This quilt was made by members of the guild for Dennis Gene “Buck” Bandy, who served in Vietnam in the 42d Bomb Wing, Strategic Air Command (SAC) of the Air Force, 1966-1968 in appreciation of his service to his country.
This quilt was made in August-September 2026 by members of the Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild, SueS., Marty C., Laura M., Friend Julie, Lee Ann F., Melinda R., SueG., and Carrie P. I made the large block on the top left.
Carrie found a bolt of Pacific Blue at her other guild’s fabric sale, which was used for the back.
I made and sewed the label on. I prefer it to be quilted in, but there wasn’t enough time.
Quilt for Valor – back
The blocks were chosen to reflect his service in the Air Force: Flying Geese, Birds in the Air and various star blocks. People picked out the blocks they wanted to make and all of them were done by the September Sew Day where members of the team worked on putting the quilt together. Laura quilted it and Marty transported it back and forth.
It was a true team effort and I am incredibly grateful.
My sister texted me and said how many people had complimented her on her Atlas. She didn’t know it was the Atlas, so described it to me. I had no idea what she was talking about and went looking for a gifts post. The most recent one I could find was from 2022, though I thought that couldn’t be right. I decided to make write another one. I knew I had made her some bags that weren’t on any list since it had only been a few months since I sent them.
Here is the list/gallery of gifts I have made for my sister. Quite the range, don’t you think? I love my sister, if for no other reason than she uses the bags I send her.
Turquoise Leopard Tote
Little Bag
Sweet Harmony bag – Full
Lil Sissy’s Cafe Apron Repaired
Lil Sissy Pencil Roll Closed
Calm quilt
Paris Pillowcases
Skull Jane Market Tote for Lil Sissy
Skull Wallet Open for Lil Sissy
Paris One Hour Baskets
Le Cafe Eiffel Tower pillowcase
Le Cafe Pillowcase 2018
Finished: Jelly Roll Rug
French Cotton Candy pouch
Lil Sissy’s Inside Outside Pouch – 3/4s view
Falabella Pouches
Hemingways for Kim
Paris Enigma Bag (Kim)
Percheron Pouch for Kim
Typewriter Hackney – Top & Front
Paris Hot Air Pillowcase
Paris Pastries Pillowcase
Paris Bicycles Pillowcase
Disco Double Zip Pouch – top
3 king sized pillowcases
Paris Atlas Zipper Case
Paris Hippie Specs Eyeglasses Case
Winner: Pandora Charisma
I am not sure if this list shows everything I have made for her, but it is a good start. The Pandora Charisma #1 is the bag I made her for her birthday.
I decided it was time to make another Mini One Handle Tote. I am sort of feeling at loose ends, despite all the projects on which I could make progress. This is a fast project, which is very satisfying to make.
I am behind in my efforts to make 20 or so of these by my own timetable. I haven’t wanted to work on them because I couldn’t find the template last time.
Nobody is harassing me to get these finished, BTW.
Mini One Handle Tote #5
I went looking for my folder and have once again hidden it from myself. < insert eye roll emoji here >
WTH? Every time I go to make one I have lost the file. This is really unlike me. I was thinking that it was a good thing I wrote the tutorial, because otherwise I would have to figure out the whole process over again.
Mini One Handle Tote template
After making a new template and making this latest bag, I cleaned up my cutting table. In the process, I found the two other templates I have made.
Note the difference. The fat template is the first one that I made and the tote handle turned out slimmer. Not skinny, but slimmer. I couldn’t figure out why the handles were so fat in the two latest bags. Now I know. I had been thinking I would move the template more towards the middle to mitigate the fatness of the handle. Now I don’t need to, thought I might try it with the original template just to see the difference.
I got it in my mind that I used an index card to make the template, which is why the two templates on the left are mostly the same. I clearly didn’t use an index card for the original template.
In this version, I used Decor Bond, which I don’t think I will do again. I had a hard time pressing out the wrinkles. I’ll have to look back and see which interfacing I like best.
Now I have made a project file so the templates, at least, are stored in my normal manner.
I had to put this project on the back burner while I made the Urban Sea backpack, but I am gathering supplies so I can get started.
I laid all of my choices out, so I could see what I had. I realized that I don’t have a long enough zipper. The ByAnnie 40″ is a bit short, so I’ll need to get some continuous zipper tape in a coordinating color.
The teal cats fabric will go on the outside. I haven’t decided where the other fabrics will be placed, but I want the pink cats to be seen a lot, so they will be in a primary position.
My stepdad is ill and I wanted to get him a Quilt of Valor quilt.
I tried back in 2016 and never heard back. I reached back to the woman I had spoken to and her email address no longer worked. I left a request with the situation on their website and haven’t heard anything.
At SueS’ Sew Day I asked if anyone had a contact. Suddenly, a quilt was being designed and everyone there was picking out blocks to make for a quilt. The block above is a 26″ block that I made.
I am so grateful to the guild members. The quilt won’t be a ‘real’ QoV quilt, but I think the sentiment will be just as meaningful.
I finished Flower #7 a few days ago. I wanted to keep up the momentum, so I started cutting out#8 when I had a few extra minutes over the weekend.
I went to City Made Quilts the other day to check out their solids. They carry a brand other than Kona, which is a relief, Michael Miller, I think. I bought a couple to mix with my Tilda fabrics so I could use the lavender and peach Tilda on Flower #8.
Flower #8 v.2
I cut the lavender and peach solids and the print then went from there. I had some other pieces cut, so I tried those. Some of the pinks don’t work for me, so I tried again.
The version, right, is what I have at the moment. It is sitting on my design. I want greens in the corners, but am not sure this combination is working.
I finished the Urban Sea Backpack. As mentioned, it is for my Mom. It isn’t perfect, but, in general I am pleased with how it came out.
As is usual, I want to start another one right away. I am slightly daunted by the amount of cutting, which may drive me to figure out the Scan ‘n Cut.
The more I look at this project, the happier I am. There are some parts I would like to do better, but I was pleased to look at them with curiosity and an eye towards figuring how how I could do better. I didn’t look at them with shame or the need to explain.
Urban Sea backpack – interior right side out
Before I turned the piece right side out to finish it, I took a photo of the interior.I wanted to get a better view than the one I usually get by photographing down into the bag. This view gives me a better view of the details of the interior.
I am super pleased with the interior. I think it is the fabric. Disco Poms is a GREAT fabric. I may need to get more. I am glad I used it as it is super cheerful.
Urban Sea – front pocket
The front pocket was a bit of a Hail Mary. I am not super fond of the ByAnnie mesh. It is fine and a high quality product. My stuff just gets stuck in the mesh. I really want to find a mesh that has smaller holes like some lingerie bags. I am thinking of buying a lingerie bag, disassembling it and trying the fabric in a bag. The colors are fairly limited, so, for the moment, I am either substituting vinyl like in the Everything But the Machine bag or sticking to mesh and hoping for the best. One good thing about mesh is that you can see what is in your pocket.
Urban Sea – back with straps
People in the Sew Sweetness FB group commented on the straps. I am not sure they are anything special. I did follow the directions and think I would like to add more padding in the future.
My new machine, especially the HP foot really helped me make this bag. I am a lot more relaxed making bags-few tense shoulders and only a little yanking with tweezers, which is better for my body overall. I am much less worried about whether my machine can handle what I want to make.
I finally was able to finish cutting out the Urban Sea Backpack. Whew! That was a lot of cutting.
You might notice that none of the pieces are square. I had to cut them all out with scissors except for the couple of pieces that shared a shape with the Chickadee backpack. Other than that the cutting process just took a long time. I had time to make sure the fabrics were oriented in the same direction across pieces and all the interfacings were correct.
If this cutting experience doesn’t drive me to continue learning to use the Scan ‘n Cut, I don’t know what will. 😉
Urban Sea -Side pocket in process
Once all the pieces were cut, it took a few days for me to get to the project again. As is usual, I started sewing smaller pieces into larger. Once of the first sections was the side pocket and I was pretty excited about how it looked. I was amazed at how clever the pieces were. There is one small triangular piece used in this pocket. As I was cutting, I couldn’t figure out where it would go. It fits in this pocket to extend the curved zipper tab. Genius!
It is not a flat pocket, it has some dimension, which will make it more useful.
Urban Sea -front pocket in process, closed
Once a number of those sections were complete, I could start focusing on combining the smaller pieces into sections of the backpack. First, I made the front pocket, which required zipper tabs, a zipper and other bits and pieces.
I am pleased with my fussy cutting, too.
The sideways capital I piece at the top was another piece I couldn’t imagine using, but it was amazingly perfect. I really can’t imagine how Sara figures these bags out.
Urban Sea -Inside front pocket
Urban Sea -Inside front pocket installed
I thought it would be hard to add the inside of this pocket to the piece, but, essentially, I sewed the front pocket on top of the inside. Don’t try this at home without the pattern! Again, it worked perfectly.
Urban Sea -Top and front pockets
At the moment, I am adding the top pocket/flap to the piece above.
It’s a new adventure! It’s also an adventure that I am enjoying. I sometimes feel frustrated when making bags, but so far I haven’t felt like that with this bag.
After writing yesterday, I talked to my mom who was on her way to the ER again (she’s fine!) with a plastic bag to carry her stuff!!! I was horrified, but before I could speak, she said she was going to get a backpack for her stuff. Before I could think, I said I would make her a backpack.
I am not sure if I mentioned when writing about the Chickadee that I have never made a backpack before, at least one with real straps and buckles. The closest is the Flagler Backpack and the Scrap Lab Backpack. Neither of these are as structured or as complicated as the Chickadee.
Sew Sweetness Urban Sea backpack
I knew the Chickadee was in progress, obviously. That is for the Pink Project and I don’t know when it will be finished, so I decided to make the new backpack pattern from Sew Sweetness called the Urban Sea Backpack. I showed my mom and told her the size (finished Size: 12 inches long x 15 inches tall x 7 inches deep (30.5cm x 38cm x 18cm)) and she said that the Urban Sea would be perfect. So, now I am making another backpack. 😉
Voluptuous by Philip Jacobs
Tula Pink Disco Poms
The next surprise was the fabric. I have used paint tube fabric for my mom for a long time. She really admired the bubble fabric in blues and pinks that Sara used on her test version. I showed her a picture of the Philip Jacobs Voluptuous fabric as a joke and she loved it! I might as well use it. I don’t have anything else slated for that fabric. I am going to pair it with the Disco Poms from Tula Pink. Same thing. I might as well use it.
The first step was to tape all of the pattern pieces together. I haven’t found any that are rectangular!!! I love the look of this backpack, so I don’t mind.
Chickadee template for Urban Sea
I was thrilled to find that the acrylic template for the Chickadee Backpack strap is the same exact piece as the straps in the the Urban Sea Backpack. Sara doesn’t sell acrylic templates any more, so this was awesome! I can use that template to cut out the several pieces (exterior, lining, foam, etc) I need for this backpack.
I spent about 4 hours on Sunday cutting out pieces for this project. I almost finished all the cutting, but that much standing was tiring after also standing a lot on Saturday. Even though I want to get to sewing, I am trying to be very Zen about the cutting as I found that each part of the process has its benefits.
The Chickadee Backpack still has not been chosen as part of the UFO challenge, but I decided to work on it again. I worked on it a little last month so I could get a head start. I kind of wanted it to be chosen for the UFO challenge for August, but no dice. Maybe next month?
All the pieces are cut out and I ready to sew. I haven’t decided if I will start sewing yet. I would like to stick with the letter of the ‘law’ in the UFO project. I could cut out some of the other projects or continuing cutting them out as the case may be.
I had it in mind to make another Metro Double Zip as a gift. I did it, but I didn’t give the gift as I wasn’t happy with how it came out.
It is perfectly serviceable, but I wanted it to look good if I was going to give it as a gift.
Metro Double Zip Pouch #3 – back
I was in a little bit of a rush and did things a little differently than I did on the second Metro Double Zip. That was a mistake, but I didn’t write down the parts that I made larger on the second one. Thus, I didn’t remember I kept some parts the same, which was part of the problem with the first one.
I love the strap technique!!!
As you can see, the back is quite boring without the waves. I could have fussy cut something, but was at Tim’s and didn’t have a lot of fabric choices. I really want to get this pattern to be more stuck in my brain. I have to make a few more and think of some different embellishments for the front.
3 pouches ~ Metro Double Zip
While I was looking for something I found a similar pouch I received as a gift from BAM. I thought it might be an Aneela Hoey pattern, but I didn’t see it on her website or in her book. There are a million pouch patterns out there and it could be modified from a completely different pattern or made up.
I made another Hippie Specs case the correct way this time. My mistake on the previous one still makes a cool pouch. However, I still wanted to make it as intended.
I did not add a clip this time as I hadn’t quite worked through the steps when using vinyl.
I used the same flowery vinyl as I used on the previous one. Now my niece has three small items using this flowery vinyl. I guess it is her fabric.
Hippie Specs #4 – open
I didn’t use a lining for this one, but I did cover the seam at the bottom with foldover elastic. The cut out piece sat around for awhile, but it was very quick to make once I got started.
I was pleased to finish the Fish Hackney in time for DH’s birthday. It has been awhile since I started this project. I am not sure when, but I bought this fabric in October of 2024. I didn’t make a note of cutting out the pieces, but it was sometime after that. I am glad to cross it off the list as it has been on my mind. I am also happy that DH seemed pleased with it. He was planning how he would use it, however, and thinking it would be good for storing reels, because the thickness of the pouch would protect them.
Fish Hackney top with handle
He did notice the issues that I had such as the weird handle placement.
I also had some trouble with the placement of the turning hole. I had forgotten that I needed to turn the lid as well as the bottom separately.
Fish Hackney – mesh pocket
I went with the standard mesh pocket this time as I wanted to just get it done and not think about different options.
I made a note on the pattern to match the zipper tabs to the zipper and the foldover elastic/binding rather than the lining fabric. I think my zipper tabs look fine. They would have been less noticeable if I had used grey fabric.
Fish Hackney – interior bottom
I didn’t have quite enough of the lining fabric for the lining gusset. The stripe looks cheerful.
This is the one pattern I can think of that includes information about anchoring the lining. I did that on the front and back. The lining is still a little saggy baggy, but ok.
Fish Hackney – smooth top
I also used the Frankenfoam I made at Sew Day a few weeks ago. I covered it with ProFuse and I couldn’t see the seams in the foam.
Of course, now I have used up some big pieces of the Frankenfoam, I am going to have to sew more small pieces together again.
I like this pattern a lot and am sad it has been such a long time since I made one. So many patterns! So little time!
