I decided on the 8-at-a-time method for step one, it is new to me. I am so glad I tried it, I have found it much less tedious than using Bonnie's ruler on already cut strips. I still use her ruler that way quite a bit, but the bias-cut strips go faster for me.
I also used my enthusiasm for a new project to work on catching up on squaring up the blocks on my leader and ender project...I had gotten behind and the very idea of sitting down to square up that many blocks at once made me avoid it. So for every cut I made on grassy creek today...I squared up a block. I will be caught up on those before I finish step 1!