Happy Zombie

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]

It’s Where I Sew Month 2012 at Pink Chalk Fabrics, and today is my day!  I’m so very thrilled to be gracing the Pink Chalk Studio blog today.  Not only is it fun to see people’s sewing spaces, Pink Chalk Fabrics is giving away 50 (yes, FIFTY… OMGFIFTY) $20 gift certificates.  All you have to do is leave a comment (on the Pink Chalk blog) and be entered to win one of 50 $20 Pink Chalk Fabrics Gift Certificates.  I know, how crazy awesome! I’m a frequent shopper at Pink Chalk Fabrics - these gift certif’s are priceless!

So head on over and check out my day plus the ones before me. You can even show where YOU sew with the little ADD LINK button on the Where I Sew page (plus see what others have posted).  1, 2, 3… go!

Today is the Ron Swanson Along - Day 4. If you’ve gotten here by mistake… turn around, go back in time, and go directly back to Day 1.

So I gave Penny a chance to go directly past Go and gave her a secret map to location of all the hidden Ron Swanson Along maps. She’s my secret pattern tester. SO SECRET that even Penny didn’t know it! So really, everyone’s gotta check out Penny’s finished Ron Swanson.

So here we go… Day 4.

What Ron looks like in my living-room:

What Ron looks like in my living-room on Skittles:

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 3. If you’ve gotten here by mistake… turn around, go back in time, and go directly back to Day 1.

Bam - a double day! I’m busy packing (hahaha, I kill me) and going to Sisters to sew with my Yammies at our Second Annual Yam Camp and go to the show, thought I’d post a two-for-one Day!  As well as sewing, we’ll be buying up every issue of Thursday’s Oregonian (particularly the Living segment).  Just saying.  So here we go… Day 3.

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 2. If you’ve gotten here by mistake… turn around, go back in time, and go directly back to Day 1.

People are already getting started - you should see what Penny, Cat and Amanda have started!  This could be you, people!  Here we go… Day 2.

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]

About a decade ago, my friend Leslie and I saw this this woman on Simply Quilts making “photos” out of squares of fabric.  We got so excited about the process, we jumped right in and we each made her little “photo” quilt of a picket fence with a garden behind it.  I’m not a picket fence person, but I loved the idea of a photo quilt and it was so fun to make. My ugly little fence quilt is long gone, but my desire to make a photo quilt (into something I actually like) has lingered for years. When I saw what Elizabeth did with her Toyko Subway quilt, and Amy with her Hello Kitty quilt - I knew that all these elements could turn into something magical.  And that magical thing is Ron Swanson. Ron Swanson, the beloved character played by Nick Offerman on NBC’s Parks and Recreation. Parks & Rec - my favorite TV show of all time + Ron Swanson my favorite TV character of all time (even though I heart the entire cast of P&R) + my two favorite things - fabric and quilting.  It took me a while, but I plotted and planned and finally got it done.  I know I’m not the only one on the ronswansonlovedrug, so I decided to share and do a quilt along… The Ron Swanson Along.

I was secretive - but also giddy while I was putting it all together.  I couldn’t resist leaving a trail of hints.  First at the end of my Treat Yo Self blog post, and then I Intsagram’d this:

Then I got really ballsy and Instagram’d Elizabeth when she was secret-sewing along with me:

I feared I was being too loose lipped, so I went tactical and threw in a Miss Marple diversionary nugget:

Once I was near the end of finishing - I decided to go bold and drop a ronbomb:

So here he is, Ron F***ing Swanson… The Quilt.

I’m almost to the actual Day 1 of the Ron Swanson Along, but I want to mention some important things before anyone begins:
1. Blech, this Along is heavily laden with disclaimers - this is to keep everyone’s butts covered and Kosher.  Please respect them or the terrorists win.

2. Day 1 is your Day 1, and so on and so forth. You can start at any time and take as much time as you need. There is no set date or timeline - the Days are your days. We’re all pretty much pretending we’re all sewing together, anyway… so set your own Day days.

3. Each day will have illustrations that you’re welcome print out. Be sure to set your printer to “scale to fit paper”.

4. Illustrations are in shades of grey, this is to show color value and not actual color. This will hopefully make it easier to pick out your own prints and color choices. Arrows are pressing guides if you’re a side-presser. If you press your seams opens - frolic and ignore the arrows.

5. I have no set schedule of when I’m going to post each Day. There will be a total of 12 Days, and I’m planning on posting a Day every couple days or so. Something like that.

6. Show & Tell! I’ve set up a Ron Swanson Along flickr group: flickr.com/groups/ronswanson. Please don’t make me come hunt you down. It’ll be way more pleasant for us both if you just join the pool and show everyone your pics.

7. Wanna button?

Feel free to grab the button and link it to: http://thehappyzombie.com/RSA
If you need help adding a button to your site, please consult your blog’s admin Help or try Google for help.

8. This is a free pattern that is for someone who knows how to quilt. If you’re interested in learning how to quilt and don’t have access to a quilt shop or community college that teaches quilting - here are some good online resources and books to help you get started on the quilting crack.
INTERACTIVE/ONLINE:
– All People Quilt
– Sew,Mama,Sew! Forum & Book Shop
– Craftsy
– Threadbias

BOOKS:
– The Practical Guide to Patchwork by Elizabeth Hartman
– Complete Guide to Quilting by Better Homes & Gardens
– Quilts! Quilts!! Quilts!!! by Diana McClun & Laura Nownes
– Start Quilting with Alex Anderson by Alex Anderson

9. Your personal touch and fabric/color choices are encouraged. Modification is a happy thing. This quilt is easy to modify in size since all the pieces are the same size. Go bigger (if you’re nuts - this quilt is already a beast at 60″ x 80″!), or go smaller (hang Ron in your mid-level government work space!).

9½. If questions arise in a comment, I will answer them in that comment so that others may benefit. (answers are pretty in pink)

10. Blahblahdone!

Day 1 (finally)

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]

The Portland Modern Quilt Guild and Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild is in the thick of a pouch swap. All of our projects have been made and sent, but we’re all eagerly awaiting for our respective July guild meetings to enjoy the fruits of our swappy labors (and labours) of love from our secret pouch pals.

I can’t say who I made a pouch for, but I will say I had a blast making it for her!  I had just ordered Camille’s new Spools pdf pattern, and I KNEW I had to some how use the pattern in the pouch.  Something about Camille’s spools that are so cute and different.  Maybe because they’re a little chubby, squishy and soft.  <—- the spool version of me?!  I danno, I just know they’re so dang cute!

I made my secret swap pal a tall pouch (a modified/smaller version of Camille’s spool).

From my own experience, I never have anything tall and narrow enough for bottled stuff.

Hope me secret swap pal has tall stuff!

I decided I needed a pouch for myself that was tall as well as wide.

I got a little carried away.

My scraps were begging to be used.

So yummy is the black Kaufman Essex yarn dyed. Looks like linen, sews like butter.

An excuse to do some hand quilting (and not have it take 2 years to finish).

Front.

Back.  Or visa-versa.

I’m pretty sure I’m going to need a cooler next. Thank you Camille for my new spoolobsession!

Resources:
Black linen: Robert Kaufman’s Essex Yarn Dyed
Spool block:  Camile Roskelly’s Spools pattern
Bag pattern:  Elizabeth Hartman’s Perfect Zip Bags pattern
(both spool and bag patterns I modifed in size to suit my project)