Use of a jelly roll
I'm kicking myself because I can't find a link to the blog that gave me this pattern, but it's pretty simple. I used a 20-strip jelly roll, started with a 2.5 x 3" center fabric of sunrise sky looking print, and then started with one jelly strip and went round, then a 1.5" gray strip around, then back to the jelly strip till it ran out and added on the next jelly strip.
I like it, but next time I think I'd change the center piece to 2.5" x 3.5" or 4, and I think I'd cut the jelly strips in half for more variety. It was quick to make, and is good for a beginner, I think. It's gone to Project Linus.