Tweepots: Tony Carter Novelty Teapots

All my life, I have professed my undying love of teapots far and wide. In fact, clearly further and wider than I had anticipated - as last week my wonderful Dutch friend Angela sent me a picture of a teapot that thoroughly blew my mind.

It was this: the typewriter teapot, a wondrous creation from Suffolk-based pottery-lord Tony Carter. Now, I'm more of your standard big-fat-cosy "More tea, vicar?" teapot lover and have never really been one for the novelty variety, but could I imagine anything better to make in teapot form? I could not.

At first, I found the tweeness so astronomical it sort of both nauseated and tickled me. Then, I looked at the website and found Tony and his wife Anita have been making these creations with real love for over 30 years. Every one is handmade and hand-painted. And the sheer range of their designs is the best use of the British imagination I could ever dream of.

It took me ages to choose which of their teapots to show you, but these are some of my favourites.

Look! A piano teapot! It even has a little phone and a photo frame perched on top, so you can tell it's a well-loved piano. And sheet music! I die. It's £69.99, just like the typewriter one.

Oh, a lighthouse one-cup teapot. Imagine drinking out of this in a house by the sea. Or just pretending you're in a house by the sea while you have a cup of tea. I don't think it matters. It's £29.99.

Bring-bring! Hello? What was what? The telephone on the piano wasn't cute enough for you? HOW ABOUT A TELEPHONE TEAPOT?! It's all shiny. I can't even. It's £69.99.

I can't even begin to imagine who you would buy this as a gift for, or which social occasion might prompt you to trot this beauty out. But come on, it's a toilet teapot. The beautifully named 'At Your Convenience' teapot is also £69.99.

Oh, a poetry books teapot. And not just any old poetry books - Tony Carter has taken the time to print the names of some of the British greats: Keats, Wordsworth, Shelley, Rossetti. This big teapot is £69.99, and there's a one-cup for £29.99.

Lastly, you cannot deny the attention to detail in this watercolourist teapot is stunning. Look at the mini paintings! This one-cup teapot is £29.99.

There are so many more in his store - from the Titanic to a fireman, from a wedding cake to a jar of marmalade. I dare you not to guiltily fall in love with at least one of them.