I love string blocks! I made a sting quilt for our family reunion and it turned out so nice. I like them because they are a kind of pick up anytime and sew block. I keep a stack of large muslin squares by my strip bin and sew down a few when i work on something else.
I loved your comment about the bed lumps. One of my cats like to burrow under the quilt on my bed too. I saw another one pull the quilt off the back of the couch so she could curl up in it! I guess she needs her own quilt!