HOOT Spotlights... Thelma Hulet

Charter Member

Porcelain Tea Set
2008 Convention Raffle Item made, painted and donated by Thelma

My life has been a wonderful journey that I am eternally grateful for. I was the 7th child in a lineup of 8 during the depression. The lessons I began learning way back then, I still use today. I really loved school and church. That's where my love of art "seed" was planted. My teachers inspired me with watercolors, charcoal sketches, calligraphy and so much more.

As a teenager I lost both my parents within 9 months of each other. I went to live with my older sister and her husband. I worked at their restaurant before and after school.

After graduation from Westerville High School. I went to work as a long distance operator with Ohio Bell. I was set up on a "blind" date with Bill Hulet and we were married shortly thereafter. We bought a farm house on 2 acres with no running water. I went to work for Western Electric. We had five children and built a new house on the 2 acres.

I attended an adult education class on ceramics and I was hooked. I also started taking classes at ceramic shops locally and in our tri-state area. The shops brought in National teachers for all aspects of decorating ceramics. From air brushing to china painting, I couldn't get enough and in 1974 I opened my own ceramic shop offering classes, greenware and supplies.

While attending a special seminar at a distributors shop, the teacher pulled me aside and told me about tole painting. She shared a magazine with me "Turpen Times" and asked that I not tell anyone about it. A "seed" was planted.

I began offering tole painting classes in my shop. At this time a new movement for tole painting was being formed and chapters were sprouting up all over. I decided to form a chapter in Columbus and set a date for anyone interested to attend. Before my first meeting, I received a call from a Diane Capoccia. I had never met her before, but she had heard the news of my meeting. We decided to combine our meetings. Betty Garrett taught a mini canvas with mailbox and flowers. The Heart of Ohio Tole Chapter was born.

Members of our chapter started attending the National Society Conventions. Returning home in the van from the first St. Louis convention, we brainstormed about having our own tole show in Columbus. We presented the idea to our HOOT members and we were off and running.....our first convention.

In 1982 my husband had heart surgery and I closed my shop. I kept some of the molds and porcelain.

While at the Society Convention in the state of Washington, I met Linda Westerfield who was painting on porcelain bisque with oils. The result was breathtaking. With that "seed", I started my mail order porcelain business. Many of the national artists have chosen my porcelain items for their class projects. Pat Clarke, Joan Johnson, Mary Jo Leisure, Peggy Stogdill, Jo Avis Moore are just a few that I have been priveleged to paint with.

My 2 sons and I now produce our own porcelain slip and we ship porcelain bisque all over the U.S.A., Canada, and Japan.

Wherever this journey has taken me, there are many individuals who planted "seeds" along the way. Blessings abound and I am so thankful for each and every one of them!

Thelma Hulet
Porcelain Treasures