NEW Stack'em Up Mystery Fabric Club

Stack'em Up Mystery Fabric Club DEADLINE is September 26th at midnight! Now is the perfect time to start receiving beautiful mystery fabrics in your mailbox and get motivated by new fabrics and a new pattern every month. Plus you get a discount code! Mail-outs go out on October 1st.

Learn more about the options and perks at www.QuiltBitz.ca.

'til next time,

QB

 

Getting Ready for the Season

Designing and creating with some gorgeous new fabrics this week - feels good!

Lovin' my little flower purchase from Saturday .... a little something to brighten my cozy studio.

Hope everyone is having a great Monday😃.

'til next time,

QB

 

Spring Chickens ....

This gorgeous collection by Sweetwater was used for the June 1st Moda Mystery Fabric Club.  The six fat quarters from the club and the additional background fabric (from subscribers stashes) created this fun and whimsical quilt.

I don't usually have time to quilt each and every mystery pattern that I create but I did for this project.  Another whimsical touch of meander stitching I think adds to the overall cuteness and cuddle quality 😁

A whole jar full of Spring Chicken yo-yo's was a sight to see for sure!  There is just nothing cuter in the studio than these little circles lounging around on the counters ... and occasionally on the floor also 😂.  They did have a tendency to roll sometimes!

I had a lot of fun with this collection by Sweetwater and I know there are some more collections ordered and arriving in the coming months from these wonderful designers.

I can't wait to create something wonderful with those fabrics too.

If you are not already a subscriber to the Little Bitz Moda Mystery Club be sure to check out all of the details here.

'til next time

QB

Spring Chickens Have Arrived!

I have to say that I have been super excited about this collection of fabric by Sweetwater since the first time I saw it .... six months ago.

Unpacking the box of these bolts was super fun and all the plans for projects were swimming through my head.

I have created a super quilt with it but I cannot show the whole project just yet.

In the meantime, there are some wonderful fat quarter bundles on the website and the yardage will follow shortly.  Get your bundles soon!

Enjoy!

QB

 

Stock Up On Notions

When was the last time you checked your stock of blades and threads?

And, remember the last time you needed that extra hand when sewing on binding or inserting a zipper?  The little Wonder Clips would have made your life a whole lot simpler then!

My favorite rulers are the Quilter's Select brand and I only have two of the 6" x 6" rulers left in stock.  These are no longer available in Canada from my wholesale supplier so once these two are gone that is it.

Not shown in the photo are the Ormkraft mats that are now available on the website.  These mats are ready to ship across Canada.

Check out the website to see all of the notions!

Stay safe and find time to quilt!

QB

 

Mother's Day Weekend

Yikes!  Mother's Day is tomorrow!

Are you ready?  Maybe you are one of those last minute shoppers and need to find something amazing, quick and affordable.  The QuiltBitz gift certificate is perfect .... quick, simple and you will have it ready to email or plop into a card in minutes.  Done and dusted, as they say.

The second option is one of the Little Bitz Mystery Fabric Clubs.  There are actually three clubs (kinda) to choose from .... the Moda Mystery Club is six fat quarters that are mailed out at the beginning of every month and then there is the mid-month four fat quarter or four half yard mystery club that ships, you guessed it, mid-month!

Receiving any type of gift is super exciting and fun, but to have a gift that you actually get to open every month is amazing!  What could be in the package?  Will I like what is in the bundle?  What will the free pattern be this month?  All the hype and excitement is just like Christmas morning as a kid!  Yes, us quilters still like those surprise fabrics and the inspiration and possibilities that goes with every print.  Who needs flowers .... fabrics are way more fun!!!

I know that every Mother out there this weekend will be super happy with any gift they receive. 💕💕

Happy Mother's Day!

QB

 

Best Banana Bread Recipe

I know, I know, that is what every recipe has for a title these days!  But, when you are time-strapped and those bananas are getting blacker by the second you just need a recipe - right now!  I know there is one in a cookbook I have ... somewhere ... but for speed sake I turned to Pinterest.

So a quick search on Pinterest provided a plethora of options and I'm always the sucker for heading that says it is "the best" version.  So this is the one I chose and I have to say that we are quite enjoying it.  Limited number of ingredients and super quick to throw together with the addition of a few chocolate chips .... pop it in the oven and go back to work for an hour or so (it said 50 minutes, but mine took longer).

Best Banana Bread Recipe

Yield: 1 loaf

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

3 large ripe bananas

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Spray loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray or grease with butter.

In one bowl, mash bananas with softened butter.  Add the vanilla and eggs and mix.

In a second bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix together until just combined.  Do not over mix.

Pour into prepared loaf pan and bake for 50 minutes or until done (test with toothpick).

Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 50 minutes or until done.

This recipe is from the Salty Marshmallow.

Enjoy!

'til next time,

QB

 

Little Bitz MODA Mystery Club

November MODA Mystery Reveal

Isn't this a lovely stack of Christmas goodness! I just love these stacks of mystery bundles all ready for packaging.

This is a closeup of the six fabrics that were included in the November Mystery mail-out.  These prints are from the Christmas Carol collection by Sweetwater and were so nice to work with.

Here is a photo of my finished quilt made with the free pattern that goes with every monthly mail-out.  It has a tiny little flange border that sets off the outer edge.  The quilt ended up at about 50" x 50" using only the six fat quarters and extra background fabric.  I would love to find some time soon to get this quilted up - I think I'm going to love having this to snuggle under for Christmas!

If you haven't signed up for the Mystery Clubs yet, these are the type of fabrics and project that you are missing out on 😕.  Every month the Moda club has six fat quarters and the regular Mystery Club has either 4 fat quarters or 4 half yards.  Either mystery club is super fun!  Who doesn't like receiving parcels in the mail - especially fabric parcels!

Mystery clubs also make excellent gifts.  Birthdays, Christmas or "just because" gifts - just get in touch with me to set up a gift mailing for someone special.  There is no commitment - try it for a month or for as long as you like - it's a great way to build up your stash or make the free quilt each month and have 12 projects to give or keep at the end of the year.  So many options!!

I am so excited to share the free projects I have planned for the December fabrics.  Sign up now to receive yours or stay tuned for the reveal later in December.

As always, if you have any questions please let me know!

Stay Home, Stay Healthy, and Stay Creative.

QB

 

MODA MYSTERY DEADLINE

 OCTOBER 28TH IS THE DEADLINE TO SIGN-UP!

Six Moda fat quarters delivered to your mailbox every month ... how fun would that be?!?!

Plus a special little FREE pattern that could be used with the fabrics 😀.... for FREE - no charge - zippo!

Here is a glimpse of what you missed in the October 1st Moda Mystery fabrics and pattern ....

Six fat quarters from the Redwork Gatherings collection by Primitive Gatherings were used to make these wonderful houses.  I chose to use a solid background fabric but the two cream fabrics that were included in the 6-pack could have been used just as nicely.

I am currently working on the free pattern with this month's mystery fabrics and I am loving it!  Unfortunately I cannot give any hints or previews - that would just be no fun 😲.  All I can tell you is that it is MODA and it is gorgeous!

There is no commitment - sign-up for a month, or two, or three - however long you want to.  Skip a month.  Send a month to a friend for a Christmas or birthday present.  Cancel at any time.

NO COMMITMENT!

Fat Quarters (6) - Pick Up/Local Delivery: $25.50

Fat Quarters (6) - Mail Out: $31.50 (includes postage)

Taxes are not included in above pricing.

Pick Up/Local Delivery is available to customers in the Wawanesa, Manitoba area including the communities of Glenboro, Ninette, Souris, Minto and Brandon BUT for this program there is a requirement that there be at least three (3) mystery club deliveries to that location on a given date.  So please contact your friends and have them participate along with you! 

JOIN AS A GROUP ------ CALL A FRIEND ------ SEND AS A GIFT

SHARE THE FUN!

DEADLINE:  OCTOBER 28TH

More details are on the website or give me a call.

'til next time,

QB

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you and your families a 

Safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Enjoy your day.  Whether you are on your own ....

or sharing it with others.

QB

Celebrating Fall Colors!

 I love the Fall season - not quite as much as I love Spring and all the new beginnings, but how can you not love all of these colors?

I am also celebrating Fall colors in my fabric collections right now.

Lancaster by Jo Morton

and of course Redwork Gatherings by Primitive Gatherings

I have used both of these collections in the past and created FREE patterns to go with the Little Bitz Mystery Fabric Club mailings.  These patterns were only available (right now) for subscribers to the Club for that particular month.  The patterns will hopefully be available to purchase as PDFs on the website pattern page in the near future.

For inspiration for your long weekend here are the projects that used these particular collections:

            

If you would like to learn more about the Mystery Clubs all of the information is on the website or by contacting me.

 

Enjoy your weekend and take time to connect with friends and family however you can.  And remember to be thankful for what we have.

QB

NEW FABRIC!

Glad Tidings

by Jo Morton

This fabric is wonderful!

The colors and tones will be so much fun to create with and I can't wait to see what everyone makes out of this collection.

Yardage, bundles, layer cakes and charm squares are available on the website.

So many good photos of this collection I had trouble choosing which one to use 😀.

Start dreaming of Christmas 2020 and all the beautiful items you can make for yourself or as gifts for all the special people you know.

'til next time,

QB

GRANDMA'S CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Who can resist these cookies?!?!?

There is nothing that brings us back to our childhoods like the heavenly taste of chocolate chip cookies.

I remember getting off the school bus and I swear you could smell those cookies as soon as the foot hit home soil.

Milk and cookies.  Frozen cookies stolen from the freezer.  Cookies in the field at harvest time.  Oh my, the memories a good old cookie can bring.

Unfortunately Mom caught on to the cookies missing from the freezer and that's when they were moved to the locked trunk of the car.  It was her final solution for keeping three "starving" children from depleting the baked goods 😆.

I'm not a fan of store bought cookies - actually I try to stay away from cookies - out of sight, out of mind they say.  Hubster on the other hand has alway had his three course lunch - sandwich, cookie and fruit.  He ran out of cookies the other day and the weather had taken a bit of a cooler turn so I whipped these up - fast, simple, very little clean up, PLUS I didn't need to go to the store.

WARNING:  These are likely not good for you!

Grandma's Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup margarine

2 eggs

1 cup of brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

Beat these all together.

Add:

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

Stir in 2 cups of chocolate chips

Bake at 375 degrees F. for 8 to 10 minutes.

When cooled hide in the trunk of your vehicle 😋.

'til next time,

QB

LITTLE BITZ MYSTERY FABRIC CLUB

JUNE 2020 REVEAL

The June 2020 mystery club packages went out on June 15th .... almost a month ago!

Plans are well underway to surpass this collection and I'm having so much fun designing, cutting and sewing a little sample to include in the July mailing.

Here were a few of the half-yard packages all ready to slip into mailing envelopes and start their journey to excited subscribers.

and, here is a closeup of the four fabrics that were mailed out (and locally delivered).

These beauties are from the Indigo Gatherings collection by Primitive Gatherings (Lisa Bongean) for Moda fabrics.  Three different blues and a cream that blend together so nicely.

 
and, here is the FREE little pattern that was also included in the mystery fabric package.

Each month I try to come up with a cute little pattern that will use four fat quarters.  Subscribers who receive the four half yard bundles have the option of going bigger with more blocks or adding borders.  So much fun!

I'm busy right now working on the July pattern and will be busy cutting into four bolts of fabric next week to be ready for the July mail-out on the 15th.

Deadline to sign up is July 12th!

All the information is on the WEBSITE, but if you have any questions please pick up the phone and call me at 204-720-8272 or send me an email at info@quiltbitz.ca.

'til next time,

QB

ANNOUNCEMENT!

NEW PROGRAM

COVID-19 has changed the retail world in many ways and the quilting world is no exception.

Starting on Monday, June 22nd you will have the exciting opportunity to access the largest selection of fabrics in Canada from the comfort of home!

TrendTex has been one of my wholesale suppliers from day one and has supplied Canadian shops for over 40 years.  With the launch of this uniquely Canadian program you can access their huge inventory and still support QUILTBITZ by entering code QUI050 (3 letters & 3 numbers).  QUILTBITZ receives a portion of all sales every time you make a purchase through TrendTex.

Collections from Moda, Hoffman California, RJR, Benartex, Lewis & Irene, Michael Miller and Stof fabrics will all be available to you by going to:

SHOP TRENDTEX FABRICS

Flat Rate Shipping is $15.00 and free with a purchase of $149.00

CODE: QUI050

YOU CANNOT CHECK OUT WITHOUT A CODE

REMEMBER:  ALL FABRIC ON THE QUILTBITZ WEBSITE REMAINS AT $16.00 PER YARD WITH FLAT RATE SHIPPING OF $10.00 AND FREE WITH A PURCHASE OF $150.00

'til next time,

QB

NEW FABRICS!

Lots and lots of new fabrics in the Studio this month.

MOONSHINE by Jan Mott for Henry Glass fabrics.  

These colors and design are amazing!

Bundles and yardage available.

PLANT KINDNESS by Janet Rae Nesbitt for Henry Glass fabrics.

Once again the color and design of this collection is superb.

Bundles and yardage available.

I am finding that both of these collections work very well together and I know that cross-matching of prints and colors would definitely work for creating a beautiful project.

MIDNIGHT MAGIC by April Rosenthal for Moda fabrics.

Who doesn't like a good Halloween collection?  These cat faces, moons, ghosts and stars are wonderful.  Plus the plaids!

Mini-charms, jelly rolls, bundles and yardage available.

Fabrics are $16.00 per yard
Flat Rate Shipping in Canada is $10.00
Lettermail is $6.00

'til next time,
QB

FABRIC CLUB UPDATE

New Little Bitz Mystery Lady

The new Little Bitz Mystery Fabric Club gal (isn't she cute!) is here to let you know that the deadline for signing up for the June mystery fabrics is this coming Friday - June 12th at Midnight.

If you received the mystery package last month, invoices for the June shipment will be sent out on June 11th or 12th.  Just follow the prompts to pay either with your credit card or through your PayPal account, or contact me at quiltbitz@outlook.com to set up an e-transfer.

If you haven't subscribed yet and want more information you can find all the details on the WEBSITE under the Little Bitz Mystery Fabric Club or by clicking on the announcement.

As a subscriber you have many options.

1. Continue as you had originally set up
2. Change your 4 fat quarters subscription to 4 half yards subscription, or vice versa
3. Pause your subcritptfion for a period of time
4. Or, cancel your subscription

Please send me an email to make any changes or if you have any questions.

Last month's shipment included four selections of fabric from the Lancaster collection PLUS a little tablerunner pattern that used 4 fat quarters.  Subscribers with the half yard cuts of fabric had the option to make a tablerunner for themselves and make a second one as a gift.  OR, make a larger tabletopper for themselves!

Another option subscribers have is to stock pile the little FREE patterns for a future fabric collection - maybe last month's pattern would look better in Halloween prints or Christmas prints.  You never know what the next mystery fabrics will be or what the little pattern will be 😁😁😁.  I love a good mystery!

Of course the fabrics can all be integrated into your "stash" and will fit in nicely with a trazillion projects you have on your list.  New fabric never goes to waste!

I think you are going to LOVE the fabrics I have chosen for this month!  If you have an aversion to a particular color, or Season, please let me know and I will TRY to accommodate.  All fabric chosen is of the highest quality and and not just "leftovers" or slow sellers.  The fabrics chosen are usually full bolts from new or very recent collections and can be found on the website.  When you receive your mystery package and you happen to fall in love with a particular print or two, AND you would like to order more of it, please contact me immediately.  By the time the mystery packages are made up there is not very much, if any, fabric left on the bolt.  So act fast if you were wanting something additional.

Oh, btw, this month's little pattern is pretty darn sweet and uses a couple of techniques that you might not have tried before.  I really love my sample and hope to get it quilted this afternoon so I can include a photo for you soon 😀.

Oh, oh, btw, if you are a subscriber already and are enjoying your monthly packages, please let your friends know so that they can join along in the fun.  Or, if you are thinking about subscribing - ask a friend to join with you and work through the project together or dream up a different pattern to work on together.  It's always more fun with a friend or in a group!

Have fun everyone.  Stay safe.  Stay HAPPY.

'til next time,

QB

Yummy Supper!

60-Minute Meal in a Loaf

Ok, I'm going to date myself here .... this is a recipe that I clipped out of a magazine back in the mid-'80s.  It was actually a contest for Fleischmann's Yeast and you could win $20,000.00 if you submitted the winning entry to their "Meal In A Loaf" recipe contest.  $20,000.00 for a recipe!  I wonder who won that 😋😋. 

Anyways, I didn't enter and therefore didn't win anything except for enjoying the sample recipe that they included in their full page advertisement.  

I have made this recipe off and on through the years and had a recent request from my son - "Why don't you ever make that ham and bread recipe anymore?"  Obviously it must have stood out in his mind as something that he had really liked (it's normally hamburgers and hot dogs), so I pulled out the old recipe scribbler (from high school days!) and made this recipe.

BUT, you have to remember that this was a contest to come up with something, or anything, as long as it was in a loaf.  So you don't need to use ham, and you don't need to use Swiss cheese - do whatever you have on hand or really think would work good.  I've always wanted to try making it with pizza sauce and pepperoni and peppers .... 😁, but have never gotten around to that.  Maybe a ranch dip on the side would also be good.  This recipe always comes to mind though when I have leftover ham in the house - so it is always ham and cheddar cheese (who has Swiss cheese in their fridge?) that is used.

BUT, BUT .... I wouldn't mess with the dough recipe too much - it is really good as written.  The bread has an excellent flavour, is easy to work with and has a wonderful texture.  Super easy to throw together.

Dijon Ham 'n Swiss Meal In a Loaf

Yield:  One Loaf (in approximately 60 minutes)

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 packages Fleischmann's RapidRise Yeast

1 cup water

1/4 cup Dijon Mustard

2 tablespoons margarine

1 1/2 cups chopped cooked ham

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

1/2 cup chopped dill pickle (kid's hated disliked this so it was always left out)

1 egg, beaten

Set aside 1 cup flour.  Mix remaining flour, sugar, salt and yeast.  Heat water, mustard and margarine to 125F to 130F; stir into flour mixture.  Mix in enough reserved flour to make soft dough.  Knead 4 minutes.

On greased baking sheet, roll dough to 14x12 inches.  Sprinkle ham, cheese and pickle down center third of dough length.  Make cuts from filling to dough edges at 1-inch intervals along sides of filling.  Bring strips from opposite sides of filling together; twist and place ends at an angle across filling, cover.  Place in a warm area and let dough rise 15 minutes.

Brush loaf with egg.  Bake at 375F for 25 minutes.  Serve warm. 

Enjoy!

'til next time,

QB

Layer Cake Fun

Layer Cakes in the Studio

 

Are you looking for a new project to keep your mind and hands occupied?

There are a few layer cakes in stock right now and here are a couple of free patterns that just might grab your fancy.

This pattern is called Layers of Fun by Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings fame.

          

Photo credit to Lisa Bongean.com

Country Christmas Collection

by Bunny Hill Designs (Anne Sutton)

  

On Anne Sutton's blog there is the cutest applique quilt pattern that I think would look amazing using this layer cake.  I have a very limited number of these layer cakes in stock so if you are interested please get in touch.

Photo Credit to Bunny Hill blog.

Sugar Plum Stocking Quilt

There are also a couple of layer cakes of the Milestone Collection available.

Here are some other links to free patterns that use Layer Cakes -


Layer Cake Custard Pattern
by The Fat Quarter Shop


Sorry the photo doesn't really do this quilt justice.  Click on the link to take a better look 😀.
Morris Modernized
by Moda

Keep Safe, Stay Healthy and always Keep Busy!

'til next time,

QB