I really like the rectangle and two squares method of making geese. I used to be very precise in my cutting and sewing and I've switched to a slice and dice cut large and trim down style of quilting. It doesn't really waste very much fabric, I'm actually more precise in my end results, and for me it's happier as well as faster.
I also use it for the HST, where I draw a line down the middle and depending on what I'm doing I either sew on that line or cut on that line. Again, for small units there really is very little waste and with larger units you can use those extra HST.
So here's two quilts in one! Picture one is "Mayflower" a traditional block much like Winding Ways but no curve. Picture two is Broken Dishes that I made from the excess HST from the Mayflower project.