I always wanted to get the white French dishes at Williams Sonoma but t never got around to it. Classy dishes, though.

In addition to Crate & Barrel's clean, contemporary classic white patterns, I also like the fun electic mix-'n-match hodge-podge that one can have when they buy exciting colorful one-of-a-kind pieces at thrift shops and second-hand stores. At a restaurant supply house near me they have a huge warehouse of used second-hand china from old, closed resaurants and hotels. One can get plates, coffee cups, etc. from classic places that have been closed for 50 years. Pretty neat!

In addition to these, I also like decorating in rustic themes in natural tones... and this tranlates to my table too. I like hand-made primitive pieces of pottery in browns and greens and also platters and serving bowls made of wood, slate, stone, pottery, stoneware, etc. Check these out:

Alaska Gifts The Great Alaskan Bowl Company - Home

Amazon.com: Rootworks Large Party Platter in Lacquer: Home & Garden

Amazon.com: wood bowls - Home, Garden & Pets: Home & Garden

Walmart.com: Sango Tempo 16-Piece Dinnerware Set, Black: Kitchen & Dining

Walmart.com: Squared Grey Denim 16-Piece Dinnerware Set: Kitchen & Dining

Walmart.com: Radiant Indigo 16-Piece Dinnerware Set: Kitchen & Dining

Walmart.com: Bistro Bella 16-Piece Dinnerware Set, Amber: Kitchen & Dining

I work at not shopping walmart or buying chinese but that's just me.
With that said, I bought a martha stewart oval roaster against my
better judgment.

I admire some of the motives behind not buying Chinese products. Not all of of them- but some of them.

That said- I do think some folks get whacko and semi-nuts about it.

I'm a pro-choice guy in all matters. And I don't take kindly to other pro-choice folks who would limit my choice in the particular areas that THEY see fit- like environmental areas, etc. As a middle-of-the-road centrist who leans neither left nor right politically... I know far too many lefties who like to appear tolerant and claim to be pro-choice, but who in actuality are only pro-choice in the matters that THEY deem worthy- who would gladly eliminate choice for all others, especially if their particular choice differed from other's.... Anyway...

I also tend to not shop at Walmart- I suppose the links I provided may have been a bad choice on my part. I selected them as examples of the styles/colors I like- not necessarily those specific products from that specific store.

I happen to live near a Walmart. At one time probably 90% of my spending dollars went to Walmary- I went their everys ingle pay-period. But not today. I probably haven't been there 3 times in the last year.

My personal dissatisfaction of Walmart stems mainly from their garbage and pollution. I love the rural countryside that I call home- and the Walmart near me on the edge of town litters literally hundreds of thousands of their chintzy plastic bags across the fields, rolling hills & valleys, and streams and woods of the beloved countryside. I really dislike that. The nearby McDonald's also does the same thing. I don't begrudge industry, or discourage wealth or success. But I do wish that particularly the welathiest of companies could make it a priority to hire someone who does nothing all day long but roam the parking lots and grounds to pick up their store's litter and refuse.

I hear negative things about Walmart's hiring practices. I even hear horror stories. But I also know folks who would be unelmpoyed if not for Walmart. So what's the greater sin/greater good? Hmmm... It can be tricky.

I remember as a kid (I am 44) 25 years ago one couldn't walk into a Walmart without seeing red, white and blue plastered everywhere. And at that time it seemed Walmart really did make huge efforts to stock and sell mainly American goods. Then all of a sidden they stocked nothing but Chinese goods. This occurred during the 13 years when I was away living in remote Alaska. When/how did this change occur w/ Walmart?

I'm torn... on the one had they are huge and powerful and represent all that is wrong... but on the other hand they started as one single tiny Mom & Pop store and did well and are the true American success story... So it can be a fine line. Some days I think they are awful- some days I think they are representative of what is wonderful. It's a strange thing.

Back on topic... when it comes to dishes and serving pieces because of my travels many of my pieces tend to be hand-made pieces bought from Alaskan potters and artisans... but one thing is sure... hardly no one can beat Walmart's prices- and sometimes that's all that is important to me.

What do you all think?

Here in my area WM super center has just taken over. Most of the family owned stores are gone. We have one food store left. I really hate shopping at WM but have small choice. I try and not buy foreign goods, just because thats me. It is hard to find US made products here.
WM does supply jobs but the same people had jobs before they came. CF:)