TEAPOTS

There's so much to say about teapots. I love them. They are probably the most labor-intensive item in my inventory, and I have to be in the right mood to even start making them. But I get special satisfaction out of them -- not only are they spectacularly beautiful, but I get to show my customers how every aspect of them works just right. And when you pick one up and pour your afternoon tea from it, you'll appreciate the perfection of these wonderful objects.

Here's what I mean: there's a small air hole through the center of the lid. It lets air get in so the tea can get out. Otherwise, the tea will come out in spurts and burps.

I build strainer holes inside the pot, so you can use either teabags or loose tea (the experts insist that teabags are just wrong). And the spout is made so the tea will pour smoothly.

But wait! There's more! I make the handles relatively close to the body of the pot so that even a person with small hands will be able to extend a finger while pouring to keep the lid firmly in place. People worry about the lid, but they don't have to. The shape of the lid causes it to stay where it belongs -- and for extra safety the handle provides a back-up lid-stop.

I make two basic styles, in two basic sizes. Teapots come either round or faceted. And I make them in "Tea For Two" size and "Tea For the Family" size. Now and then I make a super-size version called "Tea For Everyone!" It holds over a gallon.

Like everything else I make, my teapots are dishwasher-safe (experts say never to wash a teapot, only rinse ... eeeuuw!). And if you want, you can put them in the oven or microwave (why???). Naturally, they're lead-free.

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