Black and White Plus One

 My quilt guild's challenge this year is Black and White Plus One.  I know it's been done before and I was rather surprised when I found our what it was, but I wasn't on the committee, nor did I want to be.  Been there, done that, more than once. The rules are quite specific.  It must be pure black and white.  Your prints can't have gray or spots of another color.  Strictly black and white.  Your one color can have several shades if you wish.

This is due this month and I haven't even started.  My first thought was do do something similar to the two quilts below.  Use a lot of black and white prints, pieced together for the background and insert skinny strips of one bright color.  I'm thinking red.

8 1/2" x 11"   Made in Jane Davila's Art Quilt 101, several years ago,
as part of a Hens and Chicks series

"Fractured"  12" x 12"   Made for an Ugly Fabric challenge (the ugly fabric was that purple polka dot) and put in the SAQA auction where it sold.

So I got out all my black and white fabrics, excluding any that had grayed tones and laid them out on my table.

Looking from one end of the table.

And from the other end.

Then I separated them into categories.

Black backgrounds

White backgrounds.

Equal black and white.  Oops! Now I can see that the middle one in the bottom row
should be in the white background pile.

Or do I just want to use one gorgeous print and do no piecing, other than the skinny inserts.

I really love this one, but not sure if I have enough.

This one's pretty cool, too.

And then there's this one.

So now I have to make the decision.  Do I piece the background using random black and whites? Do I use all dark backgrounds or all white or do I gradate from dark to light, or use just one fabulous print?
Fortunately this does not have to be be big.  The maximum size is 80" perimeter and the minimum is 48".  I'm thinking of making it 12" square and then I can use it for next year's SAQA auction.

I have so many things to complete before I take my annual March vacation (Hawaii this year!) I should just lock myself in my studio.  I plan to be in all day tomorrow.  Let's see how much I accomplish.  Stay tuned.

PS
I got to see my article Thursday night in the In Stitches E-Mag and I must say that it looked pretty good.  I'm in very good company wth some very interesting articles and art work.  I can't wait until I can have it for keeps on my new lap top.