KAREN Hannon's teapots pour tea, of course. And they also tell stories.
That is to say, Mrs Hannon remembers exactly when and why she bought a particular teapot.
Her first, a pink Fitz and Floyd dinosaur, was given to her by a friend for her 21st birthday.
She knew she was on her way to becoming a collector when she and her husband bought their first house and there was a teapot left in it.
Over the years at least 45 teapots joined the collection, many holding memories of holidays overseas and some being part of family history — such as the silver teapot her grandmother bought with coupons after World War II.
An artist on her way to becoming an art teacher, Mrs Hannon has also used the teapots as subjects for her drawings and paintings, often using English breakfast tea and green tea for her watercolours.
She also paints and sketches other subjects.
Mrs Hannon, of Lugarno, is showing her teapots and her art at her first solo exhibition at Hurstville Museum & Gallery, titled T3: Travel, Tea, Teapots.
The exhibition will run until September 28.
There will be a free watercolour workshop in conjunction with this exhibition.
Beginners Watercolour Workshop: Saturday, September 13, from
2.30pm to 4pm.
Materials will be provided.