A Home Town Favorite

My best friend of 21 years, Kori, lived in Columbus, Ohio.  We would always talk on the phone, and make occasional visits to see each other.  When we were visiting or talking, we would always make plans to eventually do something (ex: get massages, shopping, trips to NY).  With her living 3 1/2 hours away from me, when we would visit each other, the time went by fast- drinking and playing Mall Madness!  (:

By the grace of God, Kori had a lifestyle change and ended up moving back home, rekindling a relationship with an old boyfriend (whom was the ONLY man she dated I ever approved of!!), and shortly later they became engaged!  After Kori asked me to be her "Maid" of Honor (I refuse to consider myself a Matron of Honor- it sounds too old!), the wedding planning began!  We attended a bridal show, antique shops (the shower will be having an "Old Meets New" theme- more posts to come about that in the future...), and the biggest craft store in the world!  It is so great spending so much time with her- I have spent more time with her the last 2 months alone, then probably the 4 years she was in Columbus.

Anywho, the point of this post is to tell you about a trip we finally crossed off our "Bucket List".  Kori has now moved in with her fiance- Andrew.  With the move, calls for new things for their apartment- one of which was some new dishes.  Kori and I have always talked about going to the Homer Laughlin Factory Outlet, which makes Fiesta dishes.  The factory is in Newell, West Virginia, which is at the very tip of the northern panhandle of West Virginia. 

As we approached the old factory (That is something I love about it, after all the money the products have made, they still remain in the same old factory as they did when the company started!), we saw 4 piles of scraps and broken dishes.  Immediately, Kori and I say how cool that is with all the different colors and begin rattling off all the mosaic things we would do with them.  Then, as we walk into the factory, of course we had to take pictures of us and of the beautiful Broken Ware Garden (see photos below).  Inside of the factory is a store room to purchase any Fiesta Ware dishes.  However, past that is the second-hands room, where defected dishes are placed at a discount.  With our Wet Wipes and towels in hand, Kori and I began digging through treasures.  The second-hands are very neat to have, a little defect makes it more unique!

After hours of digging, Kori came out with some new dishes for her and Andrew's apartment, and I came out with some things for me, and gifts for my mom and sister.  It is a very neat place to go, even if you are not into Fiesta dishes.  Here is their website: http://www.hlchina.com/

                                           Kori and I with our infamous picture pose.

                               The Broken Ware Garden right outside of the entrance.