Cuties, I'm not sure what I need. I do need to settle on a pattern and get started. I want to make my husband a quilt in honor of our 50th anniversary.

I have drawn (and the good Lord knows I am no artist-see photo below) a tree with our direct descendants on colorful leaves. I plan to put dh and I somewhere on the trunk or each side of tree. (and upright the leaf names!)
I was thinking of making the tree as the center of my BED queen quilt. The tree panel will make up 24 inch x 36 inch finished. Then put 12 inch blocks of multicolored blocks around like a border, either like my coloring or squares without the lattice strip.
Then I thought he would probably want me to quilt it myself and I really want to. However, it will be hard to quilt it on a regular machine and with my wrist... When I do the tree I would like to free motion stipple the background, which will most likely be white. Then stitch the tree 'bark' like knot holes or lines for dimension. After stippling I will applique the leaves on, maybe by hand. I also thought I may could take it to Pearlie's friend that has a long arm, if I could get him to stitch it like I want it done.
My husband likes quilts like random squares and it is pretty (and would be quicker than some-lol) If I did this simple squares, I would still like to put births and marriages around. I would write/embroider them on white squares, but not sure how I would incorporate them in the quilt.
He likes mismatched/scrappy all kind of block colors and that's ok if. I just can't look at scrappy string quilts as they effect my vertigo, they are too busy. I get so drunk!
I did find a block,years ago we used to call it a friendship signature quilt. It makes up like a lattice quilt. See my coloring below. I didn't finish coloring but you get the idea.
I know we have some beautiful quilters here and they also make beautiful quilts-If you thought of some way other than what I have in mind, run it by me before I take the plunge. lol-Toogie