This England...

Is glorious....

...Is peaceful....

....is bloody fantastic when the sun is shining....

These images are animated...I don't think it will work but it is worth a try!! After the Wonderful Dutchman's help I got them to work....YAY!!
I hope your weekend was beautiful too
xxx

Breathtaking

Just perfect

Feathery Friend

For the last few days I have been wearing my winter boots...in June...this is bad, why are our summers so useless? 

So as the autumnal feeling sets in...I was thinking of oranges, burnt reds, browns and all the yummy colour that will soon be with us...today is the longest day after all....

My Ma gave me these glorious feathers after a clear out at home. They are just stunning, the colours, the softness, the tiny smallest feathers you have ever seen, and the iridescence dark black plumes, which always remind me of oil spills, the rainbow of colours.

A pheasant has never looked so fantastic...can you see the autumn bride with a delicate bouquet of these feathers? For the boys?...well every man should have a feather in his cap...or buttonhole!

Happy Fathers Day Dad

Dads are stone skimmers, mud wallowers, water wallopers, ceiling swoopers, shoulder gallopers, upsy-downsy, over-and-through, round-and-about whoosers. Dads are smugglers and secret sharers.
-- Helen Thomson

Love From your Little Ship Mate 

xxx

9 Months...

...Married to my Wonderful Dutchman....my best Friend...

...Laughing, loving, hugging & smiling...

...Wearing this ring, having this Man by my side makes my world complete.

Ik hou van jou 

xxx

Darling Jude

I know you will recognise this bouquet if you have been following my blog for a while.

This is Darling Judes bouquet. It was made a few years ago, but it continues to bring me a huge amount of pride.

 Jude has become a great champion of Vintage Magpie. She is always there to remind me why I do this job...why I create these beautiful works of art.

Her bouquet had pieces of her family history in it. Unfortunately due to ill health her Mum couldn't be there on her day, but her bouquet has her nurses medal in it and was of great comfort to Jude when she walked up the aisle....see what she said about it here.

I was recently featured on Urban Sugar's blog, and to my joy Jude had posted a comment....

this is what she said....

"I cannot praise the Magpie's work enough. For any bride thinking of getting a bouquet from Emma I can guarantee it will bring you memories, and an heirloom to last a lifetime. One of my main reasons for getting a Vintage Magpie Bouquet (aside from how fabulous they look) was the link it gave me to members of my family who couldn't be at my wedding- particularly my adored Mum. My Mum passed away a few weeks ago, and looking at my bouquet, which houses her most treasured and personal things, gives me comfort every day. You simply cannot put a price on that."

Once again Jude has amazed me. Even in what I can only imagine to be a heartbreaking time for her, she has taken the time to write such wonderful and thoughtful things about my work. 

So Thank you Jude. Your soul is beautiful and I'm sure your Mum is looking down at you with a heart brimming over with pride at what an amazing woman she brought into this world.

xxx

Handmade Hungerford

Thursday night is the night for 'Handmade Hungerford'....will you be there??

After a lot of thinking I decided that I need to meet some lovely like minded people. Coming to a new area where you only have family to chat to I'm missing my happy friends being so close by. So when trying to find a class or group to join, I noticed that there is a lack of creative outlets in Hungerford and the surrounding cute villages, so a hatched a plan.

Empty shop in the evening....too many craft projects on the go....why not combine the two?

Handmade Hungerford is a chance to meet like minded happy chappies who love to craft, learn and create. 

It is free, fun and I hope informative....

It is happening every other Thursday at Martin & the Magpie at 7pm. Starting on the 16th June.

Bring your project, some wine, gin, juice, and your happy face.

I hope to see you lovely local crafters there!!

x

Miss Katie & Mr Noel

A month ago The Wonderful Dutchman and I were at Miss Katie's & Mr Noel's wedding. It was a glorious day of love, laughter, happiness and tipi's! It seems like 4 months ago & I cant believe I havent blogged her bouquet! 

Miss Katie originally wanted an ivory bouquet, but once she had found her dress and told me about it we decided on a mixture of purples....3 different tones worked a treat!!

I tried different colours to bind the bouquet....it took a while to finally go bold with her handle...the plum worked so well, and a little change is always good.

Miss Katie married my best friend. I have known him since I was 12, shockingly that was 18 years ago. Noel is a wonderful friend, always positive, happy and possibly the most talkative person I know. He is so hardworking. He traded his talents in metal work for their wedding bands, making protective window frames for the jeweler who created their rings....stories like that are never far away with this adorable couple :)

I cannot express what pride I had seeing them get married. Being a little part of it was beautiful.

I wish this gorgeous little family all the luck, love, health, wealth and happiness this Magpie can give.

Here is to may more cute babies, a lifetime of holding hands, a showering of kisses every day, a million hugs and for the stars to shine so brightly over their marriage.

I love you guys!!

xxx

New but Old

We have finally got a chance to make our new house a home....we have added new items, changed a few things about, throw and charity shopped a lot to fit into her petite measurements!!

I still feel she is a bit cluttered but its a work in progress right?!!

This painting was a junk shop find...in the most horrid yellowing plastic frame, I walked past it twice, moved it into a few different lights and decided I loved it...with the Wonderful Dutchman giving his seal of approval we bought it for £15...an original oil painting...yellow plastic frame and all!!

A lovely new frame later and a freshly painted wall she looks as good as new.

Every time I walk past it, it captures my attention, I love how art can do that to you.

Amazing Aubrey

Miss Aubrey is the newest of Vintage Magpie's Bouquets. Her life like roses with sweet vintage millinery center's make my heart sing with joy! Frayed raw silk make her slightly ruffled and soft.

She has a ruff of vintage crystal, buttons and faux pearls, which add a sparkle and that trademark VM look!

She is 90% vintage with sweet vintage millinery flowers and silk. Her wire and ribbon are the only new things in her...a Vintage Belle of a Bouquet!

Soft and Classic she would look wonderful with a fitted, fishtail or A-Line dress. Aubrey & Lace would look divine together.... She is a perfectly petite Princess!

Sse her measurements here

Hi my name is Emma and...

...I have given up trying to work in a pretty, ordered space...I will never be the tidy girl of my dreams, the one who has everything in the right place...

I like messy...messy works for this Vintage Magpie.

About a foot of clear workspace is all a girl needs!!!

Don't judge me ;)