Monday 12 March 2012

Picture This - My Wall Of Random


The BBC weather man must have been talking about a different planet this morning when he forecast an unseasonably warm day ahead. I went out dressed like this and nearly froze my arse off. Mind you, the elderly chaps in the care home seemed to appreciate my efforts and for once Dad recognised me straight-away.


Rather than brave the garden I thought I'd reorganise the pictures on our bedroom wall. I've bought loads lately and as they're stacked against the wall the cats (of the real and the ghostly variety) keep knocking them over.

Weepy kid on right (courtesy of lovely Liz), Art Deco Dartmouth Pottery wall sconce (50p, car boot sale)

I've got so many freaky kid prints they've filled the Wall of Misery and invaded the bedroom, much to Jon's chagrin.


My friend Janne sent me the boy with grapes for my birthday, the kid with a fishing rod was a 50p charity shop buy a couple of weeks ago, the Vernon Ward swan scene was 50p from a car boot sale and the framed photo of a 1920s bathing beauty was 30p, also from a boot sale.


Isn't she a babe?



Enchanted Forest by Vernon Ward (75p, Acorns Hospice)




A very naive oil painting of an ancestor, marked "TW, Chester" (where my Grandma was from) and dated 1806.



Jon took these photos whilst travelling by tuk tuk in Madras in 2006. 


My Grandma's sister, Great-Auntie Maud's long service certificate.


1950s gypsy ladies (50p each, Banardos)


Sixties Beatnik couple and glazed 1930s Italian scene (all jumble sales), mirror salvaged from a Victorian maid's mirror and peacock from a car boot sale.


1970s Art Nouveau style prints on wood (Queen Helga the great)


Girls with kittens and poodles (the fabulous Sandy)

1960s hot pants suit (Xmas present from a friend), fringed suede jerkin (£9, town centre junk shop)
I'm off to the art gallery tomorrow, I bet I won't see anything quite like my collection.

See you soon.

78 comments:

  1. Art gallery eh! Get you! :)
    Love that jerkin, and you've inspired me for my spare room, I need frames and miserable children stat. ;)
    xx

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  2. I've got one post about walls like yours! I just loveee walls with so many pictures, old frames, and other things.
    ...I really, really like your wall of random!

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  3. Ah, to see you amongst the paintings is such a delicious treat. Do let us know how you found the art exhibit;-)
    I like you in colour!xx

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  4. Just got back from an antique fair where I saw one of those swan pictures with MATCHING coffee table!!
    I thought of you....

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  5. woah, loads of pictures!! A bit too much for my liking but still...

    I am loving that outfit, especially that waistcoat! :-)

    And enjoy your day at the Art Gallery!

    Oh and check your emails pls chicken, I've got some EXCITING news!!! :D

    Le Material Girl xo

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  6. Hi Gorgeous Vix, you look smashing today in your gorgeous outfit!

    God !i love your room, and all the pictures, my room looked like yours when i was living alone, now a bit more conservative but i try to incorporate some lively stuff in our house -

    Nice weather here 13 degrees today and more the same this week!
    Yeah!

    Love

    Ariane xxxx

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  7. That is weird - same blog post themes! My collection is nowhere near as expansive as this one though. Your bedroom wall looks fabulous. I've recently found the boy with the fishing rod in my local chazza. It looks like the same model was used for the boy with grapes too. The 70's ones on wood look a little bit ghostly but apart from that I love them all x

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  8. you look so fabulous in your hot pants ensemble with so a pretty print!, but optimistically summery!
    And love your 'guided tour' to the amazing wall of random!
    besos

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  9. Those frames are sooo amazing !! I can't find them here where I am !! STUNNING !! xoxo

    http://blogmoodeuse.blogspot.com

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  10. Love your wall it's fabulous! And yes that 20's bathing beauty is a babe, so much character!

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  11. My Grandma has several of those 'misery' prints - when I see them I always think of year.

    Hoping the weather is better tomorrow - I had outdoor plans for today which hastily got changed.

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  12. I love seeing photos of your home, on my way round today, I called into the hospice furniture shop and saw the most lovely telephone table - £2!!! Hopefully, it will be there when I go back on Thursday, I didn't have any cash on me!

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  13. I used to have that top gypsy lady but I sold her and sent her to the US, for some insane reason. I think mine was actually three times the size of yours, which is possibly why... Love that wall!

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  14. That bathing beauty looks very like you, Vix! I think you are having us on and it is you!

    As for the little girls with kitty and puppy - I had one very like it when I was little, but she had a powder puff - You've taken me right back there - You are always amazing like that, with your gift to prompt memories, even your sweet Dad's!

    It was parky up here today too, in spite of the weathermen's rant, and I went out without a coat and regretted it! ;)

    Love you madly,

    Fhi x

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  15. I love your wall of randomness! It looks fabulous, and I also enjoyed this little peek into your home :-)

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  16. I've never noticed before how high your ceilings are - which work out great for a photo.picture wall!

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  17. yay another feathery peacock!

    Enjoy the gallery! It would be so bizarre if you did see stuff like yours, I wonder if there is someone out there exhibiting similar things!

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  18. Thanks for a fab tour of the kitsch and kooky! M x

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  19. This must be one of my fave outfits queen! Love the Vernon Ward Deer, I have only ever seen his swan paintings!

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  20. Oh i love love love the tw chester one.....you have a great collection...Ugh i hate it when the weatherman fakes the temp! I hope it warms up soon for you ~love Heather

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  21. Love the "Long Service Certificate". My employer has cut them out for anyone with less than 25 years service (budget cuts you know!).

    I'll never get one to leave my kids.

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  22. I love that you worn this bit of summer sun to see your Dad. You look amazing, such hot legs my dear!!! I bet you made everyone's day!
    Your picture wall is such a feast for the eyes! I love the gal holding grapes and the bathing beauty is a fox! Your Great Aunties certificate is so cool! I can't wait to see your house!!! I'm gonna touch everything! :))))
    LOVE YOU!!
    Krista

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  23. Bahahah,I BET you won't see anything quite like your collection!There'll be a few that look like you could do them with your toes,though!
    I love the gypsy ladies and the 20's bathing beauty,but most of all I love the overall harmony of the mix!The maids mirror is a sweetie,as is that peacock,and o my,that hotpants suit!!!EEEK!
    YOU,my darling,will be the main artwork attraction tomorrow!!!
    Love you madly!
    Love Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  25. I remember my Grandpa telling me about when some people came into the old folks home to sing wartime songs and he teased that all the old folk thought they were living through the blitz again and wanted to hide under the tables. At least I think he was teasing...I wonder if you confused anyone as to what the current decade is! At the very least you probably reminded them of their younger days!

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  26. Wonderful!This brings back a flood of memories~
    I had a set of pictures when I was little (Don't know what my mother ever did with them...) But they were of a boy and a girl, and they remind me of the two of the girls with the kittens and of the yellow one with the boy.
    I'm going to call her and see what she did with them. I'm going to wonder about them until I do~

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  27. I am so jealous of your art collection my jaw has hit the floor again. I adore that little Veron ward deer one i didn't know he did anything other than swans. That is so cute. And those 2 litte girls with the puppy and kitten i love them and have 2 similar. I can't believe how little you paid for those gypsy ladies they go for silly money on ebay. You have some fantastic chairty shops and jumble sales by you. That is great that dad regonised you today bless him ;-) I bet the old men loved you in shorts ;-)) I bet you were the highlight of there day you look gorgeous. dee xx

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  28. Oooh those kids give me the creeps! I prefer the wall of random to the misery wall! I like the outfit! I froze today also!

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  29. where do I even begin? first of all love love your dressing table (I am writing a post about them that will be ready in a few days). I love swans & that picture is so beautiful & love your outfit! Your wall of misery always make me think of my Nanny as she had those pics too. Glad your dad recognized you today as it is hard to deal with family illness. Enjoy the art gallery & what a lovely way to start the week!

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  30. I always love to see more pictures of your fabulous home and I'm honoured that my contribution to the wall of misery has a such a prominent new position! I especially like the two floral pictures and it's so nice that you have lots of reminders of your relatives.
    You're looking wonderful as always. The day ended quite warm and sunny here, but it started off more like November - all misty and cold! Glad to hear your Dad recognised you today - how is he doing in the home?
    Hope you enjoyed the gallery - I bet your collection is way more interesting though!

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  31. Your collection is amazing! I love a good Vernon Ward print! I've got so many pictures to put up, but my house is made of some undiscovered hardest-material-known-to-man and it's impossible to hammer nails in, so I tend to avoid putting any up anymore. I really need to put up the bird and flower embroideries you gave me though!

    Your house is really fantastic!

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  32. i love your art wall but i really love that bed and your outfit. both are very, very cool.

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  33. Love all the pictures! My favorite one is the Enchanted Forest one. You look so amazing as always - like you stepped out from a time machine. Love your style to bits!

    >'.'<

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  34. You know you look just lovely when to give those big smiles, well even lovelier than normal! ♥ We saw one of those child pics in the Red Cross the other week we nearly bought it for you but they wanted $5 for it! If it's still there I'll negotiate a better deal!

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  35. I too believed the weather man and did the school run this morning in Norfolk in a summer dress and denim jacket - I was frozen!

    Love the tour of your wall. I love walls packed with lots of bits that catch your interest.

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  36. Just lovely :X

    http://www.fashionspot.ro/

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  37. i bet they thought all there christmases hard come at once when they saw you at your dads nursing home, you look stunning.

    Super wall too.

    X x

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  38. I can imagine what a stir you caused among those gents! Your bathing beauty looks like she could be a long lost family member... or at least you could tell people that. And create a scandalous story to go with it!

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  39. The weather was perfect here for a playsuit and jerkin, if only o had the figure!
    I love how you remember everything, from what you and your friends were wearing years ago, to where every picture on your wall came from. I like the effect created by putting them all together like that, it adds drama which your high ceilings can take. A school friend of mine had a very glamorous mum who adorned her walls with the gypsy lady pictures, had sheepskin rugs everywhere and a cocktail cabinet. I used to think "I'm going to have a house like this when I'm older".
    Maybe I should just move in with you?!

    Loving the colours, I bet you brightened up many a pensioners day.

    Lucy x

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  40. Love the sneaky peak inside your home! More please :) x

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  41. Colorful as always! I think it's fascinating that the same pictures your walls I saw hanging in some houses here in Bosnia, like those Gipsy girls,and the Weepy boy, Earth gets smaller and smaller indeed. And may I say wow, you haven't changed a lot since your youth, same striking hair and hot bod :)

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  42. Colorful as always! I think it's fascinating that the same pictures your walls I saw hanging in some houses here in Bosnia, like those Gipsy girls,and the Weepy boy, Earth gets smaller and smaller indeed. And may I say wow, you haven't changed a lot since your youth, same striking hair and hot bod :)

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  43. Colorful as always! I think it's fascinating that the same pictures your walls I saw hanging in some houses here in Bosnia, like those Gipsy girls,and the Weepy boy, Earth gets smaller and smaller indeed. And may I say wow, you haven't changed a lot since your youth, same striking hair and hot bod :)

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  44. Colorful as always! I think it's fascinating that the same pictures your walls I saw hanging in some houses here in Bosnia, like those Gipsy girls,and the Weepy boy, Earth gets smaller and smaller indeed. And may I say wow, you haven't changed a lot since your youth, same striking hair and hot bod :)

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  45. I LOVE your random wall of gorgeousness, it looks fabulous!
    And so do you, I bet you cheered up the old men at your dad's home! It was bloody freezing here this morning but warmed up by the afternoon, your cute hot pants would have been perfect for the sunshine! Oh to have your legs, they are perfection!!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  46. You look amazing in your hot pants suit Vix and I love the print. No wonder the old boys at your Dad's home appreciated it, you were probably the hilight of the month.
    Fab to see around your home too. Thanks for your lovely email, your kind words are much appreciated.
    xx

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  47. As always it's a pleasure to have a peek into your home. I love your wall of delights and I'm glad the little girls I sent made the grade!

    I really like that certificate from your grandma's sister, I can definitely see some of you in her face. I wish I had family keep sakes from long ago but my mum's mum didn't really have much. My mum has a string of pearls that belonged to her but that's about it! My dads mum lived in Wales and when she passed away we got to pick one thing each from her house and I don't know what my auntie did with the rest of the stuff (she lived in Wales too) my dad and her aren't on speaking terms! I chose a picture from her living room wall that I would always admire when I was younger. Mums keeping it safe for me until she can bring it up as it's too precious to be sent through the rough and tumble royal mail!

    I adore the peacock that's standing on the mirror! xxx

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  48. I love your walls. They're unfailingly fascinating! x

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  49. I love the deer the most, with the beatnik couple a close second. It's good that your Dad was having an up day, hope everything is going ok with him xx

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  50. Our weather people get our weather forecasts quite wrong on a regular basis. So much that I think I would like their job. The thought of being paid to consistently get something wrong and still have a job appeals to me. I could look out my window a few times a day and phone in!!
    I bet your gorgeous self in hotpants brightened up the day of all when you visited your dad!! Well done you!!

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  51. That wall is amazing, I literally want to steal everything! Except the Vernon Ward deer picture 'cause I already have it, so you can keep that, ahaha.

    Looking gorgeous as always too!
    Catherine, XO.

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  52. You look smokin in that hot pants suit Vix! Killer legs!!! Freaky kid prints remind me of when I was little. My best friends little brothers had one in their room. We would scare ourselves by making stories up about it.

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  53. You have some really interesting art. I love the pants suit it looks great on you

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  54. your house with it's rambling garden, ghosts, interesting domestic artefacts and wall art never ceases to amaze - my faves are the bathing beauty and the gypsy ladies - very curious to hear more about the ghostly cat.

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  55. they were wrong about the weather here too! I went out under dressed and had to spend the whole day with bear legs. Goosebumps aren't cute

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  56. Fabulous outfit! I LOVE your wall of random! That is how I group pictures too lol. It looks Fabulous!

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  57. Love seeing photos of your home and you in the midst of your collections.

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  58. Now that I've seen the collection, I shall be on the look out for something to add! Wonder how much it might cost to ship it across the waters.

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  59. Pffff. What do those weather men know anyways? What a cool collection, my walls are as bare As a newborn baby but I hope to spiffy them up soon. Ooh and we have similar vanities. Stay cool my dear.

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  60. Ooo, freaky kid prints, I love those. And velvet paintings of clowns and Elvis - I once did a velvet painting, 3ft X 4ft, of a pair of men's dress shoes. Why?... Your gallery is wonderful. Thanks for the tour. And your outfit is Awake!! I love your smile in that first shot.

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  61. Your collection looks great, and seeing them all together makes them really stand out. You look wonderfully colourful for springtime. Have fun at the art gallery x

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  62. adore the outfit you've brightened a v v dull London morning..... I think my grandma had that swan picture....love the tuk tuk snaps too!!x

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  63. Wall of awesome pictures. Your home is like an amazing museum. Can I come and visit :)

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  64. Eeeeek That is one of my supreme pet hates, absolutely find it annoying when the weatherman predicts an unusually splendid day only to wake up that morning seeing the COMPLETE polar opposite of ha but first world problems huh? :P I cannot get how deliciously lovely your home decor is. I have a penchant for thrifted/garage sale/gifted little pieces of iconography/images so this was a wonderful stumble =) Thankyou for sharing all your little gifts. THe one of the landscape (centralish image on first picture) is just darling =)

    Eeli

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  65. You look adorable- I love the long leggy look with that romper.

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  66. I am so glad to see that your walls talk for yourself.
    A real museum of the soul and finds in life.
    Thank you my dearest friend for your kind words.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  67. I love that top photo!

    The pictures work really well together. I am very taken with the Italian scene. And the bathing beauty is a cracker. I like how you have Jon's contemporary photos up there too.

    I'm assuming you're going to the Walsall Art Gallery today. Look forward to a post on that. It's on my to-do list x

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  68. Ah, weather men! As the joke goes, it's the only job where you can be wrong a good half of the time and still get paid! But the nursing home is better for the mistake; you're a ray of sunshine!

    I love the wall; I've always found the children with those large soulful eyes delightful! And your Auntie's certificate is awesome! It makes me so happy to know people who honor the past the way that you do.

    xo, Anita

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  69. Isn't it that the weather man always gets is wrong when its supposed to be a sunny day as opposed to when it is supposed to be a rainy day?

    Well, of course you looks smashing!!! And your collection is quite unique. Just like yourself! :)

    ∞ © tanvii.com ∞

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  70. Amor,
    What a original collection!
    I love all the creepy kids frames on your walls. One day I will take a photo on your wall.
    loving all the gypsy girl frames too.
    you look gorgeous in your hot pants suit. I been waiting for the sun to take pics this week.
    besones

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  71. I love your house, from what you show us it so looks like it reflects you. I often look out for these pictures (albeit they scare the bejesus out of me... Along with dolls, they scare me too) but I never see any. Maybe when car boot season comes I'll find some, I'd love to have an addition on your random wall. Xx

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  72. Holy feck, you are one hot-looking art-lover in your hot pants two-piece ... I have never seen such gorgeousness ... this has got to be one of my favourite posts of yours ... the fecking amazing outfit is a work of art in itself!!! Random wall - GAH!!!! Thank you for sharing:))) xoxo

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  73. oh, i have the girl of the sixties beatnik couple as well. but she has another beatnik boyfriend. her bf is carrying some pictures or papers - just like she does ...

    http://wardrobexperience.blogspot.com

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  74. Goodness only knows what you do to the blood pressure and heart rate of the old boys at your dad's home - blimey!

    Great gallery, but ghostly cats? What did I miss? I'm being pursued by cats at the moment, everywhere I go I seem to come across one gazing at me.

    ***To those I follow and who follow me - is my blog appearing on your dashboard? Blogger appears to be losing some blogs I follow!**

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  75. Gosh what an endearing wall! I love the fact this collection grows bigger by the day, you really do have the most unique taste in oddities – but a fabulous one at that. Lots to catch up on, I’m glad to be back xxx

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  77. Wow, loving your art and how you've arranged them, each piece stands out on their own merit and I am dead jealous of your Vernon Ward fawns scene (I actually came across your page due to googling for it)I am looking everywhere for this at a reasonable price (also jealous of the price you got it at :))to add to my newly started art wall carry on being fashionably awesome
    Liz
    x

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix