Theo’s family kindly invited me to afternoon tea on Tuesday.

You may remember that I accidentally met dad Toby while he was Jar Hunting back in August. Shortly afterwards I met Theo, when he and his dad popped round to deliver a jar of jam a few months ago. But I hadn’t met the rest of the family, so it was great to meet the other three kids – Jacob, Milly and Max – and mum, Siân.

After ham sandwiches and delicious home-made cakes, I got to visit their impressive collection of jars.

Kirsty Hall: A jar collection, Oct 2011

It was very odd for me to see so many jars together.

Kirsty Hall: A jar collection, Oct 2011

You see, I have a very linear experience of the jars. I usually make them one at a time and rarely have more than 3 or 4 completed jars in the house at once. Unless I’m having a spate of being unusually organised, most jars are made on the same day that they’re released so my relationship with them ‘in the flesh’ tends to be brief.

So I had never seen this many jars together before and I was impressed at how well they worked as a collection. I was particularly glad that I’d decided to only use jars with gold lids, since it gives them a very coherent look en masse.

Kirsty Hall: A jar collection, Oct 2011

At this point, the family’s jars have outgrown the mantle piece, so they bought a shelving unit to house the rest of the collection. Now that’s jar dedication!

Kirsty Hall: The second jar collection, Oct 2011

We counted the jars and we think they’ve got 54 to date. I know where I’m coming if I ever need to exhibit any of the jars! Toby tells me that the kids are hugely possessive about the jars they found, so it’s going to be down to the adults to release a few jars for the Big Jar Adventure.

Kirsty Hall: The second jar collection, Oct 2011

This second jar gallery is in their downstairs loo. Apparently fellow Jar Hunter, Allison also displays some of her jars in her loo. It makes me laugh that my art has ended up in people’s bathrooms.

Kirsty Hall: The second jar collection, Oct 2011

The kids have also been inspired to make their own jars.

Kirsty Hall: Jars by Max and Milly, Oct 2011

I liked the sparkly butterfly stickers that Milly used in this jar.

Kirsty Hall: Milly’s butterfly jar, Oct 2011

Theo had also made a beautiful jar containing a drawing but sadly I didn’t get a picture of that one.

It was a delightful day – I really enjoyed meeting everyone and we decided that we’d have to get the rest of the regulars together before the end of the year to discuss our mutual jar obsession.

Theo’s family kindly invited me to afternoon tea on Tuesday. You may remember that I accidentally met dad Toby while he was Jar Hunting back in August. Shortly afterwards I...