Surprise Housewarming/Framed Art Party (sponsored by Jan and Nan) My girlfriends and I are fashionistas! We are into style in every aspect of our lives. There is also friendly competitive envy. When one of our friends built a big fabulous house, she was slow to invite us all down for a party, so to break the apprehension she may have had about showing off and to assume the cost of the party, we got together and had a surprise housewarming-framed art party for her. We invited about 25 people and we asked the women to wear their best Sunday hat. We said that the best hat would win a prize. It was in the spring and we had some beauties. Now, we told her husband about the party so the house would be presentable. We put everything, prepared food, furniture, and decorations in a van we borrowed and arrived at the house about 45 minutes before party time. When we rang the bell and she opened the door we handed her a beautiful centerpiece and a copy of the invitation and told her she better get upstairs and get dressed, she has company coming. While she got dressed, we decorated the long tables we brought with food, punch, and desserts. (She did not have her dining room furniture yet) We used her kitchen island for the hot foods. The guests were asked not to bring gifts, but to contribute $20.00 toward a framed print the hostess could select. About an hour into the party the Art Framer arrived, gave a short demonstration, and displayed framed art in a couple of rooms. He made some sales, and when she selected her print and frame we received a discount on the cost. We paid for her art (which was not cheap) and had a couple of dollars left to give a cash award and a framed photo of herself to the winner of the best hat contest. When it was over we packed up our stuff and left the house as it was when we arrive.  Our claim to fame?... PARTY IN A VAN.