2010.....what a Fabulous year!

This delightful year started with a gathering for New Years eve....four people and a Bump....the bump is now the gorgeously chunky Esme... a wonderful start to our year.

The stunningly lovely Vintage Magpie brides, who's bouquets have been some of my favorite so far in the 4, nearly 5 years i have been creating these beauties.

My Ma has been, as always, my inspiration, my friend and the most wonderful wedding confidant in the world!!



Simple simplicity has been my focus this year.

....that and helping brides sparkle on their wedding day.....

.....or should i say Bloom? Flowers have been back in my life with a huge bang....they still take my breath away, it amazes me how beautiful something can be.

...talking of gorgeous.....Our Wedding...the highlight of my year without question.... it seems like ages ago....but everyone is still talking about it ....there has been 3 engagements so far...2011 is looking like wedding heaven for us...all without the stress....BLISS!!

2010 was seeing dear friends achieve dreams, create divine babies, get engaged, turn 30, buy houses, enjoy the fruits of their hard work and being happy.

I enjoyed making new styles of bouquets....helping dreams come true.... and realising new dreams for Vintage Magpie.

....and new dreams for the start of our marriage... Martin & the Magpie is happily settling in nicely.....maybe a slightly stressful and busy, but very happy!

..It is wonderful, new and exciting....i cant wait to see what it brings and where it takes us.

My New Years resolution??? To make a patchwork quilt on Olive.

Vintage Magpie wishes you all an amazing New Year. I would also like to thank you for your kind words of wisdom.....your support.....and your love for the work of this little Magpie.

Here's too 2011.... may she be special, exciting and happy for all of you

xxx

Last Bouquet of 2010

A Festive plum pudding of a bouquet for you!!

This colour is set to be popular next year....different tones of Plums and Heather....perfect for a January wedding!!




A Mothers wedding dress...her veil....and a trinket box of treasure helped to make this lovely bouquet....and 4 Bridesmaids bouquets as well..... I used every last bit of the fabric......

....Even the empire line lace trim was used on the binding of the handle....touching history....feeling the memories.....

...and all finished off with a locket....maybe for the next bride to fill with old family photos....the term Re-use, Re-cycle, Re-make is still this Vintage Magpie's motto.

Enjoy your Day Jane!! xxx

Until 2011......

I'm bidding you a festive farewell....wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.....

This year Christmas come to our home; on a table....our new flat is still not quite home...so a festive table with just my favorite decorations, is working wonders.

A few new acorn decorations from Holland this year, are sparkling nicely in the candle light....

We sang along to Christmas tunes, I beautified our table while the Wonderful Dutchman made us dinner..... Married life suits us well!

I hope you all come back in 2011 ..... there are going to be some exciting changes.... and some wonderful opportunities for you and little Vintage Magpie.

Be Merry Everyone.....xxx

Love My Dress

Photo by Rosie Parsons

Our lovely little wedding has been featured on the wonderful 'Love My Dress' Blog....

....I feel so proud of our handmade wedding....and it means so much that you want to know all about it.... It has all the links to all our suppliers too, as well as some 'unseen' photos!

....Thank you Annabel xxx

The Reason....

Oh Hello......

I know, I know, it's been ages...but the reason is rather lovely....shall I fill you in on all the details?

As I'm sure you know The Wonderful Dutchman and I moved out of our flat by the sea....a huge and exciting step forward.....we have settled into the glorious town of Hungerford in Berkshire....

.....why you ask???

To have on of these.......





May I welcome you all to Martin & the Magpie......





We decided that we wanted some roots...and Brighton, as much as we love it...wasn't quite right for us.

Add into the mix The Wonderful Dutchman unfortunately got made redundant a month before our wedding, so it quickened our plans slightly. We knew we wanted to be in the countryside and combine our talents, but to do what?? then my Ma saw this place and it was perfect, the flash of ideas, the thoughts and possibilities....

My Divine Ma, is our huge helping hand, and as she herself is a trained Florist we thought it only natural to all work together....no pressure!!! New Marriage, New Business, New Area....!

But everything is coming together so wonderfully....I have a workroom out the back, and happily sit creating away while watching the hive of activity around me. We are encompassing all our talents in one gorgeous little shop.

My love of fresh seasonal flowers have never left me....and after creating for our own wedding, and a few friends in the summer the flame was lit again....the rest was in fates hand.

So we Three are Martin & the Magpie.... Fresh seasonal flowers, vintage furniture, gorgeous plants, celebrations, weddings, farewells, and parties!....oh and a Vintage Magpie!

I hope you all pop along to see us...read our blog...like our flowers....and maybe come along for a visit.....we do smell divine...but I warn you; it's cold!!

xxx

Tuesday inspiration....Mr B... I salute you!

Every teacher should pass on this kind of passion to their students.....I adore Mr B xxx

Alan Hannah Dream Bouquet

Once upon a time...there was a beautiful bride who wanted a bouquet to match her wedding dress, and ohh what a stunning dress it was!

She sent her ideas to a Vintage Magpie who's imagination was awash with ideas.....

Parcels arrived from the wondrous dress maker Alan Hannah.....with beautiful tissue wrapped surprises......

Silver and white...with a serious heap of twinkling sparkle.....handmade Alan Hannah daisy flowers, crystal drops, vintage millinery flowers, and sparkling jewels.....

Image with thanks from Alan Hannah

Add a dress made of heaven...and you will be soaring with the stars on your wedding day.....

....This bouquet was a little Vintage Magpie Dream come true....I love it....Enjoy Jo xxx

The fab Tarah Coonan our Second Shooter

Along side the wonderful Rosie Parsons photographing our wedding was the gorgeous Tarah Coonan....she held my bouquet, my Vivienne Westwood's, gave us words of encouragement and took some fabulous photos as well..... i love a girl who can multi task!!

Pop along to her site and take a look......

Thank you Tarah xxx

The Wedding Photographs!

Our Day...simple....fun......filled with Love, Laughter & Bliss

Enjoy xxx

All our photos are by the Wonderful Rosie Parsons

A Little Teaser!

This is our Favorite photo of our wedding day.....there are so many brilliant pictures, some which make me smile, swoon, and some, are just hysterical!

Rosie Parsons our fabulous photographer, is having issues with her computer so it might be a little while until we get our disk of wonder....but she sent us this one for our thank you cards....

So I thought I would share it with you, as I'm sure you all want a small sneaky peek....

....I hope you all approve! xxx

BOO!

Trick or Treat? I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween!!

xxx

Saying Goodbye

The Wonderful Dutchman and I have been experiencing rather a lot of changes since we got married.


The biggest has been moving from our beautiful Home in Brighton. The reason is fantastically exciting, but never the less I was incredibly sad about it.


I have lived there for 4 years. First with my darling sister, until she bought herself an adorable flat near by. Then with that Wonderful Dutchman of mine!

It is where friendships were forged, family gathered, & secrets told. It was where we shared our first kiss....fell in Love, got Engaged, and got Married.

It has seen such love, laughter, fun and happiness, that locking the door the final time was heart breaking.


So many wondrous moments....I shall miss it...but my heart is heavy with happy memories and surly that is what this life of ours is all about.


The next Chapter of my life is starting....being Mrs Bakker is just divine!

xxx

Oh Sweet Surprises!

A sweet treasured surprise.... Mothers are simply precious

What would you say if your received this beauty?

Miracles do happen

A Miracle unfolded in front of my eyes this morning......

....I couldn't sleep until I knew they were all out, safe and in the arms of their loved ones....

....A true miracle.... I am amazed at what Faith, Hope and Love can achieve...

33 men and their families.... an inspiration to a Magpie in little old England... and hopefully to the rest of the world.

xxx

Two Lovely Thank you!!

What girl doesn't love a man in a kilt?

Sparkling Hand-tied bouquets have been a firm favorite this year....here you can see how good they look with two totally different brides.

OK so I don't think you could get more gorgeous photos. Add a Vintage Magpie bouquet in to the mix and you have a truly wonderful wedding!!

Thank you so much ladies for sending me your fab photos...I love to see VM bouquets in all their glory....sparkling along with the bride!

*****On a more personal note, I am sorry for the lack of post on here....there are some exciting changes happening for The Wonderful Dutchman and me....It is all fabulous, fun, quick & very positive for us....so please bare with me for a little while.*****

Thank you xxx

Our Wedding ~ My Bouquet

So, here we go!! The first part of our wedding..... My bouquet.


I have to admit that this task daunted me...I felt the pressure of creating something different and super special that everyone would be amazed by...then I thought about it.

I realised that the bouquets I love are the ones with personal pieces, simple styling, and plenty of sparkle!




So that is what I created.... I re-worked it 3 times until I was happy with it....then I added the drop a week before the wedding!!

Then I was a happy Magpie ;)





It contains all my favorite things..... a beautiful French Ribbon, which matched my dress perfectly.... some of the Wonderful Dutchmans Mum's lace.

A cute gold drop brooch which I love....

Some lucky clover....with a touch of our green.... and my Grandma's Pearls....I never met her but she was with me on my wedding day.

A Dutch Windmill!! and some gorgeous Mother of Pearl buttons.

It is filled with pieces I have kept for this ocassion, it is filled with my history, my future and I love it. It was a joy to hold on my wedding day, it was passed around the tables and everyone got a up close look!

Joy, Sparkle and Love....a perfect recipe for a bouquet xxx