Have you considered using hexies in Japanese folded patchwork? The bag design I found used a large hexie with a smaller padded one laid over the folded side - so you end up with front and back done together! It could be extended to make a quilt and if you wanted to combine Victorian crazy patchwork you could embroider the seams, or again, by using Sashiko techniques, it would look very good as well.
There is an unbelieveable amount of tuition on the subject on the web!
