Remember the stories back in the cold war days of little Johnny who would not do things the same way he was told?? Well, that's me. I too hesitated at the beginning, but then Quilted Twins came out with a bundle of fabrics that had been picked out just for this. My style is not scrappy so if I do it again next year I will take your advice and eliminate all the strings and the tiny pieces, use some yardage---Lord knows my stash is full of it--- and try to sew up what I've got. I'm one of the ones that did the chevrons the wrong direction.
I saw that ribbon border on facebook, and just kept turning my blocks until I got it. (Hint: it has to be sewed in pairs.)