Thanks to all for the kind comments.
So far this is the most involved block I've made as I am a fairly new piecer. I have been handquilting for longer than I've been piecing because in the beginning I started out handquilting embroidered quilt tops, cheater-cloth quilts, and a pieced top that was given to me. Then I found someone who liked to piece but didn't like to quilt them, so she and I exchanged projects for each other...she did my piecing and I did her quilting!
I, too, like the secondary patterns created by not having sashing/cornerstones, but I really need this quilt to be QS and don't think I have enough of the black and red fabric to make another row of blocks to make it bigger without the sashing.
I started putting the sashing and cornerstones on a set of 4 block last night so that I can see how it is going to look. If I don't like it, I will see if I can eek out enough black and red fabric to make another 6 blocks.
Thanks again for all your kind comments!