Count Your Lucky Stars

Happy New Year! I hope your New Year's Eve was fun or relaxing, whichever you prefer. :) I spent the day sewing, made some buffalo chicken dip (mmm...) and didn't do anything too wild and crazy.

Though I did get some fun mail yesterday, which I had to instagram right away! This is an Octopurse made with Melody Miller's new fabric line, Ruby Star Sparkle. I won it as a prize in the Ruby Star Wrap Along at my friend Sukie's blog.

Isn't it to die for? As if I wasn't already counting my lucky stars, today I made a quilt block with the January pattern from my friend Elizabeth's Lucky Stars Block of the Month Club.

Fabric: Licorice Fizz by Carol Van Zandt for Andover

Each month you get a newsletter with a PDF foundation pieced pattern that you can print, as well as step-by-step photos to get you familiar with paper piecing. I haven't done any paper piecing myself since the New York Beauty Quilt Along, so I did mess up a couple of times. But nothing that a simple seam ripper couldn't handle! Here are the blocks in the series:

If you resolve to try a new quilting technique this year, I'd recommend joining the Lucky Stars Block of the Month Club. You can join now through January 5th for just $10. (After that, the cost goes up to $15, which is still totally worth it.) If you think these look too complex, Elizabeth has lots of helpful things in place to help you troubleshoot the blocks.

You can do it!

Craft Buds and My Shop

Crafty Links
Teddy Bear 1.0: The Crafty Princess reviews one of Craftsy.com's amigurumi classes and shows off her first teddy bear attempt from the class.  
Make Beer Caramels: Beer and pretzels... and caramel, oh my!  
New Paintings: Hey You: Cherie shares paintings and poetry.  
Received: Crafty Christmas Gifts: Santa came early, and some arty eye candy for you to look at 
Create a New Year Photo Calendar: A photo calendar lets you keep memories close all year long. Here's how to design and bind one yourself.  
Make a Recycled Paper Picture: This week at Craftside there is a tutorial on how to make a recycled paper picture featuring text, a recycled box dollhouse and a recipe for a champagne cocktail called the Full Regalia.