DIY Christmas Wreath

I love a wreath.  I love them all year round but especially at Christmas when I make loads to hang off every door and window in the house. I went to a heavenly florist this week who was selling the most beautiful wreaths and charging £145 for them.   They are so simple to make and you can buy the ingredients for very little so I thought I would share a project from my book 

'The Art of Handmade Living' teaching you how to make them.

"Wreaths have Christmas connotations and florists and decoration departments start selling them in early November to encourage our festive spirit. Of course, I love nothing more than having one on my front door—but I also use wreaths for year-round decorations. The twig frames shown here last for ages—you just need to replace the flowers and leaves when they start to fade and change your look with the season. In France, we made autumnal wreaths using pliable off-cuts from the vines and either left them as plain circles or entwined wild eucalyptus into them.

They also make wonderful table decorations instead of a jug of flowers. A summery one could be filled with roses and herbs, with candles planted in the center or nudged in between the twigs.

Of course, there is no need to keep to flowers, although dried hydrangeas are ravishing. Let your imagination run wild. Depending on the season, you can incorporate apples, grapes, pomegranates, oranges, chilli peppers studded with cloves, pine cones, or bundles of cinnamon sticks. Other decorative items such as shells, feathers, baubles, and little birds can usually be incorporated with clever wiring—and if all else fails, there’s always Superglue!"

INGREDIENTS

At least ten 120-130cm lengths of ash, beech or willow twigs, stripped of their side branches.

Secateurs.

String/green twine/raffia cut into 1 metre lengths.

Seasonal flowers with stems as long as possible.

Other decorations of your choice.

Florists wire cut into 15cm lengths

TO MAKE

1. Take four or five twigs firmly in one hand, as if they are a bunch of flowers, and wrap string or raffia around the base of the bunch several times and tie in a firm knot.

2. Add another bundle of twigs near the top of the first bunch, securing it in the same way, then bend the twigs around in a circle. (It can take a few attempts to get this right.)

3. Wrap string or raffia around the frame several times and tie in a firm knot to hold the twigs together securely. Do this in several places.

4. Thread in long-stemmed flowers and leaves, weaving the stems in and out of the twig frame.

5. To attach decorations such as shells (with holes drilled in them) and Christmas baubles, center the decoration on a short piece of florist’s wire, twist both ends of the wire together two or three times just above the decoration, wrap the wire around the frame, and secure by twisting the ends together again 

6. To attach fruit such as apples or oranges, skewer the fruit with a short length of florists wire, then wrap the wire ends around the frame, then twist them together to secure

If it's good enough for Gwyneth...

I've always liked Gwyneth Paltrow.  And I've enjoyed her website Goop for as long as I can remember.   I was sent her annual Christmas present guide last week and was so excited to find my brother Ned's wonderful company Not another bill nestling in the middle of it all.  She is of course absolutely right; There are few better presents you could give - or be given - this Christmas.  Not that Im remotely biased.

And then if I needed any more persuading, she had also included my friend Vanessa Barneby's incredible bespoke wallpaper in the mix.  

www.goop.com/journal/get/258/the-annual-gift-guide

Miracle Dust

It seems that no one really likes their own hair.  Even people who I think have really good hair seem to be desperate for someone else's.   I for one am constantly battling with mine.  It's definitely going through some sort of mid life crisis as I write and I am completely baffled as to what it is that it needs.  Lots fell out six months after each of the Cubs's arrivals and I was just about back on track again when hey presto, we're back in meltdown city again.  I've tried everything.  Mousses, sprays, serums, dry shampoo and nothing really works. It's permanently flat, limp, dull and frizzy.

It hasn't answered all my prayers but I have recently found a small pot of treasure to fill in the gaps - quite literally- while I continue to hunt for the holy grail of the hair kingdom. 

It's called Expanda Dust made by Unite and its purpose is to 'add volume and texture with just one puff'.  The bottle is so light it feels empty - and all you have to do is sprinkle a few bits of this magical iridescent powder where you want it - i.e. the flat, limp bits, leave for a few seconds, juge it up and as if my magic you instantly have full on Hollywood volume.  I've got to go to a hen party as Pamela Anderson in a few weeks and I now have absolutely no need for the wig part at all.  All I need to concentrate on now is slipping into that lovely red swimming costume...

www.urbanretreat.co.uk/beautique/product/unite/expanda_dust.aspx

J Crew Love

Every week Chaz and I while away many an hour working out how we are going to spend the forthcoming £80 million lottery winnings that we are obviously about to win.  It's always pretty identical to the week before; A month in the Maldives, a house in London, a swanky new car... A cleaner, new curtains and a whole new, big, shiny, massive wardrobe for me. I often then have to choose only one shop to spend my share of the winnings. Until now, it's always been Chloe.  Hands down, no questions asked.  I then went to the J Crew shop that's just opened on Brompton Cross. I love you Chloe but I'm moving on.

People have been raving about J Crew for years and I now get it.  I could quite happily throw out my whole wardrobe and start again here.  It's full of the most exquisite treasures I've seen in a long time.  Jewelled sweatshirts, cashmere in every possible colour in every possible shape; Printed, pouffy, party skirts; metallic brocade trousers, sparkly collared cashmere overcoats...  And the shoes. I've written about these before but all lined up together, words cannot explain their beauty.

The slight problem is the price tags.  They are supposedly three times more expensive here than they are in the States. Lying in bed last night I was trying to work if it was actually cheaper to buy a flight to the US, stock up over there and come home again.

But then I suppose if I've got £80 million to play with, who really cares?

www.jcrew.com

My new book

It's not out until March but here is the cover of my new book!

Inspire 

The Art of Living with Nature

 is published by CICO books

 and out in March 2014

Chinti and Parker Collaboration

I was incredibly flattered - and ridiculously excited - when my all time favourite cashmere label Chinti and Parker asked if I would like to collaborate with them. Here is some of what they've just posted on their blog.

Willow Crossley, author and blogger, wears Chinti’s One Pocket Sweater

Bloggers don’t come much better packaged or qualified than Willow Crossley of Willow Rose Boutique. The very definition of English Rose with an enviable fashion figure, she’s also a twice published author and influential style blogger. Oh, and did we mention she has a penchant for Chinti? We caught up with her for a little insight into what makes her tick on the style front.

Willow glams up in Chinti’s Mirror Fleck Skirt and Printed Pocket T

Tell us a bit about your blog, Willow Rose Boutique, and what inspires it?

I started my blog when we moved to the South of France and I needed some kind of a creative outlet.  I’d left my job in London and wanted to write.  So I started blogging about my daily life, my finds – things I love and it all started from there. I’m inspired by everything – interiors, fashion, my two small boys, food, people, nature.

How would you define your personal style?

A bit of a mix. One day I’ll do floaty, pretty, girly and the next I’ll be in boyfriend jeans, a baggy jumper and high-tops. In a dream world I would only wear bohemian floaty, 70′s-inspired paisley numbers, but it’s too cold for that here.  And wearing long styles around the boys just doesn’t work! My everyday get up at the moment is a mini woollen kilt, Chinti cashmere jumper and Isabel Marant flat boots. Comfort and warmth is very high on my agenda.

Chinti’s Elbow Patch Sweater gets the eclectic treatment

Do you have any golden rules when it comes to dressing well? 

I try and only wear things that make feel comfortable – If I feel self-conscious and uncomfortable I can never really concentrate on anything else.

You mentioned you have a second book coming out. Could you tell us a bit about this? 

It’s called ‘Inspire’ and is coming out in March, published with CICO books. It’s an interiors and lifestyle book that (hopefully) inspires you to bring nature into your home as a way of decorating.

Every day chic in our Breton T

Who is your ultimate style icon?

I think Clemence Poesy always look great.  Nicole Ritchie in her boho days. The Isabel Marant catwalk models.  Vogue’s Lucinda Chambers.  Jenna Lyons creative director of J Crew.  Is that too many?!

Lastly, which are you favourite pieces from Chinti and Parker’s AW13 collection?

I adore the slouchy boatneck jumpers – especially the navy and cream with the pink pocket.  The Aran jumpers are ridiculously luxurious and I also love the neon patched pieces.

www.chintiandparker.com/blog/willow-style

Prettiest of Pumpkins

The Cubs love Halloween.  In fact they actually only really love the pumpkin part of it - they're still too small to really understand anything else about it.  The bigger Cub insists on filling the kitchen window sills with an assortment of the orange balls from the end of September until he then swaps them for sparkly Christmas paraphernalia come December.   This mass of orange in the middle of my kitchen distresses me more than it should.  The selfish joy I feel when they start going mouldy and have to be relegated outside- I keep to myself.

I have suggested that we swap the glaring orange for a chicer pale green variety for the last two years but he's having none of it.

If I lived in a more girl friendly environment this is what we would be having dotted down our table.  

Courtesy of Erin Boyle at Gardenista.

www.gardenista.com

Sarah's Wardrobe

I always thought the size of my wardrobe was quite impressive.  Until I met my soon-to-be sister in law, Sarah, whose collection of shoes, clothes, hats and bags is so sensational it requires three different locations to house it all.  She does run a vintage clothing business - 'Sarah's Wardrobe'- so technically most of it is of course, 'work'.  

She's just been featured on the very  brilliant website 'Never Underdressed' which shows her slinking around looking visionary in pieces she's collected on her travels around the globe.  If you haven't already found her blog and/or website, have a look for some wardrobe inspiration.  

Some shots from www.neverunderdressed.com and her website.

www.neverunderdressed.com

www.sarahswardrobe.co.uk

Loonie Mary

Mary Katranzou's latest collection is - as always - a sensation.  It's particularly exquisite this time and making me wish I had a money tree growing at the end of the garden more than ever.  Although I do feel if I strutted downstairs, ready for a night out on the town in some of these, Chaz would laugh in my face and and check me into the nearest loonie bin.  

If you do have access to a money tree, you can pre-order the collection for two more days on Moda Operandi.  

www.modaoperandi.com

Lorraine's Carrot and Apple Cake

I feel cake is an essential all year round but now it's getting chilly and dark again it's back to being one of my five a day again.  I came across some recipes from Lorraine Pasacle's new book, 'Guilt-free cakes and bakes' in a supplement last weekend and have been thinking about them ever since.  I do get a bit stuck in my ways when it comes to cooking - I've been making the same 'rich moist chocolate' number for the last fifteen years - convinced there can be no better.  So baking outside the box this weekend was quite a step.  I went for Lorraine's carrot and apple cake- first name terms; she's from my local town so feel we could actually be friends - and it was seriously delicious.  I followed her recipe to the letter, she says even a slight bit of wandering off piste could end in disaster and it was worth it.  Not only was it better than I hoped for, it's also a diet cake which obviously means you can eat twice as much. 

Here is the extract taken from her new book telling you how to make it;

Carrot cakes are often more healthy than regular cakes due to things like the addition of, er, carrots! They also often include other fruit and use oil rather than butter, which cuts the saturated fats, etc. So the task with this recipe was just to gently reduce the sugar and try and reduce the oil, while still ensuring that the cake is as tasty and as yummy as ever.

SERVES 10

• spray oil
• 150g (5oz) wholemeal flour
• 150g (5oz) self-raising flour
• 150g (5oz) carrots, peeled and roughly grated
• 125g (41⁄2 oz) soft light brown sugar
• 175ml (6fl oz) sunflower oil
• 2 apples, peeled, cored and roughly grated
• 3 medium eggs
• 1 medium egg white
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 18 pecan nuts

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

• 300g (11oz) low-fat cream cheese
• 3 tbsp icing sugar, sifted
• 1 tbsp crème fraîche
• seeds of 1 vanilla pod or 1 tsp vanilla extract

● Preheat the oven to 180C (fan 160C), 350F, gas mark 4 and set the shelf in the middle. Grease two 20cm (8in) sandwich cake tins with a light spray of oil, line the bottoms with discs of baking parchment and set them on a baking sheet.

● Put all the cake ingredients (except the pecan nuts) into a large bowl and mix everything together until well combined. Divide the mixture evenly between the two tins. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until the sponges feels springy to the touch and they are shrinking a little from the edges of the tins. Once the cakes 

are baked, remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tins.

● Next, to make the frosting put the cream cheese, icing sugar, crème fraîche and vanilla seeds or extract into a medium bowl and mix together until smooth and well combined. Then cover and pop into the fridge to firm up a little while waiting for the cakes to cool.

● Once the cakes have cooled, carefully remove them from their tins. Sandwich the cakes together with half the frosting, then put the rest of the frosting on top. Arrange the pecans around the outer edge of the top frosting and serve.