You could quilt in a tree with branches or continuous curves.
As for the quilt as desired statement, that bugs me too. I copy the quilt or at least the blocks. Depending upon the colors in the blocks you can either copy the blocks in b&w at the copy store , or draw than out on paper. You can now draw your ideas right on the paper block. You can also get the clear tablecloth vinyl and place it over your quilt block. Draw on the plastic with a dry erase marker... take care with the markers though.