I use lots of things to embellish if it adds to the quilt.. I completed a quilt in April for which I made my own fringe out of beads and real shells from the beach! I'm posting two photos Leftovers... is red white and black... and I used 7 buttons on it.... six in the border, and one (red cardinal) on a tree branch. The second quilt I used buttons in the handles of the baskets as an embellishment. Hope these give you ideas.
Leftovers
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Friendship Baskets
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