Special Signing Event – Susan Winget!

We are greatly honored to be hosting our second Portmeirion event this year. Ms. Susan Winget will join us in our gorgeous 12,000 square foot Showroom for a unique signing event that will take place on Sunday, November 19th, 2006, between 2:00pm and 5:00pm. This wonderful artist will be signing pieces of Portmeirion’s Christmas Story, a pattern that she now designs for the famous Stoke-on-Kent pottery manufacturer. Christmas Story was originally produced by International China Co., and features on each piece a line from the classic poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas,” written in 1823 by Clement Clarke Moore. With this pattern, you could literally set your table to display the entire poem, beginning with "Twas the night before Christmas" and ending with "Merry Christmas To All and To All A Good Night!" International China employed Susan Winget to illustrate this unique pattern, but when International China stopped producing it in 2002, the rights to Christmas Story were purchased by the renowned Portmeirion Studios. No problem, as today Susan Winget now works with Portmeirion Studios to continue the legacy of this intricate pattern!

Ms. Winget is a resident of North Carolina and a recipient of a fine arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Winget’s creations consistently reflect her appreciation of pastoral life. Whether it is a duck swimming in a pond, a rural village, or perched roosters, Winget provides a fresh and distinctive take on traditional folk art. Her artistic style is spirited, fun, casual, and reflects the beauty of the farmstead on which she lives and works. She began her business in 1982 selling watercolor prints for $8.50. At the time, she hoped to make just enough money to help support her family and stay home with her children. Today, her art is reflected in furniture, cards, calendars, children’s books, and dinnerware. Although Ms Winget has designed a number of china patterns, on this day, she will only sign pieces from Portmeirion’s Christmas Story. Don’t worry, we have a great selection of Christmas Story pieces suitable for signing.

One note of caution, the signature provided by Ms. Winget is done on top of the glaze of each piece, is not fired, and is vulnerable to wear if the piece is used frequently. Cleaning agents will remove or fade Ms. Winget’s signature. For this reason, we recommend occasional hand washing with a very mild detergent. We recommend these signed pieces not be placed in the dishwasher. If you are not purchasing one of these pieces for yourself or for a collector, keep in mind these signed pieces can be put away for great Christmas gifts. Mark your calendars and plan to attend this exciting and fun-filled signing event with Susan Winget.

If you would like to preorder pieces to be signed during this event, please call us toll-free at 1-800-REPLACE (1-800-737-5223) 9:00 am – 10:00 pm ET, 7 days. Tell our representative that you are interested in Portmeirion Signing Event information, and let us know which pieces you’d like to have signed by Susan Winget. If you are unable to attend our signing event in person, we will hold your order until November 19th and make arrangements for Ms. Winget to sign your special purchase. We’ll then ship your signed purchase to the address you specify. Replacements offers a wide variety of place setting and serving pieces available for purchase in the Christmas Story pattern. Given the unique nature of this event, and the fact that quantities are limited and are subject to prior sale, consider calling us today to order the pieces you’d like!

Directions to Replacements

If you are traveling east on Interstate 85/40

• Take Interstate 85/40 east of Greensboro
• Exit 132 (Mt Hope Church Road)
• Turn left at top of ramp
• Travel across overpass, take first service road to the left (Knox Road, before Exxon Station)
• Follow Knox Road approximately one mile to Replacements

If you are traveling west on Interstate 85/40

• Take Interstate 85/40 west of Burlington
• Exit 132 (Mt Hope Church Road)
• Turn right at top of ramp
• Take first service road to the left (Knox Road, before Exxon Station)
• Follow Knox Road approximately one mile to Replacements