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."

The Perfect Christmas Stocking Stuffer

Do you realize there are only 62 days before Christmas!

If you are not attending the Quimper Annual Meeting this week

then you can still do some shopping from home.

I thought these would be perfect for my daughters dollhouse!

Maybe you want to give a friend a small Quimper token or you have

a granddaughter who is just starting to collect.

Or you have no idea what to get your wife because

she has every Quimper thing imaginable...

Here are the details from my friend Judy Datesman:
""Fèves" are trinkets hidden in the King's Cake that celebrates the Epiphany. In times gone by, it was a dried bean (a "fève"), and the person who found it was king for the day. By about 1870, the bean was replaced by small figures in porcelain, and more recently, in plastic, but still called "fèves". Today "fèves" are generally produced in theme series, in every imaginable style: Disney figures, regional motifs, ceramics, antiques, cartoon characters, foods, etc. About 1" to 1-1/2" in size, they have become very popular collectibles; generally a series is produced for one year only."
Cost is approx $30 US with shipping included.

I imagine like all things there is a possibility they won't

be on time for Christmas but they would also make a

perfect Valentine's Day, Birthday, or Mother's Day gift!

Please contact Judy at Brittany Byways to order.

Fleur de Lys

I think part of being a Francophile is the love of the Fleur de Lys. The French picked a perfect symbol. You can find it all over French faience. It doesn't stop with faience in my house, I have a fleur de lys chandelier, book ends and even a sweatshirt! Here are a few of my pieces. Hope you enjoy!

A wonderful wall pocket/match holder. Marked CA.



A large CA pitcher found for only $20!




Love this bell and so do my children! Marked Henriot Quimper France.



Small piece found in Nice, France - No mark.
Plate marked Blois. Boulogne pitcher marked with the H arrow D symbol.
.

Again I love the mix of blue and white. This may be one of my favorite

pieces in my collection. Marked only HB.

HB Quimper pitcher. Blois salt. Unmarked egg cup.

History of the Fleur de Lys:

Translated as the “flower of the lily”, is a legendary symbol of France. Initially, it served as a decorative element and can be found as far back as Mesopotamia. Over time, it came to to represent royalty (not specific to France) signifying perfection, light and life.

Here is a fun story about a Fleur de Lys tattoo.

If you are a foodie and visit San Francisco then you must try the

Fleur De Lys Restaurant

I have and it's delicious.

Parrots In Arizona......by Cerélle

Parrots in Arizona ?
Yes, we really do have parrots...

There are two native varieties, very scarce, to be found in Southern Arizona. The Coppery-tailed Trogon is a summer resident of far southern Arizona, and lucky the person who has seen him. Even more rare is the Thick-billed Parrot, who has been found in southeast Arizona. They have tried to reintroduce more of them, but with only limited success due to the large number of resident hawks.

And surprisingly, we here in our neighborhood have some fascinating little squeaky-voiced, colorful guys who have been around for at least twenty years now, and have naturalized quite happily. Some years back, a small private zoo with an aviary caught fire and the only way the firemen could save these birds, was to release them. Lucky for them, lucky for US!


So now, we have these wonderful peach-faced lovebirds who come to the feeder and live in the palm trees and have new fledglings each year. It is delightful to see the "peachies", sometimes in a flock of up to twenty, all in the little tree which holds the feeders. When the sun hits their feathers, it is just breathtaking! We even had a turquoise and white parakeet who joined this flock for a couple of years..and must have been quite well accepted as we can surely identify the offspring who show this whitish head, turquoise-green body coloration in certain members of the flock. Here is a Peachy on the birdbath.


Another visitor we had for at least four years was a wonderful big chartreuse parrot which I finally identified via a web site on parrots. Upon writing to the site with a description and then a photo, she was identified as a ring necked parakeet...a BIG parakeet - about 17 inches long, and as this one did not have the "ring", she was a female. In reading about her, I found that though originally from India and Pakistan, there is a large population of them who were escaped birds and have now naturalized in Bakersfield, California. I wonder if this one blew over here in a storm..as have some brown pelicans from time to time, or if she got away from someone here.


"Our" parrot was a joy to see and became a regular guest at the seed feeder. About two years ago, a new neighbor who was evidently ignorant of the fact that "Greenie" slept in the large hole in their date palm, cut it down and so we no longer have our wonderful guest! I hope she found another good place and is still flourishing. Sure miss seeing her, though.

So it is with pleasure that I add parrots to my collection, whenever I can find them. Among my favorite pieces are these Desvres parrots. They are large, fully 10 inches tall (25 cm) and with great colors and glass eyes.


I also have a charming little parrot which I have been hoping to identify...only 5.75 in (14.5 cm) high and finely painted and detailed. Anyone know this mark? Perhaps it is German?




This HB quimper covered jar sits on my kitchen window sill and is a source of great delight. It has survived in fine condition..lid too, and the colors and the repeating pattern of floral designs with the featured parrot is a favorite of mine.



Then there are parrots on plates and platters and cache pots and wall fonts..and all of the wonderful items with the Rouen designs which I love so well. I think that I can never get quite enough of these. I love the cornucopia, the carnations, and best of all the parrots. These could have been made in Desvres, in Quimper, in Sinceny, or perhaps if old enough, in Rouen itself.




Not too long ago I happened upon a great big soupiere WITH platter on eBay..and fell for it immediately! It was heavy, and perhaps that scared off the competition as I won it easily. I am crazy about the way it is painted, and just discovered it in the book, French Faïence, by Jeanne Giacomotti. It was identified as Sinceny..even perhaps Rouen, as evidently they were so alike.




The date is set at 1760..Oh MY! As you see, it not only has the carnations and rocailles but lots of little parrots, too!


Another piece which is special to me, is a parrot plate which has been identified by one of our club experts as being early Quimper in the Nevers style. I just love the colors in this, and the free-hand flourish in the painting.


I guess that whether a living-free parrot, or a parrot captured in clay and paint, they just bring a lift to my heart!

Sunday Shadows ~ Tea on the Porch Mosaic.....by Sarah A.

Sunday Shadows and Morning Tea on the Porch

Mornings on the porch are lovely when Mr. Sun creeps into the day and casts it's light as if he is performing a dance. The graceful light and gentle shadows create the perfect ambiance for morning tea on the porch.

Let's move in a little closer and join the tea party.

Morning tea is served from a sweet Quimper service in a cheerful soleil pattern.

For afternoon tea ~ a little table perfectly set in the corner of the kitchen.

Tea and Sunday shadows are magical all through the day.

Linking to Hey Harriet's Shadow Shot Sunday where all shadow capturers gather each week and Mary @ the Little Red House for her Mosaic Monday meme.
Please click on the links to see who else is participating this week.

I Spy...Soleil

October issue of Country Living Magazine has a feature with several pictures of Quimper.

A wonderful Soleil tea pot filled with beautiful flowers.

A charming Soleil plate filled with nuts.

The October issue of Country Living magazine gives a very updated look to Quimper. Often we see Quimper adorned in only french country style homes - which I favor as I would think must of us Quimper collectors do! The above pieces are owned by a hip, young family whose home has an Anthropologie feel.

The "Soleil"glaze is the perfect Quimper to take us into Fall. I believe it started being produced in the 1920's. It reminds me of my favorite mustard corduroy skirt. Here are a few pieces I sprinkled around the house to get some Fall color.


I found this large (11') scalloped bowl at the Long Beach Flea Market in California. Co-founder, Lucy Williams introduced me to this market which is a must if you visit Southern California. Much like the Rose Bowl Flea Market you may see a few celebrities. Speaking of, I was told that actress Michelle Pfeiffer collects Soleil. This piece is marked HB Quimper France.


This set of coffee mugs were a gift which I believe were purchased in Petaluma, California. Petaluma is a quaint town that is a perfect stop on your way to Sonoma wine country in Northern California. Just past Petaluma is Healdsburg which has a town square very similar to what you will see in Savannah.


Lastly, this small plate which is marked HB Quimper France F303 D 201. I am not sure how I acquired it but I think I just fell in love with it again. I thought I would take a tip from Country Living and enjoy some nuts with my Quimper .

Please share with us how you use Quimper to decorate for Fall...

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

-

More Camaïeu Blue Faïence................by Sarah A

It's time once again for Blue Monday with Smiling Sally.

Several collections of French faïence in camaïeu blue have been shown here on QCI. You can find a list of these articles at the end of this post. Today I'd like to share photos of a collection of camaïeu blue faïence that I visited several years ago. These pieces belong to my friend, Charna, who graciously agreed to let me share them with you.
I don't know specifics about each of Charna's pieces, but I do know they are French, and they are indeed lovely. Charna has a wonderful wall of built-in cases, and these delights fill the shelves. Just imagine waking to these serene pieces each morning.

As I said, I don't know the specifics about each of these so I will just show the photos. Enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed seeing some more pieces in this charming art style. It's difficult to improve on the combination of blue and white. Charna's collection offers a look at some unusual forms and some exquisite painting.

To see more French faïence in camïeue blue click on the following links:

Some Favorites in Camïeue Blue

Having the Blues is a Good Thing

Blue and White Quimper

Visit Smiling Sally for a list of others participating in Blue Monday.