I'm so sorry about your Sandy...I know it's so heartbreaking to lose a fur baby.
This "layered patchwork" technique would work if you can either use a pinking blade or cut your pieces on the bias so that you get the "curling" effect along the edges. It's fun to do and makes a happy quilt with two different sizes of pinwheels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcj9IHtwL_s