Old Style Christmas Preparations for Christmas 2013

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Just tested the Mince Pies recipe. Three have already gone, so I doubt the rest will make October, never mind Christmas!

BAH HUMBUG

Note: BoP's Xmas Pud Recipe available on 1st November

bossymoo

We just had some chilli jam with Sunday dinner, very nice, think I will make more for mini hampers. Am also doing Xmas pud flavoured brandy (found e recipe for vodka) and werthers vodka.

parkgirl

Gutted for you iamamumofone

mrs-moneypenny

love the scrabble decorations, thank you for sharing

pavlovs_dog

didn't have time to take pictures but home bargains have some nice tins (2 different size cake tins and a tall biscuit barrel tin) between £1.50-£3. Would be lovely for baked goods or a baking hamper.

Also had baskets in varying sizes for hampers. Gift wrap and cards creeping in too.

Lidl had 2 aisles of Christmas bits in. Stollen, panetone, nuts, mince pies etc in abundance.

And for those of you who are too impatient to wait for the catalogue, the boots christmas gift guide is now live on their site.

whitesatin

Have had a go at making a bag to divide up a huge pot pourri packet from The White Company. I would like to make it up in hessian and gingham but did a practise with linen I had at home. Needs to be shorter in length to make it more slouchy, I think. I cut out 30 cm by 35 (length) but might make it 30cm by 30, not sure. I think, also, that the casing (where the ribbon threads through) should be narrower and possibly a different colour. Just playing around with fabric at the moment really.

Anyway, trying to put in a photo, so here goes.

mrs-moneypenny

that looks lovely whitesatin, very professional

iammumtoone

That is brilliant whitesatin. I agree hessian would look good but think the casing is the right colour and width. I would also keep it on the larger size as it makes it more useful for people once the pot pourri has lost it scent.

whitesatin

Got two Asda hip flasks for £2 each to give as table presents to my guests. All I need now is to find some miniatures at a reasonable cost.

mum2one

sorry to be nosey where they with the xmas gifts they sound brilliant value.

Thou guess the minatures most cost more...I'd guess you'd be looking at about £3 for a mini bottle, the only place I could think of would be victoria wine type shops, some supermarkets may sell them at the tobacco counter, xx