In the Q-niverse: A Quilty Calendar With Extra Spice

When we heard about the Quilter’s Shirtless Man and Spicy Burrito Calendar, we knew we had to get the scoop on this little slice of awesomeness. Turns out our very own Megan Dougherty and the readers of her blog, The Bitchy Stitcher (warning: Megan’s blog often contains some very, um,  grown-up humor), are behind it, and it’s a fundraiser for Megan’s brother, who is fighting brain cancer. So we sent Megan out into the field to interview herself about the calendar, the men, and the burritos.

Can I just say you are looking fabulous today? Those are some mi-tee-fine sweatpants you are rocking there.
(Blushing) Why, thank you!

Did you mean to put them on inside out?
Um…yes?

Let’s talk about this calendar. What on earth possessed you to make a calendar featuring shirtless men, quilts, and burritos?
It started as a joke on my professional website and on my blog. I said that I was lucky to have been able to combine two of my great loves—quilting and writing—into one career, but that someday I wanted to combine all my passions into one publication: Quilter’s Shirtless Man and Spicy Burrito Monthly.

You’re passionate about burritos?
Aren’t you?

Point taken. So, after the joke…
I said that since I couldn’t actually start another publication, I would at least start a pinboard on Pinterest dedicated to shirtless men, quilts and burritos and challenged everyone to find a picture containing all three. Naturally, a couple people spoke up in the comments and on Facebook and said, “Is it okay if the guy is a little chubby/skinny/furry and is my husband/boyfriend?”

So then I had one of those OMG moments, and I said that if I received 12 photos of shirtless men—in, on, or near a quilt—and holding a burrito, I would make a calendar. Some were photos taken by girlfriends or wives (or moms or even ex-wives), some were self-portraits or done with the help of a friend. But in the end, I got 14 men. So I made a calendar.

So, I suppose this is your ticket to fame and fortune and you’ll be buying cashmere sweatpants instead of whatever cheap synthetic those are made of.
Hardly. It occurred to me that this calendar was about how much we love our men. Whether they are skinny or nice and round, or furry or follicularly-challenged, we love them for who they are, and we think a nice guy with a good sense of humor is pretty hot no matter what he looks like. So I decided that I wanted the profits to go to a guy who is, to me, the embodiment of a nice guy with a good sense of humor: my big brother.

So, your brother is going to be buying cashmere sweatpants?
You’re walking a line here, toots. No, my brother was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, a particularly aggressive form of brain cancer, in early 2010. His treatment is ongoing and as anybody who has been touched by cancer knows, it is a huge drain on your resources. I thought maybe a little extra cash would be of some help to him and his family. But most of all, I wanted to make him laugh.

And did you?
He referred to it recently as “an impossibly glorious bit of whimsy,” so I’m going to say yes.

And how do the models feel about what they’ve done? Are they feeling the bitter sting of shame and regret?
Well, Mr. February, who lives in Australia, had thought that it was only going to be sold in the U.S. and that maybe 4 or 5 people would actually buy it. I think he’s a little concerned. But our cover model, Mark, who is also Mr. October, is one of its biggest supporters. I asked him what he thought in an email and he wrote back, “I decided to participate in the calendar because I thought it would be something fun to do.  I was surprised and flattered to be chosen for the cover.  All of the comments have been wonderful and I am thinking of writing up the pattern for the quilt to make available if people are interested.” (You see, Mark made the quilt he is wrapped in as a surprise for his wife.). And Caleb (Mr. December) said that he would absolutely do it again and is definitely digging all the attention!

So, I hear you are sleeping with one of the models.
How dare you! I have never been so insulted in all my life. This interview is over! (storms off)

(slowly unwrapping a king size Reese’s peanut Butter cups package…)
(Re-enters room, attempting to look resigned and dignified). You should apologize.

I have secret footage of Mr. November giving you a foot rub while you tickle his ear and call him “Shmoopie-Buns.”
Fine. If you must know, I have been having a torrid affair with Mr. November ever since I married him 15 years ago. And for a couple years before that. But please don’t tell our children! They’d be…kinda grossed out. Now give me that Reese’s.

Any guys wishing they had done it?
Oh, lots! My reader Tammy’s husband assumed he had to be naked and refused to do it, but now that he’s seen that most of the guys kept their pants on, he’s ready to go for next year. Other guys were uncomfortable with how they looked and thought everyone else would be all buff, and now that they know it’s all real guys at their huggable best, they’re ready to join in.

And would you do it again!
In a heartbeat. In fact I’m already making plans for next year. I’ve already raised over $700 in just the first week of its release, but even if it hadn’t made any money, the process of making it was so much fun, I’d definitely want to do it again. I have the best readers in the world: they are fun, supportive, and love a good laugh, and I could not have done this without them.

You have chocolate on your ear.
I think we’re done now.

 

To order a copy of the 2012 Quilter’s Shirtless Man and Spicy Burrito Calendar ($19.99 plus shipping), click here.