New Banner-by-Sea

It seems I have excited a few of you with my new banner!

I have had quite a few emails regarding it, so I thought I better post about it, or you might all be upset with me!!

I only finished it the other day, and I have to say, I love it!! I know I say that about most of my work, but I think that is a good thing, why make it when your not feeling the love of it...?

It is made with a vintage map of Cornwall, I love the coastline, the muted colours and the names of places.... there is a a point called 'Turbot Point'...fabulous!

These toppers are a new style for me. I have found a lot of people are not having the 'Traditional' tier cakes and are opting for cup cakes...of just a single cake, due to guest numbers as it doesn't warrant the cost if no one is going to eat it, and you can't really force your guest to eat 3 slices of cake....well....maybe you can!

These look great on a single cake as it gives that tiered cake look. Or if you are like us and having cup cakes they can sit on the top of a tiered cake stand with the cup cakes under it or around it....so many options....ohhh and it won't melt... and like my gorgeous American friend said, they are fat free!!

Thank you all for your wonderful comments and ideas on my cake topper giveaway... keep them coming and you too can have your own!!

Be Lucky xxx

200th post Giveaway!!

Wow, 200 posts, doesn't time fly when you having fun?!

Firstly I want to thank you... my lovely readers. When I started on this blog adventure I never realised the wonderful people I would find, the beautiful work of fellow bloggers and the kind nature of everyone who takes the time to comment and email me. It does feel like an online family, and for that I am truly grateful to each and everyone of you.

This giveaway is to celebrate, and what better way to celebrate than to.....

....Eat cake!!! .....Well kind of.....:)

I am giving away a bespoke cake topper to one lucky reader.

You can choose from a traditional style topper or for one of my newer faux 'fat free' cakes.

I will design and hand make your topper. It could be for your wedding, someone else's wedding (...a great gift idea!), a Birthday, a New Baby, an Anniversary, or simply a celebration of you.

This giveaway is open to EVERYONE (as long as you have an address to send your topper to!), you do not need to be a bride, or live in the UK, or be female, blimey this could be your first visit to the world of Vintage Magpie, and you still can win!

All you have to do is leave me a comment, and tell me what cake topper you would like and for what occasion. Think fun, and creative thoughts!!!

I want all the readers who have never commented to comment.... you can do this anonymously just pop on your email address so can contact you if you win.

So my lovely ones, get commenting, the giveaway will closed on Wednesday 3rd March at 5pm!!

Good Luck!! xxx

A Positive Day

I have spent the afternoon chatting to a cheeky monkey... she has made me laugh the whole time... 8 months old and full of smiles and chuckles.

Her and her Mum have been travelling around Oz, so this was my first meeting with Miss E... It was delightful to meet her and to catch up with all the travelling gossip from her Mum!

Tomorrow is my 200th post...YAY!!! This means a giveaway....Woo Hoo!!

I hope you will join in on the chance to win a piece of Vintage Magpie Heaven!!

The Wonders of the Wonderful Dutchman Part 3

Well he has done it again and surprised me...

I have been cutting out bunting over the last week, and I was chatting about the fact that I would need to borrow someones sewing machine....yep you heard that right...I don't have one! I love to hand sew, so the need for a machine has never arisen before now.

Look what the Wonderful Dutchman arrived home with last night...

....A beautiful green mini sewing machine!!!!!!!!!!!!

I simply adore this man...

My afternoon was spent remembering how thread the needle and to wind the bobbin, it all came flooding back... it is just like riding a bike!

I enjoyed it so much, memories of school textile lessons, the sound that reminds me of my Mum sitting fixing some curtains or making us a new dress....it was a joy... everyone should learn to sew, it is a life skill that is such fun!

And the best part...a healthy stack of green and yellow bunting waiting to be ironed... A great afternoons work!

Thank you Mr Wonderful xxx

What made you smile today?

A Spring Sparkler

This is what I have been working on for a little while now. It has the most divine creamy freshwater pearls in it... they work so well.

I love the odd shapes you get with pearls...totally

random, and unique. They make the bouquet look so classic.

I wonder....one day I might make one out of diamonds, and someones amazingly expensive jewels... that would be a special treat, but maybe a tad daunting...

...but if your reading William or Harry I would do it for free for your beautiful brides!!

Enjoy your Bouquet Jane!! xxx

Our Wedding - Update

A Package was waiting for me this morning... a lovely surprise after just doing our weekly shop.

These beautiful 'Thank You' stickers arrived from K is for Calligraphy. They are cut from vintage ledgers and American Atlas's...totally cute. We are using them for our favour bags....I adore them!!! Thank you Katy

I adore her beautiful writing...it made my address look so special!

Other updates...

~I have started cutting out our bunting...polka dots and gingham...so fresh!

~The Vintage bus is booked after a slight bit of drama.

~The wonderful Dutchman has chosen his ring...I found a sparkly vintage one...twinkle!

~My Ma has made a mock up of my dress....exciting!! Just have to get to her to try it on...then the dilemma of choosing fabric!

~Yesterday we visited the registrar...so it is all legal and ready to go...the ladies in Brighton registry office are wonderful!

~Still confused about wedding make up and hair...seems so expensive, but I really don't need the stress of doing it myself...does anyone have any advice on this?

It is all coming together...I am calm...I am excited!!

A Touch of Spring

I have just about got over my cold...it is lingering.

So I thought a touch of Spring was in order...I smelt it in the air today, walking home in the fading sunshine was a delight.

Can you see my gorgeous Dutch Goldfinch sitting on the branch?

To Cheer myself up I made another Faux Wedding Cake...simple things make me smile...green polka dots and Mr & Mrs Wortel...what girl wouldn't smile at those bunny ears!

Don't they look the part?

Love indeed....Sweet readers... How was your Valentines day?

Did it involve green polka dots? Heart shaped chocolates? Beautiful velvet red roses?

...mine had handmade Peppermint creams...green, but no polka dots, vintage books, a bear with a big smile, and American pancakes with maple syrup and bacon! Yum!!

I hope a smile and a hug came your way yesterday xxx

A Sweet Cottage Dream Thank you

A big Thank you to Becky over at Sweet Cottage Dreams. She has posted a lovely post about my Tip Top Topper!! How exciting.

So many people have commented on it, and said some really wonderful things about it... So thank you for taking the time to do that. It really does mean the world to me.

Why don't you pop over and get a bit of Californian sunshine. She has the most fantastic blog...not to mention her A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E Scottie dogs!!

Thank you Becky for your sweet messages and your gushing!!

:(

A hedgehog is living in my throat...my body aches...and I feel sorry for my self...I'm off for a hot bubble bath and a very strong hot Toddie!!

PS. I wish I had a bed like hers!

This woman is an inspiration...Love, Love, Love her!

Hello Holland - Part 1

Holland holds excitement for me...

...come and take a snowy walk with me through a Dutch town...

This is the newest part of the museum. The glass has old aerial photographs of the farms and surrounding areas...it is stunning.

The water giving an icy reflection.


A Vintage car looking like a cake with its sweet candy colours.

Lots of snow...these doors are too sweet and I love the fact they have covered the space in between the building with this cute woodwork.

Fruit trees forced into shape are a normal thing around here....

...here are some more, maybe an apple. The shapes of the houses are all different, and this one had heart shutters!

A little feel of Amsterdam with the stepped roof.

I missed photographing the mass of cyclists passing us by as I slipped on the icy street...hanging on to the Wonderful Dutchman with a bundle of Spring smelling Tulips in my arms... The faces of friends as they waved and stopped by with excited voices, and calls of 'What are you doing here?'. Big man hugs and smiles all around...

...the delights of a simple walk.

Valentines Market...yippee!!

It's the Valentine's Market tomorrow!!

I will be showing some wedding work, bouquets, fascinators and little pick me up valentines cuteness!

It's free entry as always, free cakes, 30 stalls crammed pack full of locally designed and made items, including t-shirts, limited prints, badges, jewellery, lamps and hats... and there's a bar!

You can have a look at all the artists taking part at the blog.

It is at The Komedia, Brighton 11am-4pm free entry.

What are you waiting for? I will see you tomorrow....YAY! xxx

Tip Top Topper

I have just finished our cake topper! We were going to have a cake of cheese rounds...but this worked out too expensive, so we are going for a cheese table instead...and having homemade cup cakes under this beauty......



It was fun to make, and includes our love for vintage maps, and our Save the Date card photos, which we adore so much.

...and of course it had to have a Scottie on there too, even if he is the wrong colour!

I think it is just divine. xxx

Welcome...

Do you know that in Holland they put a Stork in the front garden to let everyone know you have just had a baby...a celebration of birth.


When we went to see the newest member of the Wonderful Dutch Family I was delighted to see a 5 foot tall fairy lit Stork in their front garden...isn't that the cutest thing?!

The Wonderful Dutchman and The Mighty Tim!!

Over the road from them they had also had a baby and they had the back end of a stork with flapping wings on the window...and inside there front room was the head! Just like it had crashed through to deliver a baby... when we have a baby, I am getting one of those!! It is just the best thing ever :) I am gutted I didn't take a photo

Look how tiny he is!

A Dutch tradition is that when a baby arrives, visitors who come to see the new infant are treated to “ Beschuit met muisjes”, and this is where a Beschuit (like dry and toasted french stick but slightly sweet) is smeared with butter or margarine and then either pink and white ( for a girl) or blue and white ( for a boy) muisjes are spread on top . They taste of aniseed, and are hard, but yummy!

I was too busy having a cuddle that I forgot to take a photo of those too, so thank you Internet!

Baby Chris was the model baby...he slept the whole time, and like his big brother; The Mighty Tim, he was a pleasure to be around.

Congratulations Familie Groot!! xxx

Joy

2009 was a busy year for me... So many brides, so much Joy...

Jude's bouquet stands out as my special bouquet...

Not because I think it is better than the rest, but because the story of her objects meant so much to her... having people who couldn't be near her on her day... walking down the aisle with her... being apart of it... sending her Joy..

After having been in Holland this weekend, I saw Joy in another form... a bundle of Joy...a stork has sent a baby Boy...

Oh sweet Joy.