{sew} modern monday.

it's {SEW} MODERN MONDAY time! 

do you have a recent modern sewing finish?

quilts, bags, home decor, etc. -- share it all!

if you are new to {Sew}Modern Monday, here are the rules:

[1] link up a recent sewing finish using modern designs+fabric.

please link to the specific post, not just your blog homepage. 

[2] link back to Canoe Ridge Creations in your blog post. 

you can grab that button on the side bar over there ---->

[3] please visit other {Sew} Modern Monday link-ups.

what's a party without mingling+conversation?!

most importantly -- have fun and be inspired! 

xo, megan

festival of half square triangles | the winners!

this post is a part of the festival of half square triangles. 

for more information, click here. 

it's time to announce the winners!

over *1,000* of you voted for the viewer's choice

and the results are officially in...

Grand Prize and a $100 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop

goes to Shape Moth.

Runner-up and a $50 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop

goes to Flying Blind on a Rocket Cycle.

CONGRATULATIONS!

these are two *fabulous* quilts!

now for the 2 random draw door prizes.

these two lucky festival of half square triangles participants

each win a $25 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop!

they are...

link up [53] Celine of Sew Lovins

link up [108] Jennie at Jennie's Threads

thanks again to everyone who participated in the 

Festival of Half Square Triangles!

and a HUGE thanks to our blog event sponsor, 

Fat Quarter Shop!

have a great weekend!

xo, megan. 

festival of half square triangles | viewer's choice.

this post is part of the festival of half square triangles. 

for more information, click here. 

it's viewer's choice time!

WOW -- there were a TON of fabulous projects linked up to the 

Festival of HSTs! it's amazing how many different ways you can use HSTs!

thank you to each and everyone of you who linked up!

now it's time for you all to choose a winner! here are the top 10

link-ups as chosen by the Festival of HSTs blog hop bloggers!

#6 -- Quilterbell

#17 -- Notes From the Beach

#19 -- fordhook1

#34 -- Patch_Me

#45 -- Shape Moth

#57 -- The Elven Garden

#59 -- Flying Blind On A Rocket Cycle

#77 -- A Squared W

#79 -- Crafting...

#81 -- Plum and June

now it's up to you! please vote below for the Viewer's Choice!

voting will close Wednesday, April 25 at midnight CST.

xo, megan. 

patchwork greeting card tutorial.

this fast+simple patchwork greeting card tutorial is a 

super fun way to personalize a swap package or a note to a friend! 

<<materials needed>>

one standard greeting card or card stock 

fabric scraps

lapel stick (or glue stick!)

 

[1] trim+arrange fabric scraps in mosaic-like pattern. 

[2] using a dab of a lapel stick (or glue stick!), adhere 

the scraps to your greeting card. this is just to keep things 

in place when stitching the scraps. 

[3] sew around each of the scrap pieces. i used a 1/16" 

seam allowance -- just enough to catch the fabric. 

[4] trim the loose threads and done!

once you've got the basic steps down, the patchwork greeting card possibilities are endless! how about using a few decorative stitches around the scraps? or play around with some different fabric scrap shapes+threads! if you make some patchwork greeting cards of your own using this tutorial, please include them in the Canoe Ridge Creations flickr group -- i would love to see them!

xo, megan. 

festival of half square triangles | linky party

  
it's <<linky party>> time! 

a special thanks to

Fat Quarter Shop for sponsoring the

Festival of Half Square Triangles.

in case you missed out, here's a link to all the fabulous 
projects+inspiration shared in the blog hop -- be sure to check them all out!

lets get started...

Festival of Half Square Triangles Linky Party. 

linky party rules:

1. you may enter a maximum of <<two projects>> into the linky party. 

each project must have it's own blog post (or flickr picture) and link. 

2. this is a <<half square triangle event>> -- projects must use HSTs in 

at least 75% of the overall design.

3. projects must have been <<completed within the last 6 months.>>

4. <<everything goes!>> this linky party is for all things 

sewn -- quilts, pillows, bags, home decor, etc.

5. there are <<no size restrictions>> -- have fun!
6. please include the <<Festival of Half Square Triangles button>> 
in your blog post (or a link on your flickr picture!).

<a href="http://www.canoeridgecreations.com/p/festival-of-half-square-triangles.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvX5NVTkPc36qGce4Yb-6CrTUhfLMVovrmQw21QUpuvjqfJ4ls9wDOrw59zJGtfpNlXy6VINCjUQGK9Ke7LP1XrgSyKQepUi1w2wfEiSSNi-gO4LMkAep5XbdqEjiNv1y10di5LWz_A/s1600/festivalofHSTs150.png"></a>

the linky party will be open until Sunday, April 22nd at noon CST.
at which point, the talented list of Festival of HSTs bloggers will pick 10 finalists. 
then it's up to YOU to choose+vote for a winner starting Monday, April 23rd!


here's what's up for grabs.

Viewer's Choice -- Grand Prize

$100 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop

Viewer's Choice -- Runner-Up

$50 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop

2 Random Draw Door Prizes

$25 gift certificate to Fat Quarter Shop each

i can't wait to see what you have been creating!

xo, megan. 

festival of half square triangles | blog hop recap.

have you been following along with the Festival of Half Square Triangles blog hop these last two weeks? there's been a TON of fabulous projects+tutorials from some of your favorite bloggers -- from pillows to quilts and everything in between! in cased you missed out, here's a little <<recap>>.

Sara of Sew Sweetness | The Underwater Stripes Bag

Amy of Amy's Creative Side | HST Pillow

Faith of Fresh Lemons Quilts | Candy Pinwheel Block Tutorial

Holly of Bijou Lovely | Kaleidoscope Quilt Block Tutorial

Katie of Swim, Bike, Quilt | Santa Cruz Quilt

Erin of Two More Seconds | Zig Zag Apron Tutorial

Myself | HSTs+ Hexagon Recap

Jeni of In Color Order | Half Square Triangle Pot Holder Tutorial

Heather & Megan of Quilt Story | Pretty Pillowcase Tutorial

Katy from I'm a Ginger Monkey | The Scythe Pillow

there are some seriously <<GREAT>> projects up there -- be sure to check them all out and leave a little comment love to all of the wonderful ladies! now that the blog hop is wrapped up it can mean only one thing. IT'S YOUR TURN! check back Monday, April 16th for the Festival of Half Square Triangles Linky Party sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop! there's $200 worth of gift certificates up for grabs so be sure to join in on all the fun -- you can find the linky party rules here!

xo, megan

drop the fat quarters.

  

have you all heard of The Couch to 5k Running Plan? there are a few variations out there, but basically it's a 9-ish week training plan to get you up off the couch and running -- or in my case, out from behind the sewing machine to running! i'd heard of it before, but it wasn't until chatting with Erin the other day that it really sunk in. i've been wanting to get into a regular running+workout schedule for a while now and this program is what i've been looking for -- a kick start to better health! 

perfect timing because my lack of exercise has been putting me in a serious funk. in all aspects of my life. feeling sluggish and having a lack of motivation+focus, blah! 

<<not.anymore.>> 

i've just finished DAY 1 of the program and it feels great! refreshing and motivating. 

anyone else want to join me for a little couch (or sewing machine) to 5k? 

xo, megan.

festival of half square triangles

This post is part of the Festival of Half Square Triangles. 

For more information, click here. 

Hello, everyone! Happy Tuesday and welcome to my stop on the Festival of Half Square Triangles blog hop! I love HSTs, so much that I struggled on deciding which project to share with you all. But in the end, I've decided to revisit my HSTs+hexagons post because it's my favorite project to date using HSTs!

Be sure to check out the entire blog post for tips on English Paper Piecing as well as a tutorial on how I created these half square triangle hexagons using leftover scraps from this quilt. I've started to pair these little EPP half square triangle flowers with a bit of Robert Kaufman Essex linen/cotton blend fabric -- LOVE that fabric!

Don't forget, the Festival of HSTs linky party featuring all of YOU starts next Monday, April 16th! Fat Quarter Shop is giving alway some serious gift certificates -- you won't want to miss out!

xo, megan.

pardon the interruption.

 

i've decided to hold of on {sew} modern monday until we wrap up the 

festival of half square triangles! :) 

 

thanks!

xo, megan. 

warmer weather + fresh bean salsa.

it seems as if warmer weather is here to stay in Iowa. we've had almost two straight weeks of record temperatures for this time of year -- yahoooo! the grass is green, flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, and it means one very important thing here at the CRC household....GRILLING SEASON! and our favorite thing to pair with a little summer BBQ is this fresh bean salsa! let me warn you -- this stuff is addicting! it's so, SO good -- you just can't stop. mmmmm!

fresh bean salsa.
1 can black beans (drained & rinsed)
1 can whole corn (drained & rinsed)
1 can pinto beans (drained & rinsed)
1 green pepper
1 red or yellow pepper (or both!)
1/2 red onion
fresh cilantro
1/2 cup of olive oil
1/2 cup of vinegar
1/3 cup of sugar
1 garlic clove (optional)

in a large bowl, combine black beans, whole corn, and pinto beans. finely chop the peppers & red onion and add to the bowl. next, add some fresh cilantro leaves (we like lots in ours!). in a medium sauce pan, combine the olive oil, vinegar, and sugar -- if you want, you can and a bit of minced garlic as well. over medium heat, bring to a boil. simmer for 1 minute then let it cool. once it's cool, pour it over your bean+ vegetable mixture and stir. refrigerate. 

this dip get's better as it sits in the refrigerator -- but it doesn't usually last that long in our house! :) 

enjoy!
xo, megan. 

do you love to cook out+grill? what are some of your favorite summertime recipes?

{sew} modern monday.

i struggle with wonk-y, do you? don't get me wrong, i *love* the look of wonk-y+improv quilting but i struggle with actually doing it myself. i'm not sure if it's my type A personality or the fact that i was taught+brought up in more of a "traditional" quilting world. but either way, it's really not something that comes easy to me. any attempt at wonk-y and i usually find myself in a ball of nerves trying to get stitches to line up -- it almost gives me anxiety! so stinking silly!

so, i challenged myself to "get a little wonk-y" -- a little mini quilt wonk-y that is. i just sat down at my sewing machine, grabbed some scraps, and started sewing. improv style. um...scary! here's where i ended up -- not too bad, eh? it seemed only natural to carry that wonk-y over into the quilting and a freestyle grid pattern was just the ticket. but to be honest, i actually found more of a challenge than the improv piecing itself! 

 quilt stats.

name: improv mini quilt. 

size: 22" x 22"

designed by: me, improv piecing!

quilted by: me.

in the end, i love it! every ounce of nerves and anxiety i experienced with this mini quilt was totally worth it. but...i'm not sure i'm ready to tackle any wonk-y sewing bigger than this mini quilt. baby steps. :) 

do you struggle with wonk-y? do you enjoy improv quilting? if you have any tips for someone who struggles with wonk-y i would love to hear!

xo, megan. 

now it's time for your {sew} modern monday link-ups! you know the drill -- as long as it's sewn it's game. pillows, quilts, bags, everything is welcome! just please link back to CRC somewhere in your blog post.

happy sunday.

hello, everyone -- i hope you are all having a great weekend! i'm up bright and early on this beautiful Sunday in Iowa and i have the entire day off. woohoo! i'm especially excited because it's suppose to be a record 81 degrees and sunny!  a perfect day for pictures, laundry out on the line, a bit of spring cleaning, and hopefully an afternoon picnic!  

these little CRC labels just arrived yesterday morning and i am *SO* excited about them! they are folded and double sided. i'm so happy i stuck with my gut and went for a  gray on gray design rather than a traditional black on white label. i'm hoping to finish something up this afternoon just so i can sew one of these bad boys on! 

ETA: it seems like lots of you are interested in getting some labels of your own! here's where i ordered mine! :) 

what do you have planned today? 

xo, megan.

pssst! don't forget, the Festival of Half Square Triangles kicks off tomorrow!