Old Man & Magpie was born at the same time as my first child.

I was a freelance sound engineer - working various venues in & around Manchester - but the late & long nights were not quite fitting in with my new parental responsibilities and I was looking for a slower, calmer life for my new family.

When my partner restarted her career I decided to quit mine and concentrate my time & energy on raising our daughter the best that I could.

After 6 months of frugality we knew that I would need to come up with a way of making a little extra money to pay for the simple things that we enjoyed & needed - as well as something to keep my hands & mind busy during the (few) hours that I had to myself.

I had spent a short time as a joiner in my early teenage years and so I decided to utilise those basic skills, as well as the empty and very small (8ft x 8ft) workshop space that was attached to our new home.

I went about creating some simple pieces of wooden furniture using a few timbers that I salvaged from a local demolition site; a toy box for my daughter (Magpie), a bookcase and a small TV Table for our home and some basic shelving for a neighbour.

I received some positive feedback from visitors and more people became interested in what I was doing.

I took that positivity and decided to build a couple 'one-off' pieces and to open an Etsy store as a way of reaching a wider audience and hopefully selling those patiently crafted items.

I only use ethically & sustainably sourced timbers in all of my work.

After nearly 7 years we now have a thriving furniture making business as well as a candle making studio.

The team of one has grown to a team of four.

Even though the business has grown we still treat every job like it was our first and pour our hearts in to every creation no matter how big or small.

Garry, Jemma and Magpie | OM&M ↟