Crack on with Christmas! (Planning, Prepping & Projects)

Oooh, sounds scrummy, I'd actually love a candle that smelt like that! It would be named Christmas at Witzend Hall

Well, I made my Delia mincemeat yesterday, mixed it all up at least. It sat overnight as per instructions and is now in a very low heat oven for 3 hours.
Smelt gorgeous while mixing up!

Orange and lemon zest are so much less of a chore since I acquired a little zester thingy a few years back - rather than the horrible box grater.

Will also come in v useful in a few days, for the annual lemon meringue pie I make for dh’s birthday. .🙂

I like to have a good project every christmas/new year, its a long time to not have a purpose. I have just ordered a die for my die-setter plus 9mm rivets. Fabric has arrived, strapping and the pdf pattern. I am going to make myself a bag, the first I have ever made. Nothing will be started prior to the holiday and this time it is a relatively cheap gift to myself. It is a factotum bag

I am going to sit on my hands re advent calendar and nibbles this time, the sewing AC was nice but so expensive for the few things that were of use. The nibbles are nice but it takes so long to take the extra weight off me, which makes cycling up hills harder

I have a couple of lovely christmas fabrics in my stash, warm fabrics so the most I will do is make a couple of sweatshirts

There are some christmas patterns on here

www.alandart.co.uk/product/holidays/

also Arne and Carlos christmas balls and stockings

shop.arnecarlos.com/product-category/patterns/christmas/

I like the idea with the gift bags. I have a little Christmas patterned fabric but have had an idea to use up what I have most of: old tee shirts.

I shall use them to applique simple Christmassy shapes in plain colours onto the bags.

Always looking for stash busting ideas like this.

Nansypansy, I completely understand your dd and changing the date to march is a very good way for her to still celebrate her own life. Conceived in march, more meaningful at this sad time. Christmas period will always be a sad time for her and for you all

Sorry, storynanny, that post was about something else. I hope you find the Nativity one!

Youve found the nativity pattern?? I spend hours googling last night to no avail! It was easy to store as I just took the loo rolls out and stored them flat. Had a panic one year as I forgot to save the rolls so I put a reminder on my calendar now each October!
I do have the Jean G one which I could adapt if necessary ( if Witzend was referring to finding something completely different!) There isnt a donkey pattern though so will have to get that elsewhere.
I have fond memories of coming home from work every day in December to see how my mischievous boys had rearranged the scene - sometimes the sheep were climbing the Christmas tree or asleep in the crib, the baby was stuffed up the angels dress and so on…

So nice to see pictures!
Lots of nice work going on here I think!
🎄

Witzend

Found it!
Here it is, in case anyone else would like to see it.

Thankyou for this Witzend, I’m hopeless about photos. I’m hoping to start this soon.

maddyone

I’m so sorry Nansypansy. I understand why your daughter has come to this decision because she lost her daughter (and you your granddaughter) only last Christmas. She is still grieving. She’ll never get over this loss but will over years come live with it. You need to respect her decisions at this time. Christmas Day will be a horribly sad day for her, and for the rest of the family, yourself included. Do you have other children? You may wish to meet with your daughter to lay flowers or remember in some other way, but alternatively she may wish to be left completely alone. Go with whatever her wishes are. If you have other children you might want to spend some time with them, depending on what they’re doing.
I’m so sorry, it must be a very difficult time for you all

Agree with this completely, I’m so sorry about this.

storynanny, how about asking on the general Chat thread? It probably gets more ‘footfall’, so to speak.
I did ask Mr Google yesterday, but no luck alas.

Ladies. Looking for a k urging pattern from the 80’s - I knitted a nativity set not Jean Greenhowe version - which had toilet roll middles instead of stuffing. It comes out every year and I’ve decided to make sets for grandchildren
Anyone have the pattern floating around. ? I think it was from a woman’s mag
Fingers crossed

I’m so sorry Nansypansy. I understand why your daughter has come to this decision because she lost her daughter (and you your granddaughter) only last Christmas. She is still grieving. She’ll never get over this loss but will over years come live with it. You need to respect her decisions at this time. Christmas Day will be a horribly sad day for her, and for the rest of the family, yourself included. Do you have other children? You may wish to meet with your daughter to lay flowers or remember in some other way, but alternatively she may wish to be left completely alone. Go with whatever her wishes are. If you have other children you might want to spend some time with them, depending on what they’re doing.
I’m so sorry, it must be a very difficult time for you all

I’m in a quandary about Christmas ….. my DD has informed me she no longer will be doing Christmas …. Doesn’t want to give or receive presents …. also her birthday is Christmas Day and the same applies …. plus she wants to change her birthdate to March. The reason is her daughter, my GD, passed away suddenly last Christmas Day. I sort of understand but feel sad that she’s taken this decision. I still want to give her presents as I feel you can’t change these dates so intend to do so and say to her that she doesn’t have to open them until she chooses. What do you think fellow gransnetters??

I made a huge set of Bags in Christmas themed fabrics about 45 years ago and have used them ever since, periodically washing and mending them and renewing ribbon drawstrings as needed. I can't think how much time and money these have saved. I also made complete sets for both daughters at their request. The married granddaughter now wants a set...

Witzend

Beechnut

We hadn’t got a fire surround so DH made me a fake one to use at Christmas. For years I’ve put out the same things and last year fancied a mantle of trees. I’ve got a few but on the whole left it too late. I’m going to make more effort this year.

What is a mantle of trees, please? I can’t picture it!

Lots of trees on the mantelpiece. Hopefully made out of different thing’s craft wise. If I remember nearer Christmas I’ll post a photo.

Foxygloves: I think u can leave doing the sprouts till late August, if u're also planning to roast them afterwards, lol.

I absolutely love wrapping up Christmas presents, I do mine very early and then early Nov I wrap for a local charity, I have the gifts delivered to our hone, there are three gifts per person in each Christmas bag, each gift has to be individually wrapped in different paper, I make 100'sof 4x4 Christmas cards & I make the tags from old Christmas cards usually donated. It makes me feel like a better person, doing things for those less fortunate than myself, I also donate things to the charity, things like soap, socks, puzzle books. The charity is called "Santa's Seniors" the gifts go to centres such as luncheon clubs....on a different note I also donate gifts to the local Ukrainian club that go to orphanages, I've only done this one, two years, but Santa's Seniors about six years..when all this is done it's Lanzarote for two weeks over Christmas...

Can I say that we have just booked our Early Bird hotel to be near our only son and family for Christmas. I know it is early but I want to spend Christmas with the ones I love , without putting a strain on their growing family. Places do get booked up, so it’s worth planning ahead!

Your sprouts should be on by now!

Noooo, it’s too early!
I’ll make my cake in October.
I buy mincemeat.
I’m going to my son’s on Christmas Day so don’t need a pudding.
Then we’re off to New Zealand for New Year and the next six weeks.

My DD has started to crochet recently so i think we are all getting a crocheted item for christmas😂

Beechnut

We hadn’t got a fire surround so DH made me a fake one to use at Christmas. For years I’ve put out the same things and last year fancied a mantle of trees. I’ve got a few but on the whole left it too late. I’m going to make more effort this year.

What is a mantle of trees, please? I can’t picture it!

We are celebrating Christmas on 10th December with 4 wonderful friends. I have made photo booth props, almost finished the crackers and getting the fabric together to make us all a stocking. I have to do one thing at a time otherwise I get overwhelmed and end up with lots of half made projects.
Happy Christmas crafting. 🎄