Ahhhh progress.

 First, I got busy and combined small blocks into bigger ones.  Then I started lining them up on the design wall.

At which time I discovered it would be easiest to combine one vertical half section of the top at a time.

To do this, I'm combining units as I go.  See the 2 thin horizontal sections on the right?  They will be elongated, then combined with the section on the left, to match the section above it.  I'll probably end up adding a string of pieces in the middle of the thin units on the right to get the length I need for the block unit on the left.  But that's okay.

Let's talk about scale.  It comes in 2 varieties.

And include these teeny tiny pieces to the right of the embroidery scissors.  Those tiny pieces were already assembled from a project done in 1995.  No piece is too small.

But . . .

They should be combined with bigger pieces.  By using lights, creams of varying print scale it gives the eye a nice place to rest . . . and in this case, read.  Even though it's upside down.

Also, there's a wide, very wide, variety of scale within the prints themselves.  This too is important, as it proves I've collected a nice variety of prints for the stash.  LOL.  You know what I'm referring to don't you?

 Sometimes I goofed and increased the scale too quickly.  This red bar unit won't work for me.  Too abrupt.  It stops the eye.

 It's important to add in "single blocks" of triangle units,

 Flying geese,

 Hourglass block, etc..

Single units again, give the eye a place to pause and reflect.  Multiple units together would create a bulls eye.  Which is what I'm trying to avoid.

 Fun prints are good.  The light background allows this piece to stay.

 I've REALLY had trouble balancing darks and lights.  Notice the darks on the right and top are softened by the area of lights and brights on the bottom left.

Because my stash is saturated with darks, especially small pre-cut pieces, leftovers, it's been a constant battle to find the balance.

If you have a stash full of brights, you won't have this difficulty.

There's still a huge variety of scraps to use up.  But for now, I must finish my vortex top, set it aside and CLEAN UP.  The chaos is making me bonkers.

I've learned a lot from this process.  It's been fun and actually quite relaxing.  Not as good as a spa vacation in Switzerland, but much, much cheaper.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .