Rita mentioned in her booklet that she sent with her block, that she used all Japanese kimono fabrics. They are quite bold designs, and mostly in navy blue and white. The exception is the lovely silkie.
The block came to me with Darlene's lovely work. Her appliqued fan is beautiful and brought a splash of green which she echoed in a blue/green ricrac seam below the geisha.
When I first began CQing a couple of years ago I picked up anything and everything that I thought I could use. One of my first purchases was a bag of bamboo beads. Tiny ones that work perfectly in my stand of bamboo at the top of the block. For the "knuckles" of the branch I used a very pale green variegated #5 Needle Necessities perle. And for the leaves a light green 2mm silk ribbon.
Just down from the bamboo I made some bullion chrysanthimums using Edmar Glory and for the leaves 4mm dark green silk ribbon.
The butterfly in the corner is the only one I made when I was teaching myself needle tatting, and i've sparkled it up with a few sequins and tiny crystal beads.
Now it is time to send it on.
