Trinkets and Treasures~a Thank You.

Finals are upon me.  In the past week, I've awarded creativity awards, lit a fire under the print shop to get the campus literary magazine printed on time, begun to put the finishing touches on a collaborative novel written in the past 8 weeks, and collected work in all five of my classes.  Whew!

I cannot guarantee how "present" I'll be in the blogosphere this coming week as grading must come first.  What better time to show off the gifts I've received and owe belated thanks for than now.  In this first photo, I'm sporting a felted brooch made by Franca at Oranges & Apples that I won in a giveaway for her 1,000th post!  The tee I'm wearing is purple though that doesn't show well against the "We the People" print that hangs in our dining room.  That would be George Washington in the background. 

And the brooch on the right is one I won from Arianne at Style Montreal Sud-Est.  It provided just the right finishing touch to an outfit I wore this past Tuesday and received many compliments on.  The jacket is sort of "Butte" knit, an item my mother recalls from her working days.  I found it in the vintage section of a local thrift for $3.99 and love how it wears like a sweater, but fits with the structure of a jacket.  Notice the rare appearance of my glasses!

And finally, the last garment is one I lusted after so shamelessly that Curtise at the Secondhand Years simply sent it to me!  The dress reminded me of a 50s cocktail dress I had located in a costume shop years ago--with big white off the shoulder pouffy sleeves.  When I went back to get it, prior to a cruise several years ago, it was gone and I was so disappointed.  Few occasions in my life ever call for a true cocktail dress, but DH took one look and this and said we would FIND somewhere to go.

My hair is up in a curly French roll after the awards banquet last Sunday.  I've borrowed my daughter's red "Dorothy" shoes, but I am in serious need of some foundation advice.  Do they make undergarments that come this low in back and provide the girls a lift?

Of all of the rewards of blogging, the circle of friendships that develop over time is the most precious.  So, Franca, Arianne, and Curtise, my deepest appreciation from the bottom of my busy heart.