Thank you Sue! I will certainly pass that on to my son. Stinky, no way I am posting pictures of the mess around here. We have a partly finished bathroom where I glazed two very nice CL vanities. I got all the old stuff out of the game room, it's now half way to a spare bedroom where it will live until the dreaded garage sale (said I would never have another). I have several doors to paint and walls, pressure cleaning, fascia repair and endless spiffing to get my house on the market for season. There is no way I will make the January first date though. I was hoping to have a few realtor interviews under my belt by now as I need to decide if I am going to do a flat fee listing or other. I have no idea how I managed all this work (I am the laborer) every two years while the kids were young. I did breakdown and hire two high schools to weed-out the secret garden in back though. Can you tell I'm a bit overwhelmed?

I don't have wrinkles, yet; probably because I'm too plump for them to show! LOL As for the chins, and grey/thinning hair - that's me! And inside I am still 17. I have always loved, LOVED jewelry, any and all jewelry. I have a gypsy's soul and a magpie's love of the sparkly. A crystal to hang in the window, or a diamond on my finger...they make me equally happy. In my early years, I could not afford the types or amounts of jewelry I wanted. It was the 70s, and I was very happy with macramé bracelets, beads, and faux scrimshaw earrings. Still, I loved jewels and gold and sparkles. I certainly wasn't jewelry impoverished; I just felt as though I was. I had (and still have) a lovely amethyst ring from Grandma; a green-faced gold Seiko watch, a pair of pearl studs, a sterling charm bracelet, and a pearl pendant necklace. At age 27 I joined the Air Force and finally had the freedom and income to enjoy more "girly" things. I bought gold stud earrings, since we could wear them with our uniforms, a pair of diamond-cut gold dangle earrings (that I have worn every Christmas since 1984) a gold bangle bracelet and a couple vintage rings. I love them. After years of working and living in areas with more resale shops, I accumulated lots of shiny things, new and vintage, real and faux, many of which have now been shared with nieces and younger friends. I still have my favorites...a collection of costume jewelry brooches, "good" earrings, and a knotted/beaded Swarovski bracelet that has just the right amount (too much!) sparkle. Mom recently gave me her diamond stud earrings. I was speechless; I had always wanted diamond earrings but wouldn't buy them for myself. I thought they should be a gift from "a sweetheart." I was wrong; nothing can match the charm of diamond earrings from your Mom while she enjoys you wearing them. Wes has spoiled me with more "real" jewelry, three rings, an 18k gold chain and cartouche from one of his stints in one of the desert wars, and the freedom to look for vintage treasures as I like. I'd much rather have a vintage, well-loved piece of jewelry, real or costume, than the new items I see in the stores. I look at my well-used, worn, red, ashy hands and think, what a beautiful ring...it would have shown better on my "young" hands, but it still makes my "old" hands and eyes happy. And when a niece admires it with a magpie glint in her eye I will take it off and give it to her. Let her young hands enjoy it now. HeeHee, I know Santa Wes is giving me a pair of vintage late-40s, 14k gold, amethyst (my birthstone) and emerald (his birthstone) earrings for Christmas. I helped choose them, but I can't see or touch them until Christmas morning.

Many years ago when I was in high school, it was the custom for boys to give their class ring to their girl friend to wear. My boyfriend’s ring was very large, but my hands are small. So I wore it on a chain like pictured at the very beginning of this thread. The ring’s band very quickly started deteriorating by abraiding and sliding around on the chain. I don’t know if his ring was exceptionally soft or not, but I learned my lesson about wearing a ring on a chain.

Annie, you may notice that the dress you just posted has a much shorter waist and the sleeves cling to the top of the arm rather than extend above it. The idea is the same, but the devil is in the details. 😈 The hem lengths look similar, but this one seems to have a fuller skirt of lighter fabric ( I did not notice if yours has a chiffon or similar overskirt).