Because of my visa problems, I was not, to my great dismay, permitted to travel from Prague to England. Instead, Kevin Sharkey and Robin Marino – the new CEO of MSLO – made the trip to Stoke-on-Trent in England without me. They had a fascinating visit to the potteries of our business partner – Wedgwood. Please enjoy these stunning pictures that Kevin took of just some of the gorgeous things that they saw on this field trip. I’m very sorry to have missed it.
In this beautiful and stately cupboard are the Martha Stewart designs for the company - sold at Macy's and now at Harrod's. 
This is one of Wedgwood's iconic table decorations - it's for sweetmeats, which is candy or sweet confections.
The Wedgwood Museum is a wonderful place for visitors - it will be completed in 2009 in time for the 250th anniversary of the potteries. 
Lunch for our group was carefully planned, beautifully cooked, and so lovely. It was served in the tea room.
Giant meringues, small tea cakes, and other goodies were served.
The meringues were baked with sanding sugar.
a pretty assortment of homemade cupcakes
an English “sponge”
The centerpieces for the luncheon tables were set atop Martha Stewart china.
Kevin took many inspirational photos in the museum - this is Agateware.
a beautiful, early shell plate in a pale sandy color
A bisque compote of large size - we want to manufacture these again.
a bisque game pie dish 
an extraordinary tea pot
octagonal painted bowls- made as a gift
a monteith, or punchbowl, with Benjamin Franklin's portrait in transfer
a gray Jasperware covered urn - so fine and beautiful
a “cauliflower” teapot mold
Kevin wants two of these pastille 'burners' - they were used as the antique version of an 'air freshener.'
molds and molds and molds throughout the pottery
These are applied decorations to affix to Jasperware.
More
More
more and more
These are extraordinary portraits of historical figures for Jasperware, which was made in blue, gray, black, red, green, pink, beige, and yellow
Can you recognize Jackie and John Kennedy?
leaves and plants
Kevin estimates there are several thousand decorations in just this one room!
Not to forget the horses and other animals.
an over-sized chess table in Jasperware
production of china cups
teapots
before firing in the kiln
after firing and before glazing
This worker is making some of the Jasperware decorations from clay.
the molds for the jasperware
Jasperware vases before being fired.
applying a design on dinner plates
This is the frog set made originally for Catherine the Great - Czarina of Russia - the set can still be ordered today.
An artisan creating the Dancing Ladies bowl - one of these in blue was given to me by Wedgwood.
applying the 'dancing ladies'
The ladies are so graceful and exquisite - the workmanship is superb and perfect.
Another great view of the application - each bowl is a major work of art.
a cupboard of colors used in the decoration of Wedgwood 
Queensware at its finest - named after the English monarch, who proclaimed Wedgwood as the official pottery of the Royal Family.
color chips for Wedgwood china
This photo shows the artisan carving the domed, pierced body, the dried clay, the glazed object, and the decorated fired product - so amazing a process - so complex and interesting!
some of the tools used to create and engineer the Jasperware 
drying shapes 
Kevin decided to order two pastille burners for his new apartment. 
These square boxes are the molds used to shape the pottery. There are thousands of these molds in the factories - the Bart Simpson cup should not be used in the pottery, I think! 
more molds
lids drying - hundreds of them
Martha Stewart cups before firing - this is one of my favorite patterns and the one chosen by Tony O'Reilly to use at Castlemartin.
The yellow color burns off in the kiln, leaving a silver decoration on white china.
our Green Moss plates before firing
Our Robin's Egg blue china
another of the Martha Stewart china patterns 
A great deal of hand work goes into each piece.
A Martha Stewart collection advertisement hangs in the factory.
one of the kilns in the firing rooms 
spraying the glaze on the painted and decorated china
entering the kiln
Robin Marino - our company CEO and Kevin - studying eighteenth century pattern books - Josiah Wedgwood, Joshua Reynolds, and others who did amazing work.
Kevin also wants these candlesticks in black basalt.
This is Josiah Wedgwood's house in Stoke-on-Trent.
Look at the beautiful window details.
I enjoyed your wonderful photo journal of the Wedgewood Factory. I had no idea they also did American presidents! I think almost everyone has one or two pieces of Wedgewood.
Posted by: Dianne | June 29, 2008 at 09:50 PM
Hi ...
I hope the pictures gave a positive glow to your visions of England for the time being.
I believe that with continued diligence and patience you will be walking the footpaths of Merry Old England next time 'round.
Until Then,
Much to Enjoy Everywhere and All About Else!
AJS and the Weims
Posted by: Andrea and the Weimaraners | June 29, 2008 at 10:50 PM
I love and own Wedgwood, this was fun to see the process of how it's made. I'm really happy you went with Wedgwood with your china patterns. Kevin has such good taste I'm sure the pieces he ordered will be wonderful in his new apartment. The piece to serve sweetmeats was really beautiful.
Posted by: Nancy | June 29, 2008 at 10:59 PM
Martha, I'm so sorry to read that you didn't get to Britain. What a shame. At least we got to see all the beautiful things in Wedgewood. I've seen the china and things in Macy's, and wish I had room to buy me a set. I hope to buy a house, but I don't think I'm getting married again.
Now, what I want to know is with all those interesting adornments that the put on everything. . .you think they'd make one with cats? I saw horses, but I didn't see any kinds of cats. Just a thought.
Thanks, Kevin! The pictures are wonderful, and very interesting.
Hey--could a segment on the show be in the works???
Amy in Houston
Posted by: Amy | June 29, 2008 at 11:15 PM
Hi Martha, Robin & Kevin, First of all, I too am saddened amd dismayed that you were not allowed entrance into Great Britain. I know how much you were looking forward to the fantastic tour that Kevin photographed so well. I am so glad that you two [Kevin & Robin} were allowed to take the Wedgewood tour. Kevin, your photos are stunning. Thank you so much for sharing this part of your trip. I hope all of you are back home safely by now. Perhaps another time, things will turn out with a more positive outcome. We can always hope. Please know how much you ar loved and appreciated. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | June 29, 2008 at 11:31 PM
I am saddened that you were unable to make this trip due to a legal technicality. It seems absurd to me that they will sell your lovely china at Harrods but won't let you into the country. Well...it it a *good thing* that they will sell the china, of course. Thank you for sharing the photos...i rather love the mossed up centerpiece on one of your plates. Wishing you a great Summer of fun and travel!
Posted by: Sherey | June 29, 2008 at 11:42 PM
Martha England's BIG mistake!! Their loss not yours!! David
Posted by: david iddles | June 29, 2008 at 11:46 PM
Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos.
Posted by: IowaCowgirl | June 29, 2008 at 11:58 PM
Martha,
Oh how I wish you were able to visit the factory, hopefully soon?!
I do love Wedgewood also and I truely hope (as do many im sure) that you bring back your Wedgewood Drabware!!! How BEAUTIFUL it was... I would love to complete my collection!
Thank you for a wonderful tour... and thanks to you too, Kevin, those pieces you ordered are fabulous!
Posted by: Jeffrey | June 30, 2008 at 12:09 AM
Wedgewood has so many terrific patterns and choices, they need to publish volumes of their patterns so we can all adore them!
All my best to Martha!
-Jeremiah
Posted by: Jeremiah Runyon | June 30, 2008 at 12:13 AM
What a beautiful opportunity to have missed because of the small mindedness of certain English! Your Wedgwood collection is exquisite. I so look forward to the day when I can have your green moss collection in my cupboards - still hoping that Macy's will one day deliver to Australia. Til then it is lovely to admire from afar.
Posted by: Ingrid Moyle | June 30, 2008 at 12:18 AM
Very enjoyable tour. I never thought about all the hand work the artisans have to do to produce quality china.
Posted by: gail | June 30, 2008 at 06:52 AM
I am DEFINITELY going to visit that museum when it opens! Every chance I get (usually on my way back south from visiting family in up-state NY), I like to stop by the Corningware factory in Corning, NY. Seeing and appreciating the process and hours of manual work going into each piece is just amazing. One can easily spend an entire day watching that kind of thing! Thanks for sharing the great photos from your visit. (Don't you just LOVE the Jasperware collections?!? Gorgeous!)
Posted by: Kim Wylie | June 30, 2008 at 07:22 AM
Good Afternoon
What a pleasure to look at the pottery, and the process in the factory. Beautiful
GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA
Posted by: Anie Hahn | June 30, 2008 at 07:35 AM
My goodness, this is the best one yet. These pictures are just out of this world!!
I love all kinds of dishes and I love your new line of Wedgewood dishes.
Thanks for giving us a peek behind the scenes.
Posted by: Maureen | June 30, 2008 at 08:04 AM
Very beautiful!!! Sorry you werent able to go, Im glad we still got the pics. !!! Have a great day !!
Posted by: Paula | June 30, 2008 at 08:18 AM
Martha, thank you so much for the photos, I so enjoyed them. I will not even go into how sad I was that you did not make the trip. Remember you are my hereo and can do anything! I do hope to get to your show, and will keep trying.
Thank you, Virginia Carbon
Posted by: Virginia Carbon | June 30, 2008 at 09:21 AM
I'm sorry things didn't work out so you could travel to England. I was thrilled to see the Wedgewood potteries. It just goes to show how the classics are timeless. They are as beautiful and desirable today as they were years ago.
Posted by: Lori Stewart | June 30, 2008 at 09:47 AM
Wow! Those were amazing photographs. Thanks! Hope to see the Wedgewood Museum one day myself!
Posted by: Jennifer | June 30, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Gorgeous, gorgeous Wedgwood! Jasperware has always been my favourite - especially the green, or the black.
-Andrew
Posted by: Andrew Ritchie | June 30, 2008 at 10:06 AM
Hi all,
I'm really glad Robin and Kevin had a great visit to Stoke-on-Trent -or 'The Potteries' as it's known locally (and I'm sorry you didn't get to come Martha). I actually live in England, 20 minutes from the museum, in rural Staffordshire. It's a lovely day out visiting the several pottery museums, plus there are some rather quaint villages and interesting touristry places to visit in and around the area. For the other posters who are looking forward to trip here, I hope you have a lovely visit!
Posted by: Amy | June 30, 2008 at 10:11 AM
As always informative, educational and inspiring ~ thanks for bringing us the stunning photos. Distressing that you were unable to visit England and it is their loss. As always a big THANKS for your wonderful blog.
Posted by: Sharon | June 30, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Oh how I love dishware.... I need to find some of that wedgewood with Jackie Kennedy now. Thank you for sharing!
Claudine
Posted by: Claudine | June 30, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Well another day, another time. Good old Kevin, what would we do without you and your artistic eye? I enjoyed your photographic tour.
Thanks for considering us during
your trip.
Posted by: Margie | June 30, 2008 at 12:24 PM
Dear Martha, Robin and Kevin,
Thank you so very much for sharing with us the "Wonderful World of Wedgwood!" I am so sorry that you, Martha, were not able (due to your unfortunate Visa situation ... which I am sure is distressing, to say the very least) to also be there, but am grateful that Kevin and Robin "were" able to as your fine representatives. Thank you all for sharing with us not only the interesting, intricate, artistry and timely process of making these magnificent creations, but also for the beautiful "behind the scenes" photographs! I especially LOVED the photos of the luncheon table flower centerpieces with the container beautifully made of moss tied with a raffia bow and so appropriately set on their/your Wedgwood "Garland Moss" china plate (my favorite Wedgwood design ... in addition to your Martha's Macy's Collection "Maidenhair Fern" which is strikingly similar to your/Wedgwood's "Bouquet" design)!
And how timely your/this Wedgwood blog was! It not only coincided and tied in with the encore airing of today's "MARTHA" show (which celebrated weddings and featured your Martha Stewart Wedgwood line at Macy's) ... but also on a very personal level, too. Just the other week, I was able to further trace my Mother's (Clement) ancestry as far back as to 1481 (before they arrived to the United States -- settling first in Massachusetts in the mid 1600's and later in the early 1900's settling in the Buffalo, NY area where my Mother was born). My recent genealogical research found my Mother's ancestral family (Clement/Clements) and history deeply rooted in the Croft, Leicestershire, England area ... which after looking at a map moments ago is less than 50 miles from Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire area where Josiah Wedgwood (the "Father of English Potters") and his magnificant pottery was born and created! Thank you, Martha (and Mom)!
By the way, Kevin surely does have good taste ... as evidenced by his "Wedgwood Wish List" which included the beautiful pastille burners. (I, too ... after seeing the photos ... immediately zeroed in on and admired those pastille burners with their unique triangular base and beautiful flowing form of supporting sea "creatures" ... which immediately reminded me of an earlier "MARTHA" segment and blog highlighting your travels in April to the Bahamas and stay at the beautiful ... almost, mythical ... Atlantic Resort with their architectural designs of supporting sea life (marlins and seahorses) corbels!
Again, Martha, Kevin, Robin (and everyone there at MSLO) ... thank you so very much for sharing your interesting, educational and pictorial journeys with us (especially during these uncertain times when desired travel to many of these wonderful and interesting places is now almost cost-prohibitive for many of us). Take care, safe journeys ... and have a wonderful (and relaxing) upcoming Independence Day holiday weekend and summer season ahead (wherever your travels may take you)!
Warmest best wishes,
Bill
Northeast Harbor, Maine
PS "My much esteemed friend, if you will give me leave to call you so, & will not think the address too free ..." (Taken from a letter by Josiah Wedgwood to Thomas Bentley 15 May 1762)
Posted by: Bill (Mount Desert Island, Maine) | June 30, 2008 at 01:54 PM