BAM BOM Month 2

BAM BOM Month 2 blocks
BAM BOM Month 2 blocks

Because of the holidays people have two months to make the next two blocks. Month 2 and 3 blocks are due at the January Meeting. I made a set of Checkerboards very quickly right after the meeting. Since I am one of the leaders, I really want to keep ahead of the others as much as possible.

Once things had settled down a little for me, I made another checkerboard block from the book Cyndi lent to me, Use Scraps, Sew Blocks, Make 100 Quilts** by Stuart Hilliard.

BAM BOM Checkerboard, month 2
BAM BOM Checkerboard, month 2

I don’t have the wide variety of fabrics that would make this block look like the one in the book, but I am pleased with the way it came out.

I cut up the Philip Jacobs print to make the middle then used the others (added some additions since the start) around the outside. I want to work with this block again at some point. Still, I like the way it came out. I keep looking at it.

BAM BOM December 2025
BAM BOM December 2025

Although blocks were not due at this meeting, people brought some, so we put them up to illustrate when we introduced the new block.

It is so fun to see the different designs that appeal to the participants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

**Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.

Officer Gifts

SueG's Multi-Pocket Organizer
SueG’s Multi-Pocket Organizer

I spent the last few months planning and creating the officer gifts for the guild. I couldn’t have done it on my own. Many guild members contributed to the fund, Carrie wrapped everything and MaryC helped me sew the Multi-Pocket Organizers.

SueS's Multi-Pocket Organizer
SueS’s Multi-Pocket Organizer

I am pleased with how they all came out. I think the fabrics I chose worked well together and coordinate or match with last year’s gifts.

I really like the binding and lining of SueS’ Multi-Pocket Organizer. 

For Lee Ann’s I chose a similar fabric to the fabric I used last year. This one has a little more color in it – some purples, especially, which look really nice.

Melinda’s uses a couple of coordinating, but older fabrics from my fabric closet. I am told she likes purple, so this on the purple side. It’s maybe more of a red-violet, but something she will like. 

Joelle's Multi-Pocket Organizer - front
Joelle’s Multi-Pocket Organizer – front

I made a special effort with Joelle’s to coordinate with some of the quilts I associate with her style.

It’s a very small effort at mimicking her style. I think it looks nice and my fancy math worked out. 

2025 Officers with gifts
2025 Officers with gifts

I didn’t get to see all of the packages opened, but I took a photo of the officers with the gifts.

All the 2025 Sidewalk Quilts

This quilt design has exploded out of my workroom. I made quite a few this year using different techniques for the 8.5 x 4.5 inch unit.

 

This tutorial also inspired others to make this design.

Remember that I found a similar pattern from Jennifer Jones of Penelope Handmade for the Dorothy Quilt.

Another Sidewalk Quilt (#5)

Sidewalk #5 start
Sidewalk #5 start

I started another Sidewalk quilt with 4.5″ x 8.5″ panels I cut when I processing scraps a month or so ago. I haven’t made a ton of progress, but I like what I have done so far.

While the ‘panels’ are the same size as the pieced units, this top feels like it is going together much more quickly.

I finally found that someone else had created a pattern for, what I call, the Sidewalk Quilt. Jennifer Jones of Penelope Handmade has a pattern for the Dorothy Quilt, which is, essentially, the same as the Sidewalk quilt. She has a long blog post from 2023, which includes links to her YouTube Channel. She uses all solids in her examples – at least the ones I saw – and they look quite good against a white background.

Amazing 1940s Quilt

Amazing 1940s quilt
Amazing 1940s quilt

Almost immediately after finishing her quilt, my Mom took a donation quilt from the BAM selection to finish.

I didn’t really look at it until we got home and she took it out to start the binding. 

The first thing I noticed is that it smelled bad. I took it outside and hung it on a bush to air it out. That didn’t work well, so I ended up washing it (yes, in the machine on delicate and in the dryer on low). It smelled better after that. Before I washed it, I sewed around the edge so the edges wouldn’t ravel more than they already were. 

Amazing 1940s quilt-detail
Amazing 1940s quilt-detail

As I worked on the quilt, I noticed how amazing it is. It is hand pieced and hand quilted and the work is beautiful. It is also in great condition. The maker knew what she was doing.

I think I might want to make this quilt design using EPP.

Organizer Swap Gift

2025 Organizer Swap gift
2025 Organizer Swap gift

I forgot to show the gift I received at the recent BAM swap. I had to choose for three people and my choice kind of got left in the dust.

This pouch was made by Cyndi. it made from the mesh that is more stiff than the mesh I use for bags. It is kind of like screen, but not sharp. I remember buying some of this (or Friend Julie buying me some?) for a jewelry storage project we were going to make together. I never made mine and don’t think she made hers. Perhaps we need to revisit that project?

2025 Organizer Swap gift - interior
2025 Organizer Swap gift – interior

I wasn’t sure what I would do with, but got a brainwave when all of my doublefold elastic exploded on the floor of the fabric closet. I put it into this pouch and now it is nicely corralled in one place. The excellent thing about having it in a pouch is that I can grab the pouch and go and then decide on a color later.

 

October Donation Blocks

I started off the month continuing to make white strip blocks. The bin really was not organized well and I found a whole new selection of strips I could use to make blocks partway through. I was up to a total (not just the ones made in October) of 40 white strip blocks early in the month, but continued to make them. I like my scrap bins to be as empty as possible. The white bin is proving to be a challenge to empty.

BAM BOM 2025 – First Blocks

BAM BOM HSTs
BAM BOM HSTs

We introduced the BAM BOM last weekend at the guild meeting.

The first block is the HST and these are mine. For this block, I am using some fabric from a member who passed away. 

The rule is at least 6 seams, so I knew I had to make more than one HST. I used the 8-at-a-time directions I give to my students and made 8.

I have an idea in my mind to use HSTs in more places around my quilt. For now, I will stick with these, but I might make more later.

BAM BOM Start

SueG and I have been working for a few months on organizing a block-of-the-month (BOM) program for the guild. It starts in a few days. If you want to join, buy a membership in the guild. We will make the BOM program available in the group’s forum as well as at the meetings.

We wanted this to be a different kind of BOM. The participants won’t be getting one block that they have to make in a certain size each month. We are going with a “Choose Your Own Adventure” style. People will get a pattern, but there will be choices of  sizes. They can use any technique to make it and change the size if they want.

BAM BOM fabrics
BAM BOM fabrics

I have started to choose my fabrics. These aren’t all of them. I think I need some kind of citrus or sunshine type warm color and a turquoise as well.  Stay tuned for the additions as I evolve the fabrics in my own mind.

Finished: Sidewalk #4

Sidewalk #4 top
Sidewalk #4 top

I finished Sidewalk #4 very quickly. I wanted to turn it in at Sew Day since the pieces were clogging up my workspace.

This is partially because my design walls are full. I have a lot going on (Country Revival/Sad Quilt, Patchwork Palooza, Four Patch Fun, 2 other Sidewalk quilts, Circle quilt). I even had to use the floor since there is no room on any design wall. Very hard on my back, but I was on a mission.

I definitely need to think about less white in the Half 16 Patch blocks. This quilt is VERY white and you don’t really get the sidewalk effect with so much white.

I have been working on some green and blue Sidewalk blocks with white and I may use a different color for the background. 

Sidewalk #4 back
Sidewalk #4 back

I was very surprised at how well this back went together. I didn’t worry about eeking every little inch out of the fabric. I got enough pieces out and cut there where I needed to. It means I have more scraps to cut up as well as a finished back.

 

Finished: Black Improv

Finished: Black Improv
Finished: Black Improv

The stripes in this piece are really striking. The rainbow stripes from Chain Link make this piece less depressing than it might be if I had excluded them.

I am pleased that I finally finished this piece. It has been on the design wall for more than a year and it is a relief to get it to the Community Quilt team.

I am pleased with the way it came out. Most of these improv quilts are hard to pass along. 

Another Fun Sew Day

We had another fun Sew Day on Saturday! It was super lively. We had a new member join and another new member join her first Sew Day.

Amy's Flower quilt
Amy’s Flower quilt

Amy showed two quilts she has recently finished. The flower quilt has a great block. I really like the rectangular block format.

Amy's Halloween quilt
Amy’s Halloween quilt

Amy also  showed the lime and teal quilt. She called it  her Halloween quilt. I couldn’t really understand that and didn’t hear the explanation, but I like the fabric. I think maybe the fabric, with its bell jars, test tubes and poison jars and flasks of eyeballs might be the reason. 

Mom finished the binding on the White Strips #2. Tim held it up for me and then it got turned in. 

I cut up most of the leftover Half Hexie strips for the Four Patch Fun blocks. I am pleased about that, except that I have a boatload of pieces and need to cut some backgrounds for them. I keep reminding myself I don’t have to do it all at once.

I also cut out an apron I have been planning for the AirBnB house I rent when I go to Portland. 

September Donation Blocks

I worked on the Black Improv a lot, which doesn’t really have blocks, so that means fewer for this post. I added a few blocks in green and white to my stash of pieces for the next Sidewalk.

I finished working on the Black Improv top quicker than expected. Since it was already out and not completely empty, I kept the Black-Grey-Brown scrap bin out and made a few blocks from brown and grey. I just wanted to lighten the box up a little bit more. I don’t have much brown and I used all the strips to make the brown strip blocks you see below. I also made a couple of grey blocks and one black strip block. I’ll save these for another rainbow strip quilt or when I get enough Black-Grey-Brown strip blocks.

Once I was done with the Black-Grey-Brown strips, I got out the white bin, which was overflowing – again- and started in on white strip blocks. I don’t know whether I’ll make a white strip quilt like the last one or make a Sidewalk quilt with a color for the background. I like the idea of a blue background.

I have numbered the black strip block as #10, but I don’t really know what number it is. I suspect it is about #41 since I made one black strip donation quilt. Still, the other blocks aren’t numbered, so here we are.

Started Sidewalk #4

Sidewalk #4 Start
Sidewalk #4 Start

I started Sidewalk #4. As you can see from the photo, I am using my design floor. The design walls are full. I can’t take Country Revival/The Sad Quilt off the large design wall until I get more sewn. 

Sidewalk is too big for the small design wall so design floor it is. Not my preference, but needs must. Too many projects on the go, so I needed to get one of them off my list.

I have been randomly sewing Half 16 Patch blocks to the white background pieces as leaders and enders, so I have a small start. I have a lot to do, however. The Community quilt team for the guild really needs backs, so that is an extra step. I know I normally do it, but was considering being lazy this time. More fabric used, however.