"How does your garden grow...?"

I wish it was with fairy magic! 

It appears that not even Mini Magpie's magic, dressed in her over-sized wellington boots and  tatty, "I not want new wings mummy", could help "Magpie's Patch" this year. 
The weather has put an end to everything I have tried to grow in my new veg patch. Which is why I have had nothing to report of late. I was so excited at the beginning of this year with all the seedlings that what grew.
I had high hopes for my new patch but with lingering frost in April, scorching sunshine and all the rain we've had, I just lost my battle to grow my own : (

I seemed to have reared slugs and snails, no puppy dog tails but an abundance of earwigs instead. I've never seen so many!!! Arrrggghhhhh!!  They have all munched their way through my potato leaves, which was all I had left. I've never really thought I had a phobia of any creepy crawlies, but until now, I had forgotten just how much earwigs freak me out!! 

My 'Marto Pants' (MM's name for tomato plants) grown from scratch at the beginning of the year never materialised for me and every time I planted out the courgettes I'd grown from seed, they would disappear quicker than I could plant them again. It was like the scene out of Wallace and Gromit 'The Curse of the Were Rabbit' where all the carrots kept disappearing. I would come out the next day and POOF!! GONE!! Curse you slugs!!!

Still I live and learn.
I've written it all down on paper and I'm hoping that my little helper can wave her magic watering can (it's almost as big as her, so I'm hoping it holds a lot of magic) and put a plan in place for next years crop. 

Fingers crossed!! xx

A need to share...

...OMG!!!

Words escape me as to just how amazing this animation is. 
My friend D emailed this link and I just had to share the joy and my love for paper cuts (not the hurty kind) with you. If you get a spare minute (or 13) you need, must, omg, just have to watch this for yourself. You won't believe your peepers!

Created in 1980 believe it or not, crikey that means I was just two years old when Michel Ocelot, a French writer, character designer, storyboard artist and director of animated films and television programs (he also has directed a music video for Bjork) created this outstanding (in my opinion) piece of animated art, which was entirely created out of paper cut outs in and according to this article, tells the story of: 

"In a world of white lace, an inventive man, an inventive woman, and an inventive little girl invent beautiful and useful machines. But people don’t understand and get angry when things are not like they used to be". 

Michel Ocelot was named as the winner of best animated short at the 34th British Academy Film Awards for this piece and I can only say 'Totally well deserved'. Monsieur Ocelot is a genius!

Please let me know your thoughts...

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A need to share...

       ... A Great British Inspired Giveaway!!!

Another snippet that I just have to share is look at this gorgeous selection of goodies that are to be given away to one very lucky person...image, sipping your tea out of this rather fine drinking vessel whilst slicing your favourite cake with this splendid tool shown above...Oh my! How good would that be??

Well, the lovely Sophie over @ A Good Year has very generously organised this fabulous give away after being inspired at just how 'GREAT' Britain really is. 

Pop over and read all about her what inspired her giveaway, join in and have fun or simply say Hi, you won't be disappointed you called by.

xx

From me to you!! My Jar of Love...

What did fly over on the wings of a Rubie Magpie to Rachel @ My Rainbow Vintage Home they wondered?? 

Well wonder no more my lovely reader friends, here are a few pics (apologies for the quality) to show you what I sent over to Rachel as part of our 'Jar of Love' swap organised by Katie over @ Booty-full Things. 

Do you recognise the patterned fabric I have used to create Rachel a pin cushion?? Hmmmm...now where have I seen that before I hear you ask yourself??

 It was originally this dress, found in a charity shop by myself and mini magpie...

It also helped create my handmade item that had to be included in the 'Jar of Love' swap...

I tried to sneak as many bits and bobs as I could into the jar. I popped in ribbons, pegs, a Cath Kidtson keyring, sweets from our past, a vintage tin with a vintage 70s/80s patterned scarf in it that I thought may come in handy as a piece of usable fabric, just trying to think what else?

Oh yes! Buttons that I backed onto old snap cards so they wouldn't escape around the jar...

And then finally, packed this little jar on its way, sandwiched between...

lots of rainbow drops for them all to enjoy!

Thank you again Rachel for my fabulous jar.

xx

What a Lucky Magpie I am!!!

Here I am again, sat here wondering where to begin?? 

Beaming with excitement as I begin to unveil my treasures found and received over the last few weeks. They have been the highlight of my days as I have been working extra hard and long hours recently, both at work and it's wedding season, so these delights have brightened my break times.

I think it's only right that I start with saying a big thank you to Katie over at Booty-full Things for organising the 'Jar of Love' swap. It was my first ever swap too.  

You did a fabulous job organising such a wonderful swap and making the little mouse who rides the creative cog bicycle inside my head work over time. I am now really enjoying catching up with all the entrants and their jars too. 

My partner for the swap was Rachel over at My Rainbow Vintage Home. If you haven't already visited her vibrant corner of blogland, you must make it your next stop. I had such fun putting her jar together, trying to guess what she might like or dislike, or would find useful on her creative adventures. By the looks of what Mr Postman delivered to me, Rachel did the same.

What a lucky lady I am!!  My Jar of Love was crammed with deliciousness!! Here are some piccies to show it off.

Now you can see how much fun I had unpacking all these tasty treats, can't you??

Actually, speaking of treats RM, thank you for the mini Haribo strawberries, a god send! They kept Mini Magpie's eagle eye and rummaging paws out of my jar for all of a good few minutes so that I could basque in my new treasures. A true bonus find in there, for her and me!! 

Sooooooo many goodies that will come in useful in so many ways, this RM says a ma-whooo-sive thank you to you for being a really cool swap partner, hope you enjoy your jar!

xx

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Bit more news on the screen printing front. Look what Mr Postman brought me the other day too.

Just a catch up for anyone who did know, I was totally spoilt this year on my birthday. Mr Magpie and the Mini One paid for me to attend a screen printing course, (something I have always wanted to try and not had the chance to do until now) at the West Yorkshire Print Workshop in September. A whole weekend of arting about fun!! 

So I thought I would swot up! 

If anyone has any advice on techniques or knows of any useful web sites I can look at as well, your advice would be gratefully received but in the meantime, you'll find me with my head in these books.
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Also, I have more charity shop finds for you....

Be hold! Treasures (part 2)

Tea anyone?? 
£3 whole pounds for all these lovelies. I had to ask twice to make sure I had heard correctly. Way-hay!

Next, I spotted this dress. Mini magpie also caught a glimpse and decided to try it on, being for a 4-5 year it buried her! She looked so cute parading around in it over her clothes.
I'd had other ideas for it though!, does that make me a mean moma? It took a while to prize it away from her but I just couldn't resist the colours and it was the pattern that caught my Magpie peepers, I had a feeling it would come in handy for something?? 

Lastly for today, we also found these gorgeous children's books....

The old ones are the best, wouldn't you agree?

xx

P.S I almost forgot...finally, after all this weird and dreadful weather we have had to endure since May, we have eventually got to taste the only fruits of our labour that have not been eaten by slugs or earwigs or washed away for that matter.

Meet our 'Charlottes'

xx