The Vintage Magpie

ShoW BuSinEss!

Hello everyone!

Apologies for the lack of posting at the later end of last week, but we had a little trip to London to make on Thursday night, in preparation for Lauren's audition for Britain's Got Talent !!

Lauren applied online herself earlier in the year, and the first I knew about it was when a letter came through the door announcing she had an audition :o  She wanted to sing a High School Musical song, and sing it she did!  Brave as a lion she stood in front of the producers who were the first set of judges, and sang her heart out...... I had my heart in my mouth the whole time, thinking nerves were going to get the better of her at any moment, but she flew through it.   Now we have to wait until February next year to hear if she got through.  I don't think my nerves can stand it if she has!

Can you tell how proud I am ???

So after the audition I whisked her off to see the Christmas lights in Oxford Street and Regent Street and of course we had to visit Hamleys the Toy Shop.

We had a wonderful weekend, and now our noses are firmly back to the grindstone!  We are strapping ourselves and preparing for the ride up to Christmas, lots of plays, carol singing, decorating, wrapping, baking and a party or two coming up... so its heads down!

Enjoy your week xx

LiMiTeD EdITioN ChRisTmaS BuNNiEs

 Meet Daisy.

Daisy is a 12" mohair Magpie rabbit filled with poly/cotton and a sprinkling of dried lavender, snuggled up in her own vintage mitten stocking, complete with candy cane, bauble and bell!  The mitten has a hook attached so you can hang her from your fireplace on Christmas Eve!  Daisy is content to sit in her stocking, but does love the occasional cuddle and shortbread biscuit!

Daisy is ready for immediate adoption, complete with stocking, bauble, bell and candy cane!  Daisy in her mitten is a limited edition of one only.

Daisy's adoption fee is £45.00  plus p&p of £5.00 to UK and £7.00 Rest of World.  If you would like to adopt her please email me here and I will send you a bespoke invoice.

DAISY IS NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3

Next it's the gorgeous Olivia.

Olivia is a 12" mohair Magpie rabbit filled with poly/cotton and a sprinkling of dried lavender, snuggled up in her own vintage mitten stocking, complete with vintage holly and berries!  The mitten has a hook attached so you can hang her from your fireplace on Christmas Eve!  Olivia often falls straight to sleep in her stocking, and has a tendancy to snore loudly when asleep, so needs constant attention and waking up!

Olivia is ready for immediate adoption, complete with stocking, holly and berries! Olivia in her mitten is a limited edition of one only.

Olivia's adoption fee is £45.00  plus p&p of £5.00 to UK and £7.00 Rest of World.  If you would like to adopt her please email me here and I will send you a bespoke invoice.

ADOPTED, thank you x

OLIVIA IS NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3

Next up it's Rose.  Rose is a 12" mohair Magpie rabbit filled with poly/cotton and a sprinkling of dried lavender.  She is bashful, but loves to snuggle up beside the fire.  Her favourite treat is a mince pie, warm with a dash of clotted cream ;)

THERE ARE 3 ROSE RABBITS AVAILABLE.

Rose's adoption fee is £40.00 or £45.00 with a bespoke wool Christmas stocking to put her in on Christmas Eve,  plus p&p of £5.00 to UK and £7.00 Rest of World.  If you would like to adopt her please email me here and I will send a bespoke invoice.

Next it's Olivia.  Olivia is a 12" mohair Magpie rabbit filled with poly/cotton and a sprinkling of dried lavender.  She is the leader of the bunch, with a strong will... i.e. bossy but loveable!  She'll eat anything, especially sweets in shiny wrappers - her favourite thing! 

THERE ARE 3 OLIVIA RABBITS AVAILABLE.

Olivia's adoption fee is £40.00 or £45.00 with a bespoke wool Christmas stocking to put her in on Christmas Eve,  plus p&p of £5.00 to UK and £7.00 Rest of World.  If you would like to adopt her please email me here and I will send a bespoke invoice.

OLIVIA IS NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3

Here comes Daisy!

Daisy is a 12" mohair Magpie rabbit filled with poly/cotton and a sprinkling of dried lavender. She loves to party, and likes nothing better than to throw on some glitter and sparkle through the night!

THERE ARE 4 DAISY RABBITS AVAILABLE.

Daisy's adoption fee is £40.00 or £45.00 with a bespoke wool Christmas stocking to put her in on Christmas Eve,  plus p&p of £5.00 to UK and £7.00 Rest of World.  If you would like to adopt her please email me here and I will send a bespoke invoice.

DAISY IS NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3

And last but by no means least it's Poppy.

Poppy is sweet and gentle, and will do almost anything she is told, except eat sprouts... but then I feel she is not alone here.

THERE ARE 3 2 POPPY RABBITS AVAILABLE.

Poppy's adoption fee is £40.00 or £45.00 with a bespoke wool Christmas stocking to put her in on Christmas Eve,  plus p&p of £5.00 to UK and £7.00 Rest of World.  If you would like to adopt her please email me here and I will send a bespoke invoice.

These little guys are up for immediate adoption, ready to be sent to the new homes for Christmas.  They are made from vintage fabrics, and once they are gone I cannot repeat them.

The last posting day here for Australia and New Zealand is December 5th, and to the USA, Canada and Europe its 10th December, ... so it gives them plenty of time to reach you before Christmas.

Thank you for stopping by..

See you Friday xx

Magpie Christmas Stocking

And now, as it's the First day of Advent, I thought I'd share some Christmassy things with you.

First of all, here is a pattern for a Christmas stocking for all of you wonderful people who have bought a Vintage Rabbit from me for someone for Christmas.....and even if you don't have a rabbit to put in it these stockings are great for putting smaller gifts inside.

I use wool blankets to make my stockings, as these come in great colours and you can pick them up really cheaply in charity shops.  I wash my blankets on a wool wash before I start.  Wool felt would work just as well.

You will need:

A wool blanket or wool felt

Scraps of material

A button or two

Black embroidery thread

Scrap of muslin  (optional)

Christmassy stamp (optional)

Bondaweb (found in most habadashery stores or online)

First of all click on the following links for the stocking here and for the heart motif here then right-click on the images and save them as JPEGS to your computer. This is essential so that you can then print them out on A4 paper at their correct sizes.

Cut out two stockings from the template (the seam is included) from the wool or felt.

Then draw around the heart template on the paper side of the bondaweb, and cut out.

Place the heart shaped bondaweb onto the wrong side of your scrap of material with its sticky side facing down, and iron onto the fabric.

Excuse my dirty iron :o

Cut the heart shape out around the bondaweb and then peel off the paper, leaving the sticky part on the back of your fabric.

Arrange the heart where you want it to appear on your stocking, and then iron over it to stick it to the stocking.

With your black thread roughly stitch around the heart, don't be too worried about your stitching... its the imperfections that let the light in!

Choose your button, and stitch it on.

Attend to the weary inbetween :)

If you want a pretty edging, pinking shears make a lovely easy edge, so cut the top edge of both stockings.

On this stocking I have also used a scrap of muslin which I have stamped with a Christmas stamp

 
I love stamping things, and this is quite effective.

and then I just sew around it with a different colour thread for effect.

For the hook, cut a strip of blanket or felt (I like to use the edge of the blanket as it has pretty stitching) and, on the inside of the back of the stocking,  place the ends about an inch in from the stocking seam, pin and machine stitch into place. You could also use pinking shears for a zig-zag edge on your hook. 

I usually go back and forth with the stitching a number of times to make it secure.

Then place the right sides together and pin the stocking together

And then machine a 1cm seam all around the stocking, leaving the top open.

Clip around all the curved edges of your stocking, and then turn right side out.

Place your bunny in the stocking, or whatever gifts you may have, sit back, pick up a mince pie in one hand and a glass of mulled wine in the other and enjoy your 'ta da!' moment!

  Oh, and whilst I had my stamps out, I made a few of these Christmas tags.... just stamped some linen, sewed on a piece of lace and a button and cut a hole for the string with a hole punch. 

They look really pretty and are really quick and easy to make!

Let me know how you get on!

And if you are making a mountain of stockings and need more bunnies, my CHRISTMAS LIMITED EDITION BUNNIES will be looking for new homes tomorrow! They will be up for adoption at 1 pm GMT on Wednesday.

See you then ! xx

NEwS and a Magpie Pattern!!

Ladies, brace your ears.... I am  being interviewed on the radio tomorrow!

The interview will be live at 10.30 on BBC Radio Devon 103.4 FM / 95.7 FM with Judi Spiers :o  I shall be putting the word out about the wonderful world of blogging, the host of talented folk involved, and the joy of handmade gifts.

I'm SOOOOOOOOO excited, and SOOOOOOO nervous!

Wish me luck!

As it's December 1st, I  have a Christmas pattern in store for you... I just need to take some photos (in the light which is proving difficult in this weather!) to show you how to make it up.

Pop back this afternoon, and it should all be ready!

A Sprinkling of Christmas

This weekend I have managed to sparkle up the studio, and Christmas has truly arrived inside.

 

I indulged myself a little, well... quite a lot actually, putting up a little Christmas tree, and some rabbits in their stockings!

and rearranging the little folk so they could see a through the fairy lights in the window.

Tinker,

 

tinker...

tinker !

I tinkered around for quite some time.

 

and everyone enjoyed a little sprucing up!

And after all that effort I think I need a little sprucing up now :0

Tune in tomorrow for some exciting news, and on Wednesday when the Limited Edition bunnies will be ready for new homes for Christmas!

Have a good week everyone! x

It's Official!

I know we aren't quite in December yet, but as we have had poorly children in the house this week, the GLITTER has officially made its first appearance of the festive season!

So, ready or not, members of this household will find themselves doused in the sparkly stuff from hereon in.  Once the glitter is out, you can find yourself sparkling in any given situation.  Glitter in your hair whilst in the supermarket queue, on your tights whilst sitting in the doctors surgery, inside your ears whilst in the bath - this stuff is guaranteed to keep you sparkling through December,  like it or not :)

So this weekend we are planning a 'decorating bonanza'.  We have stocked up on supplies and are ready to get making! 

We have several of these DIY advent calendars planned, a wonderful idea, and the kidiwinks are checking The Crafty Crow on a daily basis for new ideas.   As for me, I shall be checking Martha's Craft Of The Day and Sew Mama Sew's Handmade Holidays  wistfully wishing I had another couple of hours in my day.  AND I've just found the link to these Cinamon Bird Ornaments on Lily's House... oh my, these are on the list of makes as well!   I had the ghastly realisation earlier this week that this weekend coming up is possibly the only one we have 'free' now for creative abandonment until the big Day on the 25th.  So, if you should come across us from Monday onwards we shall be the ones head to toe in glitter, whatever the weather!

Have a great weekend everyone x

Fabric and Cookies!

I meant to show you this fabric on Monday, but we have a sickness bug flying around the house at the moment so things have been a little chaotic!

I bought these beautiful fabrics from Donna at the Vintage and Handmade fair, fat quarters of beautiful vintage loveliness. 

I am making up some limited edition bunnies with them as we speak, which will hopefully be ready to go out to new homes next week in time for Christmas stockings... they are looking so gorgeous, there are certain members of the family who have fallen in love with them, so I think we may be keeping one or two!

and I've also been meaning to show you these.... Firstly the plate, a charity shop find that I am loving at the moment.  It's so pretty.

And then there's the cookies.  Oh my.  We have renamed these from 'Old Fashioned Ginger Nuts (with chocolate thrown in) to 'The Devil's Work' :)  These will not stay in your house for long, rest assured.  So, on that note, here's the recipe...consider yourselves warned ;)

Gingernut and Chocolate Cookies

350g Self Raising Flour

Pinch of salt

200g Golden Caster Sugar (we used ordinary caster sugar as that was all we had)

1 Tablespoon Ground Ginger

1 Teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda

115g Unsalted Butter (we used salted as that was all we had)

85g Golden Syrup

1 Large Egg

Large chunks of any cooking chocolate you can lay your hands on!

Method:

• Throw flour, salt, sugar, ginger and bicarb of soda, and chocolate chunks into a bowl.
• Heat the syrup and butter in a small pan (we did it for 30 seconds in microwave!)
• Pour the melted butter and syrup onto the dry ingreadients, add the beaten egg and mix together.
• Roll the dough into walnut-sized balls, and then flatten them slightly on a baking tray
• Cook in a preheated oven at 170C (325F) for about 15-20 minutes. 
• Remove from the oven, and leave them to firm up slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely (if you can manage it - I don't think any of ours made it to the 'cool' stage!)

Tip: If you like your gingernuts chewy cook them for 15 minutes until just firm, or if you prefer them crunchy, cook for a few minutes longer.

Then sit back and enjoy!

xx

It's here!

I'm so excited about this!   My first ever calendar has arrived!  Happy Days!

With a picture of one of the above Magpie bears for each month of the year.... for example, here is "Mr March" :-)

If you would like to order one for yourself or for someone you love for Christmas please visit my little shoppe here.  They are £10.99 plus £2.50 p&p, and I shall post them out to you within 2-3 days of ordering so they can be with you in good time to put in your stockings on Christmas Eve!

On Sunday I shall be packing up my suitcases again and travelling down to Cornwall to take part in the Christmas Bear Fair in Lostwithiel.  There will be lots of wonderful exhibitors so we are very excited to be part of it.  If you are anywhere near on Sunday, please pop in and say hello!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone xx

The Christmas House

I couldn't wait to get my hands on the December issue of Country Living magazine, as I knew that Liv's Christmas House was going to be featured.

 

This is the Christmas House I mentioned in my post on Monday, and we are lucky enough to live a five minute drive away!  During the year Liv has a market stall in Newton Abbot on Wednesdays and Saturdays, where she sells beautiful things all year round, but in the run up to Christmas she opens her house to all things festive.  The house is located in a little village called Ogwell, and every year Liv gives up her beautiful cottage on Sunday's and Monday's and stocks it full to the gunnells with Christmas decorations and gifts.

 
The lead up to Christmas would not be the same without several visits to the cottage to stock up on beautiful decorations and gifts (which mainly end up in my stocking as I cannot bear to part with them!).

Typically, (as I did the same at the Vintage and Homemade Fair) I forgot my camera when I made a sneaky visit on my own on Monday, without any friends or children with me, just to wander round and soak it all in. The fire was roaring as you go through the door, and you are greeted with a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie, along with a beautiful basket (although not quite a big enough basket) to put your purchases in whilst you wander round.  I never know where to put my eyes first, on the decorations or the cottage itself.  The mince pies are warming in the aga as you warm yourself by the fire looking at the beautiful jewellery laid out as you go in.

and yes, that beautiful dog was sat in his basket by the fire!  Oh its too much for a girl, really.   So I might have bought a few little trinkets on my first visit, but I assure you ladies, I was only warming up.  I am due several visits back with friends and with children to experience the magic, and on one of those occasions I hope to remember my camera for some more pics.  Even the drive to the cottage is gorgeous, down country lanes and past heart achingly beautiful thatched cottages.  I have been looking forward to it for weeks, the magic of Christmas is in that house!

Prepare yourselves, there will be more .....

Grand Opening!

My little Christmas Shoppe is now open, come in out of the cold and into our warm and toasty shoppe, full of Christmas spirit and the evocative scent of cinamon and oranges, oh and a few bears and bunnies hoping for new homes for Christmas!

As we are fast approaching the Big Day, I have reduced my delivery time from date of order to 7-10 days, so you can have your bunnies or bears in good time to put in your stockings on Christmas Eve.

I will also be adding The Vintage Magpie 2010 Calendar to my shop within the next couple of days ... hear is a sneak preview of Miss January...

and some beautiful VM prints to hang on your wall designed by the very talented Sam Neville of Silkie Sue  ..

 

Frank

Enid

Prue

Edna

Rupert

Enid Birthday Card

Alfie Christmas card

Now that the shoppe is open we are all feeling very festive!

How about you? x