Let’s try this exercise. Close your eyes. Raise your hand if you’ve heard the name “Happy Zombie.” Now raise your hand if you’ve spent an hour on her blog — then accidentally spent another four hours clicking “Previous Entries.” Now, I want you to raise your hand if you were drinking coffee/Dr. Pepper/something liquid and laughed so hard at her entries that you squirted said liquid through your nose. Now open your eyes! Look, it’s all of youses!
All that to say, today’s guest is no stranger to the land of quilt blogs, a cornucopia of magazines, Twitter — she has even been on the Jolly Jabber before for our auction benefiting Haiti disaster relief via her celebrity quilt Bay Breeze.
But we finally get to have her on today to talk about her first line for Lecien, Holiday Happy! As soon as she told us about this fabric, I knew we’d been sucker-punched with the cutest line ever. (I normally steer away from using that word ‘ever’ but here I think it applies. I think you’ll agree as you scroll down and gaze into the bright little eyes of Gnoma Clause.) Without further ado, I give you… Monica Solorio-Snow. *sparkly hand flourish*
I’m so excited to be a guest blogger on Jolly Jabber! When I was first asked to be a guest – I admit that I envisioned myself being interviewed on Seinfeld’s Merv Griffin set…
and I was asked (begged) to do my world renowned Jan Brady imitation, “This is my boyfriend, George. George Glass”. Bravo, bravo. Applause, applause – I’m basking in the glow of flicked lighters.
Ok, so it’s not *exactly* that… but guesting on Jolly Jabber is a close second. Another thing – and no one seems to talk about it either… but Jolly Jabber Studios has an awesome green room! Crazy, I know. I’ve been stuffing myself with the finest cheeses and breads (which they fly in from Paris), hand-squeezed orange juice poured by Jay Leno… even the Red Vines are air ripened to perfection. Come to think of it… I think the rider I sent over to Jocelyn stated I wanted my Red Vines stale.
Team Fat Quarter Shop is amazing! (We’re blushing!)
So the other man in my life besides George Glass (and my husband), is my little Gnoma. Gnoma Claus. Gnoma – all five sizes of him – can be found on a panel in my new Holiday Happy line by Lecien. Gnoma Claus ranges in size from just over 6″ to a hair over 14″, and he’s got lots of room around him for ample cutting. I’m keeping it mum for now, so I’m only telling you – please don’t let what I’m about to tell you get out. As the Holiday gift making season approaches (around November), I’ll be doing a tutorial for 5 different sized bags… one in each size for each the Gnoma’s on the panel. Holiday gift making just got easier… 5 gifts yielded from 1 panel. So get your panels now!
Even if you don’t sew, you can still have fun with GC. Cut him out (careful, he’s ticklish and may squirm), soak him for a few seconds in some (liquid laundry starch), and “wallpaper” him to a window, fridge, car, your cubicle cupboards, side of cruise ship. Wipe off excess starch and let dry. When it comes time to remove GC (around May or June), just peel off and wipe surface clean with sponge and water. Starched CG’s can be used again and again. Really fun to do at the end of the season… have a reunion with all your Gnoma Clauses seated on the sofa – and have Andy Cohen interview them. As a precaution, I’d bolt down the coffee table.
Not your traditional holiday colors – Holiday Happy is a candy-colored Christmas in cherry red, Otter Pop blue, cotton candy pink, Lemonhead yellow and mint green taffy – which coordinates beautifully with Lecien’s Flower Sugar II and Lecien’s Color Basic!
Be sure to join Holiday Happy Flickr Group and add your photos to the HHFG. I’m not in the least bit shy to ask you post your photos of anything made with Holiday Happy… or if you spotted it some where… or just have a stash of it… or you’ve seen Gnoma Claus frolicking on the beach. Show off your projects and ideas… or be inspired by what others are doing. And my Gnoma… Gnoma Clause – can be your boyfriend too.
Monica Solorio-Snow
25 comments
I don't want to drop names but I just had lunch with Monica and Gnoma. It was a super delicious time.
I can't drop names yet but I have met Monica and she never seams to fail me with your humor. I can laugh on her one liners for days on end. On top of that a wonderful fabric line. I so enjoyed your Jolly Jabber Blog info.
Gnoma Claus & Monica are taking over the world!! How exciting … I can't wait to get my hands on 'Holiday Happy' and make some goodies!
Five bags out of the Santa Gnome panel? Sounds so cute Monica!!
Congrats Monica! I have been patiently waiting to get my hands on this little guy.
Laurie
I just found Monica's blog for the first time a few nights ago, and yes, I spent hours on it ;-p
I love her new fabric, really, really pretty:)
Well I really do want to name drop, and I would have crashed the monica/pam/elizabeth/gnoma lunch if I had been in the state! Got my gnomes & fabric yesterday, and they are freakin awesome!
My gnomes and fabric arrived today! I am so happy, plotting some cute holiday ideas for my granddaughter. Stinking cute I tell ya!
Well, I haven't met Monica in person, but I have been a follower of her blog for three years after I had coffee spewed from my nose reading about the adventures of her Hello Kitty sewing machine. Since then we have been bloggy friends, and e-mail friends. I love her.
I am so happy for you, Monica. I know this is a dream come true. You're such a creative genius, it's no surprise to me that you have your own fabric line now. Congratulations!
I cover my computer and keyboard with plastic before reading any of Monica's blog entries. It's the only way. I love that little Gnoma and the whole line is so darned cute! Congratulations, Monica!
OH Monica …… even though we've never met in person …. you had me at "hello" !!!!!
HUGE CONGRATULATIONS on this cutest of cute fabric your creative little mind has produced !!!!
I sneak in Happy Zombie readings at work (uh oh…busted!) when I am feeling ever so bored or overwhelmed with bosses and those types. Monica takes me to Zombie Land and I wonder if my eyes are doing those funny peppermint swirly things ever so slightly. When I come back to reality I am refreshed. Zombie refreshed…I cannot wait to hold the baby! I have clean hands, a happy heart, and my camera at the ready. And remember I babysit gnomes for Zombies on the go 🙂 xoxo Pam in Chico
Reading Monica in the morning gets any day off to a good start! I can't wait to get some Gnoma Clause! Congrats!
I followed Monica's creation on her blog. She is so nice and always so funny. I just love her fabrics! Well done, Monica!!! Gefeliciteerd (O:
What fun to be a part of this very Happy Holiday time. You are all correct…anything Monica makes, designs, says, decorates, etc. entertains me. I even picked out the Scandinavian touches in her home at Christmas. I am not clever enough yet to dream up lots of my own ideas for this lovely and most anticipated fabric..so I am DYING to see what Monica has made with her fabric…and see whatever one else has made and photographed and put on flicker. The word is……INSPIRATION !!!
So, Monica's Happy Holidays is my early Christmas present..to myself..in June/July. Get to work everyone…chop chop chop…..p.s.
I AM THIS COUNTRY'S NUMBER ONE FAN OF THE OLYMPICS….whether it be Winter or Summer and when I found you going to the Olympics in Canada I just died laughing…I'd have given anything to have been with you…laughing and enjoying.
What great fun you had…okeh, get back to work!!!
I'm a little worried about the gnomes… a couple of them are on their way to Phoenix and it was 114 degrees yesterday! Do you think a little stay in the fridge would be in order?
Lucky me ~ I actually got to meet Monica at Market. She was easily the coolest star-sighting there.
Boo Hoo for me, I just clicked on panels to get me some, to find they're all gone….any idea when there's going to be more of them please? Please say there's going to be more available??? Hugs Naomi
fun blog! V and co sent me this way. Glad they did.
I absolutely love this fabric. It is definitely going to become part of my collection!!
You guys are amazing. Love your blog and your site!!
Sarah
Oh and Vanessa from V and Co introduced me to you guys!! And I am hooked!!
V and Co sent me! Great site
Found you via V and Co. I absolutely love this holiday fabric and I never like holiday fabric 🙂 I may have to get some of this and have my mom quilt me something!
ack, she brought us some of this to sample at dinner Friday night, I am so in love… Can't wait to get my hands on more, her blog has the most fantastic lantern quilt FREE pattern that I just have to make.
Thanks monica for all your creative Genious and your friendship
Alas, I looked high and low for this panel and have never been able to find one : ( Is this going to be printed again, do you happen to know?
@ Emmas Closet- The sku for the panel is 2613-R. That will help you find it through your search. Your best bet would be to search at http://www.quiltshops.com. Good luck!