Feels like Christmas

Another school year has ended.

Kiddiewinkles are rushing with their parents to the shops to get the perfect 'Thank you' present for their beloved teachers.

Mums and Dads are happy it's the holidays again. From December onwards they have been treating the family, their other halves on Valentinesday, Mothersday and Fathersday, they've been spoiling the children with Christmas, fed them Easter eggs, hot cross buns and pancakes on Pancake Day.

Work has been stressful, they've had to hit their targets, reach their deadlines, please their bosses... They have been doing everything to please or treat somebody else. They've had no time to think about themselves, no time to sit back and relax, no time to think 'What about me?'.

So I would like to ask you, Mums and Dads, Husbands and Wifes, Grandmothers and Grandfathers, Fiancé and Fiancée, lovers, partners, boys and girls and everybody I have forgotten....

Have you treated yourself lately?

How about a lovely vintage jug with gorgeous Dahlias? Or how about an old fashioned typewriter to bring back good memories or to look great on that fabulous antique desk you have in the study?

Or have a tea party in the garden with your friends and/or family and decorate the table with these sweet African violets. Or just put them on your side table and enjoy their cuteness!

Get or make a lovely wreath to put on your door and celebrate summer!!!

Because summer is made for relaxing, drinking Pimms in the backyard, having a gin & tonic on the barge, enjoying long walks along the canal, knackering yourself out while cycling up the hills and enjoying the view and sceneries before diving in the pool to cool down, lighting the BBQ and indulge on good food, get your fingers stuck in the garden and smell those gorgeous garden roses, picking your own strawberries, going to the seaside and taste the salt on your lips, playing with flowers or just get the sun lounge out and read a good book!

Happy sunshine-enjoying-days!!!

What kept us busy...

I do apologise for not blogging for more than 2 weeks!!! A lot has happened since...

Playing Scrabble whilst drinking whisky....

The dolls pram came and went....

A not-every-day-sight in the High Street

Several visits from our regular customer, Mr B. Bee

A visit from the Dutch family, including the famous 'Let's take a picture of each other'-shot...

Barbeques...

Lavender baskets... lots of lavender baskets...

Gorgeous sunsets in wheatfields.....

What kept you busy the last few weeks?

wedding, weights and weird stuff..

Gorgeous vendela roses, lavender and marjoram.....the scent was lovely...even if the weather was less than beautiful.....
random vintage loveliness in the shop this week...love the weights against the graffiti on the old scout table top and of course who could resist a pram full of herbs...x

Our courses are filling up, the first one is on July 18th from 10-30 to 3pm. Floral Country Living....lots of ideas for using your garden flowers, what works best for a cutting garden, very informal with fun and food!!!

Independents' Day

One of the things I love about Hungerford is that the shops are mostly owned by independent retailers.
The town has an individuality, the High Street doesn't look the same as any other high street in the country and the people here appreciate that.
Local independent shops give a town it's charm; make it stand out from other towns.
Nowadays most of the high streets in various towns look alike. You'll find the same bookshop, the same music store, the same restaurant, the same clothes shop, etcetera, in most of the towns and cities in Britian. The little independent retailer is seen as expensive and inconvenient.

But why? I know I'd rather go to an independent retailer because he/she gives me quality rather than quantity. I like the fact that I know the shopkeeper and/or staff and that they know me. Ever noticed the big turnover in staff in the well known shops? A new face every week seems to be their motto..
I like the customer service in a local shop; being treated like a human being and not just another number.
I love exploring a town with lot of local independent retailers; to try and find that little gem hidden away in a little alleyway. Really enjoy a day out, buy too many nice things than you could actually afford. But hey, at least you support the local economy and the people in that town benefit from it, instead of a Swiss bank account from a already-too-rich-corporate-so-and-so...

Come and celebrate and support the diversity in your local high street. Buy local on the 4th of July!!!

For more info click here!

New Course Dates!!

Pop over to The Magpie Academy for all our new courses for summer  and autumn, there is literally something for everyone, not forgetting lovely food and fun!!

If you pass our door every week you will notice that we have a 'thing' for door wreaths....there will always be one and they differ depending on which of the three of us make them.

Miss Magpie made this one..isn't it beautiful?

Our new mantra is.....

'Door wreaths....they are not just for christmas!!!'

Wish!!

If you had a wish what would it be??

a winner...a lover....a gift.....a breakthrough.....a promotion....an answer....a heart....a letter....a phone call....

'a bunch of flowers!!!!'

whatever your wish might be we have beautiful wish bracelets for sale this week.....pretty semi- precious stones on cord to tie that wish close to you until it comes true....

each one is unique and handmade right here in Hungerford in brilliant packaging for yourself or give a wish to a friend...

See you soon

x

This week has been made possible by...

A rainy bankholiday visit to Highclere Castle.

The love for Hydrangeas

Funky Cape Daisies (Osteospermum)

Homemade Marble Cake

I-want-one-of-those.com/eventhecoulourisfab.html

And a shabby chic washstand!

This weekend will be entertained by a barbeque, a lie-in, a bit of gardening, relaxing and ............. (Any suggestions? Please feel free to fill in the blanks!).