Views from the trolley bus.

As Lucy previously mentioned, Monday morning of our Savannah Sojourn saw us boarding the Oglethorpe trolleys, once more, this time for a narrated sightseeing tour which we all enjoyed tremendously.

A loving father had these identical houses built
 for his twin daughters as a Wedding Gift,
so the story goes.



The Sorrel Weed House



Savannah's Historic district is world famous for it's cobblestone streets, manicured gardens, and oak-shaded squares draped with silvery Spanish Moss.

From our trolley driver/guides we heard that Savannah is the largest National Historic Landmark District in the United States, with more than twenty city squares filled with museums, monuments, antebellum mansions, magnificent churches, and famous forts of the Revolutionary & Civil War eras.



Many of the Historic homes are embellished
 with richly detailed wrought iron work railings and balconies.





The steps leading up to this beautiful mansion are further
enhanced by a stunning Fall display of pumpkins and mums.

We also toured the Victorian Historic District, Savannah's first suburb, located just south of the Savannah Historic District. Originally a parade ground, the extension of street railways in the late 19th century spurred the development of this neighborhood.

The wood frame houses dating from the 1870s and 1880s are a mixture of several Victorian styles of architecture.

Some of the best examples of these are the Carpenter Box style houses on West Gwinnett Street embellished with ornate brackets and cornices, the Queen Anne style mansion at the corner of Whitaker and Gwinnett, and the imposing Victorian Telfair Hospital on Park Avenue.

(Source:http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/geo-flor/2.htm)

Sojourn in Savannah.

As the saying goes........"a picture is worth a  thousand words".

I hope that these first pix, from the QCI's 12th Annual Meeting in Savannah last week, reflect what a great time was had by all those who were there.

On Saturday evening some QCI members dined at the Olde Pink House on Reynolds Square, there were many celebrations taking place there that evening, including a large wedding party in the second floor ballroom.

There was a wedding celebration at the the Olde Pink House on Saturday evening.

As we left the OPH several members were invited to join the sparkler salute to the Bride & Groom.



 Ann, Maggie & Gay joined in the sparkler fun.

Tom greets Mary & Susie as they board the trolley Sunday morning.

On Sunday we boarded the Oglethorpe blue trolley and headed to River Street for our Riverboat Lunch & Cruise.



Former cotton warehouses on River Street are now home
 to stores and lively bars and restaurants.

 After lunch, as the paddle boat left the dock, many of us went up on deck to watch the scenery slip by.


Florence Martus the famous "Waving Girl" of Savannah.

Click here to read the bittersweet story of Florence Martus.

Tugboats moored at the River Street docks.

Hope that these pix have whetted your appetit, there'll be more coming along shortly.

Maggie

Savannah Meeting Update: Part Two

Getting the meeting updates from Lucy have been bitter sweet. I would have loved to attend but I have small children at home. Some day when everyone is a bit more self sufficent I hope to be able to come.

So while many of you were enjoying historic Savannah and the wonderful Quimper club members I was getting halloween costumes ready, picking up candy, carving pumpkins, and baking pumpkin loaf. If you haven't read Sarah's post below, please do it will also put you in the Halloween spirit! -Katie

Update by Lucy:

"This afternoon a few of us (about 65 or so) took off on a trolley to go down to the river to partake in a cruise preceded by a luncheon, complete with local entertainment.
The weather said "no rain" but apparently, the clouds didn't read that report. After 45 minutes of rain during which the local shops sold out of umbrellas, we boarded our riverboat and set off up and down the river. Lovely scenery, and even more importantly, it was a excellent chance to mingle and visit with old friends.

The evening's Meet and Greet was yet another great opportunity to visit. Dick, Pat, and I played trio music from 6:30 until 8:00 with a couple of tiny breaks in the middle to say hello to newly arrived members. It was a very enjoyable day and we are all looking forward to tomorrow. After a good night's sleep, we'll all be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed again and ready for another adventure.

I'm still in awe of what the Old Pink House restaurant managed to do with crushed pecans and a chicken breast! I forgot to mention that the house was built in 1771 and was most recently refurbished in 1992. The crown molding was amazing and I loved the green walls in our dining room. During the evening, I kept seeing a lady at Dan & Karen Davis' table that I didn't know , but since they had guests with them I decided that perhaps she was another of their guests. Well, she wasn't at all. Maggie B caught my arm while I was strolling around sight-seeing in the mansion and let me know that the mystery lady was no other than Jenny L! My word! I had been emailing Jenny for years and years but had never gotten to meet her in person! Thank heaven for the Q Club meetings and the wonderful, wonderful members who put these together for us!!

In other news, some of our Dallas members were stuck back at the Dallas airport due to tornado warnings yesterday afternoon. I hope they can fly in today!

The club members trolleyed through the Historic District this morning, then broke for lunch and continued our Savannah education via a walking tour in the afternoon. We saw the insides of two historic homes and walked by several other famous homes and monuments, including the infamous Mercer House where Jim Williams shot Danny Hansford. "The book" and "the movie" are still the talk of the town.
Dinner in the evening was at Mrs. Wilkes Boarding House. There were platters of fried chicken and 22 (and I'm not kidding) side dishes. Banana pudding served as dessert.
Afterward, we waddled back to the hotel while others managed to check out the local pubs and evening spots. It was an amazing day in this lovely old city! I will ask your indulgence while I send out a few "reruns" of my favorite pieces.

Our morning tour guide clearly thought that Jim Williams got his "due" from the Lord when he dropped dead of a heart attack a year after his 4th trial ended. Interesting! We were also told that the church bells were confiscated on the orders of Gen. Sherman because he couldn't sleep and was tired of hearing them ring. Oh well, that was the morning guide. The afternoon guide said that the church ladies won that battle (about the bells) and that the bells were not confiscated nor were they hung upside down upon their return. It's hard to know who to believe. There seems to be a thin line between history and folk tales. Oh, and we passed several haunted houses on the tours. It was quite a day!
Tomorrow should be calm in comparison since it only involves the QClub business meeting, sale, and dinner.

Today was HOT! I think that we set records for this day in the history of the universe or something like that. The temps hit 88 or so and some of us melted. Luckily we spent a nice portion of the day on air conditioned buses touring two fabulous homes and one outstanding plantation. We (the club members) took dozens and dozens of photos and I would tell you all about this but I think that you'll enjoy reading about it more in the next edition of the Journal.

We bid a sad farewell until next year to the other Q Club members and headed out for adventures in Charleston this morning. Pat, Colin, Dick and I arrived in time for a late lunch and then took a water taxi over to the city's downtown historic district. We almost melted from the heat but stumbled upon a mule drawn carrriage tour in our eleventh hour. Traveling around the city under the shade of a fringed surrey gave us a brief education, a viewing of many wonderful historic homes and churches, as well as a chance to revive ourselves a bit.

We then headed for the "antique" row. The good news is that we found it; the bad news is that the shops were all closing. One shop owner was just locking up but asked if we were looking for anything specific. "French faience" I answered. He shook his head - no, he didn't have any of that but perhaps a shop down the way might have something. We thanked him and continued down the sidewalk while we admired his wares through the large glass windows......and there we spotted a lovely Gien jug in the white background glaze with typical decor that sports cherubs. No faience? Indeed!

A shop across the street still had the door open so we poked our heads in and asked if they were closed. Yes, they were but what were we looking for? French faience we answered. No, he didn't have any of that, but what specifically??? Quimper, I asked?? No, no Quimper. The sales assistant interjected that they had a Quimper plate. He didn't remember it, but she went to get it to show him. In the meantime, I also inquired about Malicorne, Desvres, Gien??? Malicorne! Yes, he had Malicorne and led me over to look at the world's largest vase. It was in the Rouen decor on a Delft style form. Huge piece! I asked if it was marked so he turned it over and it had the Emile Tessier mark. I explained to him what it was. He didn't really know that it was a 20th century piece or much at all about faience. I also spotted a huge tureen and platter (VP mark) and a couple of other things. The Quimper plate was HB-Henriot and only 3 years old.

We'll be hitting the antique malls and stores tomorrow to see what other faience we can find. I'm hoping to get the huge Malicorne vase out of my head ......but you know how hard that is! There is a slight chance that it might need to come home with me! We're all hoping that the heat will calm down a bit. Oh, and in the morning we'll be touring an aircraft carrier. Dick is really looking forward to that since it's been over 50 years since he was doing a tour of duty on one."

Thank you Lucy for your updates! Hope everyone enjoyed them. Have a very Happy Halloween!

~Katie

Savannah Meeting Update Part One

One of the great things about the Annual meeting is that you find you have so much in common with fellow collectors. Its not every day you are in a room with people who are fanatic over this beautiful pottery! This love of pottery is what started Lucy and me to create the Club. Admittedly I have been to only a few meetings. Shortly after the creation of the club I got married and started having children. I don't have a lot of time left in my days for hobbies. But just because I can't always go to a meeting or afford pieces of pottery I lust after ...doesn't mean I don't get a lot back being a member of the club.

Meeting report from Lucy Williams:

"Pat, Colin, Dick, and I flew out of Vancouver at the crack of dawn this morning. We landed in Dallas for brief layover and a nice lunch and then while waiting forthe flight to Savannah were delighted to run into fellow Q Club member, Nancy Ninegar (Santa Rosa, CA)! After arriving at the hotel and checking in, we joined Judy Datesman, herbrother, Jeff, Gaynor Smith and Nancy for a fun visit in the hotel lounge area. I can't tell you how wonderful it is to be with the old Quimper Club gang again!"

"The members continue to arrive in this beautiful southern city. We had 48 members, spouses, and guests attending the Old Pink House restaurant this evening. The Q Club members took up the largest dining room and I must say, we looked rather grand as we ordered off of the wonderfully creative menu! Roger and Maggie sat at atable with Mary,  Susan & John, Susie , and Ann Marie & Fred.
Gaynor was at a corner table with Bevra & Tom, Nancy, Cerelle....oh dear, well I guess I shouldn't name everyone at every table but let's just say that the food was divine but that the company was even better!
Tomorrow is the riverboat cruise during the day and the Meet & Greet in the evening.
I'll send you a report on how our trio did in our second year performance for the Q Club.
I am having a fabulous time with so many Quimper collectors here.
If you are not here then please consider coming to a meeting if you can. The Q Club is filled with very special people."

Savannah Shopping - SCAD.

The QCI Annual meeting is almost here! If you are staying at the Hotel DeSoto you will be excited to know that the Savannah College of Art and Design Shop is right around the corner
What is so special about this shop, according to FD Luxe magazine:
- Popular with design teams, Crate & Barrel and Henri Bendel regularly cruise the space for inspiration
-A 2010 fashion graduate was a competitor in the series "Project Runway
-The winner of 2010 Style Etoile Awards in New York City
-has also received attention from Vogue and rave reviews from designers such as Dianne von Furstenberg.

website

corner of Bull and Charlton streets
912-525-5180

-

FYI: QCI Savannah Meeting Attendees.

If you are planning on coming to the QCI meeting in Savannah this October why not set aside some time either before or after the meeting to discover the nearby town of Beaufort?
Barely 40 miles north of Savannah, Beaufort is a delightful little waterside town of about 12,000 people.
Scads of movies have been made there; Forest Gump, The Big Chill and The Prince of Tides.
It’s easy to see why.

The town, sits snugly on the Intracoastal Waterway and is one South Carolina’s low country gems.

Few small towns in the States can compete with Beaufort’s abundance of antebellum mansions.

A stroll down some of the neighborhood streets, lined with trees draped with Spanish moss, is a real treat.

You could check out the Greek Revival manse, take a buggy ride through the historic district, and visit the Penn Center Museum, the first school for freed slaves after the Civil War.

The Beaufort Arsenal was the home of the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery, which traced its formation to an earlier company organized in 1776 and served in the Revolutionary War. The BVA was stationed at Fort Beauregard during the Battle of Port Royal on November 7, 1861.
If you have time consider joining Jon Sharp for his wonderful Historical Walking Tour.

A myriad of inlets and waterways offer great fishing and boating, the beaches of Hunting Island are vast and walkable in October.
For those of you who enjoy birding, there are a myriad of species of sea birds in the area.
With wonderful places to eat and stay, a visit to Beaufort would be well worth your while.
For more information visit the Beaufort County Visitors Website by clicking  here.

The Day I met Paula & Michael.........................by Susan C

While perusing the newspaper one morning in April, I ran across a list of upcoming authors visiting the Dallas area, making personal appearances and signing books. As luck would have it, Paula Deen's name was included in the listings. Paula Deen of The Lady & Sons in Savannah, site of the 2010 QCI Meeting!

Admittedly, I am far from being a foodie nor am I frequent food channel follower of Paula's cooking show, but I am very interested in homes, decorating and design. To my surprise, Paula was beginning a book tour to promote her new book on Savannah Style, a book on Southern design, not another cookbook!

With that, the date was marked on my calendar because surely, we could use a signed book for a gift at the meeting. I envisioned waltzing into the book store and leisurely visiting with Paula about the upcoming QCI meeting in Savannah.

Signing Day arrives. I drive to the book store in a suburb north of Dallas, park and walk into the store well over an hour before the signings were to begin. I was directed to the second level of the very sizable store and as I began to climb the stairs, the noise level began to rise. If my jaw could have dropped to the floor, it would have as I saw the line of people, mostly women, snaking around the second floor and snaking between countless rows of book shelves! Young and old they had all come to see the anointed queen of cable cookery!

It was time to reassess my carefully laid out plan and move to Plan B.

Time passed and I became best friends with my line buddies. Cooking, travel, teenagers and politics were all discussed as we were directed to tighter and tighter positions by the store's staff. It also began to get much warmer as people were amassed. Word was passed that 600-800 books were in the store and available for signing....and no provisions or pyjamas!

More time passed and applause erupted, followed by cheers and squeals on the opposite side of the building. Apparently, the queen was in the building, but in my location between the shelves, who knew! The decibel level began to lower as an employee, over the intercom, requested for all of the noise makers to be quiet to hear an announcement.

Paula was in the building and would be out momentarily, but first the rules..."due to the large crowd," Paula would only sign her name, "no personalization." Secondly, "photos can only be taken outside of the cordoned area around her table," not when you are getting a book signed.
Sighs from disappointed fans sweep throughout the shelves.

"Hi Y'all!" was the next sound and unmistakable voice of Paula Deen that we all heard loud and clear. More applause and cheering followed. Paula, in her best Southern drawl, apologized for the rules and hoped everyone would understand her dilemma and the limitation of her hand.
Who wouldn't be understanding of her circumstances after that sweet, syrupy apology? Whatever!

The snake began to, ever so slowly, make forward movement. It was a very interesting trip through the rows and rows of book titles on the shelves and the reading helped to pass the time.
Wow, were there some edgy and salacious titles!

Rounding the last corner, I could finally see Ms. Deen. I readied my camera and took a few pics as open views became available between the line of bodies. One last shot and I had to pocket my camera, according to the "store police!"

As Paula signed, I don't recall exactly what I said, but she mentioned that her husband was standing in a nearby corner and that he'd love to sign books or be in a photo.

On to Plan C.

Before leaving my house earlier that day, I penned a small sign about the Q Club's 2010 Savannah meeting, so I drew it from my purse and approached Michael Groover.

In my best Southern drawl, I too asked for understanding. To his credit, Michael was easily won over into helping me fulfil my Plan C mission.

He personalized a number of Paula's books and, bless his little heart, posed for pictures, one holding the hastily made sign promoting the QCI's Savannah meeting!

The sign could have just as easily been promoting a competitors cookbook and I think he'd have obliged my request! He was a good sport!

Perhaps, we'll run into Paula or Michael while we're in Savannah this October? I might have to try out her restaurant, The Lady and Sons, for a helpin' of some delicious Fried Green Tomatoes!

Take care now, ya hear. See y'all in Savannah!
Susan

Visit the Mighty 8th Museum with Tom S.

During the next 3 or 4 months we'll be telling you about some of the events and visits that will take place during the QCI Annual meeting in Savannah, GA. October 24th -27th.

Over the years the number of QCI members who bring their partners/ friends/ siblings to our gatherings has grown.

One of them even coined the group name "tag alongs" to describe the invited guests.

As a previous "tag along" in Philadelphia and Dallas, Tom Slonaker has this year been upgraded to "involved husband" and is offering a treat for history buffs and aficionados of classic war planes alike on Tuesday morning (26th October).

The Mighty Eighth Air Force, founded in Savannah, was the greatest air armada ever assembled.

Tom has planned a visit to the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, where you can see a B-17 up close and inside, and also the fighter planes which protected the bombers over Europe during World War II.

For those who want to celebrate the Allied victory—and would enjoy the planes and paraphernalia, there is much of interest here.

The Mighty Eighth Air Force operated from the United Kingdom and helped to defeat the Nazi aggression of World War II.

The men and women of the Mighty Eighth are celebrated by a beautiful 90,000 square foot display building just 30 minutes drive from the Hilton DeSoto, Savannah, in Pooler, GA.

The tour will take about two hours, transportation will be provided and lunch will be available.

See your QCI Registration materials for further details or contact the organisers by email @ savannah2010@quimperclub.org.

Savannah Book Review.

There seems to be a bit of a book review vibe going on with me this month so I feel it might be the time to share some "insider information" with QCI members planning on attending the annual meeting this October in Savannah.
My co-host Nina and I have, during the course of our 18 month long meeting planning journey, acquired several new books for our shelves.
The first book I'd like to tell you about is "More than Mercer House: Savannah's Jim Williams & His Southern Houses" by Dr. Dorothy Williams Kingery.

Jim Williams was one of Savannah's earliest champions and a private restorationalist. Beginning in 1955 when only 25 years old he restored over 50 houses in Savannah, Georgia and South Carolina over the next 35 years.
The book's flyleaf has this description:
"Mr Williams wrote a series of essays about the great impact that these special houses had on his life. Using these essays as a guide, this book takes its readers on a journey. Along the way we learn about Savannah's early restoration movement  and the critical period when many fine houses were lost. We visit some of the houses that Jim saved."
One of the finest houses that Jim Williams saved was Mercer House, a restoration that took two years.
Construction on Mercer House, situated on Monterey Square one of Savannah's prettiest, was begun in 1860 by General Hugh Weedon Mercer the great grandfather of the songwriter Johnny Mercer.
After the Civil War, circa 1868 the house was completed by it's new owner John Wilder.
Despite his oustanding career in preserving Savannah's Historic houses Jim Williams is possibly more well known for being the only person in the state of Georgia ever to be tried four times for the same crime - the alleged murder on May 2, 1981 of his assistant, Danny Lewis Hansford, in Williams's home, Mercer House.
He was finally acquitted of the charge and continued to live at Mercer House until his death in January 1990.

I'm sure some of you will already have read my second recommendation; "Midnight In The Garden Of Good and Evil" by John Berendt, aka "the Savannah book" a non-fiction account of this final chapter in the history of Mercer House and it's owner.
My third and final choice is "Savannah Style Mystery and Manners" by author Susan Sully, foreword written by MITGOGAE author John Berendt.

The book features 20 Historic houses such as the Second Empire Baroque Thomas Levy House

and the Lebanon Plantation.

QCI members and their invited guests will have the opportunity to tour both of these beautiful homes in October.
John Duncan owner of the Thomas Levy House sitting on the bed which previously belonged to Serena Dawes and now stands in his own bedroom.

In MITGOGAE John Berendt describes how after her husband Simon Dawes accidentally shot himself in the head Serena, (who Cecil Beaton had called "one of the most perfect natural beauties I've ever photographed") "spent most of her day in bed, holding court, drinking martinis and pink ladies, and playing with her white toy poodle, Lulu".

John Duncan will be a guest speaker at the QCI Meeting, he and his wife Ginger both had small roles in the movie of the book, produced by Clint Eastwood.
Here he is with actor John Cusack who played the part of author John Berendt.

QCI Meeting Update: the Registration Materials are in the mail!! That's right, Club Secretary Laverne mailed out all the necessary documents to all QCI members at the beginning of the week and they should be with you shortly.
If you have any queries regarding the meeting you can email your co-hosts at this address: savannah2010@quimperclub.org
and we will do our very best to help.

The Olde Pink House Restaurant and Planters Tavern, Reynolds Square, Savannah. GA.

On the evening before the QCI Savannah meeting begins Nina & I would like to suggest that any members who have already arrived in town, join us for dinner at the Olde Pink House.

To help you decide; a little history and a taster menu!
A National Monument; Savannah's stately Georgian Mansion facing Reynolds Square has an exciting history:
1771, the opening of the Habersham House- later called the Olde Pink House when the soft native brick begn to bleed through the plastered walls and mysteriously changed the colour of the Habersham House from white to Jamaican pink.
Built on land granted by the crown of England, James Habersham Jr. lived in this mansion from 1771 to 1800. This wealthy planter's home held many secret meetings which helped secure the independence of the 13 colonies from England.
In 1811 the Old Pink House became the Planter's Bank, the first bank in Georgia.
The Halls of the Habersham House opened to military Generals after Sherman presented the city of Savannah as a Christmas gift to President Lincoln and General York set up his headquarters in the Olde Pink Mansion.
The house changed hands many times after the War between the States - attorney's office, bookstore, colonial tea room, and suffered from neglect and decay.
In 1992 the William Balish Family, native Charlestonians, purchased the Habersham House and all its ghosts and began a major project to remove the decaying walls, restore the sagging building, reseach its past and reconstruct it to its original grandeur; thus beginning a new era for this grand old house.
(Text taken from Habersham House - history revisited, courtesy of the Olde Pink House Restaurant and Planters Tavern)
Sadly I don't have any photo's of the interior of the Olde Pink House but such is the wonder of blogland that recently Yvonne @ Stone Gable blogged about The Olde Pink House for Pink Saturday, click on the link for some wonderful photo's of the dining rooms.

The Olde Pink House: Sample Signature menu.

First Course Choice:

Low Country She Crab Soup, laced with Golden Sherry.

Fried Green Tomato BLT Salad, buttermilk thyme dressing.

Entree Course Choice:

Filet Mignon, green peppercorn demi glace.

Blue Crab Stuffed Black Grouper, white wine lemon pan sauce.

Bourbon Molasses Grilled Pork tenderloin, sweet potatoes & pecan vanilla butter.

Crispy Scored Flounder, apricot shallot glaze.

Dessert Choice:

Praline Almond Sorbet.

Chocolate Oblivion Torte.

Raspberry Sorbet.

Roger & I had the pleasure of lunching at the Olde Pink House with Nina & Tom when visiting Savannah last March and I can recommend the Fried Green Tomato BLT and each and every one of the desserts!

"Sojourn in Savannah" QCI Annual Meeting. October 2010.

News just in is that acclaimed artist Philippe Lalys has accepted your co-hosts invitation to be a guest speaker at the QCI 2010 meeting in Savannah, later this year.

Below is an excerpt taken from an article that appeared in the December 2005 issue of the Quimper Club Journal, author Judy Datesman.

“When the HB Henriot factory in Quimper reopened under the ownership of Paul Janssens in 1984 Philippe was hired for a newly created position, that of responsable création, followed a year later by a promotion to directeur artistique, a position he held until 1991, when he left to open his own atelier as an artiste libre.

Fresco splashback in Philippe Lalys' kitchen; the vase was an Odetta creation of Chanteau.

According to Philippe, working with pottery is not like working with porcelain. Painting on porcelain is work that is done on a surface already glazed and fired; the substance is more solid and the designs can be much more detailed. There are three stages of firing, and the third stage can be repeated several times to develop color and design layers.”

Cerelle B wrote about her love of Philippe's work when she was our guest blogger last year. Click here to see it again.

For more information regarding this post contact quimperpix@gmail.com
For more information regarding the Annual Meeting contact savannah2010@quimperclub.org