"This site would not be possible
without the
help of some terrific people who share
my insane passion for a creative and
whimsical part of America's history."
My mom, Martha Souza, who in the mid-1950s
purchased a starter set of Tam O'Shanter dinnerware from a local flower and gift shop in
Clarksville, Tennessee. Thank goodness a few pieces survived her two rambunctious boys.
Bob Hutchins, perhaps the greatest Homespun
collector I know. Bob taught me the difference between soup bowls, salad bowls, and large
and small vegetable bowls. He showed me his custard cups, colossal cup, and Vernon
oddities. Bob helped me put together the lists of shapes for each the patterns based on
his years of passionate collecting.
Bill Stern, Vernon lover extraordinary! I first
saw Bill in profiled in a book call Magnificent Obsessions. He is a true scholar
on Vernon Kilns and he has contribute a lot to this web site.
Celeste Weklych -- boy does Celeste loooooove
Gingham. She provided me with the Gingham photographs on this site and has been the site's
biggest fan. Celeste is a true collector, embracing all that comes with collecting
Gingham, even the chandeliers!
Maxine Feek Nelson is perhaps the patron saint of
Vernon Kilns' collectors. She has written several books on collecting Vernon Kilns and she
strongly encouraged me to follow through with my vision of building this web site. She
encouraged me to create a place that would unite current collectors and insure a new
generation of people who love Vernon Kilns.
The first time I saw the collection of Jacob Wolfe,
I fell in love. He was the first collector I met who loved them all. He has a beautiful
collection of all of the plaids, though his first love is Homespun.
You have to admire a man who loves all dinnerware and pottery. Michael
moves freely across manufacturers' lines. Don't knock yourself out collecting one pattern,
when you can have a plate from Red Wing's whimsical Round Up, or Franciscan's simple, but
elegant Tempo. Mike is the first person who made me look at all of the cool utility art
that America has created.
Finally, I have to thank my companion of 17 years, Daniel,
who has enjoyed collecting most of his life. Daniel has the coolest collection of 1970's Ding-a-Ling Robots you a have ever
seen. The day I became hooked on collecting Tam O'Shanter was a happy day indeed in our
family. A family that collects together...
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