So if you fancy treating yourself and your family to extra special gifts handpicked by our Panel of Experts, enter on our Facebook page here. Good luck everyone!

Extracted from The Virgin Gardener by Laetitia Maklouf

This not just for the realm of the ultra-organised. Wreaths are deliciously easy to make and welcome you in to your own home after a long day at work, which is delightfully self-respecting and cheery

TIMING: Winter

YOU WILL NEED: A good armful of evergreen foliage. This could, of course, be holly, but pine, cedar, fir, juniper, box, bay, eucalyptus, sage and even magnolia or camellia are all possibilities. Either get this from a flower market or your own garden, or beg from a kind neighbour.

Strong scissors or secateurs

A roll of thin wire – like copper but preferably black or green.

A wreath form – available from some florists, markets and art or DIY stores – or you could make your own, like I do, using think wire, fastening the ends with thin wire.

Wire cutters

METHOD: First you have to make lots of little sprigs our of your greenery. Snap off small pieces of foliage – 10-15cm long and wire them together into a think little bundle. Make lots of these bundles and then begin adding them to your wreath by laying each bundle along the length of the wreath from and tightly wrapping it with wire from halfway up its length to the bottom. Don’t cut the wire, but add another bundle, using the top of this second bundle to hide the bottom half of the previous one, and carry on winding the wire around this bundle until you reach the bottom of it, at which pint add another and so on until you have covered everything. This is your basic wreath and you can either adulterate if with whatever turns you on or leave it as it is.

MY FAVOURITE ADORNMENTS: Obviously berries are a must for some, and you can go down the classic route with holly or pyracantha berries, or use something else, such as rosehips. If you want to branch out a little, I suggest glass beads threaded onto wire, fruit such as dried citrus or pomegranates, kumquats, flowers poked into the foliage such as amaryllis, or anything blowsy that you can get from the garage, or nuts and acorns – either au naturel or sprayed gold or silver (bore holes in these with a very fine drill bit, and thread the wire through before attaching to the wreath) … You get the idea: once you have the basic wreath, the sky’s the limit.

Lastly, it’s sometimes nice to spray the whole thing white or silver with some florists spray to give it a snowy feel.

AND MORE: You can create garlands and swags in exactly the same way, either by making a frame out of the wire or – much simpler – by wiring your foliage to a length of rope that you’ve swagged around you fireplace or wherever. It’s lovely to do this with a aromatic foliage like bay, to get a nice heady fug going.

Buy the Virgin Gardener>>

The Virgin Gardener is wonderful inspiration for novice gardeners and those who’ve never really considered the delights of growing plants. It’s full of ideas, tips and ‘recipes’ for things to grow and ways to display flowers and plants. A truly delightful book will work as well as a hard working reference book as a bath-time inspirational read. We highly recommend it. Laetitia Maklouf is our newest Expert Panel member and we’re delighted to welcome her to Handpicked. An accidental gardener who discovered her passion when encountering an old seed packet at the back of a cupboard, Laetitia went on to write The Virgin Gardener and co-present Love Your Garden with Alan Titchmarsh.

1. First impressions count…

Welcome family and neighbours by lighting pathways with tealight garden lanterns, LED light sticks and fairy lights wrapped round tree trunks or branches. Meet guests with a beautiful red berry wreath and windows decorated with silver snowflake cut-outs, reindeers and Christmas trees using snow spray. Then as they enter inside beautiful displays of cross stitch Christmas paper chains fill all the empty spaces and fairy lights brighten the fireplace.

2. Sprucing up the tree …

A tree full of glistening lights and an array of colourful decorations heightens wonder and expectation around Christmas. Colourful red decorations will stand out against dark green trees. Pick out timeless and unusual decorations with a nostalgic touch, and add a few edible chocolate treats and candy cane sticks to keep younger members of the family happy. Save any spare fir branches from the tree for napkin decorations or to add above the fireplace. Look out for make your own angel or Christmas decoration kits for a fun weekend activity to do with children and a perfect creative accessory for the top of the tree.

3. ‘Tis the season to be baking …

Cookies and biscuits are great additions to a family Christmas and children will love helping you make them. Look out for shaped cookie cutter sets in stars, reindeer, snowflake or Christmas tree designs. Store your baked treats in tins and hand them out to friends who drop by, served with a steaming mug of hot chocolate. Hang biscuits on the tree by piercing a hole and threading pretty ribbons through them, or wrap in cellophane, tie with curling ribbon and hand out as end of term gifts.

Other wonderful festive treats include Christmas popcorn (caramelized and dusted with cinnamon) chocolate snowball truffles (coated in desiccated coconut) or chunks of gooey marshmallow-filled rocky road. Hand these out as end of term gifts or to family members in festive Christmas party boxes.

4. A gingerbread house …

Create a Scandinavian fairytale gingerbread house that’s literally good enough to eat. Not only will it look and smell appealing, it will bring out everyone’s inner child. Get your children to help build and decorate it, then put it on a windowsill or use as a table centrepiece, adorned with hundreds of sweets.

5. All dressed up …

Christmas themed tablecloths do all the ‘dressing’ aspect for you, and with so much colour in the print you just need to add a centrepiece. When opting for a more traditional table setting with plain red partyware, greens and whites, then choose decorative cotton napkins, fun placemats and novelty place card holders. Fill bowls with colourful treats such as candy cane, peppermints and other shiny wrapped treats (Roses or Quality Streets look fabulous).

Alternatively, arrange festive baubles in vases or on tiered cake stands alongside delicious treats. You can then arrange candles and nightlights at differing heights to create a dramatic and cosy atmosphere. Red crystal gems and snowflake confetti scattered in blank spaces on the table will glisten and catch the light, evoking a sense of enchantment.  And don’t forget rocking Rudolph party poppers, chocolates and make-your-own party crackers – a few essentials that make a big difference.

6. Winter brews …

Hot chocolate ganache sticks stirred into mugs of warm milk are wonderful seasonal treats for the family. Then top your steamy brews with frothy cream or mini marshmallows – heaven on a cold wintry night. Yet nothing fills a house with festive aroma faster than mulled apple simmering on top of the stove. Children will love drinking this too (without the alcohol) and can help prepare the apples, studding them with cloves.

7. A flicker of an idea …

At this time of year everything seems to gleam, so fill your house with lots of tiny lights such as green Christmas fairy lights. Fairy lights play an essential part and can be draped from beams, twisted round staircases and hung around door frames for a winter sparkle. Rustic rattan reindeers nestled in a corner and wrapped with fairy lights look stunning and magical. Light your Yule log or homemade cupcakes with angel flames – candles with a party piece of their own! When lit their flames burn red, blue and green creating a magical effect that children will go crazy about!

Tie star LED illoom balloons (filled with helium) onto the backs of chairs using curling ribbon or tie them in clusters around the room.

8. Shop online …

Make life easy and buy your children’s Christmas presents online. This will eliminate aimless shopping trips and mean you won’t have problems trying to hide their gifts while you’re out shopping with them. Write a gift list and a budget before you shop online, otherwise it’s easy to get carried away.

9. Wrap, tie & tag …

Try to wrap all your gifts as far in advance as possible, this will make you feel more organised. Look out for Christmas tissue paper, perfect for wrapping stocking-fillers and use red curling ribbon for a special touch. You can add ribbons, tags and bows later on, but label with sticky notes so you don’t forget what’s what. Chic satin ribbon can add colour to the simplest wrapping paper and can be used to tie around napkins or to hang decorations. Run out of gift tags? Cut up old Christmas cards into gift-size tags and use them instead.

10. Don’t leave it to the last minute …

Brainstorm all the jobs you need to do in preparation for Christmas and put them up on your pinboard at home. Mark off the jobs as you do them and give yourself an extra day to get everything done. Think what food you can prepare in advance (things like sauces, brandy butter etc), what you can freeze, and try to avoid the supermarkets during the weekday evening rush and at weekends. It’s always useful to update your address book in preparation for sending out Christmas cards. You could always get your computer-savvy child to help you type out all the addresses to avoid having to use your scribbled out address book.

A few special touches …

Buy a few small things that will make your Christmas celebrations extra special. Things like edible glitter will add sparkle and shimmer to cupcakes, biscuits and festive popcorn, and children will love the magical element it brings. A pack of sky lanterns and a wonderball party favour game or snowball splatter game hidden away and brought out on Christmas day will add a special touch, and if you don’t use them they’ll be perfect for New Year parties too. Shaped sugar lumps in fun festive shapes such as mistletoe, fir branch and pinecone are thoughtful additions for after-dinner coffee and guests will love them.

Last but not least …

Fill Santa treat bags with little surprises as going home gifts. Arrange the gifts on a tray and keep them hidden before going home time! Have a few spare for siblings and helpers.

Today we want to know any small ways that you keep yourself fit. We’d love to know about any ways you can fit exercise into your everyday life without it taking up too much time. Our two favourite comments will win Handpicked’s Yoga Mat and Tote set each!! Together these usually cost £33.95. Good luck everyone.

We really hope that we made your present-buying a whole lot easier; our aim is to carry really thoughtful gifts for anyone imaginable all in one place. We’d really love to hear about any favourite presents that you got given this year that you think would suit our collection and that we could start stocking.

Having launched Funpicked earlier in the year proved that our customers have the same silly humour as we do. Sudoku Loo Roll, Fart Machines and Margaret Thatcher Nutcrackers were all flying off the shelves of our warehouse.

Our surprise new bestseller from Handpicked was the Gin & Tonic Shower Gel and our Jumbo Matches maintained their stocking filler crown too.

If there is anything you think we should know, good or bad, please do leave a comment to let us know.

We hope you have a good week and thank you so so much again to everyone who stopped by. We really hope that everything you bought from us was well received.

Know any super busy people that would appreciate a Handpicked catalogue? Send them one; they might thank you in the long run.

Here’s to a happy 2011 from all of us at The Handpicked Collection.

A vase of flowers and scented candles help guests overlook the stray coasts/bikes/post in the hall.

Light the way

I spotlight tables, and achieve the same effect at home by dimming lights and ;iling on the candles.

Be friendly

We’ve all been that person who doesn’t know a soul. Ask a few friends to act as ‘party ambassadors’ to make strangers feel welcome.

Personality, please

Use menus and place cards to provide a theme, and be creative. Photos of yourself as a child for birthday party, drawings of a favourite hobby for car/golf/sailing buffs.

Get creative

I love dressing a table with something fun like a goldfish bowl containing a model sip, or a huge vase filled with feathers or sweets.

About the author

Sasha Weld Forester is behind some the UK’s smartest parties and writes as a guest journalist for The Handpicked Collection. She was Head of Events at Sotheby’s for 12 years before founding SWF Events Consulting in 2009. Her clients include The Serpentine Gallery and Rolex.

Natasha – Managing Director

I would like the Porcelain Rose Candle Holder to help furnish my new flat.

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Claire – Marketing Intern

Please can I have the Aspinal Fit-Your-Life-In-Clutch? So I can have everything to hand.

Liza – Customer Services Team

Pure Cashmere Travel Wrap. Pretty self-explanatory, it’s amazing!

Heather – Marketing

I’d love for someone to buy me some Cashmere Socks. Since shows like Marc Jacobs AW10 I’m definitely one to take advantage of a fashion trend when it keeps my toes so warm.

Clare – Customer Services Team

Wilbur & Gussie because it adds of gothic chic which I love.

Claire – Marketing Intern

Claire, if you were going to give your boyfriend one thing from Handpicked for Christmas, what would it be and why?

The Johnston’s Cashmere Scarf because it’s practical, yet indulgent and luxurious.

Emma – Merchandiser

Emma, what would you give your father from Handpicked for Christmas and why?

The Trumpers soap and shower gel because he loves the old fashioned bottles and they smell great.

Clare – Customer Services Team

Clare, what would give to your brother for Christmas from Handpicked?

I’d give him the Thornback and Peel Hankies.

And why?

Because he’s a Renaissance man.

Victoria – Customer Services Manager

Victoria, what would you give to your one-year-old nephew from The Handpicked Collection catalogue and why?

The Mini Crochets CD so that he can sleep when I need a break!

Heather – Marketing

Heather, what would you give to your godfather from Handpicked and why?

I’m going to give him the Rechargeable Electric Corkscrew. Everyone I’ve given it to has instantly ditched their old trusted Screwpulls after the first use of the Handpicked corkscrew.

In order to be in with a chance of winning, you have to go to our Facebook page, click the ‘Like’ button on the top and then comment on the most recent post. The post will be the today’s prize. We pick the winner by selecting the post which has the most innovative way of using the prize.

We’re not giving away stuff we don’t want any more. These are lovely things that will make gorgeous gifts or additions to your own home. On day one we sent off this beautifully gift-boxed, leather photo frame. Yesterday our favourite Natural Slate Place Mats were won with some chalk to personalise with, and today…. well you’ll have to go to the Facebook page to find out!

On the 1^st of December, the person we selected to win, said that she would put a photo of her new ‘adorably not cute’ rescued American Bulldog. We’re all a bit dog mad in the office, so we jumped at the chance. We asked her to send us a photo and I’m so glad she did. I love this dog.

When we style products for our catalogues, we try and imagine how they’d look if we had them in our own houses. For creative director Amanda, this isn’t a huge leap for the imagination because she has so many Handpicked bestsellers that her house is something of a showhome for our catalogue. We take many of our photographs there, sweeping aside children and incorporating props when they’re needed. This (apart from the sweeping aside children bit) doesn’t often cause problems, because the props are usually things like cake (here’s a Victoria sandwich Amanda really did make earlier) or the corner of a sofa. However, when Amanda photographed our (out of stock, sorry, but you can try and win our last one by visiting our Facebook page) Curio Cabinet she used two silver ornaments. Tiny and very cute aardvarks, they glistened prettily in the Curio Cabinet, along with lots of other silver bits and pieces. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing since.

So if you want your own aardvark, you’ll have to do what Amanda did and recommend Aardvark Safaris (www.aardvarksafaris.co.uk – 01578 760222 ) to a friend. Amanda did that, twice, and as a result has a brace of aardvarks that she’s going to have keep a very close eye on.