{Sew} Modern Monday | A Fall Mini Quilt.

For the last few weeks, Fall has been in full force here in Iowa. Cool + brisk nights, warm + sunny days. It seems like the leaves along the bluffs have turned brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow almost overnight. Yes, Fall is definitely my favorite season of them all! So it seems almost fitting that my love for Fall carries over into my quilting, right?

I've had this little improv + scrappy pumpkin in the back of my mind for quite some time and last week I was finally able to bring this idea to life. Using just a few scraps and some yummy Robert Kaufman Essex linen, I had this mini quilt top done in no time! I love it when ideas come to life and turn out even better than I imagined!

More organic wavy quilting (can you tell I love it!) with a matching Aurifil thread happened this weekend and I really think it gives this mini quilt a nice finish. Mmmm, that texture! I'm pretty sure you all might see a few more little improv + scrappy pumpkins before this season is over!

Happy Fall!
xo, megan.

Now it's time for {Sew} Modern Monday! Here are the rules:

1. Link-up a recent finished sewing project using modern fabrics and/or designs. Please be sure to link to the specific blog post (or flickr picture!), not just to your home page. 

2. Link back to Canoe Ridge Creations in your blog post. Feel free to grab a button from the sidebar! 

3. Connect with other bloggers & please comment. What fun is a linky party without some chatter?!

Escape Artist Mini Quilt.

Happy Wednesday -- today I'm excited to share my finished Escape Artist mini quilt. This mini quilt features one block of Elizabeth Hartman's design called Escape Artist from her newest book, Modern Patchwork. Check out my Craft Buds Craft Book of the Month post to read more about this awesome book + design!

I chose to finish this mini with wavy organic quilting using my walking foot and white Aurifil thread. I really like how well it complements the simple + geometric quilt design and fabrics. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite ways to quilt -- especially mini quilts! It seriously results in some super yummy quilt texture! 

Quilt Stats

Name: Escape Artist Mini Quilt

Designed by: Elizabeth Hartman, Modern Patchwork

Size: 21" x 21"

Quilted by: me, using wavy organic quilting

Fabrics: Kona Solids, Robert Kaufman and Flea Market Fancy by Denyse Schmidt, Free Spirit Fabrics

Happy Sewing!

xo, megan. 

{Sew} Modern Monday.

Good morning & happy Monday -- welcome to {Sew} Modern Monday! I'd like to send a special THANK YOU to everyone who linked up to last week's linky party. There were over 45 fabulous modern sewing projects shared -- you can check them all out here! 

For those of you who are new to {Sew} Modern Monday -- or you just need a refresher -- here are all the details. Each Monday I host a linky party completely devoted to modern sewing -- quilts, bags, garments, home decor, you name it! All you have to do is follow these simple guidelines:

1. Link-up a recent finished sewing project using modern fabrics and/or designs. Please be sure to link to the specific blog post (or flickr picture!), not just to your home page. 

2. Link back to Canoe Ridge Creations in your blog post. Feel free to grab a button from the sidebar! 

3. Connect with other bloggers & please comment. What fun is a linky party without some chatter?!

What have you been working on this week?

xo, megan. 

Instagram Update.

Hello -- I hope you are all having a fantastic Thursday! As many of you have noticed, things have been a little quiet here on the blog but that doesn't mean I haven't been sewing. Today I'm sharing some of my Instagram pictures from the last few weeks -- follow me on Instagram (@canoercreations) and Facebook to see more! 

 

First up, I've updated + reorganized my sewing space -- it's amazing what a few Ikea tables can do. The new configuration + this mini quilt wall have me super excited to create!

The fabric stash needed a little organization too! I've decided to store all of my fabric in plastic totes (with wheels!) and am really enjoying how easy they are to access + store. 

I've also been designing a few new quilts! Even though my updated studio configuration includes a new computer + design software, I still <3 pretty colored pencils and graph paper.

Fresh fall air has officially arrived in Iowa and I (Jeter, too!) couldn't be happier. Crisp cool mornings = <3. It makes for the perfect dog walking weather! 

Speaking of fall -- I whipped up this scrappy patchwork pumpkin the other night. <3 

I shared this Clover seam ripper last week on Instagram & Facebook and couldn't believe how many people had never heard of it! This is honestly the best seam ripper and it's less than $10 -- Fat Quarter Shop sells them here.

I had the best Saturday morning this past weekend teaching a kids pillowcase class at my LQS. Four little girls (all under the age of 13) took my class and after just 2 hours they were begging their mom's for sewing machines. Talk about making my heart sing!

Head shots, head shots, head shots! :)

Here's some super exciting news -- this is the first time my name has been in print! As of right now all I have is this digital copy of Simply Handmade, but when the hard copy comes I'll be sure to share more details!  

Happy Sewing! 

xo, megan. 

{Sew} Modern Monday.

Hello & happy Monday, y'all! Grab your modern sewing finishes because today kicks off the return of {Sew} Modern Monday! For those of you who are new to {Sew} Modern Monday -- or you just need a refresher -- here are all the details. Each Monday I host a linky party completely devoted to modern sewing -- quilts, bags, garments, home decor, you name it! All you have to do is follow these simple guidelines:

1. Link-up a recent finished sewing project using modern fabrics and/or designs. Please be sure to link to the specific blog post (or flickr picture!), not just to your home page. 

2. Link back to Canoe Ridge Creations in your blog post. Feel free to grab a button from the sidebar! 

3. Connect with other bloggers & please comment. What fun is a linky party without some chatter?!

Let's get this week started -- I can't wait to see what fabulous + inspiring modern sewing finishes you have to share! 

xo, megan. 

Craft Book Month with Craft Buds -- Blog Hop.

Hello -- I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend! Today's my stop on the Craft Book Month blog hop with Craft Buds and I can't wait to share what I've been working on with all of you!

How many of you collect craft + sewing + quilting books? I sure to do love them! From sewing to quilting & cross stitch to knitting, I've collected + read through lots of crafting books. My favorite books have fresh + inspiring pictures, clear instructions, and lots & lots of information. The book I'm sharing with you all today has all of that plus much more! 

First off, if you love modern quilting half as much as I do you must get your hands on a copy of Elizabeth Hartman's book called Modern Patchwork. This quilting book is seriously a great addition to any quilting library! I was lucky enough to get my hands on a signed copy this past spring at Quilt Market and have enjoyed looking through the patterns + pictures over and over again. The book covers everything from basic quilt construction & finishing to more advanced patchwork designs and everything in between. 

One of my favorite patterns in the entire book is called Escape Artist. It has a fabulously fresh and modern feel -- just the way I like! The original design makes a 68" x 68" finished quilt which is the perfect lap size. But what's even better is that one finished quilt block makes for a great mini quilt. 

I chose to use a similar fabric combination (solids + one print) as the example quilt in the book because, let's be honest, it totally rocks with this quilt design! And like I said, I love the clear instructions + pictures in this modern quilting book. They truly make each and every design/quilt "do-able" for all sorts of sewing + experience levels. 

And here's the finished quilt block measuring 21" x 21". Should make for a pretty cool mini quilt, right?! I've already started quilting it with wavy organic quilting, so be sure to check back in later this week to see the finished project!

Also be sure to check out all the fabulous blog hops stops on the Craft Bud's Craft Book Month! Here's the complete schedule:

Week One

Sunday 9/2: Hopeful Threads / The Jolly Jabber
Monday 9/3: Stitchery Dickory Dock / Me Sew Crazy
Tuesday 9/4: Olive & Ollie / Sew Sweetness
Wednesday 9/5: Fabric Seeds / The Busy Bean
Thursday 9/6: CraftFoxes / Stitched In Color
Friday 9/7: Katie's Korner / A Prairie Sunrise

Week Two
Sunday 9/9: Sweet Diesel Designs / missknitta's studio
Monday 9/10: Sew Tara / Clover and Violet
Tuesday 9/11: Sew Fantastic / amylouwho
Wednesday 9/12: Projektownia Jednoiglec / Two More Seconds
Thursday 9/13: Ellison Lane Quilts / Don't Call Me Betsy
Friday 9/14: Live a Colorful Life / LRstitched

Week Three
Sunday 9/16: Fairy Face Designs / Canoe Ridge Creations <-- you're here!
Monday 9/17: Inspire Me Grey / Freshly Pieced
Tuesday 9/18: Lindsay Sews / The Cute Life
Wednesday 9/19: The Littlest Thistle / Sew Crafty Jess
Thursday 9/20: Urban Stitches / imagine gnats
Friday 9/21: Sew Bittersweet Designs / The Plaid Scottie

Week Four

Link up your craft book project at Craft Buds from Sept 23-30 from your blog or Flickr account, and enter to win prizes. Winners will be announced on Monday, October, 1!

To participate in the month-long contest, just link up any project you've made from a pattern in a craft book. That easy! One entry per person, and all craft book projects must have been completed in 2012. Just create a new blog post or Flickr photo (dated September 1, 2012 or later) and link back to Craft Buds in your post or photo description.

No time to create a project? This month, just follow Craft Buds and comment to win some new craft books and lots of giveaways!

Happy Sunday!
xo, megan. 

Friendship Quilts Blog Hop.

  Hello, everyone -- happy Friday! Today I'm super excited to share a totally gnarly + fresh blog hop called the Friendship Quilts Blog Hop. Diane from the blog from blank pages... has lined up great list of guest bloggers who are sharing some super stellar + 80s inspired projects all based around a theme of friendship -- and friendship bracelets!

The party kicked off on September 3rd and goes through October 1st. Be sure to head on over and check out all the details -- there's also a linky party & prizes! Oh, and guess what?! I'll be guest judging along with Lee Heinrich from Freshly Pieced and Faith Jones from Fresh Lemons Quilts.

Word to your mother.
xo, megan.

A special THANK YOU to my pal Vanessa for helping out with the 80s-lingo for this blog post. Neon, banana clips, and New Kids on the Block -- now I'm sort of wishing I grew-up in the 80s. :)

it's back -- {sew} modern monday.

hello, all -- how have you been?! i just wanted to pop in and let you all know that {sew} modern monday's will be starting back up NEXT WEEK. it's fun + inspiration + modern sewing, all in one place! so get your modern sewing finishes ready & meet me back here next monday -- i can't wait to see what you are all working on!

oh, and check out this fortune cookie message i had this past weekend. yep. that sure did put a smile on my face!

who's ready for {sew} modern monday?!
xo, megan.