Excellent weekend

This weekend I did not join the IHSW as I was visiting my family in the North East of England. I had an excellent weekend, this time Ed' (my OH) came with me. He has never been to the North East before. I can't wait to go back again.

Ah! The coast, Seaburn.

I've not done much stitching lately but I did get the planned backstitch on the trio of poppies done and I started another Christmas card. Here's photos of a recent Christmas ornament exchange.

I made this, I know it's a bit odd shaped but it was my first "proper" finish on the sewing machine.

This is the lovely ornament I received. 

I bought 2 charts in the HAED 50% sale, QS Cherished Moments and Spangler's mini curl up with a good book. I absolutely love Spangler's dragons. I've signed up to HAED SAL, I chose QS Mystic Garden as I would prefer to wait for Literate Dragon to be released as a mini. For now I'll try to get as much done on the Christmas cards as possible.

Sewing progress.

I deleted my last post as I figured out what was wrong. Numpty here forgot there would be seam allowances in the middle but I gave up on it as the instructions for the body were not clear. Therefore I will repost my photo of the finished Christmas card:

As I venture into sewing, I decided to place an order with a fabric shop so that I could practice. I placed my order with Online Fabrics, I bought around 5 metres of different fabrics. I placed my order around midnight and I received a dispatched email 12 hours later. The package arrived the next day. There was a slight mix up with one of them but they were quick with a reply to my email and the fabric was dispatched that day and again arrived the next, very kindly I was allowed to keep the other fabric. I would gladly place an order with them again.

The fabric arrived nicely packaged in a cellophane bag within the postal bag.

My lovely fabrics. 

I finished my cross stitch/sewing piece but as it's for an exchange I can't post a photo of that yet. I made my own headband to match a dress I have, it's a bit messy along one edge but it fits me and I like it :) I'm starting to get the hang of sewing in a straight line. I didn't use a pattern just made sure it fit around the elastic and my head.

Navy polka dot headband. 

www.craftinessisnotoptional.com/2011/05/20-minute-grocery-bag-holder-tutorial.html

I also made the above carrier bag holder with my OH using a free tutorial. 

I hope to get the backstitch done on the trio of poppies so far then I'll stitch another Christmas card or two and then I'll aim to get the second poppy half done.