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".

Someone was making the Corinne Lapierre 12 days of christmas decorations - how long would you say 1 takes to make? Wondering about giving a kit (of 1 decoration) to a few friends as something we can do together but separately online if that makes sense, but worried they might be a bit advanced and take too long, as well.

@Boholady I found it in the end, had to search by 'pear'! It looks like 4-6 hours? Is the pear the easiest one?

Right poncing gurus, I'm on maternity leave from the end of this week and I've turned my full attention to festive frippery!

So, ideas please for the dining room and lounge fireplaces (lounge has just been decorated so excuse the empty room and tv bracket with no TV on!)

What lovely fireplaces (and decor)! We won’t have time to install a fireplace in the living room before Christmas which I’m gutted about but next year we’ll have one and I’m already looking forward to it!!❤️

You’ll have to have garlands and candlesticks and bunting and little ceramic houses to hold your tealights...and a lovely basket full of pine cones...maybe also a string of lights here and there...

And a lovely oversized wreath to hang above the one that doesn’t have a mirror. Cox&Cox, White Company and Layered Lounge will have something nice!

Oh I love the idea of a big wreath above the lounge one! We've no idea if we're hanging art or a mirror over it, and we can use the picture rail instead of putting anything into the wallpaper. If you come across any good ones let me know!

I have a nice garland with faux pinecones and things which could go on the dining room one, might need to hunt down some candlesticks...

Lots to think about, once I get some things together I'll post for thoughts!

Sorry just saw the places you mentioned for a wreath, I'll have a look!

Just a wee seasonal namechange! 🎄🎄🎄

I’ve received my first crafting purchase so making of paper stars will commence tonight or tomorrow night! Will post pics when I’ve mastered the technique as it’s many many years since I’ve made them...

@Trumpton this is my earliest batch of narcissi. I've brought them in as they are not paper whites and will take much longer to grow. If they get too ahead of themselves I will vanish them back to the garage.

@SistemaAddict
They are looking GOOD !
Can’t wait to start mine !

It's taken them 3 weeks in the garage to get to that point so I can't see them being ready too soon but if they are then they get to be enjoyed earlier. I'm viewing them as an experiment and next year I'll have the experience to know what I'm doing I need to continue with the Christmas garlands this month.

I did my first poncing bit! I decided against a nose, because - well, orange would clash. I'm already eyeing the pattern to figure out how to make it bigger. And will stuff the hat next time. This got me so in the mood!

Oh how cute! I love it!

I made mincemeat for the first time this year. Usually we buy it in, but it was so easy- not sure why i haven't tried it before.

It.smells all Christmassy!

Oh goodness I totally forgot, we need to make ours too!

I made mine while I was furloughed in April. And we discovered a couple from last year when I was making mince pies the other day!

I'm also a bit late to the party and planning to make mine next week once my wax circles have arrived.

I have weighed put my Christmas cake fruit and have been soaking it. Now trying to motivate myself to bake the cakes. Every year I loathe the lining of the tins etc. But I love the smell. Just need to get on with it!

I've also got pastry bacon and cheese in to freeze palmiers for Christmas- super easy and always popular, though there might be no one to share them with this year (why is there no emoji for fat woman who has eaten all her Christmas poncing pastry herself)

I've just been into town for some crafty bits and bobs to fill the weekends with dd2. Wilko had sold out of the pack of pink baubles for a fiver that I wanted to fill my tree 9:(

I'm half tempted to stick with my current decs this year; I think town will be a pita if shops re-open, so I'm after suggestions/recommendations for a fairly inexpensive garland for my fireplace, that I can buy online.

@lucysmam

I've just been into town for some crafty bits and bobs to fill the weekends with dd2. Wilko had sold out of the pack of pink baubles for a fiver that I wanted to fill my tree 9:(

I'm half tempted to stick with my current decs this year; I think town will be a pita if shops re-open, so I'm after suggestions/recommendations for a fairly inexpensive garland for my fireplace, that I can buy online.

I find eBay really good for things like that - quite often you can pick up a good amount of used baubles for hardly anything. If you wanted to use pink but can’t find the specific ones you had wanted you could always use whatever gold/silver/neutral baubles you already have and add a smaller amount in the pink shade as an accent colour.

Again, I find eBay good for garlands. Gisela Graham had some nice ones a few years ago.

I remembered to feed my Christmas cakes (1 proper 1 and 3 cupcake sized ones) with whiskey to keep them moist yesterday. I had fed the top of the large 1 about a month ago when I made it, and fed the bottom of that this time, and my first dousing for the baby ones. I have no idea how they will taste as I was about 5 weeks too early to make them, but this can only help (it's my first Christmas cake ever, and I only left home 21 years ago !)

@BiddyPop

I remembered to feed my Christmas cakes (1 proper 1 and 3 cupcake sized ones) with whiskey to keep them moist yesterday. I had fed the top of the large 1 about a month ago when I made it, and fed the bottom of that this time, and my first dousing for the baby ones. I have no idea how they will taste as I was about 5 weeks too early to make them, but this can only help (it's my first Christmas cake ever, and I only left home 21 years ago !)

I’ve never made one either! In my defense - we are on the poncing thread after all - it isn’t traditional back home in Denmark and I’ve also hated raisins/dried fruits in baked goods since I was a child (although after a few years of training my tastebuds this is changing and last year was the first time I actually actively enjoyed having a slice of Christmas cake and a bit of a mince pie!) so we usually buy a really nice small one just for my DH to have throughout December as my daughters both detest raisins too.

This was going to be our first year to make one together but when we were leafing through Delia’s Christmas book in bed the other evening (yes we’re rock’n’roll like that...) we decided on another cake instead.

@HollyandIvyandallthingsYule I've not looked on ebay - I might have a scroll later on today. Town was like it's Christmas week this week lots of empty shelves & queues that seemed worse than usual. I didn't even browse in Primark which is unknown for me; just bought the tights I went for for the girls.

Dd1 did see some nice baubles in Poundland but there were only a couple out so I didn't bother - we can always google & try our own in that style.

I need to feed my cakes with dd2 this week..she'll find that novel

I have to stay off eBay in Nov/Dec as I want all the things! Only allowed myself one angel ornament this year which I will send to my daughters since I can’t see them over Christmas.