my grandma will be 90 this year and she is working on staying around till then. I would do something in batiks that are tropical colors. maybe some stars or if you are good at circles and applique then applique a mermaid on it. there is a pattern where you have circles. this could be done in blue shades like you are under water and the mermaid is swimming and there are those long grasses under water that she is swimming threw. it might take a bit of work and a couple of long hours and maybe an all day sewathon (what a bummer hehe) but you could do it.