HAPPY NEW YEAR?!

Oops... I've completely neglected my poor Blog this year!!!

So just in case anybody does actually read any of this, I AM still around!!!

I've got into the habit of just doing a daily post on Instagram, and that completes my social media activity for the day!

I always loved doing this Blog though, as it was my very first foray online, way back in 2010, when I started up my 'Matt ArtPix' enterprise.

So in 2024 I'll try and keep it going more regularly, and do news updates of my various markets and new stock.

The terrible weather wrecked havoc on many events throughout 2023, so I began to not advertise anything just in case!!

But I was really pleased to have done some brilliant markets that did survive the weather, including my wonderful regular markets at Bridport and Langport, plus a new venture at a Mid-Century fair in Bristol.

 

Fingers crossed I can get out and try many new events and markets during the coming year.

 

I'm also still renovating and upcycling loads of fantastic bits of furniture, something I never dreamt I would be doing only a few years ago.

Funny how your path changes over time.

Not that long ago I was sitting at a desk in London designing magazines each and every day!!

 

Anyway, I'll stop waffling now and wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR, and do pop in from time to time and check out what's happening.

TAUNTON VINTAGE & SALVAGE FAIR

 

This Sunday I'll be at this amazing event!!!

 

I absolutely love doing salvage fairs, so can't wait to come along with some brilliant items to show you.

Please support this event and make it a great day.

 

See you there!

VICTORIAN BAMBOO TABLE

One of my little sidelines is finding and restoring small bits of furniture...

 

 

When I found this table it had been painted black, but instantly saw it was something special. 

Underneath all that paint was a beautiful and elegant late Victorian side table made from bamboo.

Now it has all its rich colours, quirks and textures, just like it did over 120 years ago.

I wonder what I'll find next to restore?!

CREEPY!

There's always something gloriously creepy about a vintage doll's head...

The fact that it's just the head on its own, plus the staring eyes!!

Now I've photographed it, it'll probably end up on one of my digital collages.

UPDATE!

Had a magnificent time at the Bristol Vintage Furniture Flea at the end of April!!

Was the first time I'd traded there, and it was brilliant to be part of such an event.

 

I'd really enjoyed immersing myself into all things Mid-Century in preparation for the fair.

Sourcing and restoring all sorts of G-Plan, Ercol and other fantastic pieces.

I'm hoping to be able to trade there again. Kinda depends on whether I can restock with more furniture though, as I sold loads there!!

This week, I've been sorting out the ArtPix Storeroom, and going out and about finding new stock.

And after all the super-stylish Mid-Century furniture I'd been doing recently, I found this gorgeous and slightly worn bureau!!!

I absolutely love it!

Looks like its from the Edwardian era to me, and is completely charming in its current state.

Not sure I'm going to do too much to it, just a little clean up.

Next up for me is the LANGPORT VINTAGE MARKET on Saturday 13th May, so catch me there if you're down Somerset way!

BRISTOL VINTAGE FURNITURE FLEA

Very pleased to announce that I'll be trading at The Bristol Vintage Furniture Flea on Sunday 30th April.

This fabulous event will be at the very cool Paintworks venue in Bristol.

The Vintage Furniture Flea vibe is very much Mid-Century, so this gives me a great opportunity to show some of the amazing Mid-Century pieces I have.

See you there!

SUCCESSFUL MARKETS!!!

Sometimes things do work out for you...

Outside it's raining, grey and miserable today, but last weekend it was perfect weather for outdoor markets.

Phew!!!

Had a great time at the Langport Vintage Market and Giant Shepton Flea, where there were loads of punters all willing to spend their cash!!

After a tough winter, and a very slow start to the year, that was very welcome.

All the hard work of sourcing stock, cleaning up and repairing, researching, then labelling and pricing, for once, paid off.

Now to go again, and go out out hunting for more stock, endlessly checking the weather forecasts, then getting up at silly o'clock and unloading the van in a field.

All sounds daft, but I absolutely love it!!!

Beats commuting on trains and tubes to London, then sitting in an office doing stuff for someone else, which I did for years!!!

FOUND PHOTO

Recently I bought a set of the French encyclopedia-style books Larousse Mensuel Illustré, encompassing the years 1907 to 1925.

They are fascinating books, packed with incredible illustrations of all sorts of things, from crazy contraptions to famous people.

They are also incredibly heavy!!

Tucked inside one of the volumes was this photograph...

It has a French studio name on the back, so it could have been the person who once owned these books.

I hope so, that would be brilliant.

But like any found photo, the identity of the person will forever remain a mystery.

 

I have to say though... she does look a little bit like Björk!!

SHERBORNE DIGBY HALL MONTHLY MARKET

Sorry my posts on here are sporadic these days!!
Remember folks, I usually only post on Instagram now!!!

But I do have some exciting news to share...

Next Saturday I'll be at the Sherborne Digby Hall Monthly Market.
This will be the first time I've traded at this market, so I'm really looking forward to being at a different venue and meeting new people!
 

Sherborne is an amazing historic town in Dorset, so come along to the market and soak up the atmosphere of this lovely place.

See you there!!
I'll be in the Main Hall!

 
 

ARTS AND CRAFTS BELLOWS

On my travels to look for new stock, its always nice when you find something unusual and amazing!

 

Take a look at this...

Wooden bellows with a striking carved face of a Medieval king.

 

With their more unusual long handles, they stand at 116cm long, and also feature an intricate carving on them. 

 

Made during the Arts and Crafts Movement of roughly 1880 to the early 20th Century, the ethos of this movement saw the revival of decorative Medieval designs and motifs.

They'll be on sale soon ... when I can bear to part with them!

MID-CENTURY MAYHEM!

For a while now I've been dabbling in all things Mid-Century.

 

Funny how things turn out and how your tastes and inspirations change.

I still do an eclectic vintage mix of anything from Victorian to the 1980s, but seem to be drawn to that 50s to 70s thing at the moment!

I mostly do furniture, and this week I've been restoring and sprucing up an amazing set of drawers.

Check these out...

 

I'll be doing a specialised Mid-Century fair in April, more news on that to follow!

MARCH TOUR DATES!

Finally things are starting to happen!!

Although I've done a few fairs so far this year, it's nice to have a few dates to put on the calendar!

So here goes for March...

Sunday 5th March:

GIANT SHEPTON FLEA MARKET

Saturday 11th March:
LANGPORT VINTAGE MARKET

Sunday 26th March:

BRIDPORT VINTAGE MARKET 

 

Hope to see you at one of them!

 

COLLAGE!

Here is a collage artwork I finished recently ...

Everything used on here are from recycled and reused items.

I found the antique frame in a skip, just thrown away, so I rescued it knowing I could use it for something.

All the images are cut from all sorts of magazines and newspapers, that again would just be thrown away.

That's the thing with people dealing with vintage and antique items, we reuse and recycle everything!

I can never believe what gets chucked out, and I'm also finding more and more that recycle centres are throwing away perfectly good items that could have a second life.

I used to love doing digital collages, but I'm into doing physical collage and decoupage at the moment, especially when I can reuse these bits and pieces.

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!

Well that's January done at last!!!

To be honest, it was a very slow start to the year.

Bad weather, not being able to get out, people not spending money, and worst of all ... no vintage markets!!!

At least that was remedied, with my first market of the year, at the Giant Shepton Flea on the 22nd.

Brilliant to be back out there and selling, I was missing getting up at 4am and standing around all day!!!

Had a brilliant days trading, and it really boosted my flagging confidence.

I've also been lucky recently with new stock, finding some amazing stuff, which makes me think things really are springing back to life now. 

 

As the weather has finally been drier recently, I've managed to get out into my yard and start again on some renovation projects. My house is literally full of stuff waiting to be sorted out!

Us vintage traders are the best recyclers in the world, as we can spot things left abandoned by a roadside, rescue them, and then give them a new lease of life.

The last thing I found was a 1950s Lloyd Loom seat, which had been left out in the rain.

I'm currently repairing it and re-covering the seat, and will be out at the markets soon seeking a new home!

Talking of markets, my next one will be the brilliant Langport Vintage Market on 11th February! 

Do come along if you are in the Somerset/South West area, and fancy seeing some amazing vintage stuff!

See you there!

FIRST MARKET OF 2023!!

Finally I'll be back out on the road for a market this Sunday, at the GIANT SHEPTON FLEA MARKET!

I love this event, as its huge and full of amazing stuff.

I also love the challenge of finding unusual and interesting vintage items to bring along.

Has been a long old January so far, but I've been busy getting ready for this event.

 

So come along if you can and getting spending!!!