HAPPY NEW YEAR??

That's another year over!!!

As this country has lurched from farce to farce this year, with the rich getting ever more richer, it's been another 'interesting' year for small traders!!!

My plans for expansion are STILL on hold...

Can't invest in a bigger van, storage is too expensive, a bigger unit would be risky, and absolutely forget the dream of opening a shop.

So I'm still trading at vintage fairs, which have actually been brilliant this year.

Have my regulars at Bridport and Langport, plus Shepton Flea, but owing to the criminal fuel prices, have been reluctant to try new fairs further afield.

I'm still selling online, via Facebook Marketplace, where sales can fluctuate wildly.

Can get a flurry of sales, then nothing for ages, with of course the regular idiots and timewasters to deal with. Is this still available???!!!

One thing I have changed though, is doing stuff on social media.

Lets be honest, its mostly a complete waste of time.

I now don't really post on Facebook at all, and my poor little Blog has been abandoned as well!

I have started on Instagram though, and just keep it simple, posting regular pictures on there, with minimum text.

But apart from a few responses, its still not really worth it.

I'll keep this Blog going though, as this was my first foray into dabbling online some 12 years ago.

Have at least enjoyed restoring many pieces of vintage furniture this year.

Has really taken me away from the computer and designing and creating collages.

Again, as there is zero response to my artworks and designs, I feel its more worthwhile restoring furniture. At least I can sell it.

First market of the new year will be the Giant Shepton Flea on January 22nd, so find me there and support small traders!!!

Laters.

1970s BILTONS DORSET PLATE

Now that I live in Dorset, getting this curious little plate meant a bit more.

 

Made by classic 70s ceramic company Biltons, it features a brilliant illustration of landmarks around the county. Most of which are now familiar to me.

Such as the crazy Cerne Abbas giant, the swans at Abbotsbury, Gold Hill at Shaftesbury and the Tank Museum near Wareham.

 

LOVELY NEW STOCK!!

Sorry that posts have been few and far between these past few months.

I'm still on a bit of a break from social media!!

But as ever I've been buying up some amazing stock.

Here are just a few examples...

 

A 1950s abstract painting of the Rhône Valley in France.

Very late Utility CC41 wicker chair, that was made in 1952, the year the Utility scheme was scrapped.

Gloriously kitsch French 1950s iron plant stand and rack, that has ceramic tiles designed by the iconic pottery company Vallauris, who are still based on the French Riviera.

Very stylish and simple early 1950s Scandinavian side table with drawers.

I just love this!!

 

Photo portrait of an Edwardian gentlemen in unusual oval-shaped frame.

Handmade 1930s dolls house.

A very rare programme from the opening of the Blackwall Tunnel in London on 22nd May 1897.

Have absolutely loads more, but you can find some of these items at my next markets...

LANGPORT VINTAGE MARKET on 10th December

GIANT SHEPTON FLEA on 11th December

Hope you can come along!!

FOUND PHOTO

I do love a 'found photo'!

By that I mean, when you're scrabbling through all sorts of bits and pieces at vintage fairs and boot fairs, suddenly a gorgeous or unusual old photograph pops up.

I'm always drawn to old photos, as not only do I love them, but I usually actually do something with them.

I scan them and add them to my of vintage-inspired digital collages.

One such photograph I found recently was this amazing and intriguing portrait of a woman.

 

From the hairstyle and clothes it looks to be Edwardian, but could possibly be older, edging back into the 1890s.

She looks like she had bags of personality, and a little artistic, or possibly she was an actress.

You always wonder what happened to these people, and what fate had in store for them.

The only clue on the photo, is that the photographer's name was (I think), O. David, who had studios in Glasgow & Edinburgh.

We shall never know who she was, but at least her picture has been saved.

TINY ARTPIX UPDATE!!

Epic fail on keeping my Blogs going recently, but to be honest I've been having a little break from social media etc.

As I've been busy over the Summer doing markets, restoring and upcycling furniture, and on the ceaseless quest to find new stock, I haven't really had the appetite to sit down and do it, apart from daily Instagram posts.

Now it isn't so hot, I've got back on my computer though, and have started on a few new Retro Football collages.

 

After those I'll try and work on a few vintage digital collages, and may even resurrect my digital magazine ARTPIX.

 

On a more radical note, I'm tentatively thinking of having a complete revamp of the whole ArtPix empire!!!!

By that I mean renaming it, and building up a proper online shop, and having a company name that actually makes sense!!!!

When I started in 2010, I was only selling my own digital collage designs and photographs, so the name ArtPix fitted nicely.

Nowadays I almost exclusively sell vintage and antique items at fairs, so people often look baffled as to why I'm called Matt ArtPix!!!

Changing it would make, for want of a better word, the 'brand' (yuk, what a terrible word), more understandable and appropriate.

Watch this space!!!

Until then though, I'll be doing my monthly markets at the brilliant Bridport and Langport, so find me there and keep on checking Facebook Marketplace for a variety vintage items for sale!

BUSY WEEKEND!!

Got a Double-header this weekend!

 
Tomorrow I'll be at Langport Vintage Market, and on Sunday I'll be doing the Giant Shepton Flea!!!

 
Try and get down to one of them if you find yourself wandering around Somerset!!

 
See you there!!

 

 

BRILLO PADS!

Check out this fantastic 1950s original Brillo Soap Pads box...

 

It even has some has some of the original pads in the box!!

I just love the 50s design and styling as well.
 

Much better than today's boring and cluttered packaging designs.

Always keep it simple!!

If you fancy this item, then lucky you, as its for sale!!

Selling it on Facebook Marketplace, or you can contact me directly.

Happy Shopping!!

LANGPORT VINTAGE MARKET

This Saturday I'll be back at the Langport Vintage Market in Somerset.

 

Will be a very exciting day, as not only are there fantastic vintage stalls, but classic cars and the town is having its annual Art Day!

 

So come along for a brilliant day out! 

WORD PLAY IN EXETER

Tomorrow will be something a little different for me, as I'll be helping out Carya Gish of Arcane Publishing at a fantastic event in Exeter!

 

We'll be at Word Play, which is a children's event, that includes workshops and storytelling, plus some stalls.

Which is where Carya Gish will have a huge selection of amazing vintage and new children's books.

Come along if you can!!

BRIDPORT VINTAGE MARKET

On Sunday 26th June I'll be at the BRIDPORT VINTAGE MARKET in Dorset!!!

 

I've got a great selection of small furniture, plus some brilliant vintage deckchairs!

 

So come along for some vintage fun!

 

See you there!!

ARTPIX UPDATE!

Just a little update on what's happening in the ArtPix world at the mo!

 

Had a great time last week at the Frome Showground Flea Market & Craft Fair.

Was the first time I'd done this event, and was brilliant to do a new venue in a new town.

I'll definitely be back there for their next one on 10th July.

 

Other upcoming markets for me are the Bridport Vintage Market on 26th June, and Langport Vintage Market on 9th July. 

I'll also be there for the biggy – the Giant Shepton Flea on 17th July!

 

This week, I went to my first gig in THREE years!!!!

Went to see PiL, and was glorious to be seeing a live band once again.

I used to be a very regular gig-goer in London, so it was unusual to see this brilliant band in the slightly incongruous setting of Frome, but John Lydon was superb as always.

 

I'm still doing loads of renovation projects.

Just this week I worked on an amazing Victorian revolving bookcase, made by Danners, which came out of the vicarage next to Sherborne Abbey in Dorset.

An incredible piece of historical furniture, with a genuinely incredible history!

My unit at the Customs House in West Bay is still rocking!!!

Sales have been amazing in there recently. 

My designs, and selections of vintage football programmes, go down a treat in there, so run along now if you are a footie fan and grab some goodies today!

I'm always on the look out for amazing vintage stuff, and you never know what you will find.

Last week I rescued a crazy selection of antique and vintage books!

Some went as far back as the 1860s, and included Dickens, Hardy and Elizabeth Gaskell.

I still do artworks and digital collages, and I'm forever collecting pictures and images to use.

At the moment though I'm concentrating on doing some new Retro Football collages.

I scan original pieces of football memorabilia to put together unique designs of individual teams.

In the pipeline are Nottingham Forest, Derby County, Coventry City and Stoke City.

I'll keep you posted on my progress!

That's it for the minute!

See you soon!!

 

FROME SHOWGROUND FLEA MARKET & CRAFT FAIR

Very excited to announce I'll be at the Frome Showground Flea Market & Craft Fair on Sunday 12th June!

This will be a brand new event for me, so I'm really looking forward to it.

As the name implies, being a Flea Market and a Craft Fair, it gives me a fantastic opportunity to bring along some great vintage items, but also some of my own artworks and collages, as well as my upcycled furniture.

I'll have a really good selection on show!

Come on down to Somerset this Sunday and have a browse!!

See you there!

GAGA FOR TALA!

Who would've thought a metal green box could cause such a stir...

I put this rather nice vintage item up for sale on Facebook, and its had about 600 views!!!!

Although, sadly, no one has actually bought it!!!

Made by the famous cooking accessories people, Tala, in the 1950s, it could have actually been a shoe shine box.

One compartment for the brushes, and one for the tins of polish etc.

Not sure why Tala would have been making them though, I associate them with metal biscuit cutters, and cake decorating utensils!

If anyone out there wants it, its still available!!!

CHEESY CRACKER TIN – HOW IRONIC!

Check out this brilliantly kitsch and colourful tin from the 1960s, made by Jacob's, famous for their crackers.

Has a fantastic cheesy image of a gondola from Venice on the top, plus a Chianti wine bottle, with roses and grapes around the edges of the tin.

 

 

I'm flogging this on Facebook Marketplace, check it out @MattArtPix

ONLY A FIVER!!!!








 

LANGPORT VINTAGE MARKET

On Saturday 14th May I'll be at the LANGPORT VINTAGE MARKET in Somerset!

I'll have a bigger outside pitch this time, so I'll loads more space to display my vintage goodies!

As it's FA Cup final day, I'll be bringing along loads of vintage Cup Final programmes, a great selection of Chelsea and Liverpool programmes, plus a small replica of the FA Cup!!

See you there!

ART DECO DELIGHT!

Sometimes you buy stock to sell knowing it will be a winner, then get it home, and think... Hmm, actually I really like this!!!

One example is this stunning fire screen made of copper.

 

 

A really unusual item, as it has elements of an Art Deco design, maybe even hints of styles a bit earlier, including Arts & Crafts, and also a Chinese looking bit!!

I hedging my bets that its 1920s though.

 

And it will be on sale when I can bear to part with it!!

LUMIERE!

On yet another one of my rescue missions recently I found this stunning light fitting!

This lovely antique is French, and has a wonderfully worn patina on it.

Would love it to be hanging up and in working order again, so I'll be bringing it along to boot fairs and vintage markets, in the hope someone can take it on and do their own rescue mission on it!

SURELY NOT?!

I recently rescued this lovely old leather satchel from a very undignified end.

Firstly I was very pleased to have saved it, especially as its such a fine looking old thing.

Then of course I noticed the initials!

A.A.M.

I thought, hang on a minute, there's a very famous person with those initials, who could easily have owned a satchel of this vintage.

A.A. MILNE

Yes, that's right the author, playwright, poet, and creator of none other than Winnie the Pooh!!!!

Of course there's no way to know if he did own this, but then there's no way to prove he didn't!!!!

BRIDPORT VINTAGE MARKET

Sunday 24th April is the latest Bridport Vintage Market, so come on down to Bridport in Dorset for some fabulous vintage shopping!

 

Got loads of vintage goodies to show you, plus salvaged furniture and colourful driftwood creations I've recently been working on!!

 

 

 

See you there!!