It's poncetastic 2019!

[NerosFiddle]

Since no one has started it yet, I thought I would.

Happy Rudolph Day

So come on, show us yours!

[hollyberried]

My wreath made with bits from the garden and some wire. First time I have made one, quite pleased.

[ThatsMySantaHisBeardIsSoFluffy]

They're great, Trumpton. And they flower by Christmas?

Holly, that's so nice. I want to make one at some point. Next year, maybe. I had nobody to go with this year.

[Trumpton]

Yes I have chilled them down a bit but will move them to a warmer spot o about the 15th.

[goose1964]

I'm down with the lurgey so DH has made the after eight vodka and I struggled to put it on the dining room table so it's near a radiator. I still have fudge to make,but I'll do that nearer the time.I'll also make my stollen and mince pies after next weekend.

[ThatsMySantaHisBeardIsSoFluffy]

How are you feeling now, @goose1964? I hope you're on the mend (at least you've got it out of the way before Christmas).

I framed my 4 little cross stitches for the kids last night. I hope they like them (it'll probably go one of two ways!).

[BlueOooChristmas]

Can I get some advice from the craft experts in here please? Every year I decorate my kids Christmas Eve boxes. Usually wooden crates and some paint. However in a moment of madness a few weeks ago when stood in Hobbycraft I picked up a pyrography tool. I thought it would be fun to learn and be a bit different this year. However we're now on the 10th and I've yet to even unbox it. We've been decorating the house and it's all just taken a bit longer than planned. Are they hard to use? Am I going to need lots of practice? I'm basically wondering if I may be better going to buy some paints but then I feel I'm giving up slightly.

[Trumpton]

As no one here seems to be a pyromaniac I will jump in with my experience. .
We has very little success with the kit we bought . Fun ,yes ,but nothing of beauty .
Apparently it’s to do with the heat the tip gets to and the hobby type just don’t get hot enough for a decent burn .
Kirstie’s Hand Made Christmas showed some beautiful work recently but the tip glowed red hot !
So ,basically, I don’t know . If you are going to have to keep the tool anyway it might be worth having a bash on a spare piece of wood.

[BlueOooChristmas]

Thanks for the input. I'm wondering if I may be best just returning and swapping for some paint but it does feel a little like giving up without trying. I might dig around for a spare piece of wood and have a go, then if it really is a disaster the boxes are at least unharmed.

[Trumpton]

The episode is this years episode 4 it’s available on 4OD .

[mathanxiety]

I promised myself I wouldn't go to the second hand shop between December 1st and the first week of January, but I am so happy I decided to 'just pop in for ten minutes' a few days ago. Came away with three Scandi style Christmas tree decoration sets by Ikea, all in original unopened packaging - two sets of little bearded nisse and one with little grey flannel hearts and two straw goats. Plus a set of 9 vintage glass baubles in a nice green. They will have to go high enough on the tree to keep the cat from destroying them.

The heating is sorted NoWordforFluffy, thank goodness. The furnace filter was choked with fine dust from plumbing work and necessary associated dry walling, but now replaced.

[mathanxiety]

The gorgeous handiwork photos leave me lost for words. So much talent

[Trumpton]

‘Twas ever meant to be @mathanxiety . You were drawn to the shop by mysterious forces !

[Trumpton]

I have done nothing but sleep and rest since Saturday when I got the lurgey. Ended up in A&E as I am on chemo and my temp rocketed . All sorted now with iv antibiotics etc just flatter than a flat thing .
I must get a blind up at shower room window , I keep draping towels at the window . Maybe I could ponce a plain one ?

[ThatsMySantaHisBeardIsSoFluffy]

I love Scandi decorations, math, you did well! And phew re the heating!

Trumpton, I'm sorry you've been unwell. I'm glad you're on the mend.

[Outtheforest]

"Thats" you're a cross stitch machine, they're beautiful. I've been nowhere near organised enough this year, I finished and posted my cards but left no time for cross stitching any decor

[ThatsMySantaHisBeardIsSoFluffy]

See, I'd be rubbish at cards! We all have our strengths

[mathanxiety]

Trumpton - wishing you better health.

[Trumpton]

Ah thank you . @mathanxiety & @ThatsMySantaHisBeardIsSoFluffy
Respite tomorrow , no chemo as bloods not good so I am hoping for a few good days .
I bought paint to spruce up my very shabby kitchen chairs .
If it stops raining long enough I need to get some greenery to refurbish my willow wreath that I dismantled this morning . There’s a thought .... if you can dismantle something can you mantle it ?
I also bought some pretty little tin house fairy lights but the leds are a horrible bright white so they are going back !

[Trumpton]

Very pretty little wreath finished this morning . I made the base some years ago and stripped it and redid it today .

I am also doing a chunky wreath but have treated it like a chandelier and put remote control candles on it and birds and ivy . Unfortunately while hanging it I pulled the hook out of the crumbling ceiling and have been thoroughly tutted at by DH .
Waiting for the replacement hook to stick properly .
In the meantime it’s sat on the coat rack !

[lucysmam]

Christmas cake number 1 is finished and ready to be dropped off for my friend tomorrow.

It's not very exciting to look at, but she doesn't like marzipan or icing, & I'm not sure she likes almonds either tbh. But they're easy to pick off if she doesn't & it looks ok-ish I think.

I've also finished off little hand-stitched gifts for her dd and granddaughter, but didn't think to take photo's of those before wrapping them. Hopefully they'll like them.

I'm just waiting for the oven to warm up for mince pies now. Dd1 has made some but didn't actually turn the oven on

[Trumpton]

@lucysmam I love the star on the top . But... but ...how can she not like marzipan ? Still all the more for the rest of us ! My German friend buys me chocolate covered marzipan every year .

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Finally finished my miniature cakes for teachers. I've made 10- a few for family hampers and the rest for school.
Marzipan on my own cake too.

[ThatsMySantaHisBeardIsSoFluffy]

Wow, those cakes are amazing, bear!

And marzipan is evil. Sorry! (It's Estonian, don't you know? There's a marzipan museum in Tallinn!)

Your wreath is gorgeous, Trumpton. I think you clearly located the wonky hook at the right time in order that nobody was brained by a falling wreath!

Lucysmam, yours is a lovely cake too.

[4yearsnosleep]

I feel this thread was made for me! No cross stitch, but I'm currently feeding two homemade cakes, I've done a craft afternoon for my friends kids to make crackers out of leftover wallpaper samples, I'm making kirigami bows for presents, have made peppermint bark as presents and will do spiced caramelised nuts tomorrow for work. I also spent ages decorating the dining table light

[ThatsMySantaHisBeardIsSoFluffy]

I read that as 'knickers out of leftover wallpaper samples'. Crinkly!