Poncetastic 2020

[VivaJen]

I came on looking for the annual thread but can't find it so here is the start (courtesy of Fellatio - wherever you are)

OK, first of all, I know it's still September by we need to start this thread now because as you all know, having a truly Poncetastic Christmas involves precision planning, strategy, bravery, heroics, and frequently martyrdom. A bit like the war in Afghanistan, only with nicer food and sparkly shoes.

So, if you, like me, actually want to make the next twelve weeks of your life a misery by hand-crafting your cards, finding a huge bucket for Nigella's turkey in brine, pickling pears, shrivelling oranges in a low oven for those rustic au naturel decorations, dragging half a holly bush back from the woods, and just generally being a smug annoying jobsworth ponce, join me on this thread.

Feel free to post photos of previous tree-trimming, cake icing or table centrepiece triumphs, discuss this year's bauble colour themes, debate the merits of Delia versus Gordon, road-test a selection of canapes and cocktails, (all in the line of duty) and link to lovely inspirational photos/craft ideas for a truly Poncetastic Christmas.

Warning: If your idea of a good Christmas involves Pizza, ITV, gravy granules or anything with 'Aunt Bessies' on the packet, this is not the thread for you".

Cankles Spelt isn’t gluten free, if you need it for someone who can’t eat gluten then Doves Farm GF is probably the best for cakes.

[quote Trumpton]@BletheringHeights

Hurricane vases .[/quote]
I am another one in awe of the poncetastic creation from Trumpton!!

I ordered my paperwhites on the 27 sept. Peeing myself with excitement for this new tradition of planting them in the hurricane vases on Remembrance Sunday.

I've tried the trumpton method of narcissi but with the normal ones not paperwhite. They have started to root in their pebbles.

Should sloes be introduced to the gin whilst still frozen or should I let them defrost first oh wise ones?

First present of the year finished. There's too much fabric in what would be the spine in a normal book so it has a bit of a lump where the inner pages are stitched in, but overall I'm happy with it.

I’ve bought some nice fabrics to make a reversible stocking for DC2 (bump) to coordinate with DC1’s which was made by his GM. I haven’t sewn anything since school so wish me luck!

@noodledoodler

I throw frozen raspberries into my gin .
The sloes will defrost in the gin so I really don’t think it matters .

Sipsmith say to use them frozen .

Lucysmam, I don't think a lumpy bit will matter in the slightest. It looks lovely and will make a little person very happy.

TrickyD, no, it doesn't matter really. If I'd realised before sewing I could have made a 1/2" tuck in the spine but never mind.

I think I'll iron the cushion fronts and back fabric tomorrow morning and maybe start them over the weekend.

@BiddyPop I think your bookmark post on the "what are you making?" thread has inspired me for the other girls so I'm going to start looking for some patterns to use :)

Thanks for the link to the decorations. You could use them.for gift tags and all sorts. I'm thinking the dc could decorate and they'd be nice to send to relatives. Which reminds me I really want to make a photo book for in laws, they're shielded and we have only seen them once since last Christmas. Its really hard to buy for them but I can see that going down well.
Once my sampler is done I'm going to make napkin rings, each person's initial with a festive motif. Best thing about lockdown discovering my new hobby!

For those looking for cross stitch patterns, DMC have a good few free ones online even if you can't get any magazines etc at the moment.

@Andylion

He just can't get his head around it, and at one point suggested a small tree that I could put on the worktop as a counter argument

Is that a pun? Counter argument?

I’m so glad someone else said it!

Made me chuckle, anyway...

Oh and 👋👋👋 to everyone. I usually mostly lurk but this year after several years of living in flats I’m back in a house - with a staircase! And a bay window!! And a fence to the front that’s perfect for a string of lights!!!

So much poncing potential...

It’s lovely to read this thread. Some very lovely things already posted and lots of great ideas and inspiration!

I love this thread. I have made some Christmas cake muffins, to try the recipe out, they are lovely, even with my dreadful icing skills. Going to try the paper whites, Wilco have the bulbs.
Going to made some decorations with air dry clay and use nail varnish to paint.

Has anyone made the mini Christmas cakes in baked bean (or similar) tins? Looking for a reliable recipe...

Once I get started I can’t stop...

I’ve just bought The Christmas Chronicles! Really excited to sit down and savour it daily throughout October - it’s just starting to really feel like autumn is around the corner here and I’m feeling allll cosy and nostalgic for Christmases past!

@Ninkanink , I used the lurpak web site recipe, was easy and they are lovely. I soaked my dried fruit for two days.

@Ninkanink

Has anyone made the mini Christmas cakes in baked bean (or similar) tins? Looking for a reliable recipe...

I used the Mary Berry Christmas cake recipe online and it made 16 mini baked bean can cakes. I reduced the cooking time to 80/90 minutes, I cooked 4 at a time as that was all the little tins I had and used 1 of the first batch to test.

I have so far made Mini Christmas cake, Christmas Chutney and currently have 4kgs of shallots brining ready to pickle tonight. I don't normally make lots of edible gifts but decided this year to make good use of the time.
I also plan to embroider napkins (I have a machine), make Clementine Gin Liqueur and maybe some Biscotti or Fudge.
To be honest I am really enjoying doing it and seems very calming

BiddyPop thanks for the DMC info, I'll have a look later on!

Thanks to this thread I have narcissus bulbs on order, picked up a hurricane glass in IKEA today, and I'm soaking fruit ready for the cake.

I've also set up a list on the family whiteboard in the kitchen asking for lovely festive food ideas. I'm training up the next generation of ponces (DC are 12 and 14).

@BiddyPop

For those looking for cross stitch patterns, DMC have a good few free ones online even if you can't get any magazines etc at the moment.

Thanks! I’m going to have a look as I’d like to start cross stitching

@eitak22 I make all my own crackers! I got a huge stash of cracker snaps and hats from Freecycle, but you'll be able to buy them cheap online, and then print out a cracker template. Coloured them all in by hand last year as part of a big sociable crafting session, but intend to use my graphic tablet to do the designs this year just for time-saving reasons!

And I usually fill them with a wrapped chocolate and a scratch card, but am looking for a very cheap option this year, so am open to suggestions for fillings!

@Trumpton thank you, I will go with that advice, got a lovely 2L kilner jar today to mellow it all in.
Loving all the food posts ♥️🎄