vendors tables to admire their pots, I encountered Pauline, (from Australia, who has to pack all of her things back into a suitcase and trust the airport workers to be very careful with her luggage - i.e. DON'T BREAK HER POTS!) quietly chanting to herself as she maneuvered around all the other NATS shoppers looking at the tables..."Think small. Think small. Think small." She was saying, OUTLOUD, to herself. What a hoot that lady is!!!
Pictured below, from left to right John and June, Pauline, Judy, and Carol.
There was one tiny furry guest at this year's convention... Marti and Alice brought their dog. She was good, only barking to join in on applause.
Below, two of the raffle prizes, on the left, Watcombe - and on the right, Aller Vale Coloured Cockerel.
Saturday evening we all came back together to share a delicious meal, each other's company, and an exciting Dutch Auction. Judy told me the way to tell if a meal is good is by looking at people's plates. If everything has been eaten, it is a sure sign that it was good. Well my meal plate and dessert plate were eaten clean so everyone can be sure I thought the food was fantastic! The Dutch Auction was moved along nicely by our auctioneer, Bob Lookabill and our very on Vanna White - Jen O'Connor.
Pictured below: top row ~ left to right, Marti, Judy G., Lynn, John W., John C., Bob L., Terry, Mary Jane, Chuck, Jeanette, Bob C., Jerry, Stacee, Claudia, and Jen. Bottom row ~ left to right, Carol J., Kathy, June, Barb, Alice, Carolyn, Diane, Pauline, and Carol M..
Towards the end of the evening as I looked around the room at all of these lovely people from all over the United States and the world, gathered here together, "because of the pots" and their love of Torquay, I smiled and thought of all of the beautiful friendships and stories that the "pots" have created over the years. Year after year these people travel long distances to share their stories, and their "pots", but also to see their FRIENDS. A true and sincere friend is rare like these Torquay pots. These people, the Torquay collectors, and the "pots" are truly rare and special. I am glad to have been introduced to both the "pots" and these people.
Thank you for a wonderful weekend! I look forward to seeing you all, and the "pots" again.
To find out more about Torquay Pottery or for information about joining NATS please CLICK HERE.
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