In the early 1980s, I also arranged home party needlecraft demos for the Creative Circle. Their kits included crewel embroidery, cross stitch, needlepoint, and applique projects. The guests had a lot of fun! Some of them bought the full-sized kits, some did not - they just came for the party kit and to socialize, which is also great! I looked up Creative Circle online, and the needlecraft company site said nothing about home parties, but they do sell kits online now. There is also a different company called Creative Circle that is a "recruiting and consulting services company". They have nothing to do with needle crafts. I still have, and display, my samples from when I was a party consultant. They are very high quality and beautiful.

Okay well that is not MY dress, just a similar color and lace. I do appreciate all the suggestions. I'll be shopping early next week and will probably come home with 5 pairs of stockings to try. I'd like to stick with the shoes I have because I know they fit and are reasonably comfortable, and prefer to keep my (chubby) lower half simple while I wow 'em with my snazzy jewelry and two coats of mascara LOL. I do have a pale pink cashmere cropped sweater that's under consideration, and I also have a few wraps -- black velvet, pale pink, purple. Might look for a new one while I'm shopping, though. The dress is sleeveless and my upper arms aren't really display-worthy. Thanks, all! I'll try to remember to report back on what I wore.

Well, I had a friend who sold Pampered Chef and she talked me into hosting a party after my first kitchen remodel about five years ago -- I think I was vulnerable because I did want to show off the new kitchen. She is someone who has had a lot of bad luck and never seems to have money for the unexpected or sometimes even the necessities, so I was an easy mark and a softy and agreed to do it. BIG MISTAKE!!! She did a fine job with the presentation, and a good number of my friends came and bought stuff. But the processing of the orders was a nightmare, and she messed things up so badly that it took months and months to straighten them out, and was an embarrassment for me with those who had come and made purchases. It definitely affected our friendship, and I was relieved when she moved away because I was always afraid she was going to ask me to do it again. And while I did get some free stuff (which, other than the toast tongs, I don't use very often) I spent a fortune on the ingredients for the food that was prepared. So, be warned, while attending them can be painful and anxiety-producing for some, hosting the party can take you to a whole other level of torture.

Good to see you Jim, I think it's been a while? I do like Spaetzle, in fact I made it last week to go with Schnitzel. I own the device you linked (or one that looks identical; it's got not no brand markings on it) but never had much luck with it. Perhaps my batter is too thick. So last week I had a thought and used a potato ricer with has two disks, the larger of which has 3/16" holes. Couldn't have been easier. Funny thing is I hate that potato ricer as a potato ricer because the disks don't lock in place and they stick to the potato making it a general nuisance, but it worked great for Spaetzle. If I do shop I'll pay special attention to the mustards. I have several different mustards in the fridge, but would consider the imported Duesseldorf style mustard my "house mustard."