THE NORTH AMERICAN TORQUAY SOCIETY 

2009 CONVENTION

              "Art and Bloom: Art Pottery and Floral Decoration".

 

Friday, August 14  

9:00-10:00am

                                           

                         MaryJo O'Connor at the Registration Desk                                 Charlotte Hense makes an early sale to Sheila Rudolph   

 

 

 

                                                

Entries in the photo competition.  The winner is the top centre picture in the right hand group, "The weather outside is frightful" by June Cole.

                     

 

10:00-11:30am Welcome and Business Meeting

                       

                             Our Hostess, Carol Oxley                                                    President Dianne Claffy reports

 

11:30am-l:00pm President's Luncheon

 

1:00pm-2:30pm Presentations, mystery session, theme discussion

 
"The Language of Flowers" by Shelby Scherr
          The human spirit has always instinctively embraced the notion that "flowers nourish the soul and soothe the senses".
          Flowers have the power to affect our minds and our emotions, they reach deep into our hearts with their healing touch.

 

            

 

Kathy Collins, our new President. gave us an excellent presentation on the work of Charles Collard , "Charles Collard's Crown Dorset Pottery: Life after Aller Vale.

 

They were both most informative. 

Carol arranged for us to visit the Crescent Moon Alpaca Ranch to see these intriguing animals and experience a slice of life in our country's Pacific Northwest.

 

 

                                                                              

Carol's daughter, Veterinarian Rachel answers her daughter's questions                        This baby was only a few hours old

                                                              

 

                 

We arrive at the Oxley ranch where Carol lives with her husband Bruce on 13 acres of land with three horses.

 

 

                               

             Marolyn Cook, Brenda Kimber and MaryJo O'Connor at the ranch.   Julian and Lynne Hinton (who are members from the UK) at the ranch

 

A few of Carol's pots.

 

  The center one is "from Bermuda"                                             Virginia Church, Shelby Scherr, Charlotte Hense & Stephanie Pendleton

                             

Bruce carefully instructed Ian Kimber from England in steer roping, but Ian's attempt is unsuccessful!

Saturday, August 15

 

9:00-11:30am Sales Mall

    

Our dealers included Virginia Church, who has been selling off her mother Maxine's collection of literally thousands of pots and says that

she still has a thousand to sell!   

           

Maryann Nieminen from Chimacum WA brought a great selection of pots to the Sales Mall

 

Chris Fessler brought these pots from Madison, WI

       

Not sure how much the Claffy's sold, but they sure had a good time.      Brenda Kimber was far too busy selling to pose for a photo

 

11:30am Silent auction ended

         Judy Grant prepares to referee                                         Get  set                                                                GO!!

But we're still friends!

 

Raffle prizes.  Members do not have to be present to claim their raffle prize.  This year Peter Sutton-Smith was unable to attend but sent in a priority list of his choices if one of his tickets was drawn.  He won the large Kerswell Daisy pot, his first choice!

Closing Dinner

 

We had a nice dinner and afterwards John held a "Dutch Auction" (where dollars go down, not up!) which included pots which people were willing to sell for whatever they could get.  John made it very entertaining and we had a lot of laughs.   Afterwards, we played charades based on Torquay mottoes! 

   

                     Kathy Collins, Shelby Scherr, MaryJo O'Connor                       Jeanette and Charles Mefford from Puyallup, WA

             

     Marolyn Cook, June Cole, Stephanie Pendleton, Alison Wells                                    Diane and Jerry Claffy, Rochester, MN    

   

                    Alison Wells  & Patricia Sherwood                                          Roy and Sharon Trull & Al and Ann Skogland

                                        

             Bob and Judy Lookabill from Spotsylvania, VA                             Canadians Ernie Wroe, Barb Paul, Jill and John Buckworth

 

Sunday, August 16

         

 Sisters, Oregon is located 20 miles west of Redmond.

 

 

 The town is named for the three peaks Faith, Hope and Charity (collectively called The Three Sisters) that are visible from the town. Originally a logging town, today it has a western style populated with historic buildings, specialty shops, galleries and many dining spots. A visit to Sisters was an enjoyable way to close out our convention.