Friday 9 November 2012

Pretty Nostalgic v The Simple Things

Good afternoon

Brrrr its gone chilly here - just in time for the weekend to start :( It starts here about 3.30 on a Friday when the boys arrive home from school. Once the house is fuller I might sneak the heating on for an hour until then its cardi & scarf time - clashing patterns are the thing today!

Anyhow - Pretty Nostalgic v The Simple Things - 2 relatively new magazines that have been mentioned many times in blogland and also in my other home of Instagram.

I've bought several issues of each now and now its time to decide - which one is best.


Simple Things comes from the same publishing team as Molliemakes. The first two issues I enjoyed and was excited to see No3 in the shops. However like MM the quality varies and this issue is not great. Rather too many ads and rather commercial :(

Pretty Nostalgic is independently published and has a much more cosy feeling to it. Its published bi-monthly so its £8 cover price makes its actually cheaper than the monthly published Simple Things and there's a wonderful subscription offer on at the moments where you can save 25% - I've just done this.

It is the sort of magazine that you'd want to keep and refer back to for a long time. It feels almost wrong calling it a magazine as the quality is more that of a book. The articles are lovely and there's lots of emphasis on handmade by British makers rather than the imported from the far-east-even-though-its-pretending-to-be-handmade that other magazines seem to feature rather a lot of - I can't name that maker as I don't want to be sued!

Anyhow off my magazine soapbox - just a note to say - there is no sponsorship involved in this post - just my opinion. Have you read either of these two mags - if so what do you think??

Oh and just to prove it - one quick final picture;


Have a lovely weekend what ever you are planning - here it includes Christmas cake baking, rugby watching, crochet, Strictly Come Dancing, Remembrance Parade and a roast dinner to finish it all off.

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

17 comments:

Crafty Helen said...

Hi - I haven't read either, so it is interesting to read your thoughts. I'm now intrigued as to which other magazine you're referring....X

Unknown said...

Oh now I need to find 'Pretty Nostalgic' Magazine!!

Deborah said...

I've read both and prefer the Pretty Nostalgic, thought the other one would be good but a bit disappointed with it, cancelled the £5 subscription offer so they don't charge my credit card with the rest of the subscription rate. Have a happy weekend sweetie

Bee happy x

Jacquie said...

Hi Vicki, I had not seen Pretty Nostalgic either....thanks for the review. Your coming weekend sounds almost identical to ours. I've just soaked my fruit in brandy in readiness for Christmas cake making tomorrow ( roughly following Delia ).
Love your colourful dress and cardi :0)
Jacquie x

Irene said...

I've not read either books but thanks for the reviews. Enjoy your baking.
irene
xxxx

thriftwood said...

Hello Vicki, I get both, but my £5 subscription has finished for The Simple Things ... I like both, they are quite different to each other, I like that PN is not full of the usual commercial advertising and I agree, it's more of a book to keep. But I keep all my mags anyway, that's why I have I many cupboards!

Love Claire xx

Vintage Sheet Addict said...

I'm thinking more and more ill just stick to Country Living, I must admit though I've never looked at either of those mags, I'm thinking I may not bother too much about MM in the future too, there's lot of inspiration on these blogs! Have a good, crafty weekend! :)

ALoadofOldTat said...

I have bought Simple Things a couple of times now, I am not really impressed. I liked the look of Pretty Nostalgic but thought it too expensive but as you rightly point out it is bimonthly something I didn't register when I made my judgement. I think for now I will keep the faith with H&A and the lovely ideas shared by the blogger fraternity.

Josie-Mary said...

I brought the first Pretty Nostalgic but wasn't that impressed. I haven't brought The Simple Life.... I've gone off Mollie Make, as you say too many ads! Sounds like a lovely weekend.... enjoy! x

Lucy said...

I agree with the Mollie Makes comment and don't bother to buy it anymore. Am loving Pretty Nostalgic and have done the brilliant subscription offer. Hadn't heard of the other one but not sure I'll bother now.

I think I know the company that you are talking about. When I saw on a label that the item of clothing had been made overseas, I was pretty disgusted, especially considering the price! I always thought it was made in good old blighty!

Enjoy your weekend, looks like it's going to be a busy one - we'll be watching Strictly too! :o)

Lucy said...

I agree with the Mollie Makes comment and don't bother to buy it anymore. Am loving Pretty Nostalgic and have done the brilliant subscription offer. Hadn't heard of the other one but not sure I'll bother now.

I think I know the company that you are talking about. When I saw on a label that the item of clothing had been made overseas, I was pretty disgusted, especially considering the price! I always thought it was made in good old blighty!

Enjoy your weekend, looks like it's going to be a busy one - we'll be watching Strictly too! :o)

Lisa said...

I was tempted by the ST mag when I saw it in the shop but I didn't buy it in the end. I did subscribe to PN though after the first edition, you are right it is much more like a book.
Haven't opened the latest copy yet, I am waiting for the right quiet time, just love the robin cover.
Lisa x

Country Cottage Chic said...

I've had both & agree with you. I had the first 3 issues of Simple Things but have now cancelled the sunsctiption - I just don't think it has enough content for me.
Pretty Nostalgic is lovely & as an independent magazine it is put together with love.
They have a stall at our Vintage & Handmade Fair & the creators are so passionate about real vintage & Britishness it makes you want to buy the magazine!

Claire said...

aha! well you know i love Pretty Nostalgic, i've bought the last 2 issues of the simple things and i gotta say i do like it but dont know that i'd buy every issue..

Unknown said...

I haven't read either of those i have seen them but i just can't afford to buy magazines are present. Its good to hear your views on them though. Enjoy your weekend, dee x

Bohemian Gypsy said...

I have read both magazines and I was quite excited when ST first came out but I find it a bit boring and lacking in substance. I also buy PN and I love it. so much so that I splashed out and bought their book and although it is pricey at £25 I do recommend it. The pictures are stunning. I buy PN direct from them via paypal and it arrives in a day or so as I struggled to find it in the shops.
I did have every single issue of Mollie Makes but recently sold them on eBay as they were just so repetitive and there seemed nothing new in content really. I cancelled my subscription due to that and also because for 3 months in a row it never arrived and I had such a hassle to get a replacement sent which arrived 3 weeks later just as the next issue was due in the shops.
My favourite magazine has to be Country Living it has to be said but I have not received the past two issues of that either so I don't know what is going on in the subscription world at the moment. Hopefully another copy will be sent out soon x

Marlynne said...

Vicki just come across your blog and am interested in the Pretty Nostalgic cover on issue 4 of the birds. Do you know if that is pattern for any ones use? I would like to draw a copy of it for my Christmas card but don't want to if it''d not. Would appreciate your input if it is not to much trouble, Enjoyed your blog too Marlynne also www.mcreatesdaily.blogspot.com and www.preciouscottage.blogspot.com