Tea Leaf Convention, Auctions and Annual Meeting

2023 Annual Convention

September 21-24, 2023

Findlay Inn and Conference Center

Findlay, Ohio

Flag City U.S.A. Salutes Tea Leaf Club

It’s time to register for our 43^rd Tea Leaf Convention. We are returning to Findlay, Ohio for this year’s convention, but this time, we will be at The Findlay Inn & Convention Center September 21-24, 2023. We would love to see you there. 

The convention registration form is included with this edition of Readings.  Convention Registration Fees basically cover our expenses for pre-planned food…..Hospitality, Saturday lunch, and Saturday Banquet. 

Hotel Registration & Convention Registration deadlines are both September 1, 2023.  Higher cost late convention registration covers additional fees charged by the hotel for unplanned food. Late registrations will be accepted up to Saturday morning September 23.

This year’s convention will feature a new Copper Lustre Table Scape Competition. We hope you will have fun participating in this new event.  The flyer with rules and instructions for this competition is also included in this edition of Readings. Deadline for submissions is September 1.  Please note on your convention registration if you intend to participate. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Did you know there is a story telling trend emerging? In line with this trend, I am pleased to announce that Terrell Medd has volunteered to present our Saturday Morning Educational Program titled: Tales of an Indiana Auctioneer.  I can’t wait to hear his tales of 49+ years as an Auctioneer and Antique Dealer, including 32 years as our Teal Leaf Convention Auctioneer. 

You will find additional information about planned convention activities in the latest issue of Readings. 

If you are interested in helping with this year’s convention, please contact me.  We particularly need hosts for Hospitality, Tea Leaf Rescue and Table Sales. I will be happy to discuss these and other ways you might be able help. 

I look forward to seeing you in Findlay this September.

Sue Chrisman
Vice President & Convention Chair

cell phone/text: 407-341-6459
email: jcchrisman@aol.com

About the 2023 Buying and Selling opportunities...

We are currently planning to continue both auction opportunities for 2023, as well as Friday evening Table Sales

Friday Night Table Sales:

Tables Sales are very straight forward.  Designate the number of tables you need at $15 each and include payment with your registration.  Table sales set up will be Friday afternoon around 4:00pm.   Sales will begin after the educational program around 7:30-8:00pm and run until about 9:00pm. 

Saturday Afternoon Non-Catalog Auction participates need to designate the number of flats (10 maximum) they want and include payment of $5 per flat with their Convention Registration.  It is always fun to see what surprises you bring. 

Saturday Evening Catalog Auction: The Catalog Auction consignment deadline was July 1. If you did not contact us by that date, it is too late. Submissions have been received and are being reviewed. The auction committee will correspond with consignors as needed.  After the accepted items are sequenced & numbered, labels will be mailed and the catalog produced.  Typically, the catalog is published in early September and posted on Facebook. The Catalog is also included in all convention registration packets. Thank you to all individuals who submitted consignments this year. We appreciate your participation. 

Check-in for both Catalog and Non-Catalog auction will take place early Saturday morning.  Mike Compton will provide check-in time for each participant.  Auction preview for both auctions will take place immediately after lunch on Saturday.

Missing Parts Market:  During Friday afternoon Hospitality, we will be expanding the popular top & bottom event to include all Missing Parts.  Missing parts may be sold, traded or given away. Missing Parts include, but are not limited to:

1. lids and bases for any item
2. undertrays for soup or sauce tureens
3. brush vase undertrays
4. inserts for soap and butter dishes
5. ladles
6. other missing parts

If you have a need for a missing part, you may just find it here. Keep in mind that while many of our members have accumulated extra parts, few are interested in bringing their entire accumulation to convention.  If you are looking for a particular part, please post your wish on the Tea Leaf Facebook Group in advance or inquire during the market.

Tea Leaf Rescue:  There will be tables for convention attendees to drop Tea Leaf & Variant Ironstone items in good condition, educational materials, retired giftique items & convention giveaways, etc. for other convention attendees to rescue free of charge. 

Our goal is to save a piece of history and find good homes for Tea Leaf you can no longer care for so it does not end up in a land-fill.  Please do not bring seriously damaged items. It is nearly impossible to find new homes for items that are not healthy.  Discolored items are the exception as they can be re-habbed.   Any items that have not been rescued before dinner on Saturday will be boxed up and auctioned Saturday night during Catalog Auction.  Proceeds will go to the Copper Lustre Fund.  

Hotel Reservation Information...

Convention Schedule (watch for details)...