You might look at my Christmas quilt.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/posts/list/26970.page
It is my first ever quilt. All of the patterns came from quilterscache except the Sunbonnet Sue and since you don't like applique it won't matter. The blocks are all 12.5 inches and the hardest thing is a half square triangle. I only used red, green, white, two Christmas prints and then the backing. It is quilted together using the Fun and Done mehtod from Bayside Quilting.
If I can get it done, anyone can. When I started I was less than clueless. I really didn't even know enough to ask intelligent questions.