Kaleidescopes from Hell

I'm having trouble with my kaleidescope quilt. I took a class on how to make these, based on the book "Magic Stack and Whack" by Bethany Reynolds. I took it because I was more interested in the cutting process, because I wanted to make a wall hanging out of kaleidescope hexagons. You find the right fabric, (in my case a bali japanese print with a large repeat), make all these hexagons, and put them next to each other to create something very unique. The contruction process is like a puzzle, that you control. It's very fun. So for this class, I thought I found the perfect fabric. Lots of solid space so my centers wouldn't look weird if my piecing was lousy, unique, VERY INEXPENSIVE. I think I paid $3 a yard, I bought the bolt. Also it is perfect for a picnic or beach blanket because it has these little prints of different states. See picture. However, most people picked fabrics with a 12" or 14" repeat. Mine had a 22" repeat. I did all the cutting, because where would I possibly start, and pieced them all to see what I would get. I used my favorite JoAnns Fabrics staple yellow, that reminds me of my room when I was little, and I ended up with 22 blocks. 18 yellow, (4 solid orange batik, for something different). I was going to use this orange as sashing, because the class quilt had sashing, but I knew I would run out, so I started to make my sashing thinner. I laid them all out yesterday, on the floor, to try to come up with something, and they were like Pop Art Optical illusions so close to one another. I am having trouble coming up with a placement that will highlight the individual blocks. Sashing very far apart? 3" is way to close. Use a darker more contrasting color. I could use bold solids. Most of the other students incorporated the pattern into their final quilt, either in the backing, or in some way on the front. I had so much left over that I cut 12 1/2" blocks of it and thought I could lay them next to each other, in a checkerboard pattern. This proves WAY too busy. But not something I can throw out completely. If it's worth doing, it's worth doing correctly, and in a way that is pleasing to the eye. I have decided that I have so many blocks that I am going to make it double sided. I want maximum contrast and SMOOTH visual transition, with emphasis on the uniqueness of each kaleidescope. It's a challenge. I will try again today. Checkerboard may be the way to go. I just "WANT IT OVER" and that is a bad place to be, opportunities die in this place. I'm trying to keep an open mind. Today I'm going to try to clean the slate and come up with new ideas.

I changed my darning foot and the quilting process is a little smoother. So I hope to finish the 1930s crossroads today, and I have a great idea, so I'm stewing that while I sew.