Michele, You are looking good. Rosemary, great sign. Ritzy, you are an inspiration for handling whinning grandchildren.

Ritzy congratulations to you for making it through the whine barrier and to your DGD for making a lovely pillow sham.

Michelle, I love your new profile photo.

You're right Rosemary--that sign would be perfect. DGD's mom and my mom both told her that whining doesn't work with this grandma but she was persistent in trying to see if she could get it to work. She forgets, I work is a middle school--I show no fear and keep on going.

I hope Marilyn's not going to throw those cutters :shock: :shock:

ritzy wrote: Ritzy, perhaps you need to post this up for your GD - I found it over on Bonnie Hunter's site and had to keep a copy!{!-- ia0 -->AZ_Jan2013-284_thumb2.jpg{!-- ia0 -->

Rosemary is right. A Pillow Sham is a decorative removable cover for any size pillow. It is not like a pillowcase as you wouldn't want to sleep on it. We most often use them on beds in addition to the sleeping pillows, but they could be used on a couch too.

Lorchan, I am thinking that a pillow sham could possibly translate as a cushion cover for us. Because I know as sure as eggs are eggs that I wouldn't use such a pretty 'pillow' as Ritzy's DG made on the bed.

In UK pillows are solely for use on the bed for resting weary heads on and are covered with pillowcases (which usually match the sheets) for ease of washing.

Yes, all the skirts are the same and I think the girls only wear them for the fashion show and that is it. Only the fabric is different. They could have made shorts or a pair of pants. For non-wearables, they could have made the sham or a tote. I was careful to make sure we could do more with the sham than just the basic before I mentioned it to her. Directions said "simple pillow sham". I wanted to make sure that if we followed the directions for the sham if we could decorate it and they said yes. The quilted block is appliqued on the simple pillow sham. Good thing because that is the first thing the judge said "I took a close look at your project to make sure you followed the rules".

Lorchen wrote: 4 H is a youth organization. The "H"s stand for head, heart, hands, and health and they are part of the moto/pledge. Ritzy, I should have read the instructions! I made the skirt--which probably has changed little over the past (a-hem!) "few" years! Would have used the sham--wore the skirt once, if memory serves! Congrats to both you and DGD!

Congratulations to you and your DGD on the blue ribbon, Ritzy. I remember wanting to be in 4H, but only made it to one meeting because I lived on a farm and didn't have transportation. That's been a long time ago. Ritzy would be better at telling you more about it.

I'm seeing lots of variety in rotary cutters. My box cutter snuck in between mine. I'm spending more time with it lately so my rotary blades should stay sharp for a long time.

I'm supposed to be taking more vitamin D too. With all of the packing and lifting I'm doing lately my nails keep splitting down the middle so I'm keeping them short.

Brilliant picture of your granddaughter, Ritzy! And I looove that pillow. I bet the owner of the pillow is quite a little monkey at times.

Just two questions: What is '4H'? And what is a 'pillow sham'? I have heard of both before, but have no idea what they actually are. Please, educate me.

Margo wrote:
Thanks Margo! After all the yucky stuff grows out of my nails and new "clean" nails have grown I'll give it a try!

I also take extra vitamin D, up to 12000 UI per day, by Naturophatic doctor prescription and that should help too. I'll have to check about millet, I'm restricted on eating several/most grains. Thanks for all the tips. I just love going off topic. Fun to learn new things.

Ritzy, congratulations to you and DGD. Well deserved ribbon!


Love all the photos, you ladies are making it harder and harder to come up with a good pic. Have to put on my thinking cap to figure out a good photo shoot. :shock:

Ok, the other day I told you I was on my way to see 4H judging (yes, I know I am off topic). I don't think I told you that I help my youngest granddaughter do her first sewing project for 4H. They usually do skirts but while reading the rules I saw she could do a pillow sham. So, when I asked her what she wanted to do, her eyes lite up and she said she wanted to do a quilted pillow (she has no idea what a sham is). After many weeks, stressful for grandma, she got her project done. Here is the happy girl with her pillow that won a blue ribbon and I am happy to say I survived all the whining(apparently that works with her parents).

Margo, dear, I believe Lorchen gave us an "example". That example showed us a person with a head. We want to see your head and smiling face
Rosemary--fantastic--you all are so creative.
Well done Michelle--hope you didn't drop any of those weapons.
Lois, your nails before your Vit. D sounds just like mine; plus, I have Margo's abysmal diet. No wonder my nails never last(although they are better than they were when I was a teenager). Now if I could quit loosing my hair--I'd be all set.