CQJP 2016 February Block Motifs 2-3 and Seam 8

With the surrounding seams embellished, I was able to add the spider to the web on my Crazy Quilt Journal Project (CQJP) 2016 February block to complete the second motif.

Marsha Michler's book, The Magic of Crazy Quilting: A Complete Resource for Embellished Quilting, taught me how to make spiders like this one. They are my favorite spiders to stitch. (Please note: if you visit Amazon.com through my blog and make a purchase, I do earn a small percentage from the purchase.)

The 8th and final seam on this block was embellished with more embroidered flowers. 

Size 8 Anchor #00230 pearl cotton was used to add a buttonhole stitch across the seam and then to add straight stitched "leaves" to some of the buttonhole "stems" along the seam. I intentionally created crooked buttonhole stitches.

Next, groups of 3 detached chain stitches were added to the stems that leaves had been added to, using a strand of size 8 Anchor #00047 pearl cotton.

I am still not sure how I feel about the 3rd motif. (You may click on the photo for a larger view.)

I wanted the text on the fabric to stand out on this section, so I traced a rectangle around it lightly in pencil and stem stitched the area with size 12 DMC #B5200 pearl cotton. 

Using the same pearl cotton, I made a butterfly with 4 detached chain stitches for wings and a straight stitch for the body and then created a flight path with a running stitch.  

Using a strand of size 8 DMC #B5200 pearl cotton, I added flowers to the corners of the rectangle framing the text on the fabric. These flowers were created with 5 detached chain stitches and a French knot center.

NOTE: If you use pencil on your blocks, mark the block lightly. I recommend using a hard lead pencil (rather than #2) so the marks will be lighter and so the thread is less likely to be discolored pulling through the markings on the fabric. And only mark areas that will be covered with stitches, as the pencil marks may be difficult (or impossible) to remove.

I created a Pinterest board so I can easily look back at seams and motifs created on my CQJP 2016 blocks. If you are interested, you may find the board here.

CQJP 2016 is a personal stitching challenge to complete a block a month. You may learn more about it here. If you are interested in joining next year, sign ups for CQJP generally open up in November and close in December.

Thanks for stopping by!
Renee