Monday, January 31, 2011

{Sew} Modern Monday #4

Yes, that's right.  
It's time for another weekly dose of today's modern fabrics and designs.
Get ready to link up!
{Sew} Modern Monday button

But first...
 
Like I mentioned in Friday's post, I have been doing a 
little baking over the last few days.

The ingredients? A charm pack and jelly roll.
 
What do you think?
The top measures 68" x 68", perfect to curl up under.
 
I paired one It's a Hoot my MoMo for Moda charm pack
 and one jelly roll (2 charm packs would also work)
 with Kona Snow, Kona Coal, 
and Kona Med-Gray.

I [heart] gray!
 
Now, with a little luck, 
I hope to have it quilted this week.
 
And now, [drumroll] it's time for {Sew} Modern Monday!  Just a reminder, this linky party is where people can share recent sewing project finishes using modern fabrics and designs.  From home décor, to bags, to quilting and everything in between.  As long as it is modern and sewn, it’s game. 
 
Here are the rules:
 
1.) Link a recent sewing project using modern fabrics and/or designs.  Please link to the specific post, not just your blog home page.
2.) Link back to my blog in your own post.  If you want, grab the {Sew} Modern Monday button over on my sidebar and add it your your blog.  That way you won't have to remember each week.
3.) Please check our other people's {Sew} Modern Monday links.  What fun is a linky party without comments?  Please take the time to comment on other people's posts.






This linky list is now closed.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Kona White. love{hate}.

Don't you hate it when you jump head first into a project,
with more enthusiasm than normal, 
only to realize you are missing a key fabric?  

And it's 11:00 pm on a Saturday night.  

Which means your LQS won't be open until Monday morning.  
Grrrr.

I am part of a new circle for the do. Good Stitches {a charity bee} called Bliss. February is our first month, and I have been chomping at the bit ever since I found out I was assigned to a circle.  So yesterday when I saw Michelle from I Like Orange, too! posted our first block's instructions I practically dropped everything to start sorting through my scraps.  She has chosen the Roman's Strip block and has requested we use limes, greens, teals, aquas, blues, lavenders, and violets.  Right up my alley!  I had no trouble finding some great fabrics.   I starched, pressed, and cut my strips.  Don't they look yummy?
Then I moved onto the next part, cutting the Kona White squares.  Wait, what?  Kona White?   It turns out I had used all my Kona White stash on my postage stamp quilt along and had forgotten to pick more up.  Insert curse word. *%#@#^.

So, Monday morning I will be camped out front waiting for my LQS to open. For some Kona White.  I just hope my enthusiasm doesn't fizzle before then! 

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!


Don't forget to enter in my giveaway.

xo, Megan

Friday, January 28, 2011

baking.

I just couldn't fight the urge to get my hands dirty 
and start something new any longer.  
So I have been baking all day long.
Ingredients:
1 part charm pack
a dash of jelly roll
a sprinkle of Kona Coal
Kona Snow (not pictured
and Kona Med-Gray


leftovers. :)
Come back for {Sew} Modern Monday to taste check out my baking skills.  
I promise, it's yummy!

Feeling lucky?  Be sure to enter in the giveaway.  
Feeling unlucky?  You should still check it out. :)

Thursday, January 27, 2011

100+ follower giveaway

UPDATED: The giveaway is now closed.  Thanks to everyone who entered!


Yes, that's right.  Over the weekend I reached the 100 follower mark and wanted to say thank you!  I [heart] my followers.  How about we celebrate with a little FQ giveaway?  These yummy Michael Miller fabrics would be a perfect Valentine's Day surprise. 



Here's how to enter:

1.) Leave a comment telling me what your favorite sewing tool is. (1 entry) 
My favorite is my Clover seam ripper.  It's the cadillac of all seam rippers. :)

2.) Become a follower of Canoe Ridge Creations and leave a comment
telling me so (or let me know you already are one). (1 entry)

and leave a comment telling me. (1 entry)

Entries will be open until Thursday, February 3, 2011 at 10:00 AM CST.

The winner will be chosen by a Random Number Generator
and announced on Friday, February 4, 2011.

Sorry, this giveaway is not open internationally.  
But I do [heart] my international followers too. :)

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

WiP Wednesday {11}

It's WiP Wednesday time!  This week should be pretty straight forward.  No finishes and no new projects oh wait, there is one. Here we go,


NEW PROJECTS
SUTK swap
SUTK Swap
Here's what fabric I have chosen to go with for the Spicing Up The Kitchen Swap. Now I just have to find the perfect apron pattern, or make my own. Come on creativity.


ONGOING PROJECTS
postage stamp quilt along.
I jumped into this one head first over the weekend and made some record breaking progress.  As of now, the top is one quarter of the way pieced and I am loving the Bliss fabric.  Maybe enough for a full size quilt?  Stay tuned. 


Slice Coins Quilt Along
I am hoping to get the fabric cut out this afternoon.  Just in time for the next set of directions, I hope. :)


Dresden Quilt
Just a little progress this week (not enough for pictures).  Soon though.


QUILTS BEING QUILTED
Spiderweb Quilt
As of this morning the basting process has begun.  Probably my least favorite part of the entire quilt making process, but with the help of some iTunes playlists I am sticking with this one.  Well, at least for the time being. 


Brick City Baby Quilt
This one is so close to being done, it is silly I even set it aside.  I blame quilty-ADD.  Does anyone have a cure?


QUILTS AWAITING QUILTING
Red, White, and Blue Quilt
Crazy {9} Baby Quilt
Urban Windows Quilt
Crazy {9} Wall Hanging 


WiP Stats
Last week's total: 9
New projects: 1
Finished Projects: 0
This week's total: 10


Now head on over to WiP Wednesday
to see more great works in progress!

Monday, January 24, 2011

{Sew} Modern Monday #3


Welcome to another {Sew} Modern Monday
here at Canoe Ridge Creations!
  
     Ladies (and gentlemen) the spiderweb quilt top is complete.  Finally.  This one has been a long time coming. :)  
     I started this quilt back in the middle of November when I first started blogging (eeekkk, that seems like awhile ago). Amazingly, even after two months, I still love this quilt.  There is just something great about taking a traditional quilt pattern and incorporating today's modern fabrics.  Yummy!
     I used the spiderweb block pattern from Sew, Mama, Sew written by Oh Fransson!  If you haven't tried this block out, I highly recommend her directions. They are very well written and straight forward, just the way I like. Instead of using scraps of varying widths like the directions suggested, I opted to use honey buns of Wonderland by MoMo for Moda.  Just to give you an idea, for this 60" by 52" top it took almost 3 honey buns.   If everything goes as planned this week (I may have just jinxed it), I am hoping to have it quilted by next weekend. My fingers are crossed.
     
Now it's your turn to link up. 

Here are the rules:
1.) Link up a recent sewing project using modern fabrics and/or designs.  Please link to the specific post, not just your blog home page.
2.) Link back to my blog in your own post.  If you want, grab the {Sew} Modern Monday button over on my sidebar and add it to your blog page.  That way you won't have to remember each week.
3.) Please check out other people's {Sew} Modern Monday links.  What fun is a linky party without comments?  Please take the time to comment on other people's posts.
4.) If you like, join the flickr group and share your pictures there as well.


Saturday, January 22, 2011

postage stamp quilt along {progress} and a little FNSI

     Yesterday I spent the day "stuck" inside because of some horribly bitter winter weather here in Iowa.  Thanks to everyone who left me comments, they really made me laugh! :)  Despite the arctic freeze outside, I made the most of my time inside with my postage stamp quilt along (and guess what? last night was January's FNSI!).  I know I've already said it, but I can't believe I hadn't joined in on a quilt along before. They are so much fun!
     Ok.  Getting back on track.  I started my afternoon with all of the jelly roll strips sewn, but only half of them pressed.  I don't know about you all but sometimes I dread ironing, and especially big units.  This seems to be where my quilting ADD kicks in, and I usually jump into another project.  But with the help of a great iTunes playlist (some of the songs are too embarrassing to even admit) I stuck with it.
     Then came the cutting, and more iTunes.  
     And then the fun part.  Laying it out on the design wall.  
     I just put my design wall up within the last few weeks and now can't imagine my life without it.  It's nothing special, the back of an old vinyl table cloth, but it works perfect for me.  Somehow, it's more motivating to stick with and finish a project when you can see it (and it's off the floor and out of the way) coming together.  Maybe this will mean more finishes?  I like that. :)
    All in all, I was able to get one quarter of the quilt sewn together.  Love it so far!  I think this will be a perfect Valentine's Day quilt, so fingers crossed it is finished by then. :)
     Today's weather forecast looks like another cold one, so I think more sewing is on the agenda for this afternoon.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone and hopefully see you be back here for {Sew} Modern Monday!

Friday, January 21, 2011

twenty-five below zero

     Yes, that's right.  At 7 am this morning, this is what the temperature read on my car.  It was so hard to believe, I had to snap a picture.
     Please excuse the less than perfect (I was shaking so much it turned out blurry) cellphone picture, I wasn't about to pull my good camera out in those temperatures. :)  
     Three and a half hours later here in Iowa, it has "warmed up" to -12 F.  Brrrrr.  That's not even with the windchill.  Eeekk.  I think I will be staying in this afternoon and getting caught up on my postage stamp quilt along.  Or maybe cozy up with a cup of hot chocolate and read some great blogs.  Oh how I envy those of you who can take great outdoor pictures of your beautiful quilts year round!
     How's the weather where you are?  Warmer temperatures?  :)

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

WiP Wednesday {10}

Where did the week go?!?  It's already Wednesday! :)  You know what that means....

FINISHED PROJECTS

crazy {9} wall hanging
Lately I have been "haunted" by one bare wall in my sewing area/bedroom.  It stares at me, all day long, just wanting something to spice it up.  Well haunt me no more little bare wall! :)
sorry for the cell phone pictures.  i was in a hurry. :)
For this wall hanging I used some left over blocks from my crazy {9} quilt and added some Kona cotton.  All it needs is to be basted and quilted.  But for now, I really like admiring it on the design wall behind my sewing machine.  That almost counts as a wall hanging right? 
Spiderweb Quilt Top
Yes, that's right.  The top is finished and I will blog about it later this week.  Stay tuned. :)

NEW PROJECTS

postage stamp quilt along
Earlier this week I decided to join in on the postage stamp quilt along.  This is only my second quilt along ever, and I find myself saying "why didn't I join one earlier!?"  If you haven't done a quilt along, I really suggest you do.  It's so much fun seeing everyone's progress on the same quilt!
another cell phone picture. :)
So far I have all the strips pieced and pressed.  The second set of steps was posted yesterday, so I am hoping to get a chance later today to get back at it.

ONGOING PROJECTS

Sliced Coins Quilt Along
The first set of directions should be posted later this week and I can't wait to get started.
I have almost all the blocks pieced and decided on a sashing color.  No new pictures...yet.

QUILTS AWAITING QUILTING

Crazy {9} Baby Quilt
Spiderweb Quilt
Crazy {9} Wall Hanging

WiP Stats
Last week's total: 6
New Projects: 3
Finished Projects: 3
This week's total: 9 (this includes all the tops that need to be quilted)

Go check out WiP Wednesday
for more great projects!

Monday, January 17, 2011

{Sew} Modern Monday #2

Welcome to {Sew} Modern Monday!


     Sewing time was cut short this past weekend in order to spend some quality time with the family.  Between an afternoon with the boyfriend and an evening at my sister's high school Madrigal dinner, there just wasn't enough time left at the end of the day.  But, I loved every minute of it!


     So the project I was hoping to share will have to wait until next week, when I can get outside and take some better pictures.  Such is life I guess.  Instead I decided to share this simple dishtowel.  It is a great way to use up scraps, which is a goal of mine for 2011.




Here's a close up.



Now for the really fun part!

Here are the rules:







1.) Link up a recent sewing project using modern fabrics and/or designs. Please link to the specific post, not just your blog home page.
2.) Link back to my blog in your own post.  If you want, grab the {Sew} Modern Monday button over on my side bar and add it to your blog page.  That way you won't have to remember each week.
3.) Check out other people's {Sew} Modern Monday links.  What fun is a linky party without comments?  Please take the time to comment on other people's posts.
4.) If you like, join the flickr group and share your pictures there as well.





This linky list is now closed.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

a walk into his world...

While I am spending hours behind the sewing machine, you can usually find the boyfriend, Brandon, somewhere outdoors.  He lives for hunting, fishing, and everything in between.  So today, I decided to take a walk into his world and join him in the woods for a little deer shed hunting.  


For all of you that are thinking what in the world is deer shed hunting, it's looking for deer antlers that have shed off for the winter.  It was actually more fun than it sounds.  Except maybe for the fact that we have over 2 feet of snow on the ground.  But I'm not complaining. :)  Thankfully we didn't come up empty handed (you can see the shed he is carrying).

rocking the camouflage
I think it's only fair he takes a look into my sewing world, right?  On second thought, I kind of enjoy the me time. :)

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Saturday, January 15, 2011

postage stamp quilt along.

After seeing Cherie's progress on her postage stamp quilt along, I have decided to join in.  I am very excited since this is my second quilt along (the first being the Sliced Coins Quilt Along). 


postage stamp quilt along button.


So, what jelly roll have I chosen you might ask?  Bliss.  Yummy.


I can't wait to unroll it and get started! :)  

Here's where I need a little help.  I am trying to decided between using Kona medium-gray or Kona white opposite the Bliss.  I like the white, but is it playing it too "safe"?  The gray is nice, but does it mute out the Bliss?  What do you think?


If you interested in joining in, here are the details.

UPDATED:  Thanks ladies.  White it is! :)

Friday, January 14, 2011

tag. you're it.

Liebster blog award?  Have you heard of it?  For those of you who haven't, it's an award for all of us "little" bloggers with 300 followers or less.  The idea is in order to accept the award, you have to pass it on to a few fellow bloggers. I have to admit, I have been awarded this by three great ladies in the last few days, but I just haven't had time to sit down and pass it on.  So here we go.


First off, I just want to thank these three ladies for nominating me.  The idea that anyone enjoys reading my blog posts and checking out my creations still blows my mind!  Thank you very, very much!


1.) Melanie from My Fifteen Minute Break.  I really enjoy checking out Melanie's projects, especially the red, white, and blue baseball quilt she recently made (my boyfriend still reminds me he wants a quilt like that).  Oh, and her Dr. Seuss quilt she is working on is adorable.
2.) Elizabeth from Don't Call Me Betsy.  This girl's blog amazes me each and every day! :)  She is so productive.  I especially like the three pillows she whipped up recently.  Now I am itching to make my own.  Elizabeth is also starting the Sliced Coins Quilt Along and I can't wait to get started.
3.) Quilty Girl from The Girl Who Quilts.  Check out her owl pillow she entered in the Blogger's Pillow Party.  Love it!  And she has a giveaway going right now, go check it out!


And now to pass it on,


1.) Cherie from SEW and So Quilts.  Cherie is the one who first sparked my dresden craze. :)  She chose the block for our {Sew} Beautiful Bee and I can't wait to see her quilt all pieced together.  One of my favorites is her pillow she swapped from the last round of the Pillow Talk Swap.  Can I be your partner next? :)
2.) While she is pretty close to 300 partners, I wanted to include Anne Marie from Gen X Quilters.  If you haven't seen her blog, you need to go check it out!  Not only does she share great projects of her own, but she has a great feature called Follower Friday.  And, she just came out with her first published pattern, way to go!
3.) Bry from A Blonde Who Quilts.  She just finished a great quilt for her cousin using a honey bun and it looks wonderful.  Bry is also signed up for a bunch of swaps and I can't wait to see what she comes up with.  I know it will be great!
4.) Romeo & Juliet is a new find for me, but so far I am loving it.  She is working on a neutrals project that I can't wait to see more of.


I hope you enjoy these reads, they are some of my favorites.  There were so many others I would like to add to the list, but sadly there just isn't enough time in the day.  


Have a great weekend!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

crafting.

Sometimes I just get the urge to come out from behind the sewing machine, leave everything fabric behind, and dig my hands into some crafting.  Last night was one of those nights.  


So if you are strictly interested in sewing and quilting, 
please have patience with me on this post. :) 







Now it's back to the sewing machine!