1970s SOUTHEND POSTCARD

Here is another of my Southend Postcards series... the 1970s!!

A line-up of super 70s Southend items and a few iconic bits from the decade.

Classic knitting pattern dudes are enjoying a day out at the pier. The guy wearing his original Star Wars badge from 1977 and the girl with the fantastic shawl is taking a breather from all the fun, by sitting on the now sadly demised Bowling Lanes.

70s dude with his classic Star Wars badge!

Two great adverts give them some ideas of where to go, one for the famous Talk of the South (TOTS) club and another to admire the fabulous 70s decor at the Airport Hotel!

The TOTS advert came from this fantastic centenary supplement of the Southend Standard from 1973.

Older Southenders will remember the brilliant aircraft museum that used to be at the airport near the groovy hotel.

Also, check out the that brilliant Ford Cortina driving precariously down the pier!

If the 70s are your fave decade, check out my SUPER SEVENTIES collage, part of my DAZZLING DECADES series:

My popular Super Seventies collage.

1920s SOUTHEND POSTCARD

Ready for the next installment of my new series?!

The 1920s!!!

On another gorgeous vintage postcard of Southend I've put together a roaring collage of the 20s...

Featured here are women in classic clothes of the era, including cloche hat and dresses of the flappers, plus lovely line drawings of bright young things.

I like to use original items from Southend on these collages. So I was very pleased to put in my theatre programme of the now demolished Hippodrome from 1927. Also, there is a brilliant packed charabanc, which were used on days out for friends and families, from a Southend postcard dated 1921. There is also a cigarette card of a Southend United footballer, these cards were called Pinnace Photos and were produced in their thousands by Godfrey Phillips in the early 20s.

Gorgeous original theatre programme from 1927.

Just look at that packed charabanc! What a grand day out they must have had!

The Pinnace Photo of Southend United's J.H. Evans.

I love the Austin car on here as well, which also featured on my TIPSY 20s collage, which I spotted and snapped at a classic car show.

I now have 4 completed postcards for this series, and I've just about finished the 70s and started the 30s!

Have a peep here at the other three cards...

And look out for a blog about the super 70s postcard coming soon!

AWFULLY AUDLEY!

Hi everyone, hope you've all been having a fantastic Easter hols!

I've been sorting through all sorts of stuff in the ArtPix Archives, and have come up with a little idea!
I won't tell you just yet as it's early days, but is another strand of my popular DAZZLING DECADES series.

But it wasn't all work and no play, as we jumped in the jalopy and headed to Saffron Walden. There we wandered around the lovely town and splendid market. Then headed round the corner to the gorgeous Audley End House. As we have ArtFund Cards we get in for free!!

The house is a particular favourite, and is a great place to wander around and soak up the atmosphere. The Victorian Kitchen Gardens are amazing as well.

The church at Saffron Walden peeping through the trees in the grounds of Audley End House.

The stunning Audley End House, built in Jacobean times.

Gorgeous tree in the grounds.

Bell jars and mini greenhouses in the Victorian Kitchen Garden.

Inside one of the gardeners' homes at the Kitchen Garden.

An earlier artwork of mine, entitled AWFULLY AUDLEY!

Of course I still managed to sneak in a bit of vintage shopping over the weekend!!
One of the many treasures I found were these stunning 1960s French cups and saucers. Made from an unusual green glass by Vereco. WOW!!

WOW, what a find!

DOWN IN DEVON!

I'm back from delightful Devon after a fantastic few days whistling around the West Country!

We even had amazing weather and were able to go on some stunning walks. We sauntered around Saunton Sands, got blasted by the wind at Crow Point and took strolls around Ilfracombe and Woolacombe.

Marvellously moody moment at Saunton Sands, looking towards the white Art Deco hotel in the distance.

Fantastic splash of colour on these beach huts at Saunton Sands.

The enormous sweep of Saunton Sands, with Braunton Burrows behind it.

Along the coast from Ilfracombe, looking towards St Nicholas Chapel on Lantern Hill.

A ghostly Holy Trinity Parish Church at Ilfracombe.

The enigmatic wreck of a boat at Crow Point.

The boat still has stunningly vivid paint, creating brilliant textures.

Wood and metal textures from this amazing boat. 

The strong winds at Crow Point created these unusual little sand sculptures.

More interesting rusty ruins on the beach there.

Nice assortment of shells and stones, again at the wild Crow Point.

Don't worry vintage fans, we still managed to sneak in a visit to a vintage fair!! Had a great time at the Vintage & Retro Monthly Fair in the Cedars Inn near Barnstaple.

Amongst the many goodies I bought, was a truly magnificent Edwardian scrapbook. It's absolutely jam-packed with newspaper cuttings and bits and pieces from the world of classical music and opera. It really is a labour of love from a real fan. Even the tiniest little portrait or review has been cut out and pasted in. And at the back is a huge pile of extra cuttings that were never stuck in.

The whole thing spans the 1900s, or possibly earlier, to the 1930s. What a find!

Lovely cover of the Edwardian scrapbook.

Pages showing Edwardian opera singers.

An example of some of the tiny portraits carefully cut out and stuck in.

The jumble of extra cuttings found at the back. Absolutely brilliant!

At the fair, I also picked up a few flyers for vintage fairs down in Devon. I'm very tempted to have a go, watch this space!!

DELIGHTFUL DEVON!

Hi everyone, just letting you know I'm off for a few days in delightful Devon!
My first little jaunt of 2014!!

I'll be taking in the sometimes sunny Ilfracombe and the very bracing air at wonderful Woolacombe!!
Hoping to take a few piccies and perhaps even sneak in a bit of vintage shopping!!

Ta ta for now.....

Back next week!!!

Gorgeous vintage postcard of Ilfracombe from 1948.

I absolutely love this picture! Taken from a photo album I bought at Greenwich Market a few years ago, showing two ladies having a ball on Woolacombe beach in 1924!