Hi Tisha, Here's some more ideas, don't know if you can use them, you've gotten so many good ones already. How about painting the headboard, one of the colors from the quilt? The dark brown would be as assertive as the black, and might overwhelm those quieter colors. You could take a sham to the paint store, to help find a good color. Would you like the headbord and curtains to match, or contrast? While you are there, you could also get a 4$ sample of a custom wall color, that seems quilt friendly, but shy. Besides the yellow, you might also try a VERY soft shade of that blue/green, to blend the quilt tones and denim. Yellows [and greens] are so tricky, and usually look much stronger than you expect, once they are up. Spread out that wall paint sample across an inner corner, to see if it's too strong. With that sham and the paint choices in the car, look at fabrics- go to a fabric store, and, where they have sheets on sale, like tj's, or a job lot store. When you find something that looks like a curtain possibility, compare it to the quilt sham, and paint shades. You will find it much easier, if you have them there for reference, especially if there is pattern. If you have something denim to wear, that is similar in tone to your coverlet, that'll help even more. That denim is going to be around, so you may as well take it into account. Strips of denim, with ribbon trim that match a color[s] from the quilt, might work for small items like tie backs or throw pillows. Try repeating soft colors in different widths, add stronger colours in narrower widths. Add areas of curtain fabric, to denim? Scout for a rug[s] too. In the nook, a cushion would be durable, in denim. Could huge throw pillows, make it into somewhere that you would like to curl up to read, with a foot stool/ or shelf? I like to take things to the visual boundary, when it's so close, to avoid distraction. So, with the wonderful sketches that coconut made, I would probably nudge the edges of the fabric and/or the valences, to the ceiling, wall [and nook ledge]. Those edges might just work better as shown though, kinda like a frame. It would depend on the shapes and colors. Those are pretty lamps, but the scale seems short for the room, and the shades are very curvy, too. Consider making the lamp bases ~4-6" taller,[add wood block bases?]. Then! try shades that are also taller than the ones you have by 3-5". A plain shape of shade, like a tall thin drum, would go well with the other strong plain shapes in the room. Ask the shade saleslady, [k'mt?] if you can bring them back if they don't work. You will have taller, thin, lamps with plain shades. Find colors in tones that work for you, and group those colors, in proportions that make you happy. That, and the taller lamps [ with the plain shades] will really transform the room. The find yer style gal, on HandG, has a good way to look at a room. It might be more fun, if you can bring a friend with you when you shop for colors and fabrics. Good luck, and give yourself credit for tackling such a big project.

Black tie for women is still pretty flexible. You can wear a floor length gown, a regular long dress, or a cocktail length dress, or even those dressy pants sets that have flowing fabric over the pants. We go to black tie business events sometimes and the choices of dress among the attendees always varies quite a bit. For ideas, take a look at the evening wear section on www.jcpenney.com, and the evening wear and mother of the bride dresses on www.chadwicks.com. Coldwater Creek also has some suitable things for events like this.

Your pictures are lovely! Both you and your daughter look great. I do sort of think that the pink is a little too summery for a Christmas party. They again, I don't know what part of the county you're in. But, people generally will dress more wintery for a Christmas Party. Your other two options sound ok... again, though, maybe you could ask around if you know others going. I find formality of parties and such is so regional that what goes in one county will be totally different in the next. I'd hate to tell you to wear the black skirt and then have everyone else in strapless pink dresses with tiarras -LOL I'm pretty sure your husband will be fine in a tux (even with a red shirt!), but it's harder with women. Do you know anyone else going to the party you could ask? If you're going to buy something, you may want/need to go even more formal; an actual gown may be a better option... I know I'm sort of changing my opinion from my last post but I was going more towards something that you could blend in with either way. But, if your husband is wearing a tux, you can afford to buy something, and everyone else is dressing really formal, you may want to go up a notch and wear a long gown. Ask around. And, post back even after the party. I am curious as to how strictly the word formal will be followed. Here is a link that might be useful: How to Dress

Ladies, thank you so much for responding and sharing all your great ideas. To update, the party was held on the 20th, and it was a well attended, casual affair. (roughly 65 people, nicely spaced out over 4 hours) I used regular blank invitations, and wrote that my sister and myself were hosting a party for their (70th!) and (75th!) birthdays on such and such date, time and place, as well as letting them know it was "come and go". I gave people my email address and my sister's phone number to contact if they needed specific directions. Then I enclosed a second note that said "We hope to see you there, but if you are unable to attend we know R--- and S--- would enjoy hearing from you with a card or note." (pretty much what Texas Red Head suggested.) Keeping in mind lindac's suggestion that "no gifts" implies you expected one in the first place, I didn't write "no gifts", but that also worked out well, as almost everyone brought a card instead. Actually, the only people who brought gifts were a few of my mother's oldest friends (her traveling buddies) who arrived in a group toward the end of the day. In fact, by the time Mom opened her gifts they were the only other people there besides family, so it worked out fine. I also took to heart what sherrman wrote and made surethey waited to open cards until after we'd cleaned up and were having coffee. Considering they had roughly 60+ cards to open, that was a geat idea. We'd made a video/DVD thing of old family pictures of both of them, and had contacted relatives some time ago looking for pictures. They've been married for the last ten years, and there were pictures of each other that neither had seen, so it was a great surprise. FWIW, we mixed them all up, his and hers, and nothing was in chronological order; we didn't want it to come across as one of those "This was your life" slide shows that are so popular at funerals. The little DVD was about 12 to 15 minutes long on a continuous loop, and yes, people stood around watching, and laughing and saying "I remember that!" it was terrific ice breaker. As guests were leaving, I had them stop briefly out front so T could take a quick picture. Everyone received a print of themselves looking relaxed and happy, and Mom and her husband got pictures of all their guests without annoying anyone during the party by having them stop and pose. It was just a very nice party, and again, I can't thank you all enough for your insight and advice. You're (all) the best. Melody