My Mom's Oscar Party

My Mom and her friends have been dressing up and throwing Academy Awards parties for as long as I can remember.

They alternate every year.

This year it was my Mom's turn again.

She always puts on the best parties!

She leaves no stone unturned when creating her party atmosphere.

I have wonderful memories of the many parties she's thrown over the years.

She's a real party girl... that Mom of mine!

What's most impressive, is that she does it all by herself!  

Everyone loves to come to her house, especially for a party.

This particular group has been doing this for close to 40 years!

It's become a tradition for them.

There is something life affirming to see a bunch of 60 and 70 year-olds dressing to the nines and celebrating the Oscars every year!

Once the nominations are announced...

My Mom sets out in earnest to see all the movies up for Best Picture.

Everyone votes and at the end of the evening the winner is announced.

Believe it or not, my husband and I have never been to one of these parties.

 

They are quite exclusive, although I'm pretty sure I could garner an invitation if I wanted to.

We are rather boring next to this group.

Each year, we stay home, get cozy on the couch, and actually watch the show.

I have to say, after this year's show, I'm thinking of partying with these guys next year!

Was it just me or did the Oscars fall flat this year?

I was bored.

I didn't even have a favorite dress!

And what about the hosts?

I didn't feel it this year.

I miss Jon Stewart, he's my all time favorite host.

  I picked The Kings Speech as Best Movie. 
I think there are just too many nominated now though...

What do you think?

 The best moment for me was seeing Colin Firth win Best Actor.

 I love that guy!

Wasn't his acceptance speech great?

 Those Brits are so witty!

I hope you enjoyed my Mom's Oscar Party!

She told me this morning they didn't leave until 10:30!!!  They must have had a really good time :)

Check out the latest treasure at 

IL TUO TESORO.

Alpaca Wool & The City of Paris

Not looking for anything in particular I stumbled upon this amazing 4 yard bolt of vintage alpaca wool in The White Elephant's fabric  dept.

Someone had it wrapped in this old newspaper and stored it like this for almost 40 years!

It was originally purchased at the famed San Francisco Department Store, City of Paris.

     

 The City of Paris Dry Goods Company (later City of Paris) was one of San Francisco's most important department stores from 1850 to 1976, located diagonally opposite Union Square.

During the mid 20th century it opened a few branches in other cities of the Bay Area.

The main San Francisco store was demolished in 1980 after a lengthy preservation fight to build a new Neiman Marcus, although the store's original rotunda and glass dome were preserved and incorporated into the new design.

The ship was the official seal of the City of Paris department store in San Francisco. Built in 1909, the Latin inscription translates: "It floats, but does not sink." 

In 1981 the 2,600 pieces which comprised the City of Paris dome were sent to Massachusetts for restoration.  In 1982 the dome was reinstalled by Neiman Marcus as the focal point of its Rotunda Restaurant, only 100 feet from its original location.

Back to the fabric...

The photos hardly due it justice.

  It has a smooth flat side with flecks of silver threads while the other side has this amazing texture and the flecks.

I was told it was intended to be made into a coat, but I was thinking about all the fabulous possibilities for home decor!

 

 My first thought was for pillows in my black & white toile den/office.

I loved the idea of using a fine dressmaker's fabric to give it that chic Chanel Couture feel.

I'm considering making 2 pillows using the smooth side and 2 using the textured side.

But then my uber talented friend, Lisa, suggested covering my ottoman with it and adding a monogram!

I love the idea!

Best of all it's affordable because I got this treasure, not for $350 but, for $100.  That makes it $25 per yard.  I just hope 4 yards is enough!

What would you do with it?

Check out the set of lovely silver plate fleur de lys soup spoons on IL TUO TESORO.