Happy Zombie

So I had this little quilt along. A little 12 “days” of block making. Cut, sew, press and then bam - a Ron Swanson quilt. And then this happened:

So long, wonderful story short:  I make a quilt and then decided to share on my blog how to make it.  Because who doesn’t want to help blanket the world with warm and cozy Ron Swansons? 

I happen to show my friend Dana as I’m making it, and she then has a bee fly in her bonnet - and takes my finished quilt (aka RonQuilt) on a grand adventure around SoCal and secret TV shoots (she works in the television industry) and the photos are sprinkled throughout the quilt along days (links at the bottom of this post), and then culminating with a visit to the Parks and Recreation set for a mano-a-mano meet-n-greet between RonQuilt and Nick Offerman (who plays the beloved and iconic Ron Swanson on NBC’s Parks and Recreation). For the record - yes, I did poop my pants. Also for the record - best day ever when I saw these pics!

What a nice guy Nick Offerman is. Not only did he indulge my quilt fantasy (and I’m told it was his idea on staging that hallway shot and that he really had a lot of fun with it), but he signed the back of my quilt as well - and in true Ron Swanson-esque fashion.

None of this could have ever transpired had it not been for one of the Parks and Recreation’s producers who made all the magic happen. Not sure if he wants to be mentioned by name here, so for now he’s Kickass Awesome Producer Guy. When Kickass Awesome Producer Guy FedEx’d me back my quilt, he also include actual photographs - how flippin’ sweet! It’s all just so nice and dreamy and fun and special and magical and holy shit bally. More for the record: I offered to send my quilt back should Parks and Rec ever want to have a RonQuilt vs Knope Wyatt Unity Quilt smackdown (#quiltfightclub). And of course my friend Dana played the major role in this, so if you’re on Instagram and wanna see for yourself how awesome she is - you can find her at danahannah310.

All the solid fabrics in my RonQuilt are Robert Kaufman’s Kona Cotton and the prints peppered about are scraps from my stash and from my Winterkist line. I told the nice people (nice is an understatement) at Robert Kaufman about my choice of fabrics, and I let them in on The Big Secret and told them I was going to have a grand finale giveaway once the Parks & Rec magic happened. I asked if they’d like to participate in my grand finale, and they so generously sent me not one but TWO Kona Roll-Ups for me to give away!

Both rolls are the exact solids I used for my quilt - all the colors in the Kona Silent Film bundle as well as the Kona Cotton White. Both rolls would be for a great starting point to make one’s own RonQuilt.

In addition to the two Kona Roll-Ups, I’m adding into the giveaway a bundle of fat quarters (ish - some pieces are bigger than a fat quarter, and some smaller) from my Winterkist collection in the graphite colorway.

To participate in the give-away, just leave a comment and I’ll have Random.org draw a number this coming Thursday morning (22 Nov 2012, PST). If you like, you can tell me what you think Nick Offerman wrote above his signature (hint: it’s written in Ron Swanson voice) on the back of my quilt.  I’ll post the winning name (along with what Nick Offerman wrote) sometime that afternoon. EDITED IN: The giveaway has ended.

RESOURCES:
-  Make a Ron Swanson quilt: Ron Swanson Along
-  See, join and show Ron Swanson quilts: RSA flickr group
-  My fave stores for Kona (and Winterkist):  Sew,Mama,Sew! & Sew Modern

The Ron Swanson Along
[print yardage/cutting info] [print block layout] [print face map]
[Day 1] [Day 2] [Day 3] [Day 4] [Day 5]
[Day 6] [Day 7] [Day 8] [Day 9] [Day 10]
[Day 11] [Day 12] [Day BEST DAY EVER]
[Ron Swanson Along Flickr group]

My beloved Ron Swanson Along quilt is still touring around and having grand adventures thanks to the kindness and awesomeness of his tour-guide Dana. Holy cow is she taking him to some amazing places!  Wish it was me!

Ron Swanson - Hell on Wheels

Ron Swanson - Mariachi

Ron Swanson - Band manager

Ron Swanson - Upstaged

Ron Swanson - Muralist

Ron Swanson - Eastsider

Ron Swanson - TV Medical Examiner
(Dead guy not so dead… it’s TV magic)

Ron Swanson - Mayor
(Dana peeking out from behind!)

Ron Swanson - Santa Me visitor

Ron Swanson - Hasslehoffer

Ron Swanson - as Bert Macklin: Federal Boobie Inspector

Everyone needs a name from Bert Macklin’s FBI Name Generator. Turns out that I’m “Tandy Rodeo”.  I can’t wait to do my last update with RonQuilt - especially because he’s going to have some souvenirs to share.  Stay tuned!

Today is the Ron Swanson Along - Day 12. The last day. The final day. No, Ron, no! Some will be glad I’m finally done, and some will be sad. So anyone who is sad, I say keep STAY TUNED as RonQuilt has more stops he’s making on his Tour O’ Hollywood. And just for good measure, at that end of RonQuilt’s vacation he’s coming home with goodies to share. So stay tuned for a give-away soon! If you’ve landed on this Day of the Ron Swanson Along by mistake… flip a u’ie and go directly to Day 1.

RonQuilt has been gettin’ around while visiting Aunt Dana, and he even made an appearance at the Los Angeles Modern Quilt Guild. RonQuilt has a pretty cray-cray itinerary and is scheduled to go to some really special places - but he also has some down time and need suggestions. Leave a comment if there’s some fantasy place you’d like to see RonQuilt go. Today Aunt Dana captures shots of RonQuilt exploring the Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood Hills, the Hollywood Bowl, Warner Brothers and then topped off the day with some bacon and a shake at the iconic Burbank Bob’s Big Boy.

Griffith Observatory - RonQuilt gets a little help from some Danish tourists

Hollywood Hills

Hollywood Hills and the Los Angeles skyline (cough)

Duke Silver at the Hollywood Bowl

Frogger

Traffic stopper

Bob’s Big Boy

Time for some bacon and shakes - bac’ n shake

Back to quiltmaking.  Finally… Day 12.  The final Day in the Ron Swanson Along! In addition to the final block and facemap, there’s also an illustration for row assembly and the final quilt top. If you’re pressing your seams open, ignore the arrows. If you’re a side-presser like I am - enjoy those happy little direction arrows.

The Ron Swanson Along
[print block layout] [print face map] [print row map] [print final top]
[Day 1] [Day 2] [Day 3] [Day 4] [Day 5]
[Day 6] [Day 7] [Day 8] [Day 9] [Day 10]
[Day 11] [Day 12] [Day BEST DAY EVER]
[Ron Swanson Along Flickr group]

Today is the Ron Swanson Along - Day 11. If you’ve gotten here by mistake… back up the tour bus and go directly back to Day 1.

RonQuilt has been very active while visiting Aunt Dana and is becoming quite the manquilt about town!  Today Aunt Dana captures shots of RonQuilt exploring Paramount Studios…

Before we get on with Day 11 - feast your eyes on what Amanda from Threadbias.com and Cat from Cat & Vee are creating!  Amanda is doing an out of this world cool “Warhol Ron Swanson” version, and Cat’s version is peppered with some seriously awesome little fabric treats all throughout her blocks so far.

————————–

Comments are closed this post and am referring all comments to Day 1’s comment section. This way they’re all together and tidy, particularly if questions arise in a comment (which I will answer them in that comment so that others may benefit. Answers are pretty in pink).

The Ron Swanson Along
[leave a comment] [print block layout] [print face map]
[Day 1] [Day 2] [Day 3] [Day 4] [Day 5]
[Day 6] [Day 7] [Day 8] [Day 9] [Day 10]
[Day 11] [Day 12] [Day BEST DAY EVER]
[Ron Swanson Along Flickr group]

Today is the Ron Swanson Along - Day 10. If you’ve gotten here by mistake… back up the tour bus and go directly back to Day 1.

I said in a previous post, RonQuilt is down in SoCal visiting his Godmother, Dana. Not only is Aunt Dana pampering RonQuilt - she’s also taking him on a super exclusive all access VIP Tour O’ Hollywood. I’m super jealous, but also loving every second of his fun times and adventures. So sweet of Aunt Dana for capturing all amazing the photos and letting me share them!

Before you start on to Day 10, you HAVE TO GO VISIT JENNY’S BLOG and see her version of RonQuilt. Warning: You may end up at Hollywood Forever because Jenny’s RonQuilt is SO FREAKING CUTE YOU WILL JUST DIE.

Comments are closed this post and am referring all comments to Day 1’s comment section. This way they’re all together and tidy, particularly if questions arise in a comment (which I will answer them in that comment so that others may benefit. Answers are pretty in pink).

The Ron Swanson Along
[leave a comment] [print block layout] [print face map]
[Day 1] [Day 2] [Day 3] [Day 4] [Day 5]
[Day 6] [Day 7] [Day 8] [Day 9] [Day 10]
[Day 11] [Day 12] [Day BEST DAY EVER]
[Ron Swanson Along Flickr group]

Today is the Ron Swanson Along - Day 9. If you’ve gotten here by mistake… back up the bus and go directly back to Day 1.

My RonQuilt is absent… he’s on vacay in SoCal right now (with his godmother/tour-guide) - why I have so few photos of him. I just got sent a bundle of Wish You Were Here pics from RonQuilt and he’s having the TIME OF HIS LIFE! I’ll be showing those pics soon! For now, I want to show of Penny’s and Amanda’s pics.

Here’s Penny’s Ron Swanson quilt in her back yard. Penny got to jump ahead and make all the Days, and she wrote a really neat blog post about her “2 weeks of Ron” adventure.  Penny is freaking AMAZING!

Photo credit: Penny/sewtakeahike, used with permission

Not only did Amanda succumb to Ron’s quilty charms, her squares are the size of Charms candies! You can read Amanda’s “Resistance is futile” and read all about her miniaturized Ron awesomeness!

Photo credit: Amanda/My Sewcial Hour, used with permission

On to Day 9 and three quarters of the way done!  If quilting were sex - we’d be on 3rd base now!

Comments are closed this post and am referring all comments to Day 1’s comment section. This way they’re all together and tidy, particularly if questions arise in a comment (which I will answer them in that comment so that others may benefit. Answers are pretty in pink).

The Ron Swanson Along
[leave a comment] [print block layout] [print face map]
[Day 1] [Day 2] [Day 3] [Day 4] [Day 5]
[Day 6] [Day 7] [Day 8] [Day 9] [Day 10]
[Day 11] [Day 12] [Day BEST DAY EVER]
[Ron Swanson Along Flickr group]

Today is the Ron Swanson Along - Day 8. If you’ve gotten here by mistake… back up the bus and go directly back to Day 1.

<holy breakfast meat!> Two RSA Days in one day!</holy breakfast meat!>

On to Day 8.

Comments are closed this post and am referring all comments to Day 1’s comment section. This way they’re all together and tidy, particularly if questions arise in a comment (which I will answer them in that comment so that others may benefit. Answers are pretty in pink).

The Ron Swanson Along
[leave a comment] [print block layout] [print face map]
[Day 1] [Day 2] [Day 3] [Day 4] [Day 5]
[Day 6] [Day 7] [Day 8] [Day 9] [Day 10]
[Day 11] [Day 12] [Day BEST DAY EVER]
[Ron Swanson Along Flickr group]

Today is the Ron Swanson Along - Day 7. If you’ve gotten here by mistake… back up the bus and go directly back to Day 1.

<begging> People are sending me photos of their progress, and while I LOVE seeing them - I know others would love seeing them, too! Please consider adding your pics to the flickr group. </begging>

On to Day 7.

Comments are closed this post and am referring all comments to Day 1’s comment section. This way they’re all together and tidy, particularly if questions arise in a comment (which I will answer them in that comment so that others may benefit. Answers are pretty in pink).

The Ron Swanson Along
[leave a comment] [print block layout] [print face map]
[Day 1] [Day 2] [Day 3] [Day 4] [Day 5]
[Day 6] [Day 7] [Day 8] [Day 9] [Day 10]
[Day 11] [Day 12] [Day BEST DAY EVER]
[Ron Swanson Along Flickr group]

Today is the Ron Swanson Along - Day 6. If you’ve gotten here by mistake… back up the bus and go directly back to Day 1.

Dear Emmy nominating committee,
Really? Seriously? Snubbing Parks and Rec?    No Emmy nomination for Parks & Rec or for Nick Offerman?  Wow, aren’t we buckets of sunshine.

-x and -o,
Monica

All the more I want to blanket the shores, valleys, plains and mountains with Ron Swanson quilts.  What better way to protest the Emmy snub than with a Ron Swanson quilt!

On to Day 6.

Comments are closed this post and am referring all comments to Day 1’s comment section. This way they’re all together and tidy, particularly if questions arise in a comment (which I will answer them in that comment so that others may benefit. Answers are pretty in pink).

The Ron Swanson Along
[leave a comment] [print block layout] [print face map]
[Day 1] [Day 2] [Day 3] [Day 4] [Day 5]
[Day 6] [Day 7] [Day 8] [Day 9] [Day 10]
[Day 11] [Day 12] [Day BEST DAY EVER]
[Ron Swanson Along Flickr group]

Today is the Ron Swanson Along - Day 5.  If you’ve gotten here by mistake… back up the bus and go directly back to Day 1.

So here we go… Day 5.

Comments are closed this post and am referring all comments to Day 1’s comment section. This way they’re all together and tidy, particularly if questions arise in a comment (which I will answer them in that comment so that others may benefit. Answers are pretty in pink).

The Ron Swanson Along
[leave a comment] [print block layout] [print face map]
[Day 1] [Day 2] [Day 3] [Day 4] [Day 5]
[Day 6] [Day 7] [Day 8] [Day 9] [Day 10]
[Day 11] [Day 12] [Day BEST DAY EVER]
[Ron Swanson Along Flickr group]