What to listen to?

Vintage Magpie has a dilemma... Should I listen to my heart or my head?



This is something I always ponder. My heart talks to me so softly it is sometimes drowned out by my over cautious head.



A decision needs to be made. Is it better to tread gently or go running into a future idea, which may or may not work to help VM's success? I hate to listen to the hype and constant scary news about money and business...but its playing on my mind.



Is a risk always worth it, even if you just end up learning a lesson in how not to do something?



Can it work, even in these tough times?



All I know is that my head hurts with all the options and ideas...



I think a Gin & Tonic is needed!

The wonderful Dutch man told me he thought his 'Sweetpea' needed these... be still my beating heart! I wish I could share the scent with you, it is beautiful.

Double Dutch

We have the wonderful dutch man's sister over from Holland for a visit at the moment.

She came bearing gifts.... this is an attempt to help me learn Dutch....

It is my aim to learn, but it is such a tough language. I have been reading Li Li M's blog, and I asked for some advice. She told me I should start with children's books. So it was a lovely surprise to be given these!

So wish me luck!

A week since Valentines Day and my ranunculus are still stunning. What a lucky girl I am!

Have a sunny weekend. xxx

Happy St Valentines Day!!

Oh what a lovely surprise I got this morning.....




The Wonderful Dutch man is a florist, and to be honest, I should have expected flowers, but I really didn't!!

Then these beauty's turned up... need I say any more? Utterly gorgeous.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

I hope you all had wonderful surprises awaiting you today. If not; go and treat yourself, spring flowers can only make you smile! xxx

A delight in Mink

Vintage Magpie has designs some new and totally gorgeous 'ready to wear' bouquets!


These bouquets are designed so that brides who have a limited budget or time scale can still have a little bit of Vintage Magpie style on their special day.

They are not bespoke, so cannot be changed or added to. They will be in a traditional colour schemes, white, ivory, and still have the trademark vintage crystal, faux pearls, silk and vintage buttons, etc. If you have fallen in love with one of these bouquet, they wont be around for long. So feel free to email me and reserve.

This Delight in Mink is £125, and is tradition hand-tied shape, without a drop.

I will have more to show you soon. So keep watching this blog.

Upcycling and drain driving

Wikipedia says..."Upcycling is a component of sustainability in which waste materials are used to provide new products. It is generally a reinvestment in the environment. "Upcycling is the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value."

I think this 'new' word shows just how far we are coming in the world of recycling. Like my Eco-Warrior friend, I have a hoarding habit, and never throw anything away. A trait I have discovered that my Dad has also. Having to move him into a new house last week, I now understand who I get it from!

But saying that, a few of his junk items I could have used yesterday, when I found that one of our drains was blocked and the water level was rising rather rapidly. We have an enclosed drain and the only way to get to it is through a window in the kitchen. The water was about 2 foot away from the window still.... and I could see it rising with the horrid rain...

Panic....Panic...Panic!!

I tried everything to unblock the drain, but couldn't remember exactly where the drain was!! frantically trying not to break my neck in the process, I has a long umbrella, a broom, and my bread bin holding the window open.... it was at this moment I wished I had dads galoshes, his long steel, heavy spike. The need to unblock this filthy drain was very high on my to-do list!

But the equipment was nowhere to be seen.

Drain driving was not an option... but would have been with Dads faithful galoshes!!

The call was made to my Wonderful Dutch Man. With me holding his legs while he dangled himself out of the window. He managed to poke and prod, and save the day! He is my Hero!!

We hoard things for a reason, and Dads words echoed in my ears "you never know when it will come in useful".

So I have to thank my Dad, if I didn't have his trait Vintage Magpie, might not of happened.

Remember if you have items that are tucked away in a drawer, broken, unused. Vintage Magpie can use them, making your bouquet more personal, and cheaper in the process!

Re-Use, Recycle, Re-Make. xxx

The silence of snow

I woke early today, and the silence hit me, Snow was my first thought.....

I was right!

There is nothing like the sound of a dusting of snow under your foot. Even better though, as I was drinking my morning cup of tea, standing outside taking some photos, the starlings were twisting and turning over head.... a true delight.... the noise they make is something I cannot describe... but it was magical.... they swooped low as if to say 'Morning Ems' then disappeared....

I hope the snow doesn't ruin your day, remember it's magic, take time to look at the beauty it creates all around you.

End of the month moods...

Can you believe it is the last day of January??

The days are getting a bit longer, the bulbs are springing up, and today I saw an elegant blanket of snowdrops in some lucky persons garden.

But for some reason I'm having a moody day...

So with Harry Potter being read to me by Stephen Fry, I decided I needed to re-do my mood board.

I have read the secret and it is something I find so useful. The idea is to put all your dreams and wants on a board and look at it everyday. The positive feeling you should get when you see the images, will in turn, help to draw these things to you.

I'm sure it works, not because its magic, but it puts a fire into your tummy to achieve. To make it work. To follow your bliss.

I use pictures from magazine that I find beauty in, photos, words that help me smile, things I desire, my dreams.... do you see the Fiat 500?? The lovely blue bird pin?? The words of wisdom?? Me and the Wonderful dutch Man happy in Amsterdam?? The colour of the roses??

It would work really well if your having problems working out your theme for your wedding!

Go on, give it a whirl!!

Vintage Magpie's silver sparkler!

This is the newest bespoke Vintage Magpie design. A mixture of white, grey/black pearls and a wonderful french silver ribbon.

I cannot tell you how much I love this ribbon...it is made of a ultra fine silver wire and sparkles and twinkles, no wonder my Magpie eye caught sight of it.

I have had a day off today, had a divine sleepy morning, then decided to tackle the courtyard.

I love the yard, but over the horrid weather we have been having, it had taken on the look of a neglected, rain soaked mess.

So warm coat on, furry boots on.... everything moved .... scrubbed....spiders removed (never killed!)

Plants re-housed, a few new ones put in, and some wonderful dutch bulbs laying in their soil beds....with a wish they will emerge beautiful very soon.

The Wonderful Dutch man's Hertog Jan beer is safe and sound. He is a florist, and gets the flower seller (who is from Holland) to bring a crate over for him....He is in a Dutch man's bliss when one is in his hand!!

I want....

Now I hate to sound like a spoilt child, but there is something that I want.

I thought I would NEVER say I wanted it, but hey a girl can change her mind!

I once learnt how to drive on a far and distance part of Scotland, were filter lanes hadn't been invented.... traffic lights where few and far between.... no-one used their indicators.... and life was slow.

Perfect for a girl who had put off learning this life skill until she was 23.

I passed first time, in my flame red polo...then promptly moved to a, round about, filter lane, motorway ridden town. AHHHHHHHHH!!

This was where my driving ceased... and never again has it been taken up.

but I saw one of these today....

Be still my beating heart!

Maybe I could be a brave girl and take it up again for one of these little Bambinos?

Love, Love, Love..... now which colour? Any ideas?