You Are What You Give with... Elizabeth Metcalfe

Lizzie is Features Editor at House & Garden magazine, and has the enviable job of poking about some of the world's most special houses and interviewing their occupants. She loves to write about lived-in, layered interiors, and is a great champion of little-known craftspeople. Her first book, New English Interiors came out to much acclaim in October this year, and profiles the colourful, pattern-rich homes of 22 leading creatives. She lives in Sussex with her husband Charlie, daughter Martha and Teasel the dog. We are delighted to welcome her as our sixth guest in this ongoing series that seeks to inspire living and giving well...

What is the best Christmas present you have received?

“A second-hand typewriter when I was about 5 or 6. It was all I wanted and you can imagine my joy when I came downstairs on Christmas morning to find it there, taking pride of place on a table next to a roaring fire. Father Christmas had even written me a letter on it, which blew my mind. Looking back, I realise this was probably pretty fundamental in shaping what I do now. I used to spend hours tapping away at that typewriter.”

What is the best Christmas present you have given?

“A print I commissioned illustrator Fee Greening to design and make for my husband, Charlie. He’s obsessed with the Shipping Forecast, so I asked Fee to write out the 31 sea regions and she drew a little Viking boat on stormy seas at the top. It now lives on our bedroom wall and is the first thing I see when I wake up.”

"Is there anything more hopeful than seeds? I think not – and certainly not than these beautifully packaged nasturtium seeds from my friend Milli Proust. I love how generous nasturtiums are and love this apricot variety. The packets (all based on drawings by Milli) are so pretty that I'd probably end up framing them!" £3.50 from Alma Proust

"This is the perfect wool blanket in my opinion – weighty and earthy, made from yarn carefully sourced from rare Bulgarian sheep breeds." £180 from de le Cuona

"The clever folk at Howe have a knack for designing beautiful things, but this rug has to be one of my favourites. A big treat, but there’s nothing wrong with dreaming!" £580 from Howe

"You can never have enough table lamps and I love how this one is simple but decorative." £180 from Rosi de Ruig

"A magical wall sconce by the equally magical Freyja Lee who I recently met through a House & Garden shoot at her house. I love how the 9ct gold lustre gives it extra shimmer when the candle is lit." Wall Sconce from Freyja Lee

"Heavenly geranium-scented lotions and potions by the equally heavenly Cath Kidston Padgham. My bathroom would be all the better with this bath oil in it." £39 from C.Atherley

"Tidy life, tidy mind, they say. There’s nothing I love more than a paper diary and this one is as pretty as it is useful." £35 from Choosing Keeping

"My daughter lived in Anna’s heavenly baby alpaca knits when she was a baby and I’ve always loved her fair isle vests. All of her pieces are made local to her in Sussex by a network of industrious grannies." £325 from Hambro & Miller

"Christmas is for fancy socks - like these soft alpaca beauties." £22.50 from Freight

"The softest cotton nightie and I love this navy check one. I’d quite happily spend every evening at home in this." £160 from If Only If

"I love anything that cheers up everyday life and these certainly fit the bill. I basically love everything that Patrick and Neri Williams of Berdoulat turn their hands to." £140 each from Berdoulat

"Always love a tin of olive oil and this stuff is delicious and the packaging is perfect." from £24 at Sous Chef

"I’m slightly obsessed with Botivo – a non boozy aperitif that is perfect topped up with soda water and a sprig of rosemary. Can easily be made boozy and can replace Campari to make a zesty negroni." £27.50 from Botivo

"Interior designer Victoria Barker has a wonderful eye for colour and pattern – and beautiful jewellery as the range currently for sale in her shop, by Spanish brand Apres Ski, attests. I have a pair of horse earrings from the same collection, so this would be the perfect addition." £140 from Faeger Shop.

And finally, if you could pick one thing from Scribble & Daub for Christmas, what would it be?

"Gorgeous hand-sewn garlands to deck the halls in. I love the colours of these ones – festive but fresh!"

Thanks so much Lizzie, a few of these have definitely snuck onto my wish list after reading this...