I just got 42 ties from my recently-deceased father and I'm set to make crazy quilts (wall hangings and pillows) for my mom and each of my sisters. There is a fabulous book called, appropriately, "Daddy's Ties" that gives great information on ALL types of crazy quilts. A wealth of information. I plan to do the embellishment stitches on my machine, adding only a tiny amount of lace/beads/etc.