Encompassing Designs
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Kits
    • Patterns >
      • Christine Little >
        • Signature Designs
        • New Designs
        • Seasonal Designs
      • Deborah Sweet
      • Susan Leslie
      • Patricia Perry
      • William Morris
    • Supplies >
      • Backings
      • Frames
      • Hooks
      • Books
      • Extra
    • Wool >
      • Abrashed
      • Antique JQ Colors
      • Custom Dyeing
      • Dyed Bundles
      • Dyed Spots
      • Dyed Values
      • Dyed Yarn
      • Natural & Colours
      • Plaids & Textures
      • Dye Books & Swatches
  • Ordering
  • Blog
  • Workshops
  • Our Story
  • Contact Us

White versus coloured Christmas lights....

12/12/2016

8 Comments

 
Picture
I’m having an internal debate.  White lights versus multi-coloured.   It really comes down to choice but are we being fed a pack of malarkey to slant the vote one way?  Is it snobbery that proclaims white lights to be better, classier over the not so sophisticated, old fashioned, multi-coloured?  Who decides the fate of one over the other?  Are there light police or people that think their excrement is a breath of fresh air, calling all the shots?  How can Christmas lights be good or bad?  Isn’t Christmas one of the most colourful holidays of the year?  Why try to dull it down? 

How many of you out there have white lights when all you really want is a bit of colour on your tree, like you had when you were a kid?  But you can’t be the only one in the neighbourhood to stand out.  See the eyebrows lifted on all those white lighters and feel the shun from those that can’t see past the tilt of their nose?   

I’ve fallen for this propaganda before.  The need to be “in” made me throw out the coloured bulbs for their newer replacement.  Then I joined the haters that proclaim loudly how coloured lights are tacky when what right does anyone have to rain on anyone's parade?   Oh the power of marketing.....someone came up with this white light takeover and it hit Vogue and all the trend followers jumped on the bandwagon until the coloured light folks became second best. 

Like most families, I grew up with coloured lights, those large bulbs that heated the room and if left unattended caused a fire or two.  When one bulb blew out there was a scramble and scorched fingers to find the offending culprit so the set worked again.  As a child I stared into that magnificently lit tree like a crow in a jewelry store.   They were like sparkling jewels, rubies, emeralds and sapphires.  Their glitz reflected in the tinsel and mercury bulbs surrounding them for extra glimmer and the tree projected on the ceiling and the walls, expanding their beauty to fill the entire room.  Those memories will stay with me forever....

But now those coloured bulbs have fallen out of fashion, somehow are low class.  It’s all about the white light now.  God forbid our lights clash with the tree ornaments.  We are asked to hang white lights on our businesses, a united stand for the town, strings of them spanning the entire length of the downtown area.  We want to delight visitors to see the row on row of diamonds twinkling as if the cosmos have chosen to settle on our town.  Some have rebelled, perhaps for the mere act of it or maybe they can’t afford to switch when they have perfectly good lights with years of life remaining.  As I drove through town I marvelled at the twinkling buildings, most white, some coloured and I was torn between which ones were most appealing, which ones speak to the artist in me, which ones would spark a child’s interest?  It was unanimous; the coloured lights held more delight.  I felt young and as I basked in the glow of the multi colours, a portal to my childhood.

I conformed and put up white lights and that is all I have on my home tree but maybe it’s time for a change.  I found some delightful led mini lights that run off a battery pack and put them on top of my kitchen cupboard for the pot luck hooking party, draped along old tins and speckle ware that display there.  I put them in a large bowl of blue and white china balls, and the lights glow like the embers of a fire.  Their shine is full of awe, a depth that transports me elsewhere, to a time when everything about Christmas was a wonder.   I do like the white lights, they remind me of diamonds, a girl’s best friend, and the best part about being a grownup, I can have it all. 

On my way home from work Saturday evening I drove by Mary’s house.   Her front window framed their large, ten foot Christmas tree ablaze with lights, peppered with hundreds of miniature orbs of colour, predominately red with green and gold mixed in.  It was the most beautiful tree I’ve ever seen.  Tall and stately, it was so exquisite it tempted me to knock on their door to bask in its glow.  I’ve never had that feeling from a white light tree before.  I didn’t act on my urge, I had pups waiting for me needing to go outside so I passed by but the picture lingered longer than the actual view.  I’ve thought of it a lot over the weekend.  

I came home to my little LED slights that I’ve left on day and night since they were hung.  They make me far happier than white lights have ever done.  I can be classy elsewhere, use silver napkin rings to keep up with the Jones.  This year our tree will have white lights because that’s what’s stored in the attic and maybe I won’t change as they are too good to discard on the basis of their lack of colour, but I will subsidise with the multi coloured ones for a bit of nostalgia elsewhere, relay the warmth of my childhood and all the fond memories this time of year brings.  
​
So my decision?  My vote is for multi coloured on a 60/40 split. I like both and will use them appropriately.  I just don’t like being told I can only have one or the other or that somehow I’m less sophisticated because of an “inappropriate” choice, rebel that I am....

8 Comments
Pam
12/12/2016 11:36:08 am

I have had white lights outside and colored lights inside for years. Love them both.

Reply
Sheila
12/12/2016 12:09:22 pm

I use both, and I like both, my beef is with LED...none of them sparkle.

Reply
Sandy
12/12/2016 12:18:10 pm

If everyone is so in to primitive and vintage....why all white lights?!!!
I wrap colored lights around the trunk of the tree and white on outside branches....love the effect and have been doing it for years. I also do not like hundreds of lights that don't allow the shape of the tree or the ornaments to be visible...nothing but glaring light is seen, and a good case for "less is more".

Reply
Betsy Boltik
12/13/2016 03:25:21 pm

The colored lights are just happier. ...white is cold. Just sayin!

Reply
Charlene
12/13/2016 08:13:42 pm

Multi colours make me happy. White is nice, looks fine, but sparkling rubies, emeralds, sapphires and diamonds for my little tree makes the season for me.

Reply
Shannon
12/13/2016 09:05:36 pm

I drape white over mantle and window. But my tree will always be multicolour b/c my now big kids grew up with that.

Reply
Marye
12/13/2016 09:06:11 pm

I like colored,lights on my tree and white lights in the Windows.

Reply
Charlene
4/20/2025 10:16:46 am

EFFECTIVE LOVE SPELL TO GET EX HUSBAND/BOYFRIEND OR EX WIFE/GIRLFRIEND AND CURE HERPES AND INFERTILITY THAT WORKS WITHIN 24 HOURS.

Contact Great Odunga at [email protected] OR Whats App/CALL +2348167159012

I got my ex husband back to me and also got fertile and gave birth to twin girls after 12 years of marriage.
When I came online last year, I saw a testimony about Great Odunga and how he has been helping people with marriage issues and I decided to contact him. We spoke on email at [email protected] and later he gave me his Whats-App number which is +2348167159012. He assured me he would help me get my ex husband back after 3 years of no contact. Great Odunga is the best spell caster I must say. My husband called me after 24 hours of contact. The third day, I received natural herbs for fertility and after using it, I became fertile and conceived. My husband and I reconnected, had sex and I was pregnant. Presently I am happy to say I am the mother of twin girls and this is ALL THANKS TO GREAT ODUNGA. I came online to say this: If you need help, I believe you are saved with this man.

Contact his email at [email protected] OR [email protected]

Whats App/Call +2348167159012 and you too will give a testimony too to help others

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Christine Little has been ranked #5​ out of the 60 top rug hooking bloggers by Rug Hooking Magazine!

    Picture
    Picture
    Max Anderson, Australia, recipient of my Nova Scotia Treasures rug.  An award of excellence for promoting Canada through his writing.  
    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    May 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    August 2024
    January 2024
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    July 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

    Picture
    Picture
    Gift Certificates are available for that special rug hooker in your life!  Any denomination, no expiry date! 

    Categories
    (Click on the categories for past blogs)

    All
    Announcements
    Beginner Class
    Christmas
    Colour Planning
    Contests
    Copyright
    Coupon
    Customer Rugs
    Cutter Servicing
    Dyeing
    Equipment
    Featured Hooker
    Giveaway Draw
    Guest Blogger
    Guest Blogger
    Health & Fitness
    Home & Heart
    Hooked Rugs
    Hooking Groups
    Hook In Talk
    Initially Yours
    Jibber Jabber
    Just A Bit Of Fun!
    Life's Experiences
    Life's Experiences
    New Design
    New Ideas
    Pattern Of The Week
    Patterns Hooked
    Pets
    Rants
    Recipes
    Rememberingfbe7326ff7
    Rug Schools
    Show & Tell
    Show-tell
    The Rant
    Tips Technique
    Tips Techniquef0cd117ab4
    Visitors
    Workshops

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture





















    Picture
    We have a pot to "Fiz" in!

Shop Hours:
Monday - Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM 
Saturdays 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
We are closed during ice and snow storms
​so please call ahead.  If school is cancelled we probably are closed as well.  

Toll Free: 1-855-624-0370
Local:  902-624-0370​
[email protected]

498 Main Street
P.O. Box 437
Mahone Bay, N.S.
Canada B0J 2E0

​Follow us and keep up to date
on our specials, new products
​and events!
Picture
Picture
Picture


Home
Shop
Ordering
Blog
Our Story
Workshops

Contact Us




​​​© Copyright 2023 Encompassing Designs. Website by SKYSAIL