Welcome to Martin & the Magpie's Academy!

We will be updating this page with all our lovely and fun courses.

Wonderful Day & Evening courses with glorious fresh and scrummy florals, to decorate your Wedding & Home.

We also offer gift vouchers. They would make the perfect present for that creative friend!




Monday, 14 November 2011

Fully booked!!

Two courses left this year and they are both fully booked!!!

At the moment we in the progress of designing and planning our 2012 courses, which we will be putting online as soon as possible!

So watch this space!!!!

Friday, 7 October 2011

Hallowe'en

Fed up going to the supermarkets for your Hallowe'en decorations?
Want something different?
Feeling creative?

On Monday October 24th from 10.30AM untill 3PM we'll be giving our Hallowe'en course.

How many ideas can you find for a pumpkin? We have lots!!
Fabulous Hallowe'en decorations, arrangments and wreaths with that spooky touch...
All materials and lunch are provided (and maybe even a Bloody Mary!)

The price for the course is £65 and there are still a few spaces left, so be quick!!!

Wednesday, 17 August 2011

Wedding Flowers and Seasonal Bouquets

Coming Monday 22nd of August is our Beautiful Wedding Flowers Course!

Learn how to make your gorgeous wedding bouqet, from choosing and conditioning the flowers to the finishing touches!
You will also learn the basics of wiring for corsages and buttonholes, plus lots of other invaluable ideas from our vast knowledge of wedding floristry!

We still have a few places left, so why not book yourself (and your mum, bridesmaid, friend or even father!) in and have a nice day out?

Lunch and materials are all included.
The course starts at 10.30 AM and finishes by 4.30 PM.
Price £125-

And on Thursday evening 25th of August is our Season Hand Tied Bouqeuts Course.

Learn the joy of using seasonal flowers and creating your own gorgeous bouquet!

This course had nearly been booked up; only one place left!

So be quick and book yourself in or have a look here and see on which courses we still have some places available!

Hope to see you soon!

Tuesday, 2 August 2011

Success!

Yay! Our courses are a roaring success!!!
Such a success that some dates are already fully booked or nearly booked up!


Here is an update:

August 22nd ~ Beautiful Wedding Flowers
 Still a few places left!

August 25th ~ Seasonal hand tied bouquets
 Nearly booked up! Just one place left!

September 26th ~ Dutch Masters
 Still a few places left!

September 29th ~ Autumn Country Floral
 Fully booked!!!

October 24th ~ Decorate your table for Halloween
 Still a few places left!

 November 21st ~ Vintage Planting Party
 Still a few places left!

December 11th ~ A Floral Christmas
 Nearly booked up! Only two places left!!

Our courses are fun, informative, enjoyable and informal. We'll provide you with wine to steady the nerves!
All materials, drinks, lunch and/or nibbles are provided. All you need to bring is yourself and a good mood!

Maybe a nice present for a friend, mother or daughter? Or even father or son? Or just a nice treat for yourself?

Contact us by phone on 01488 681062, email martinandthemagpie@hotmail.co.uk or pop in the shop to secure your spot! Looking forward to hearing from you!

Wednesday, 8 June 2011

Our Magpie Academy....blooming beautiful!

Martin and the Magpie
New course dates 2011
Welcome to our summer and autumn classes.
We have tried to make these a bit different and what we can promise is plenty of flowers......fun.....and lots of friendly encouragement.
With all the sessions you will receive all the equipment you need, as well as some scrummy refreshments and you get to take your creations home with you.



July 18th 2011;  Floral Country Living ...10.30am - 3pm
Let your garden inspire you.
Learn how to condition and arrange your flowers and what to plant  next year for the cutting garden
All materials supplied plus lunch.
Price £65

July 21st 2011  7pm - 9.30pm
Hand tied bouquets
The mystery revealed about making the perfect bouquet.
Wine and nibbles and all materials provided.
Price £35
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August 22nd 2011 10.30am - 4.30pm
Beautiful Wedding Flowers

For the DIY Bride, learn how to make your gorgeous wedding bouquet, from choosing the flowers to the finishing touches.
Also the basics of wiring for corsages and buttonholes
plus lots of other invaluable ideas from our vast knowledge of wedding floristry.
 Great to do with a bridesmaid or your Mum (or Dad!!)
All materials and lunch provided
price £125



August 25th 2011 7pm -9.30
Seasonal hand tied bouquets
Learn the joy of using seasonal flowers and creating your own gorgeous bouquet.
All materials provided along with wine and nibbles
Price £35

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September 26th 10.30am-3pm

Dutch Masters

Taking our inspiration from 18th century dutch flower painting we will  look at the history of  these paintings and their symbolism and then recreate them.
For a totally different floral experience.
Watch this space as there may be another element to this course which is just being finalised.
All materials will be provided plus lunch.
Price to be confirmed.





September 29th 2011 7pm - 9.30pm
Autumn Country Floral

How to use the abundance of autumnal flowers, foliage  and feathers to create a beautiful display.
Lots of different ideas gleaned from nature
 for you to play with and find inspiration.
Wine, nibbles and all materials provided.
Price  £35 



24th  October 2011 10.30am-3pm
Decorate your table for Halloween
How many ideas can you find for the pumpkin? We have lots!!
Fabulous Halloween decorations,arrangements and wreaths with that spooky touch
With  all materials and  lunch provided and maybe a bloody mary!
Price £65

*****

27th October 2011

All day open class
Pop into the shop and have a go with flowers in a pumpkin, a spooky door wreath and kids goody bags
Look out for more information and come and join in the fun.


November 21st  2pm - 5pm.

Vintage Planting Party.

Learn how to put all those containers to use with the start of the bulb growing season.
How to use vintage finds and make fabulous indoor displays to brighten up the dull winter days.
We will have lots of containers for you to purchase (plants and bulbs provided) or if you have your own vintage lovely to fill bring it along.
A vintage inspired afternoon tea will be provided
Price £28

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11th December 2011 10.30-4,30
A Floral Christmas
Come and join in a festive day full of ideas for Christmas, have a go at making a door wreath,
garland or table decoration.
All materials and lunch provided
Price £85

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We do hope that some of these classes will inspire you to have a go and have some fun too.
Space is limited so a small deposit will secure you a place.
01488 681062
http://www.martinandthemagpie.co.uk/
All the photos are from our last wedding flower class.
******

Tuesday, 10 May 2011

Vase arrangement course

Date and time: Thursday 26th May 2011
Start: 7.00 PM, ends: 9.30 PM. Doors open from 6.45 PM
Price: £65-
Your host: Martin






This course is suitable for beginners and the more experienced. 

The evening will start with a glass of something lovely.

During the course you will learn a new and easy way to arrange flowers in a vase by using aluminium wire. 


All the materials are included, all you need to bring is yourself!

There are only 5 places available, so be quick!
Maybe a nice and fun evening out with friends or colleagues?

If you would like to book, send an email with your contact details to: martinandthemagpie@hotmail.co.uk, ring the shop on 01488 681062 or just pop in!

Friday, 25 February 2011

Our First Wedding Class


On Sunday our little shop was filled with the wonderful sound of friends getting to know one another, the smell of beautiful spring flowers and the aroma of Dutch coffee brewing....our first Bridal class was due to begin.

We had a bride, a couple who wanted to share the fun of arranging their wedding flowers, and some ladies who were interested in learning a new skill. It was a lovely mixed bunch.

They had a day & lots of flowers and they learnt how to create 2 different bride bouquets, buttonholes and a vase arrangement. We laughed, made a mess and ate a lovely Italian lunch and scoffed the wonderful Dutchman's freshly baked cakes.

It was a delight to share our skills with such a happy group of people.

Our next course date is to be confirmed, but keep popping by here or drop into the shop for more information. If you are looking for a gift, we offer gift vouchers for all our courses...the perfect present for that wonderfully creative friend/mother/daughter/brother/or lover!!