Ok, I finished this about a week ago, but got busy.
I did find that I just wanted the cutting and piecing over with. I was happy to do the quilting, but I decided to do something different this time: I've never done a stencil before. I found it harder than FMQ, possibly a little more constraining? And SITD. LOL! That was down right funny, but I did manage to "get it" eventually. All in all though, I don't think it turned out too badly, and it was a project of a lot of firsts.
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lynn_z, thanks for the suggestions! I do putter around the fabric stores from time to time, and I love the fabrics, but often can't see the trees for the forest. For some reason, I have to like the fabric as a "wholecloth".
I can't help but think though that some of this is practice. I would see more if I practiced seeing more, if that makes any sense? I practice FMQ, so I do better at it. "Seeing" something as it would look pieced would probably require similar practice?