I'm going to keep a kind of diary of some of the things I make and do for Christmas.
If anyone wants to join in they are welcome.
Maybe we can swap ideas. 
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First of all I collected up the pruned tendrils from my Wisteria, and wound them around each other to make a wreath.
Still needs a few more strands to plump it out, but when finished I will decorate it.
Not sure whether to go for the trad. Christmas red and green with bits of glitter, or maybe skandi type with natural fir cones cinnamon sticks etc., finished off with a velvet vanilla coloured bow!
I'll have to take a look in the Christmas craft box(es!) to see what is looking the nicest.
Next persuaded my husband to bring down the many boxes of trimmings etc., down for me to check through, and they are now stuffed under the dining table until I get to decorate the house later on.
I cant ask him to trudge them back upstairs, too much stress on the knees!
It gives me the chance to look through and see what is looking a bit jaded and decide if I should buy new.
Found the outside lights and tested some to see if still working. Yes, so arranged them strategically in the back garden.
We had cut back a large tree a couple of weeks ago, which left the view from the window a bit empty, and I didn't like it.
So we dug out a large pot, heaved it (well he heaved I steadied it) onto the sack truck and wheeled it into position.
Then stood the largest pruned branch (about 3ft) into it and filled the pot with earth to hold it in place.
The branch is nicely twisted so I spent a couple of days on and off winding lights around it to emphasise its lovely shape. Fiddly but the effect is very pretty.
Then I filled the top of the pot with some trailing variegated ivy, (being sold off at 50p a pot).
Now I've left the lights off for now, as it is a little bit early!
But I'm looking forward to seeing them everyday from my window over the Christmas period.
It's the one thing that perks me up when the clocks change and windy wet winter seems to stretch out before us.
Daisymae …
cornergran… This is the nub that seems to bypass some people, if you make your own you have a limited time to get things done.
Witzend … I'm your echo I'm not trying to ram things down others throats, but surely a gentle thread about the things one likes to do in ones spare time shouldn't be a cause for consternation? 
Maggiemaybe ...Yes strange that it slipped into every discussion I was trying to avoid, and on to an argument which I was sure wouldn't happen 
I suppose you cant please some, and they just love to tell you about it!
Pittcity … My MIL grew all her own veg, well as much as she could, they did have a large garden and it kept them busy, too busy if you ask me!
But there again she had to plan her planting at least a year in advance, (remembering that the advice was not to plant cabbage/sprouts or carrots etc in the same place each year.
Then her freezer would be set up to deliver fresh veg at any time! Hard work though.
littleannie … No one wants you to not comment if that's how you feel, I just wonder if you've got hold of the wrong end of the stick!
Just to impress on those who don't understand how life for a do it yourselfer works.
Maybe they can learn that it's not showing off (is that the reason for so much agitation?) about how organised or clever one is, its just how it has to be!!
Plus, its nice to share the makes with others who like to do the same.
Just meant to be a gentle time spent away from the argybargy of political or argumentative threads!
Maybelle … How did the homemade mincemeat go?
I do a fat free (veggie really) version which is based on apple puree and apple juice but I've only just finished stewing and freezing the puree from our apples, so I haven't got around to making the mincemeat yet. But if I swirl a drop of booze around it I wont have to leave it to mature the flavour 
.
I would love to see the pom pom wreaths!! Are they made from wool?
I keep asking people if they would like to leave a photo, would you? Fully understand if not!
How will you make the advent calendar….card, knit, sew?
Davida … Sounds very professional! Well, if you have enough tags for the future, that means you have more time to devote to another Christmas craft!!
Newnanny, thank for that - I'm sure the Gdcs will love making those!
Namsnanny, this was the Nativity set I made last year - the stable was a bit of a b*gger, though!
Now making another - so much yarn left over - for GDcs' school fair in November - yes I know I'm mad. It's the Jean Greenhow pattern in her Christmas Special book, in case anyone wants to know - but the donkey is in her Christmas Treasures book.
'Oldandverygrey*, the Advent calendar is a Sirdar pattern by Alan Dart. . If you just google Sirdar Advent calendar it will come up.
Here it is.
But be warned - the finished size is 70 x 50 cm! I don't think my dd will have wall-room - it'll have to hang on the back of a door. It's a LOT of work but I hope will be worth it. The knitted pocket inserts (tree decorations) range from a Christmas pudding to a polar bear - and nothing breakable which is just as well since Gdcs are still only 3 and 4 - no. 3 due in January.
The numbers are knitted in, which frankly I thought might be beyond me, but have found it fairly easy once I have transferred each chart row by row to paper.
Might add that the green 'ribbon' is about 6 stitches and about ten million rows, so I will be cheating and using bought ribbon instead.
The large backing pieces, thank goodness, are knitted in chunky on big fat needles.
namsnanny the.mincemeat went well, smelt lovely when it was warm and it's now cold, in jars and waiting in the fridge next to the Christmas puddings.
I am hoping to complete the pom pom wreaths tomorrow, just need to add the ribbon trims. they are made from wool, well acrylic yarn in reality.
The advent calendars are sewn. I make 25 pockets and see them on to calico into the shape of a Christmas tree. Then add red buttons as decorations.
I have also made them with hexagonal pockets in a square . Photo of one from a couple of years ago here.
Namsnanny
Here's an idea for your family photos. Download or just draw, star templates on cardboard and cut out.
Put a family photo in the middle.
With clear nail varnish ($2 shop stuff is fine) seal the photo onto the star (I just varnish teh whole star, makes it a bit stronger.
Then using pva glue to outline the shape, dip the star into glitter (and frankly I don't give a tinker's cuss if it's not eco-friendly, the kill-joys can take a running jump) and that gives a pretty edge to your star.
It gives you the chance to see, year by year, how the children have changed and grown.
Hang on the tree, or a string across the mantel, or using old advert magnets, make them into fridge stickers.
Happy Christmas Crafting
And a wee picture for those who don't like Christmas.
Bradfordlass … That is one idea I'll be copying!! Thanks!
Maybelle … The Advent Calendar look's very professional, well done you.
When ever I've made pom pom's in the past they have quite soon fallen apart!! Although I did use the old fashioned way, around 2 cardboard circles.
Fiachna …. October smucktober! Everyones obsessed with it being October!
Who cares I'm crafting, and I'm sloooooooow!! .
I make pompoms for the hats I knit on a rectangular piece of card - often cut from the flap of a cardboar box.
This is what you do ( dear old Jimmy Young, anyone remember him?)
The width of the card is equal to the size of the pom pom you want.
A 4" by 8" rectangle of card will give you a pompom 4" across.
Cut the rectangle up the centre to about 3" from the end.
Wind wool round the rectangle, making sure the two 'legs' of card don't pull together with too-tight winding.
When you've wound a good old clump of wool around the card, thread a piece of wool through the top of the slit and up the slit itself. Tie the wound clump as if tying a sheaf of corn see picture.
Make sure this is very secure.
Cut the top and bottom of your 'sheaf' and slide it off the card - fluff it up and trim. et voila! a pompom!
Just completed the pom pom wreaths, they are quite small each is 7 inches across.
Back to making sections for my new duvet cover (not Christmas themed !)
Bradfordlass ... I’ve never made mine that way! The only method I knew was 2 circles with the centre cut out. I think your way is likely to have a tighter centre, and less likely to be pulled apart.
Thanks for that!
I have to say though that faced with a dog who loves chewing my knitting, nothing short of a muzzle will stop him going for a pompon or tassel
namsnanny the duvet cover is made using quilt patchwork patterns, but instead of being layered and quilted through it is used as the top of a duvet cover, I use a sheet, cut to size, to be the side that goes against the bed.
Give us hand made quilts for individual bed linens, and lets me pursue my hobby of quilting.
Picture is of the previous duvet cover I made.
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