It has taken a little while, but the base for my Hearts for Charleston quilt block has been basted and then heavily stitched. It has settled nicely into one whole, instead of a conglomeration of pieces. It is still much larger than the 10 inch piece requested, but all of the design falls within a 10 inch square.
It is still pretty regimented at this stage, but I have been thinking of it as background.
Here is the direction I plan to take it now.