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Whether you were a new collector of post-86 Fiesta or a long-time aficionado of HLC's more esoteric lines, there was something for everyone at the HLCCA's Conference 2001. More than 150 members and guests spent August 2-5 in and around Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, learning more about their hobby and enjoying the company of their fellow dish fans.

New at the conference was a Thursday evening 'welcome' event. The Fiesta Circus started the conference with plenty of fun and games and gave attendees a chance to mingle and get to know other members. Participants took turns throwing HLC clay, played "Checkers" on an over-sized game board with vintage Fiesta saucers, played "Pin the Handle on the Demi-Pot," and went bobbing for shakers. HLCCA Secretary Nancy May and her husband Bob planned and prepared the entire event, with creative aid from David Schaefer. HLC contributed a table full of prizes.

On Friday everyone was up early and hit the road for Newell, West Virginia for a special HLCCA tour of the Homer Laughlin China factory. Whether you were a first-timer or someone who's already done the tour, the look inside the factory remains fascinating - whether watching the presses in action, seeing pieces glide through the kiln and emerge with cinnabar glaze or marveling at the precision of the decorators as they apply perfectly even stripes by hand. After the factory tour, many stopped by the outlet and seconds room or checked out the many antique stores across the river in East Liverpool, Ohio. Some also took a tour of the neighboring Hall China Company.

Conference seminars began mid-afternoon on Friday. Fred Mutchler presented a session on collecting ephemera and its role in marketing HLC wares. Harvey Linn gave an introduction to collecting post-86 Fiesta. Riverfront Antique Mall hosted HLCCA members for an after-hours shopping opportunity that evening.

Saturday was an unforgettable day, filled with activity from beginning to end. At 10 a.m., conference attendees were lined up impatiently waiting for the door to open for the Show and Sale. Dealers from all over the country brought the best of their wares; almost everyone found some piece they just had to have for their collections. Other HLCCA members brought parts of their collections for well-planned displays in the exhibit competition. Seven remarkable exhbits highlighted different aspects of HLC collecting, from New York World's Fair related items to an array of pottery shapes spanning more than 100 years.

Saturday's seminars were both informative and highly entertaining. HLC Art Director Judi Noble and Head Modeler Joe Geisse talked about the development process of one of HLC's newest lines, a restaurant ware called Unity. They spoke of how the development process was streamlined and hastened through computer technology and the ability to communicate images electronically when parties involved were miles apart. Author Jo Cunningham shared tales of her detective work as she has attemped to identify the hundreds of shapes and decorations created by HLC over the years. Often, HLC would simply create a shape and the retailer would give it a name, which is why some shapes have as many as seven different names! Bradley Payne gave many attendees an introduction to a line they may have not been very familiar with - Wells Art Glaze. As a forerunner to Fiesta, Wells Art was one of HLC's first efforts in solid color dinnerware. Wells Art is unique in that the solid color earth-tone glazes took precedence over the sinuous, very organic shapes. But the most spectacular event of the day was Candy Fagerlin's presentation of "The Pottery Papers." This multi-media labor of love included more than 850 images from Fagerlin's HLC ephemera collection, arrange in chronological order, then combined with music from the periods represented. Fagerlin also created a movie-house atmosphere for the event: popcorn, candy and other refreshmments, handsome ushers, an HLC "Hollywood star" red carpet walk of fame, programs, and more. Following the show, each attendee also received a free dish - just like "Dish Night" at the movies in the past - a sunflower Fiesta six-inch plate commemorating the event.

Saturday concluded with the HLCCA Awards Banquet. Some choose to come complete in vintage clothing for the dinner. Others took the suggestion a bit less seriously and topped off their contemporary garb with vintage hats. As in previous years, several awards were presented. These included awards for Grand, Gold, Silver, and Bronze winneing exhibits. The best "Dish" article went to Mark Gonzalez for his article, "Mr. Watkin - Modeling Distinctive Dishes." President Matthew Whalen initiated two new awards - the HLCCA Homer & Shakespeare Award - awarded to David Schaefer. Keynote speaker Dr. Charles Venable gave some fresh insights into the history of the U.S. dinnerware industry and HLC. He spoke of how HLC's ability to target the wants and needs of the growing middle class helped make it so successful. He also detailed the socio-economic factors that led to the popularity of Fiesta and Harlequin, and traced the events the led to the "Tableware War" of the late 1950's. The banquet included HLCCA commemorative pitchers, the one-of-a-kind Fiestaware 2000 charger in seamist glaze, and the games and posters used at Thursday night's Fiesta Circus.

After a breakfast buffet Sunday morning, a brief business meeting was the final official conference event. From there, attendees carefully packed their new dish finds and headed back home, many promising to "...see you next year in New Orleans!"