Low Volume + Scrappy Color

Last Friday, a new block drive was announced by Many Hands and Many Hearts, hosted by Cynthia Brunz @cynthiabrunzdesigns. The current drive is for 8.5" square blocks using a low volume print with a scrappy row of color across it, and will be open through November. I keep track of the drives by subscribing to Cynthia's newsletter, but you can also get info by emailing manyhandsandmanyhearts@gmail.com.

This quarter's blocks were the perfect thing to dive into over the weekend, when I really didn't have much time or focus to sew. I was surprised how little low-volume prints I had that would work, but considering I'm feeling like my plate is kind of full right now, I made up what I could, and have already sent them on their way. Hoping this contribution, though small, will be a nice addition to the quilts Many Hands and Many Hearts will be making this quarter.

Potato Chips

Many Hands and Many Hearts June-August 2026 block drive hosted by Cynthia Brunz @cynthiabrunzdesigns consists of making 8.5" Potato Chip blocks. Apparently, a true potato chip block, a design by Stacey Lee, is 12.5", so the version for MHMH this round has a similar flavor but is a variation. Both blocks are scrappy, and honestly, I wasn't sure if I had much to work with. Requirements asked for blocks in specific pairings of colors:

• yellow with a purple center or purple with a yellow center
• green with a red center or red with a green center
• blue with an orange center or orange with a blue center

So I checked my scraps, and yeah, I didn't really have the print scraps to make more than a block or two. But what I did have was a pretty good stash of various charm squares. So I paired what I could, and managed to come up with a decent collection of blocks in most of the various color groupings - some more, some less.

So my 22 blocks are on their way to Cynthia. If you're able to join in, there's still time!

Black and White Framed

When I saw my friend Yvonne @quiltingjetgirl share about making Black and White Framed Charity Blocks for the Black & White Framed block drive hosted by Cynthia Brunz Designs @cynthiabrunzdesigns, I thought, "I could do that." Cynthia's blog is the home of Many Hands and Many Hearts, and for her charity, Cynthia runs quarterly block drives, and makes quilts with them to support multiple programs in Oregon.

The request this time was for blocks with frames using either black with a white print or white with a black print.

The centers were to be made up from warm or cool 2.5" squares made into a 4-patch. I was able to make 16 blocks, 8 each warm and cool; half with black with white frames, and half with white with black frames.

Honestly, these were a joy to make. I'll be watching for the next block drive due in March.