Loving the Thank you's!!

My lovely bride Helen Mort, and her Pretty in Pewter bouquet sent me a lovely Thank You card which I received today!! Isn't it the most fantastic card?!?!

I love that their personalities have been captured in one photo!! And I'm very proud that the photo includes her lovely Vintage Magpie Bouquet!!

Congratulations guys, I'm so happy your day was perfect! xxx

Miss Maggie's Bouquet

Here are the promised completed bouquet photos... you will all be happy to know that the fingers are not sore anymore... (thank God for Clarins hand cream ~ it is the best!!)

This Beauty is going to star centre stage with Miss Maggie on her special day. One desperate phone call, a special reason and two weeks until the big day....can she have a VM bouquet?.....hmmm.... In two weeks??!!! It is the fastest I have ever worked..... but isn't it lovely!?!?

Maggie ~ Have the most fantastic day, Laugh, Love and Enjoy xxx

Wiring, Sore Fingers & The End Product...

Well it has been a manic time for this little Magpie. Last minute orders, and emotional brides.

I have searched... cleaned... wired... wired... wired... pinned... and made beautiful 2 full shower bouquets in the same time it would normally take to make a small sparkling hand tied.... and I have to say I am very proud of the end products!!

What do you all think??

Both are not quite finished I will take more photos when they are! Someone please pass the hand cream....! x

Oh my...!

Well it seems there is two types of brides....one is organised, and the other is not!!

Don't get me wrong I love you all the same, but the past 2 weeks I have had 3 brides phone me up for last minute bouquets. Sometimes a challenge is just what you need....and I'm very grateful for them.

After having two weeks off I feel ready to frantically wire until my fingers drop off, run around to find lovely Vintage treasures and enjoy every minute!

So watch me..... ready......set......GO!!!!

Hard to believe this was what I was doing this time last week!! sigh....

It's back to work I go!

From Amsterdam to Brighton, both so beautiful and such great fun!!

I had the most amazing 2 weeks, from seeing my favorite painting in De Haag, to sitting in Amsterdams famous squares soaking up the atomophere, to lying on the beach, and a baking hot day in London. Chilled out, relaxed and with the best company a girl could ask for.

But enough of the holiday talk.....back to work I must go!! I have lots to do, and last minute brides to madly make bouquets for. Lots of photos will follow to show you what im up to....i hope you enjoy!!

Happy holidays everyone!! xxx

New Arrival!

A new arrival for Vintage Magpie!
My compact designs have been really popular in the last few months, so I thought I would make a few new ones when I had some spare time lately...I know SPARE time!!! Things have been so busy for my and Vintage Magpie, I had forgotten what it feels like to make something without a certain bride in mind.

This cream compact is just like my Ruffled Rose Silk Compact, but with a vintage coffee ribbon drop. I have also been making bible bouquets, not purely for Bibles but maybe a book of your favorite poems, or a children's book your parents used to read to you. They are both made with vintage ribbons, crystals, buttons, and the silver one has lovely Paris charms on it...with little Eiffel Towers on them....soo cute!!

This compact Bouquet is made from french silk, just like my Ruffled Rose bouquet. It has more french vintage ribbon, crystals, and lovely matt faux pearls. It has lovely purple/Aubergine/cream colouring, and it would tie in with all sorts of colour themes.
If anyone is interested, just let me know.

Green thinking

Now in no way am I an Eco Warrior....I'm not like the lady who walks Brighton seafront, in her dungerees splashed with the words "The Eco Warrior is here", pulling out cola, and beer cans from the bins, and recycling them....she has dedication... but not something I would ever consider doing at 7am in the morning!
But it did get me thinking.... That my lovely Vintage Magpie is my own eco warrior business. I recycle, reuse, remake, I use a limited amount of new good in my designs... and they come out looking better than the new bouquets you can buy.
I was directed to a website story of stuff and although it is Amercian, the message is still valid on our little island... we simply buy too much, and throw away too much, simple but true. If we go back 50 years, or just ask our Grandmothers, we can see how much we have changed.

When I told my Grandma that I was starting to make my own clothes because I was fed up with the amount of choice, but never finding anything I like, she was delighted!! She told me that she ALWAYS made her clothes, right down to her undies... a true War child! But saying that, my mother was an art student, and she did the same (just not the undies!) and that was only in the 70's!! Why have we lost this way of life? I personally think it is a shame, but then I love to make thing, not everyone is the same, and I understand that.

But if we just thought about our consumser attitude it might get someone to just DO something to help for our future..... maybe not going through the bins though.....like I said pure dedication.... but hey she is a warrior!
I'm quite proud to say that my business is doing it's bit to help... not totally a green product... but no-one is perfect!!

Loving Jane Taylor Millinery

Do you want a Hat/Hairpiece/Fascinator to go with your Vintage Magpie Bouquet? Something that ties your Vintage look together??

....Well you just must look at Jane Taylor Millinery. She is a wonderful designer, who uses vintage finds in her work! Seems I have been getting a few requests for hairpieces/fascinators I thought I would let you see her work for yourselves!

She has a studio in Southwest London, and offers a bespoke service. Designing to your needs, she can dye to order, and ladies that includes your shoes and bag!!

She is a wonderful, exciting find and I hope you take a moment to look at her collection.

You & Your Wedding Magazine July/Aug 2008