Heath ceramics

On the Saturday we were in the bay area, we took a drive over to Sausalito and visited the Heath ceramic factory and store. I had been wanting to do this for a while, and when we were in Berkeley we learned that Chez Panisse uses their dinnerware. They have been in the same location for 55 years.


In addition to dishes, they also make ceramic tile.

Mike was very patient as I oohed and aahed.


I would have loved some of that cobalt blue...





So many pretty things...

We didn't buy anything, but we came home with a greater appreciation of the pieces we have. These serving bowls and platters belonged to Mike's mother, so I guess they would be considered vintage.


I bought these matching cups and saucers on eBay several years ago.

As well as these plates....

And speaking of Chez Panisse, I just saw this interview with Alice Waters posted on Design Sponge.

Birthday goodies

I hinted, well more than hinted, that I wanted a new iPhone for my birthday, the day after it was released. I must give Mike credit for even trying to get me one. He went to the Apple Store in the Galleria, but said that the wait in line was 4 hours. The next day he went to an AT&T store where they had 16 phones for the 25+ people in line. I guess I will be buying my own when all the hype dies down. He did bring me these gorgeous star gazer lilies, one of my favorites.

And while he was at the Galleria he bought me some more of my new dishes, so I now have 8 dinner plates, 8 salad plates and 6 pasta/soup bowls. I thought it would be easier to take a picture of them on the floor. The cats were interested, wondering why there were empty dishes on the floor.

Marjorie, my dear friend of 40+ years, sent me these delights. Her very talented husband Peter made the ladybug house. It is just too cute! I told her that I can't actually use it, because the sun down here would fade the paint, but I am going to find a shady spot for it on my screen porch. And look at those cherry boots...I can't wait for it to rain!

She is very artistic and talented as well. She made these adorable earrings for me.

No iPhone, but lots of other treasures!

Fun in Fort Worth

We went up to Mansfield for the 4th to visit my mom and brother and his girls. I have a birthday coming up and my mom insisted that I open my present. She says that I am hard to buy for and was so thrilled that she found something I really wanted. I guess my sister must have told her. Aren't they pretty?




On Saturday we went to the Kimball Art Museum in Fort Worth to see The Impressionsists from the Art Institute of Chicago...a fabulous exhibit! Afterwards, I took my mom down the street to Cabbage Rose Quilt Shop. It is a great shop in an old grocery store, with tin ceilings and wooden screen doors. They were having a sale, 10% off everything! I picked up the new Sandy Gervais Merry & Bright panel

and jelly roll. They are the same colors as her Holly Jolly from last year.
And of course I had to get the new Mary Engelbreit Isn't Christmas Jolly? panel

and the jelly roll too.

Now off to work on my latest project.

My name is Pam and I am a dishaholic

I don't know why, but I LOVE dishes. I just do, always have, always will. And I don't want to stop, so forget about that 12 step thing. At present I have 6+ sets. This is the Fiestaware we use everyday,

as well as frequently for entertaining.

I have a complete set of Mary Engelbreit's Afternoon Tea that I have never used, but I hope to rectify that when all my ME pals come to visit this fall for the quilt festival.

My grandmother had this Johnson Brothers Apple Harvest in the 60s. I inherited the last remaining vegetable bowl she had, and have added enough pieces from eBay to serve 6-10.

Same story here...these were the dishes we had in the 50s, before my mother got Poppytrail Harvest Provincial (my brother has those). They are Buck's County by Royal of Sebring, Ohio. My mother gave me her last remaining piece, a chop plate, several years ago. I was good with that for a while, but then started looking on eBay. I now have more pieces of this than she ever had!


We also have Spode Christmas Tree. Mike had four plates and mugs and a tidbit tray from his mother, which we have added to over the years.

Our "good china" is Wedgwood Wild Strawberry. Back when the kids were still at home we used to use it fairly often for special occasions and holidays like Easter and Thanksgiving. Now we go to my brother's for Easter and Thanksgiving and I only use it occasionally. The last time was Valentine's Day.

When my sister was here last week (more about that later), we were at Macy's and I found this new Martha Stewart Wedgwood Conservatory Collection stoneware. It has mix and match blue and brown transferware patterns am absolutely in love with it! I tried to download a picture, but this was the best I could do. If you follow the link there are lots more pictures and you can see how gorgeous it is! It would be perfect for those times when the Fiesta is just too casual and the Wild Strawberry is too formal, don't you think?