Open the doors to The Magpie & the Wardrobe, a compendium of curiosities, beautiful images, tiny trinkets and tit bits of long lost traditions, folklore, superstitions and "wonder tales" (fairy tales). Familiar, yet simple artistries and recipes are presented in twelve monthly chapters that reflect and encapsulate this unique, multi-layered, visual feast for the mind and eye!

The Magpie and the Wardrobe

The Magpie and the Wardrobe

Like all good (female!) ideas, this project started around the kitchen table some years ago. Subsequently it evolved into a heartfelt passion project, and considering all things magical, folkloric & mythical are very much in vogue it now seems very topical. The original The Magpie & the Wardrobe namesake is a veritable cottage industry established by co-author Sam McKechnie, who started to create fashion fripperies and fairies over a decade ago. Her creations feature in the book and became a natural inspiration for its name.

We included our families and friends in the process, and our wonderful agent, who sat at the dining room table, hand writing individual letters to potential publishing houses. Subsequently we were delighted that Pavilion Books, London's leading independent illustrated book publisher, were so excited to take us on board and understood our vision, they underpinned our magical journey and allowed us to create a rich tapestry of a treasury, aiming to capture the hearts of women aged thirteen to one hundred.

Inspired by our mothers and grandmothers before us and our fascination for age-old British traditions, curious festivals and beliefs, we set to work on this book which is illustrated with our collection of eclectic objects. We feel we have created a treasury of treasures and sprinkled it with a little bit of our own brand of magic!

If you've ever wanted to know any of these things, then you'll be fascinated by this book:

Why your Mother used to tell you black cats were lucky, or not?

Did we celebrate Punkie Night before Halloween?

Who was Spring Hill Jack?

What is your birthstone or flower?

What is candle magic? Is it as simple as blowing out your birthday candles and making a wish?

What was May Day Eve?

What are the origins of some of our curious days and festive celebrations?

Having ourselves been fascinated by these things and many more, The Magpie & the Wardrobe, allowed us to create an exciting calendar bursting with history, facts & amazing images, which time and time again can be enjoyed and dipped in to. Some things you'll know and some things you'll be surprised to find out, with a few little magical surprises thrown in!

So prepare to enter the curious world of The Magpie & the Wardrobe and we hope you'll enjoy discovering it as much as we did creating it.

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The Magpie & the Wardrobe: A Curiosity of Folklore, Magic & Spells

By Sam Mckechnie & Alexandrine Portelli