I am using white. I considered black but the white just pops so much. I am using stacks of 8 strips 2.5" x5" wide. Then they are sashed with a 1.75" strip. That makes three stacks and two strips a 16.5" block. I am actually going another element but that is the simplified version. I plan to put a scrappy border around it and I may used a pieced binding. I am quilting it in bright orange. WAY outside of my box but she will love it.