ART DECO LIGHT

One of my latest projects has been to create a unique Art Deco light ...

I found an old box at a boot fair and instantly had the idea, literally a 'light bulb moment'!!

The box is actually a loud speaker, called a 'Popular Loud Speaker', first made by the Ormond Engineering Co. Ltd in 1929.
With its fabulous sun ray design, it was just asking to have a bit of Art Deco style added to it.

This is an original advert for the Ormond Loud Speaker. ©www.radiomuseum.org

It was in a bit of a state when I bought it though, as it had been roughly covered 

in black paint, which fortunately I managed to peel off.
It revealed a gorgeous rich mahogany wood, that I restored and waxed, to bring it back to its original state.

I added a lamp inside the box, putting in a great vintage style candle bulb to add to the period feel.

I then had the idea of having a backdrop at the back of the box. I thought a big close-up picture of the screen legend Jean Harlow would be perfect, as she epitomises the glamour of the Art Deco era.

 

Not only does the finished article look like a cool vintage item, but when switched on creates a really unique and atmospheric light.

So if there are any Deco fans out there, who fancy a stylish light for their living room, then lucky you, as this is for sale!!!

Just get in touch for details, or find it at my next fair, the Crispin Hall Vintage Market, in the town of Street in Somerset, on Saturday 7th December!!

NEXT FAIRS!

After two very successful recent fairs in Bournemouth and Wells, here are my next two events ...

First up is a new one for me, the CRISPIN HALL VINTAGE MARKET on Saturday 7th December.
Set inside Crispin Hall, in the town of Street in Somerset, which is right next to the iconic Glastonbury!

And on Saturday 14th December I'll be back at the brilliant LANGPORT VINTAGE MARKET.
Again in Somerset, in the village of Langport.

Two Christmas crackers for you to come along to and buy a few pressies!

See you there!!

ALL'S WELL IN WELLS!

This is a final shout-out for tomorrow's VINTAGE SOMERSET FAIR in Wells!!!

Come along for a feast of amazing vintage goodies, all set in the splendid surroundings of Wells Town Hall, right in the heart of the historic city.

See you there!!

VINTAGE SOMERSET FAIR

The place to be this Saturday is Wells Town Hall for the Vintage Somerset Fair!!

I'll be there in amongst loads of amazing vintage traders, selling all sorts of cool stuff!
Get yourselves down there and get shopping ...

See you there!!

https://www.facebook.com/events/483644788812077/

VINTAGE ANIMAL JIGSAWS

Got these gorgeous old child's jigsaws here to show you ...

Not sure if the characters are from any particular story, or even how old they are, but they look great!

I'm guessing they are from the 1950s, and as the pieces are made from satisfyingly thick wood, they have a real charm.

So if you are puzzled at what to do this Saturday, pop along to Wells in Somerset for the VINTAGE SOMERSET FAIR, and find them on my stall!!

See you there!!

ITALIAN 7" SINGLES

Next up for me is the Vintage Somerset Fair in the wonderful city of Wells, on Saturday 23rd November!!

Just one of the groovy things I'll be bringing along are these unusual 1960s Italian 7" singles.

I've never come across Italian records before, so that alone makes them stand out for me.
But they also manage to be gloriously cheesy, but somehow amazingly cool, at the same time!!!

Think of that jaunty French 'chanson' style stuff, and you pretty much have what they sound like.
Only in Italian of course ...

This one features the iconic Lambretta scooters. which could make it a leftfield collector's item for any scooter or Mod fan??!

All the singles are from 1962, apart the splendidly named Marino Marini, which is from 1957.

If you fancy this slice of Italian formaggio, then scoot along to this Saturday's Vintage Somerset Fair and find them on my stall!!!

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

Once more we have reached the 11th of November ...

And once more we have witnessed the sight of royals, religious leaders and politicians being first in line BEFORE any veteran.
I would love to know why all the media lead every story of Remembrance with a reference to a royal family member.

I used to always be at London's Cenotaph on this day, but today I was at the Isle of Portland's own Cenotaph this morning at 11am, and there were barely 15 people there.
But it felt so much more dignified and poignant than having to dodge security guarding our 'heroic' political leaders.


This is why I love the poet Siegfried Sassoon, who's irony, cynicism, suspicion of those who rule, and direct experience of horrific combat, makes him one of the leading voices of the First World War.

Please check out his incredible poems.
Like this one ...



THE MARCH PAST

In red and gold the Corps-Commander stood,
With ribboned breast puffed out for all to see:
He'd sworn to beat the Germans, if he could;
For God had taught him strength and strategy.
He was our leader, and a judge of Port –
Rode well the hounds, and was a damned good sort.

'Eyes right!' We passed him with a jaunty stare.
'Eyes front!' He'd watched his trusted legions go.
I wonder if he guessed how many there
Would get knocked out of time in next week's show.
'Eyes right!' The corpse-commander was a Mute;
And Death leered round him, taking our salute.

©Siegfried Sassoon 25 December 1916

1970s VINTAGE PAISLEY DRESS

Just one of the amazing things I'm bringing along to this Sunday's LOU LOU'S BOURNEMOUTH VINTAGE FAIR is this groovy dress ...

WOW!!!
Just check out how cool this is!!!

 

If you want this slice of 70s style, then all you have to do is run along to the Bournemouth Pavilion on 10th November and find it on my stall!!

 

LOU LOU'S BOURNEMOUTH VINTAGE FAIR

Just letting you know that this Sunday I'll be at Lou Lou's Bournemouth Vintage Fair!!

Come on down to beautiful Bournemouth and find me in the iconic Pavilion, right on the seafront.
This will be a right old vintage extravaganza, so don't miss out!!

See you there!

Read all about it HERE

RETRO LEEDS UNITED

My latest Retro Football design is perhaps one of the most iconic and controversial teams of the 60s and 70s .... 

LEEDS UNITED

During that era they became an astonishingly efficient unit, winning trophy after trophy, but sometimes with methods that were on the edge!

It's interesting to note, that prior to that time the club had been a fairly modest outfit, flitting between the old First and Second Divisions.

But everything would change once Don Revie was installed as manager in March 1961. 
First up they won the Second Division Championship in 1963/64, and the revolution continued claiming the League title five years later.

In Revie's time as manager, before he moved on to be England's coach in 1974, they also claimed the League Cup, Inter-Cities Fairs Cup twice, another League title, Charity Shield, and finally the golden prize of the FA Cup in 1972.

What is also incredible is that Leeds were runner-ups in various competitions on eleven different occasions during his reign. Five times in the League, and heartbreakingly, in three FA Cup finals! 
It goes to show how competitive they were, as geniune contenders for every trophy on offer.

After Revie left though, things began to slide, despite a European Cup final against Bayern Munich in 1975 (Runners-up again!).

Two brief renaissances happened though, as Leeds won the League title again in 1992, the last proper season before the Premier League kicked-in the following season.

And under David O'Leary they got to a Champions League Semi-Final in 2001, but since then the club has struggled under various owners and many different managers.

But we are here to savour the glory days of Revie, and the endless names of legendary players that era produced.
Bremner, Hunter, Giles, Reaney, Clarke, Madeley, Jones, Charlton, Gray, Sprake, Lorimer .... 


Take a look at the other teams I've done in my RETRO FOOTBALL series HERE