The extraordinary band Laibach are finally back in London, revisiting their 1987 album Opus Dei.
I first stumbled across them at this time, via the video for the single Opus Dei (Life is Life).
Have been captivated ever since.
More 'Art Institution' than merely a band making music, they are truly one of a kind, and is always an absolute privilege to go and see them play live.
Sometimes you come across a bit of furniture that just looks great as it is!
Like this gorgeous 1940s cupboard...
Instinct would probably tell you to tear off the flowery sticker on the top, strip all the paint off and start again.
But doing that takes away all the history of it.
Originally it was in a light blue colour, then at some point it was painted white, then someone groovy in the 60s or 70s stuck on the fantastic flower pattern, which then someone else obviously didn't like and tried (and failed!) to get it all off!
So as you can see, sometimes it's better to just leave it as it is!
January is always a bit of a slow month, but things are starting to spring into life.
Car boots are a good way of getting back into the swing of things, and also the fantastic Giant Shepton Flea is starting again as well.
Have done a huge amount of sorting out at ArtPix Towers over the last month, which included sifting through lots of new and old stock.
Have been reluctant to buy too much new stock, as I have a lot I haven't shown yet, but as always, I end up buying something!
The winter months also mean I can rarely get out into my yard and work on restoring or upcycling any furniture, but I did start on a lovely old carved wooden bookshelf that I bought recently.
Have some fantastic Mid-Century pieces that need a bit of attention as well, and will be out on sale as soon as I can work on them.
Hoping to do another Mid-Century fair this year, as I've stockpiled quite a lot of items that would look fantastic at one of these specialist fairs.
Had a great success at Bristol a couple of years ago, so I'm keen to get back into them.
Carry on following this Blog, as I'm hoping to keep it more updated this year.
Or alternatively have a peep at my Instagram page, as that has daily posts on there.
Bye for now!!
Well, here we are at the start of 2025, and fingers crossed it'll be a brilliant year!!!
I'll be honest, 2024 was awful....
A series of not brilliant things, plus a family bereavement, made it a year to forget.
But onwards and upwards we go!
I'm once again hoping to update this Blog a bit more often, as looking at the stats, it get a huge amount of views.
So thank you to everyone who has a peep at this page, and takes the time to read it, much appreciated!
This is especially surprising these days when the reading Blogs is a dying art!
My main online activity now is just a daily post on Instagram, so if you happen to find yourself on there, have a look at my page!
I still trawl around doing vintage markets selling all sorts of vintage treasures.
My tastes often change, so it reflects in the stock I sell, but you can always find bits of Mid-Century, books, ephemera, football stuff, salvage, furniture and anything else.
I also restore and upcycle many vintage furniture pieces, plus with my background in graphic design, I do artwork collages and design work.
Have a few artworks on the go at the moment, so hopefully, as the weather is awful at the moment, I can finish these soon!
So keep in touch on here (and Instagram) and maybe see you at a market one day!!
Everyone who lives near the sea has a go at doing driftwood art at some point, and I'm no different!!
As I live near the southern tip of Chesil Beach in Dorset, we often get loads of wood and all sorts washed up.
I've made many a driftwood shelf, book shelf, and box.
But I also like to do something a tiny bit different as well, so here's my latest thing...
A driftwood shelf inspired by the artist Piet Mondrian.
The Dutch Abstract artist was mostly famous for his geometric shape paintings involving the colours red, blue, yellow and black and white.
Now I just need someone who gets the reference and to buy it!!!
If at first you don't succeed, and all that!!
You definitely need patience in the selling of antiques game.
Have had this brilliant handmade toy garage for ages, and finally today it sold!!!
Had been on Facebook Marketplace for about two years, and has been lugged around multiple vintage fairs as well.
There was plenty of interest, but no takers!
At last it has a new home!
Oops, didn't keep that promise to update this Blog more frequently did I?!
Oh well, here I am again!!
Had a great time in France recently.
Went to Normandy, and went around many of the D-Day sites.
I felt like I learnt more from seeing the places, than any of the books and documentaries I'd seen.
Especially when going to Omaha Beach, I remember looking behind me and seeing the rising cliffs and thinking, oh right, now I see why it was so awful there.
Similar feeling to seeing the WW1 Somme battlefields years ago, and walking the actual terrain where the soldiers fought. You get an immediate understanding of what happened that's impossible any other way.
I also managed to get in a bit of vintage shopping, despite being there too early in the year for any of the brocantes.
Found a few great vintage shops along the way.
You always find things that you just don't see in Blighty.
Hoping to get back there sometime and carry on our adventures.
Meanwhile, I'm super-busy getting in and sorting out some amazing vintage stock for my markets.
Best to keep in touch with the latest things I'm up to on my Instagram account, but I'll keep on trying to regularly post on here as well!!
Here are three pictures from Normandy.
An abandoned cinema in Bayeaux, the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, and Utah Beach.
