Poncetastic Christmas 2025

[welikebeingcosy]

Added by MNHQ upon request:
OK, first of all, I know it's still September but 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.The days are getting shorter, the leaves are starting to brown, that can only mean one thing- it's time to ignore the waves of Halloween decor all over your local The Range and head to the woods to start picking your own holly for that perfect Kirsty inspired wreath.

We want homemade stuffing recipes perfected by November, the handmade crackers draped in the most delicate of embroidered ribbon, mantle pieces draped in the most Scandinavian of wooden carvings, specialised stamps for the personalised wrapping paper ordered by next week and the word craft to be your official middle name by new year.

Happy ponceing and may Nigel and Nigella's fairy lights guide you on your way to getting the last box of rosemary and sea salt crackers in your own personal Bethlehem.

Ouch @Rose785 at the injury and good luck with the rest of the tins!

You've just reminded me about Marmalade vodka @DanceWithYourBalloon I think that was actually my favourite tipple from last year. Must now dig out more empty bottles.

@Rose785 ouch! Hope it gets better with the next can.

@RainbowZebraWarrior
here it is. Just plonked on the side for now but I popped some batteries in.

Looks like I’ll have to do some surgery as the lights inside just sit around the bottom. I’ll pop a blob of hot glue in the top to make the lights go all the way up.

I drove past tonnes of slows in rural Oxfordshire today, I nearly stopped. I don’t intend to make sloe gin but the size and laden nature made me consider it!!

Ooh yay we’re back!

Ooh I love that. It's also complemented beautifully by your wall colour.

I think I’d like to embroider some linen napkins. Hand (I do have a very whizzy machine but it’s heavy and cumbersome to get out).

Has anyone got any patterns they can recommend or websites for ideas?

I’m thinking dunelm will sell plain napkins?

@FurForksSakelast year I bought a set of water soluble embroidery patterns from Sostrene Greene and used the holly pattern to embroider some plain white cotton napkins from Dunelm. I cut it so that there was just one set of leaves and then traced it onto blank water soluble embroidery paper until I had enough to use one on each napkin. I used a very simple satin stitch.

That’s very nice and timeless. I believe we have one of those shops now. I think I’ve got some embroidery paper from my unfinished ornaments so I guess I could print out some simple line drawings!

thanks for sharing, it was just what I was thinking of.

Not sure if it's particularly poncey but I made my annual big jar of pickled onions today, they need a couple of months before they are ready to eat. I peeled and salted them a couple of days ago and rinsed/pickled tonight.

@ExquisitelyDecorating will they go on a poncey cheeseboard?

Do you follow a particular recipe? I’d love to make a small batch, I’m the only one in my house that eat them. I don’t think I know any kids that go for them.

Hooray, we’re back! Last year I declared that I wouldn’t be doing a Christmas dinner so there was more time with DDs (5 and 8 this year) but now my aunty and uncle are visiting from Australia and will spend Christmas Day with us along with my Mum and Dad for the first time ever (Boxing Day is our big family day). Full Christmas dinner is back on!!

I’m currently trying to pick a table theme. I’ll need new Christmas linen as well have to extend the table so current stuff won’t fit. I have a vision of an embroidered table runner. I feel like I saw someone making one last year, or sharing one long ago made perhaps? I feel like it was maybe kind of doodles rather than one big scene but can’t find any record of it on my phone or Pinterest. Is this ringing any bells?!

@HoHoJ0 I can’t help with embroidery, but my table runner tip is to make it with an envelope back (like a simple cushion cover) and put this heatproof stuff inside. Then your handiwork doesn’t have to be hidden by trivets and mats, you can place serving dishes straight down and have a less cluttered table.

Can’t believe it’s sloe time already! I hope DD fancies a walk in the woods later. She’s quite good at scrumping, I’ve gained a carrier bag of apples this week. Chip off the old block

Probably not to be honest, we don't tend to have other people over and don't do it as a family. DH tends to have his as part of cheese on toast and only really eats cheddar, I'll have them with crackers and cheese if I'm eating alone and CBA to cook. DS and I love all the poncey cheeses but neither DC eats pickled onions.

My way of making them is to submerge them in boiling water for a few mins to soften the skin, peel them, sprinkle
liberally with salt overnight. Drain them, rinse, rinse, rinse (usually submerge again in cold water for a few minutes a couple of times). Drain again, add to a big sterilised jar with half and half malt and spirit vinegar and a selection of whatever whole spices I have to hand. This time a dried chilli, mustard, cumin, coriander, fenugreek seeds, black and Szichuan peppercorns and a token clove (I don't like to actually be able to taste cloves).

Oh I love to see a big jar of hone made Pickled onions @ExquisitelyDecorating I stopped making them myself a couple of years ago as it feels like sensory hell to me with all the peeling and salting (hate the feeling of salt especially up my nails) It's a shame as shop bought ones are mainly rubbish and soggy. I might have to go on a Pickled onion tasting quest!

I've put Sostrene Greene on my list of places to get to this weekend and I'm hoping those embroidery transfers are back in that you've shared @TheWoollybacksWife as they look great. I must also call in to TK Maxx for wonderful random things.

The peeling is unpleasant, but aided greatly by softening in boiling water first. I often sit outside to do it because of the smell and eye-watering, fortunately my contact lenses protect me from that to a large extent. I don't actually touch any salt, just sprinkle it on liberally with them in a large bowl and shake it to distribute it. Wash using a colander. Once a year is enough, if we run out it's shop bought after that.

@ExquisitelyDecorating we don’t host apart from New Year’s Eve and I’ve never done a cheese board at home :)

final question - where did you buy the onions?

@ExquisitelyDecorating It's been a couple of years since I did homemade pickled onions but seeing your jar has made me think I'll do a jar for Christmas this year. I saw shallots in one of the supermarkets but can't remember which one 🙄.

You can buy shallots individually in Waitrose for 15p each (I just added some to my online order for tomorrow) as I decided I might pickle some shallots, but have restricted myself to 15. Gone are the days when I'd have done kilos upon kilos.

Sainsburys had bags of pickling onions in when I was there earlier in the week.

Nice idea to buy the shallots individually so I can choose how many to pickle. There's only DH & I at Christmas so just a jar full will be plenty.

Has anyone here ever made a jar of mixed pickles - with cauliflower etc?

I did mixed pickles last year and enjoyed them. I added carrots, small cauliflower florets and mini cucumber / gherkin. Also did piccalilli which to me is a stinky faff, but my Dad enjoyed. I do pickled jalapeños every year as we always have masses of them <eyes pile on the side of the bench>

I need to get the sloe gin and winter tonic out of the way before starting on the pickles tomorrow. Had so many sloes I had to go out and buy more gin! There's also some in the freezer for a rainy day.

What’s winter tonic? I have lots of gin fans in the family and I’d love to hear more about that.

@TheWoollybacksWife
Those napkins are lovely. I need a stern word with myself because I do not need another project 😂

Corr! Marmalade isn’t for the faint hearted is it? I swear my arm has gone dead juicing and shredding 1kg of oranges.
The sad reality is that it’s only actually 4 oranges 🍊😂
the shred is soaking in the juice and water and I can’t wait to get it boiling.

I also need to know this 👀

my husband has just bought a cricut maker 4 so I need to find ways to ponce using it.

My first time joining this, but have lurked in previous years. All being well we will be in our own house for Christmas with family visiting from abroad and a five month old (first baby and first grandchild].
I would love poncing ideas. I already always make my own mincemeat and mince pies; have previously handsewn christmas cards, handmade decorations of various kinds. I lean towards the eco/green/upcycle end of things, one broke student year i made loads of paperchains from colourful advertising leaflets and I like a nature table look with collections of leaves and sprigs of holly.