Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Lift Those Spirits

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No sewing going on even though I did have a day off.  I spent it having beauty treatments.  Very Essential Beauty Treatments.  I told my husband that I had gone to Monterey to visit my hair dresser to have my hair colored.  "But it doesn't look any different", he said when I came home.  Well, my dear, that would be the point.  If I don't have it colored, this is what I would look like: 
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Great look on some, but on me, not so much.  (Please, if you rock grey hair, don't be offended by my remark–I've had enough hate mail for one week.  This is just my general opinion, not a bashing of any overly sensitive grey haired person in particular).  If I could go grey and look fabulous, I sure would.   Gracious, the money I could save….

What I did do this week is get out my blue and white dishes, which I purchased last summer when my house refused to sell and I sought an outlet for my frustration at Marshalls.  I had sort of forgotten about them, hidden away in the china buffet, but when I got them out, they gave my spirits a nice lift.

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My thought when I bought them was that I wanted something that would be appropriate as a fun January table setting.  (Or even 4th of July!)   Blue and white seem so wintery to me.  The pot the orchids are in was a gift from my mother years ago, and the dishes cost $2.99 & $1.99 each at Marshalls.  I believe the pattern on the larger plate is one by Johnson Brothers. 

My plan is to go pink and white in February and green and white in March.  I should probably make some table toppers to go with my theme colors, don't you think?  Since I am not doing anything interesting, go check out Kim's Big Quilting Adventure to see her wonderful Valentine's projects.  She has instructions for making a block called "Woven Hearts" that is just beautiful.

 

56 responses to “Lift Those Spirits”

  1. Table looks gorgeous. Clean and uplifting! I won’t be going grey either!! I’ll look ridiculous when I’m eighty, but I won’t be grey!! 🙂 Hate mail? Seriously, what is wrong with people??

  2. Table looks gorgeous. Clean and uplifting! I won’t be going grey either!! I’ll look ridiculous when I’m eighty, but I won’t be grey!! 🙂 Hate mail? Seriously, what is wrong with people??

  5. Your dishes are lovely. Blue is beautiful!
    It is about time for me to cover the grey again too!

  6. Your dishes are lovely. Blue is beautiful!
    It is about time for me to cover the grey again too!

  7. I did go grey a few years ago and while it does make me look older I do enjoy how healthy it looks and feels. It was definitely a HUGE decision but one I’m really glad I made.
    Blue and white always looks fresh and inviting.

  8. I did go grey a few years ago and while it does make me look older I do enjoy how healthy it looks and feels. It was definitely a HUGE decision but one I’m really glad I made.
    Blue and white always looks fresh and inviting.

  9. I’m going grey but suspect it’s in rebellion because years ago my mother told me she was too young to have a daughter with grey hair! So there! 😉
    Love, love, love the blue and white china, all blue and white chine, and think I have to have a snoop in our china buffet for our blue and white dishes. I’ve been thinking about them for weeks and you’ve inspired me.
    My brainstorm project is to make a little (9″x12″) quilt for Ami Simms to sell for Alzheimer’s research. See http://www.alzquilts.org I started my itty bitty quilt last night from scraps from a project I did years ago.
    Ignore the ugly mail.
    Off to see those woven hearts.
    Hugs!

  10. I’m going grey but suspect it’s in rebellion because years ago my mother told me she was too young to have a daughter with grey hair! So there! 😉
    Love, love, love the blue and white china, all blue and white chine, and think I have to have a snoop in our china buffet for our blue and white dishes. I’ve been thinking about them for weeks and you’ve inspired me.
    My brainstorm project is to make a little (9″x12″) quilt for Ami Simms to sell for Alzheimer’s research. See http://www.alzquilts.org I started my itty bitty quilt last night from scraps from a project I did years ago.
    Ignore the ugly mail.
    Off to see those woven hearts.
    Hugs!

  11. Nicole, I am gray but it is not by choice. I have psorsias. But believe you me if I could be dark brown again I would. Ignore the ugly mail and march to your own drum.

  12. Nicole, I am gray but it is not by choice. I have psorsias. But believe you me if I could be dark brown again I would. Ignore the ugly mail and march to your own drum.

  13. What a beautiful table setting. Thats a good way to lift your spirits!
    My DD is a hairdresser and my payment is lunch on me. I’d be gray too and am not flattered by it.

  14. What a beautiful table setting. Thats a good way to lift your spirits!
    My DD is a hairdresser and my payment is lunch on me. I’d be gray too and am not flattered by it.

  15. Nicole:
    We don’t live in a black and white world and I’m not having black and white hair!
    Go for the color girl!!
    Dianne

  16. Nicole:
    We don’t live in a black and white world and I’m not having black and white hair!
    Go for the color girl!!
    Dianne

  17. I’m there with you on the going gray subject. I just can’t do it, but I admire those who do. Besides, I started getting white-gray hair at 22, and at 45 I am still too young to have so much, so I am hiding it!
    Who would send you hate mail? Weird. There are wackos everywhere. Just delete.

  18. I’m there with you on the going gray subject. I just can’t do it, but I admire those who do. Besides, I started getting white-gray hair at 22, and at 45 I am still too young to have so much, so I am hiding it!
    Who would send you hate mail? Weird. There are wackos everywhere. Just delete.

  19. I am with you! There is one famous model, Carmen something-or-other, who went gray young and kept it. She looked amazing and gorgeous… oh, wait! She was a model! She was born looking amazing and gorgeous – it was in her DNA! I just look old. O.L.D. Haggard… yeah, a little like Merle too. I just tell myself that I m owing my part to stimulus the economy by keeping a couple of hairstylists off unemployment. 🙂
    How come every time I go to Marshalls or Home Goods, all they have is yucky stuff? I love the blue dishes.

  20. I am with you! There is one famous model, Carmen something-or-other, who went gray young and kept it. She looked amazing and gorgeous… oh, wait! She was a model! She was born looking amazing and gorgeous – it was in her DNA! I just look old. O.L.D. Haggard… yeah, a little like Merle too. I just tell myself that I m owing my part to stimulus the economy by keeping a couple of hairstylists off unemployment. 🙂
    How come every time I go to Marshalls or Home Goods, all they have is yucky stuff? I love the blue dishes.

  21. Nicole, I have had snow white hair since I was 19 years old. All the women in our family go, not grey, but snow white between 18 and 22 years old. So, I have also been dying my hair all these years. But when I hit 60 last year, after pondering it for several months, I cut off all my long brown highlighted hair (about 14 inches off) and am now in the process of letting it grow out totally white. No I don’t like it, but recently it was published in the JAMA that women with conditions such as Lupus, Scleroderma (that’s me), Neoropathy (that’s me too) can actually absorb some of the chemicals from the hair color through the skin on the scalp and it can possibly affect different aspects of the disease. So…I’m gonna try it. Hugs…

  22. Nicole, I have had snow white hair since I was 19 years old. All the women in our family go, not grey, but snow white between 18 and 22 years old. So, I have also been dying my hair all these years. But when I hit 60 last year, after pondering it for several months, I cut off all my long brown highlighted hair (about 14 inches off) and am now in the process of letting it grow out totally white. No I don’t like it, but recently it was published in the JAMA that women with conditions such as Lupus, Scleroderma (that’s me), Neoropathy (that’s me too) can actually absorb some of the chemicals from the hair color through the skin on the scalp and it can possibly affect different aspects of the disease. So…I’m gonna try it. Hugs…

  23. Beautiful blue and white china, and I love the pot the orchid is in. I’m with you on the grey thing. I’ll be “colouring” my hair for ever. Some women do look good with grey hair, but I don’t think I’m one of them. I can’t imagine a quilting blog getting hate mail. That’s just not right.
    Judith

  24. Beautiful blue and white china, and I love the pot the orchid is in. I’m with you on the grey thing. I’ll be “colouring” my hair for ever. Some women do look good with grey hair, but I don’t think I’m one of them. I can’t imagine a quilting blog getting hate mail. That’s just not right.
    Judith

  25. Your tablesetting looks so fresh and pretty. I am so over my dishes. I always forget to check out Marshall’s and Home Goods for some inexpensive alternatives.
    You know I covet those white place mats….

  26. Your tablesetting looks so fresh and pretty. I am so over my dishes. I always forget to check out Marshall’s and Home Goods for some inexpensive alternatives.
    You know I covet those white place mats….

  27. I love blue-and-white for the winter months! Have a set of blue Currier & Ives dishes myself that I love to use. Yes, the haircolor fairy visits me as well, but I only do the highlighting and let little bits of gray contribute to the mix. Theoretically, the gray will increase gradually (and hopefully gracefully) as I get older. Just let the hate mail roll off your back and concentrate on your parade of friends.

  28. I love blue-and-white for the winter months! Have a set of blue Currier & Ives dishes myself that I love to use. Yes, the haircolor fairy visits me as well, but I only do the highlighting and let little bits of gray contribute to the mix. Theoretically, the gray will increase gradually (and hopefully gracefully) as I get older. Just let the hate mail roll off your back and concentrate on your parade of friends.

  29. Hate mail? I so hope you were kidding! If you are not, just point me in their direction….
    Love the dishes. During July you can layer the blue ones with red dishes! Where do you store all of your china? I would have more if I had a place for it. Dishes are my weakness!
    I don’t color my gray hair. It’s not a social statement or anything like that. I just have such bad luck that I’m sure it would turn out neon green. So I’m happy just like I am. My two sisters color their hair and I just tell everyone that I keep mine natural so everyone will know what color Janice and Judy’s hair really is! LOL!

  30. Hate mail? I so hope you were kidding! If you are not, just point me in their direction….
    Love the dishes. During July you can layer the blue ones with red dishes! Where do you store all of your china? I would have more if I had a place for it. Dishes are my weakness!
    I don’t color my gray hair. It’s not a social statement or anything like that. I just have such bad luck that I’m sure it would turn out neon green. So I’m happy just like I am. My two sisters color their hair and I just tell everyone that I keep mine natural so everyone will know what color Janice and Judy’s hair really is! LOL!

  31. I KNEW you were a girl after my own heart when I saw your header, then your 2010 finishes reinforced my feelings. Now your dishes! I am addicted to both Miss Rosie and transferware. You are added to my blogroll.
    Hate mail? Ptah!

  32. I KNEW you were a girl after my own heart when I saw your header, then your 2010 finishes reinforced my feelings. Now your dishes! I am addicted to both Miss Rosie and transferware. You are added to my blogroll.
    Hate mail? Ptah!

  33. Love your blog-don’t know why anyone would send you hate mail. I also cover up the grey. I have seen some beautiful grey and white hair but mine is not one of those. I choose to be a blonde.

  34. Love your blog-don’t know why anyone would send you hate mail. I also cover up the grey. I have seen some beautiful grey and white hair but mine is not one of those. I choose to be a blonde.

  35. I’m a lazy kind of gal…..long hair…….easy to put up…….Grey-reddish brown hair…..now that is a combination for ya…..I never have colored my hair….figure what the hey…..lazy I suppose…..although I do talk to self about changing the hair color……maybe that blue-grey color?

  36. I’m a lazy kind of gal…..long hair…….easy to put up…….Grey-reddish brown hair…..now that is a combination for ya…..I never have colored my hair….figure what the hey…..lazy I suppose…..although I do talk to self about changing the hair color……maybe that blue-grey color?

  37. Hair color? Who cares? To each her own.
    Love the plates! I’m always looking at Marshall’s and TJMaxx, but no luck here! Where do you store your dishes? Do you have a method of tucking them away?
    I don’t think I’ll have room to store extra dishes until the kids move out!

  38. Hair color? Who cares? To each her own.
    Love the plates! I’m always looking at Marshall’s and TJMaxx, but no luck here! Where do you store your dishes? Do you have a method of tucking them away?
    I don’t think I’ll have room to store extra dishes until the kids move out!

  39. love the dishes Nicole . . . I have the bigger ones but not the smaller . . . I need to stop into my Marshalls !! . . .
    maybe tomorrow . . . like the idea of the red with them for July . . .
    hate mail ?? . . . I hope you blocked them from your blog . . . they have no idea what they are talking about . . . everyone loves everything you show us !!
    keep it up !!

  40. love the dishes Nicole . . . I have the bigger ones but not the smaller . . . I need to stop into my Marshalls !! . . .
    maybe tomorrow . . . like the idea of the red with them for July . . .
    hate mail ?? . . . I hope you blocked them from your blog . . . they have no idea what they are talking about . . . everyone loves everything you show us !!
    keep it up !!

  41. Very pretty table! That would lift my spirits, too.
    I’m with you on the gray thing. I hate having to go have it done all the time, not to mention the money involved, but really don’t like the way I look when I don’t. I’ve got a little skunk thing going now – white stripe down the middle LOL. I always feel so much better when it’s all brown!
    I’d love to be one of those ladies who look great in gray hair, but I fear it won’t happen that way for me.

  42. Very pretty table! That would lift my spirits, too.
    I’m with you on the gray thing. I hate having to go have it done all the time, not to mention the money involved, but really don’t like the way I look when I don’t. I’ve got a little skunk thing going now – white stripe down the middle LOL. I always feel so much better when it’s all brown!
    I’d love to be one of those ladies who look great in gray hair, but I fear it won’t happen that way for me.

  43. I’ll be covering the gray when the times comes, too! It’s going to bite because I really hate going to the salon. I’m not sure why — I just really hate it!
    I love your blue and white dishes. They’ve put me in the mood to make a blue and white quilt.

  44. I’ll be covering the gray when the times comes, too! It’s going to bite because I really hate going to the salon. I’m not sure why — I just really hate it!
    I love your blue and white dishes. They’ve put me in the mood to make a blue and white quilt.

  45. I have the same dishes! I have always loved the blue and white too. So crisp and fresh. My biggest regret is not taking my Mother’s original Blue Willow set years ago when she asked me. What was I thinking? But I was very very young and foolish of course!! Very nice table–I love it!

  46. I have the same dishes! I have always loved the blue and white too. So crisp and fresh. My biggest regret is not taking my Mother’s original Blue Willow set years ago when she asked me. What was I thinking? But I was very very young and foolish of course!! Very nice table–I love it!

  51. Blue and White I knew you loved those colours somewhere in your heart.He He He .
    Hugs Mary.

  52. Blue and White I knew you loved those colours somewhere in your heart.He He He .
    Hugs Mary.

  53. I love my grey hair. I started greying in my early 20s. It did come in silver and is still mostly silver. It looked as if I had a great frost job. Lucky me!
    I love your blue dishes also.

  54. I love my grey hair. I started greying in my early 20s. It did come in silver and is still mostly silver. It looked as if I had a great frost job. Lucky me!
    I love your blue dishes also.