BON VOYAGE!!

Has been a busy few weeks at ArtPix Towers as the vintage markets are really kicking in now.

 

Can be a challenge to sell at these events as people of course are watching their pennies, but there are still positive signs that things are on the way up.

Have been getting in huge amounts of stock recently as well, which all need processing, doing minor repairs and sprucing them up.

All good fun though, and beats working in an office, which I did for years and years!!!!

Now though I'm going to be away for THREE weeks!!!

Which is the longest holiday I've ever had!!!

I'm off to France, some of the time to see relatives, and then to Normandy.

Trips away actually always end up being 'working' holidays, as I'm forever hunting down markets and shops to buy new stock, but will be great to be away and see new things.

So bon voyage and see you in June for some very exciting new events that I'll be doing.

FINALLY!!!!

Yes, finally we have shaken off the shackles of Winter, and the sun is even peeping out!!

Which means all the vintage markets and boot fairs are back!!

Have spent the last few months stockpiling loads of vintage stuff in preparation.

Now all that needs to be done is to sell it!

As I almost exclusively do markets in the South West now, I'm hoping this year to edge back to my beloved London and do a few there.

Have booked up one in Chiswick already on 1st June, The Lazy Flea Vintage Market at Chiswick Town Hall. 

I'm now looking around and assessing what others are viable.

Also, I'll be heading to Brighton on 7th June, for a fantastic Mid-Century event, the Brighton Furniture Flea.

Keep in touch on my Instagram account for more up-to-date news, but still have a look on here for random thoughts and pictures!!

LINE MARKER

Found this recently, a fantastic antique contraption for marking out lines on a football pitch.

Just love it!

Even has traces of its original pale green colour on it.

 

Made by Apex, you would fill it up with white paint, and trundle along in a straight line marking out the precise measurements of a football pitch, or perhaps a tennis court.

 

Not sure how old it is, possibly 1920s?, but can still be used today, or perhaps just displayed as a unusual garden ornament!

On sale now, if you fancy it!

LAIBACH

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.

RENOVATE OR NOT RENOVATE?!

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!

BACK TO LIFE!

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!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

 

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!!

ARTY DRIFTWOOD

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!!!

PATIENCE!

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!

HELLO AGAIN!

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.

AU REVOIR INNIT!

I'll be away in France for the next couple of weeks on a rare ArtPix holiday!!

Going to Normandy, and will be wandering around all the D-Day beaches, which will be amazing to do.

 

Will still be on the lookout for vintage stuff of course!

Last time I went to France, I came back with some brilliant items, including this fantastic vintage metal sign, which i definitely won't be selling!

So au revoir for the moment, but see you all again soon!

GLAD TO RECYCLE!

I'm always looking to save, renovate or recycle things.

So this simple idea to create a really nice item to brighten up a room, was made from two rescued items I've picked up along the way.

 

Using an old backing board from an antique picture frame, a bundle of which I found going for free outside a framing shop.

And a vintage sheet music cover, from a huge pile of old and very tatty sheet music that was being thrown out.

Picking out a sheet which had a strong and interesting cover, I simply stuck it to one of the old boards. Then varnished it to protect it, which actually also really enhances the colours. 

 

Hey presto, here's a nice bit of artwork, that can be put anywhere around any room!

 

Incidentally, the sheet music I used is from the 1929 film, Glad Rag Doll, which has sadly been lost, although apparently the trailer of the film survives!

And Interesting Film Fact of the Day: the star of the film Dolores Costello, was the Grandmother of actress Drew Barrymore!

RENOVATIONS!

The winter is slowly coming to an end, so I've finally managed to venture out into my yard to work on a few bits of vintage furniture.

Not having any handy workshop, it all has to be done in my tiny yard, so I'm completely weather dependent.

I can then renovate the bits of furniture I buy, to sell at my vintage markets.

 

Here are a few things I've worked on this week.

A gorgeous Edwardian side table, Mid-Century coffee table with rack underneath, and a fabulously kitsch 1960s table!

Find them on sale at my vintage markets!

AFC BOURNEMOUTH 1971/72

The 1971/72 season was a momentous season for Bournemouth.

They changed their name, club badge, kit, and very nearly got promoted to the old 2nd Division!!

There's also the fact that striker Ted MacDougall scored a whopping 46 goals!

The most iconic game was their 11-0 victory over Margate, where MacDougall scored an extraordinary 9 goals!! 

I've got a complete set of home programmes from that exciting season, all tucked into a very stylish folder in the shape of a book.

I'm selling them on Facebook Marketplace.

I also have season-by-season folders from 1972/73 to 1983/84, three of which have complete sets, that I'll sell as a job lot.

Let me know if you want them!!!

MID-CENTURY MADNESS!

A few days ago I put a fairly ordinary Mid-Century mirror on sale on Facebook Marketplace for £10.

In that time its had 2,500 views!!!!

Also up there for sale is a 1950s drink cabinet, that I spent a long time upcycling and decorating with images from vintage Paris Match magazines.

Which has had precisely 5 views in the last few days!!!

Hmmm...

Makes you wonder doesn't it.

FAIRS & MARKETS IN 2024

The year is slowly but surely springing into life!!

Have been doing a few boot fairs to get back into the swing of things. 

I'm also booking up some great events including these two.

LULWORTH CASTLE DORSET BLIND ASSOCIATION MOTOR SHOW 2024

Sunday 12th May

A brilliant classic car event in the spectacular setting of Lulworth Castle in Dorset.

TAUNTON VINTAGE & SALVAGE FAIR

Sunday 28th July

Fantastic fair in the grounds of the beautiful Kings Hall School in Taunton, Somerset.

I'll also doing my regular markets at Bridport in Dorset, and Langport in Somerset.

 

So come on down this year and have some vintage fun!!

DAVE THE TANK ENGINE

I rescued this brilliantly quirky handmade train a while ago.

Made for a small child, they can stand in the back, and be pulled along by the handle at the front.

 

I love it, and was clearly made by someone with a great sense of humour.

I've named it Dave the Tank Engine, as it could easily be a very distant relative of Thomas!

 

Sadly, I can't take him to vintage markets as he's too big to fit in my small van, so he's now on sale on Facebook Marketplace!

It could easily be restored, and painted into any colour you fancy. 

 

Let me know, and have a go!