Tag: Group project

Laying Out the BAM BOM

BAM BOM on the design wall - 1
BAM BOM on the design wall – 1

All of the blocks for the guild Block of the Month are done. We will have the layout party at Sew Day in November. I decided to put my blocks up on my design wall to see what I could do with them.

I am thinking I would like to get the top sewn together so I can focus on helping other people get theirs laid out during the layout party.

The blocks shown are the major blocks, mostly. This doesn’t now show anywhere near all of the blocks. I just wanted to get something up on the wall to get started. Each iteration provides information. 

BAM BOM on the design wall - 8
BAM BOM on the design wall – 8

I am not going to bore you going through all the permutations and changes that I made. 

Version 8 is the best one so far. You can see some of the ideas that stayed, most notably the upper right hand corner. 

I am thinking of making four more Birds in the Air blocks and at least one more Sawtooth Star. The bottom left hand corner is very light feeling and the whole piece is a little top heavy.

I am also thinking I won’t use the grey Pearl Bracelets as the background. First, I may not have enough and second the pearls make the background really confusing when parts are sewn together. I am thinking of a similar color in a solid. I need to look through my greys and at my color cards.

It is definitely a process!

New BAM BOM Friendship Star Wreath

A few months ago, I made the first version of this block, which I really like. This is a block that I explored in Flying Around. When I made the first one I knew it wasn’t right. 

Friendship Star Wreath #2 - BAM BOM
Friendship Star Wreath #2 – BAM BOM

Later, I got some more of the grey Pearl Bracelets fabric. Recently, with the end of the project nearing, I remade the block so that it fits in better with the rest of the blocks. I like it much better.

There isn’t as much contrast between the star fabrics and the background. Perhaps that will make people move in closer and look more carefully at the quilt.

Now I need to think about how I will put the quilt together. We have a layout party scheduled for the November Sew Day. I don’t know if I want to have mine put together or if I will work along with the others. I think I will need it put together to show that it can be done. I also think I won’t have time to work on my own project while everyone else needs assistance.

September 2026 Donation Blocks & Quilts

This Month’s Blocks

I didn’t quite make the 30 I like to make, but I am making progress clearing out the pink bin. It is still pretty full, though I have used most of the strips that I pre-cut. Now the blocks are more chunky. I kind of don’t want to make an improv quilt from the smaller chunks, but may end up doing it. 

This Month’s quilts & Tops

None this month.

Quilt for Valor

Quilt for Valor for stepdad
Quilt for Valor for stepdad

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
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.

More BAM BOM Blocks

BAM BOM Flying Kite
BAM BOM Flying Kite

These are the last blocks for the BAM BOM 2025-26 project. I know I showed them on Tuesday, but they turned out not to be the last blocks. I decided to re-make the Friendship Star Wreath block with the darker background. 

To make these Flying Kite blocks, I used the Fat Quarter Shop directions from a sponsored 2014 (2013??) sew-a-long. I thought the directions made cutting pretty easy, despite the leftovers generated. 

BAM BOM Flying Kite
BAM BOM Flying Kite

I have made this block before and it was always a pain to piece, so I was willing to deal with the leftovers / waste / extras if the cutting was easier. I have a lot of respect for people who figure out how to cut blocks out more easily.

I cut a few extra pieces and decided to make a second block for the top. I may make more, but for the moment I need to finish all the ‘required’ blocks. 

I also wanted to show all of the blocks I have made for this quilt.

I looked over the combinations my sister and I worked on to get some ideas about a top. I don’t know if I will try to finish a top before the Layout Party or if I will work with everyone else on my layout.

Most Recent BAM BOM

BAM BOM Birds in the Air blocks
BAM BOM Birds in the Air blocks

I saw a star made with lots of triangles. I used that as my inspiration for my most recent BAM BOM blocks, Birds in the Air.

This grouping is made up of 12 blocks. I may not arrange it this was, but I am enjoying looking at it.

We distributed the schedule for finishing the tops made from these blocks, so I need to get serious about making more blocks, or not.

QoV Block

Quilts of Valor block
Quilts of Valor block

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.

 

Starting Sidewalk #7

In the category of TMI, I had some dental work done yesterday and spent some time clearing out my email inbox, but otherwise laid on the couch and was a potato. I did get some stuff done over the weekend, which made me happy.

White Color Strip / sidewalk blocks
White Color Strip / sidewalk blocks

I got some fabric as a gift a week or so ago and decided it would work really well for my next White Strip donation top.

The White strip blocks had been laying around not inspiring me. With the new fabric in hand, I cut it up at SueS’ Sew Day. With that done, I was able to sew large and small squares to the strip blocks to come up with these larger blocks on Saturday. 

Sidewalk #7: White Strips in process
Sidewalk #7: White Strips in process

Most of the blocks have been sewn so I need to start chunking. I was able to use almost all of the gift fabric, which is great. 

This is a very different look for the white strip tops I have made in the past. This top will also straddle two series of quilts, Color Strip and Sidewalk.

August 2026 Donation Blocks & Quilts

This Month’s Blocks

I made my goal of 30 blocks this month plus some! I am not stressing myself out over the goal, but I do want to celebrate when I can.

THIS MONTH’S QUILTS

Sidewalk #7: White Strip
Sidewalk #7: White Strip

Finished: Everything But the Machine Bag

Sew Day Finishes
Sew Day Finishes

I finished the EBTM bag on Saturday at the special Everything But the Machine Sew Day. Mine was one of the seven that were finished.

As mentioned, I wasn’t sure about this bag, but as I worked on it, it grew on me. I was glad I chose good fabric. 

Finished Everything But the Machine box
Finished Everything But the Machine box

I think I might replace my fabulous Tupperware boxes, companions since I started quiltmaking, with this bag. We’ll see. Making the switch will be hard. I am used to my various storage containers. 

The bag has a handle as well as a suitcase sleeve — called a Trolley pocket in the pattern. I know a lot of people know what trolleys are, which I do, too.  We don’t use that term in my area. We use wagon, streetcar and cable car for the various versions. 

I am pleased with the fabric I chose as well. I wasn’t sure about the grey poppies, but they tone down the pink a bit. 

Everything But the Machine bag on rolling case
Everything But the Machine bag on rolling case

Several people omitted the suitcase sleeve, but I put it on as there is a chance that I would hook it on my rolling sewing machine case. I made sure to check that the sleeve was big enough. 

Everything But the Machine bag suitcase sleeve
Everything But the Machine bag suitcase sleeve

I kind of like the pocket even if I don’t slide the bag over a suitcase handle.

The pocket has an internal zipper pocket, as you can see. The pocket used an interesting double tube construction, which I would love to play with a little more. I also like the internal zipper pocket, though it might be a pocket where items go to hide. 

Everything But the Machine bag vinyl slip pocket
Everything But the Machine bag vinyl slip pocket

Under the suitcase sleeve is another slip pocket. I used vinyl for the slip pocket. It has a bit of fabric on the top for binding. It was very easy to make. That section, however, was tricky to sew, because of the thickness. I had my travel machine, too, rather than my new machine, which probably could have handled the thickness with no problem.

Everything But the Machine bag rivets
Everything But the Machine bag rivets

I used MaryC’s method for the handles, which is to make a short handle that doesn’t move, can’t be adjusted or unclipped. I did take the opportunity to rivet the handle to the bag. Riveting is still fun!

I realized later that I forgot to sew a label on it. It isn’t too late. I can do it by hand.

I had a lot of various troubles with the pattern, so having Mary lead us in making this was great. 

BAM BOM Bow Tie

Bow Tie - BAM BOM
Bow Tie – BAM BOM

I quickly made the Bow Tie block before the meeting deadline last weekend.

This is not a favorite block design, however I am, again, being a good guild citizen and making all the blocks. 

I used the Mini Simple Folded Corners Ruler** and it went very quickly.

We are nearing the end of the BAM BOM, so I need to get serious about my blocks. I need to re-make the Friendship Star wreath and see whether I need to make more blocks. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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July 2026 Donation Blocks & Quilts

This Month’s Blocks

I am thinking of making something with the pink 16 Patch blocks, but I haven’t decided what yet. Also I don’t have enough and have moved on to Color Strip blocks.

Yes, I am back to making Color Strip blocks in white and pink. I finished the white set I started awhile ago. I want to make another Sidewalk quilt. I wasn’t up for starting it, so I began making pink Color Strip blocks. I chose pink, because the pink scrap drawer is too full.

This Month’s quilts

Finished: Sidewalk #6: Green

Sidewalk #6: green - finished
Sidewalk #6: green – finished

I powered through the chunking of the Sidewalk #6: Green and was able to finish. I wanted to get one of the Wheelchair quilts up on the wall, so I needed to finish the Sidewalk quilt.

I really need to make the Half 16 Patches more colorful. The alternating white squares in the blocks means the quilt is primarily white which maybe isn’t so great for a donation quilt. I thought about using a color for the 8.5 and 4.5 inch squares, but am pretty sure I don’t have enough of any one color and am not sure scrappy would work with this design. I’ll have to think about it some more.

Sidewalk #6: Green- back
Sidewalk #6: Green- back

The back took longer than I expected as I used a lot of smaller pieces. Still, it uses up a lot of greens that I probably won’t use. Also, I get to add to my ‘Fabric Used” spreadsheet and up the number of donation quilts the guild gives away.