Diary of a Teapot Collector, by Sue Blazye

Hi there
I know it’s late as usual.
We didn’t make it to Tony Carters because we still hadn’t any mains electricity and the roofer and electricians were in and out all every day.
This had a real bad effect on Gary Seymour as well because he didn’t have his kiln so couldn’t make any pots. At last, on the 16th January we got mains electricity reconnected.
After Xmas we had finished getting the house straight and the cleaning company come in to help cleaning the teapots. I had nightmares trying to not to let them touch any of my special pots things that I thought I couldn’t replace very easily.
I ended up washing a lot myself.

We had only a few breakages and the other main damage was the red on glaze paint burning or being washed off.
The unlucky thing was the fire started in the Xmas area of the museum so I have got some very nude looking pots now. Never mind I will get the red paint out one day when I have nothing to do.
We did manage to go to the NEC to see what new designs had been released this year.
Tony Carter had three new designs a boat, car and house these were very unlike any of the other designs he usually does. Apart from these he had revamped older designs again for this year.
Swineside Teapottery had been finding things hard this year and have closed their new retail outlet in York which hadn’t been open that long. They did have stiff competition there with Bullivants and Bettys Tea rooms which I think both sell teapots.
They had three new designs on display at the NEC - A retro toaster, a mobile phone and a Tate and Lyle syrup tin.
On the Enesco stall there were some new demi tasse teapots by Franz in the shapes of a poppy, fritillary, daisy, periwinkle, bluebell and white poppy.
Crafts at Cardew were there but not a teapot in sight only mugs in beautifully designed fancy gift boxes.
Richard Parrington has now produced his second teapot and it is themed on a Picasso painting this time.
Has anyone out there been as stupid as me to start collected the bi weekly miniature teapot collection magazine I am sure you will be pleased to know that they have said it is going to stop at number 80 so there are not many left to go.
Paul Cardew has decided to design a pot for Easter about time too.
I saw it had been released on their website yesterday and I have also invited him to come to our open day on 22nd April to show it to collectors if he wanted to.
Roger Michell, who is famous for the walking ware range and the tumbling clowns teapot, has produced another three horses to go with the two earlier ones he designed back in the 1990, one of which is on the cover of the Brahmar Book.
Next event.
Gary Seymours open day being held here at Teapot Island.
We have changed the date of this to 22nd April.
After chatting to many of the collectors it seemed silly that we go to all the events within a few months of each other.
Totally Teapots event in September
Garys in November
Carters early December
Gary, Keith and myself have decided to spread them better through a year.
We will see how it goes this year.
Richard and Katie Parrington, Andy Titcomb, Julia and Roger Michell have all said they also will be coming to this open day.
I am delighted to say that Collect It magazine have done a beautiful three page feature on Teapot Island.
We had a visit this week from Frank Salmon the owner of the new Carltonware Teapots who wanted to have a chat with us. Don’t know where its going yet but of course will keep you informed.
Well, got to go now to do some more labels before you all get here before that though I am going out to see what progress Gary as made on the Lancaster and other new design that he wants to have done before the 22nd. Bye for now,
Sue