Sara -
I think those blocks look great. I like the color gradation idea that Sharon mentioned; you'll have to do several layouts and post pictures before you sew them all together.
I know many of us think of quilts as planned blocks, but many of my grandmother's quilts were strip quilts/string quilts that she made from scraps left over from sewing clothes. Those quilts were just as beautiful, warm, and lovingly crafted as the ones with perfect points and coordinated color schemes.
If someone gave me a quilt made from these blocks, I would be very thankful and treasure the gift that they had put so much time into creating.
Darren