Step 1: Create a hoop from a piece of medium weight garden wire, winding the two ends securely together.

Step 2: Paint your ivy and holly black and leave it to dry.

Step 3: Cut a few pieces of florists' wire, approximately 3cm long, and attach the ivy and holly. It's a good idea to attach where a leaf intersects the main stem as this will be more secure.

Step 4: Continue adding the foliage until you cannot see the wire base, then, again using florists' wire, attach flowers, feathers and beads. Feathers tend to look best if you attach them all flowing in the same direction.

Step 5: For a larger wreath, use Oasis, which you can buy in any florist. And be adventurous with materials. Pearl Lowe uses scraps of vintage lace, while Joanna Berryman, owner of designer boutique Jezebel, clusters miniature porcelain horses in hers."