How about a "New York Beauty" block, since she lives in NY; a "schoolhouse" block since she home schools; New York's state flower is a rose, there are many of those to choose from; There is a block here called "comfort"
http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/2...ort-quilt.html
and one here called "star of hope"
http://www.edwardssoftware.com/quilts/blocks.html