Thanks for the link to the old gag gifts in the holiday forum - brings back memories... Lets see... I still make the Tampon Angels, the Exotic rubber plants, MP Slippers and I've added, Weiner Washers (just had to make 20 more last night) Willy Warmers, Just Blow Whistle (a senior citizen alarm), PPTPs, Redneck Palm Pilot, Redneck Earrings... I'll post these on my webshots account (grandmabonnie55) later today - I have a Sunday Farmer's Market this afternoon.

I love scarves for dressing up an outfit. I wore them a lot in Europe as they are an extra layer...over the shoulders for the cathedral, over the head for a drizzle, around the neck if it's chilly, around the purse if it's hot... Below is a nice video for ideas about how to tie a scarf. However, I too am in the camp of no more turtlenecks...when I have a hot flash, it feels like strangulation. Scarves I can take off, but turtlenecks, I'm stuck. Such a shame as I have a zillion of them...I lived in them all winter when I was working...they look so great under a jacket, with or without a scarf, necklace or lapel pin... I have a couple of white shirts, but I have trouble finding them opaque enough, I never have them ironed so when I'm rushing to get dressed, I by pass them for something that doesn't need ironing, and with my coloring, the white is a washout on me so I have to add color besides. I also have to worry about length as I'm short...tunic shapes just cut me off. Then there's the boobage issue...button fronts can gape on me which also isn't fun. (I remember giving a talk one time, and the fellow in the front row was staring at my belly. I realized my shirt had gaped and he was seeing skin. At least it wasn't in the boob arena. Last time I did that! After that it was pullovers, button in the back, long scarves in front or camis underneath!) So for me, it's not a go to item, though I can see how it could be for someone else. Also, these days, I'm so into comfort that knits are by far my favorites...they move and stretch with me. When I wear wovens without any lycra in them, I feel like I'm fighting my clothes. I didn't try them, but was tempted....I was in walmart and see that Lee is making a super comfortable jean now out of very stretchy, very soft denim with almost a flannel like feel...a real cross between a legging and a jean...but they also had them boot cut. Next time I'm at the VF outlet, I'll have to take a look. Here is a link that might be useful: how to tie a scarf

They're beautiful. Giving me the start of an idea for something else small, numerous and a bit awkward that I need to find a solution for. I once fell in love with a beautiful handcrafted jewelry box but decided not to get it because it seemed like it would be such a sitting duck right on top of my dresser. Sad that we have to factor such things into our decisions.

I would avoid the flowers - we don't generally go in for corsages etc except for weddings. Not worn at other formal affairs. I would go for something that looks vaguely antique if you don't have anything already. there are lots of pretty filigree, or jet or similar types of things. And hats are strictly for daytime formal affairs! Do you have a British host? If so, I would definitely ask their opinion: some hunt balls can be incredibly smart (ballgowns, and white tie for the chaps) while some are much less 'stuffy'. You need to know.