Tuesday 13 March 2012

Culture Vulture


I'd love to show you some photos of the "There Is A Place..." exhibition at Walsall New Art Gallery but I forgot my camera. For anyone who thinks culture stops at London they need to get up to the Black Country and prepare to get blown away. People visit from all over Europe and the national press constantly rave over the variety and quality of the exhibitions and permanent displays. 

A day time drink convinced me that clip-in blue hair extensions from Poundland would be a great idea. 

After meeting up with a dear friend I hadn't seen in ages we cut our visit short and hot-footed it to the pub to catch up on the last two years and indulge in some disgraceful daytime drinking in the spring sunshine. Well at £5.99 for a bottle of Rose, it would have been rude not to.


If drinking, gossiping with a friend and trawling the pound shops wasn't enough excitement for one day I got home to discover that the postman had delivered parcels of joy from gorgeous bloggers.


Fiona discovered this 1960s towel in her Mum's airing cupboard, isn't it groovy?


After admiring this lurex evening purse on Brooke's blog she kindly sent it my way.


Globe-trotting Heather sent me this stunning Indian pendant from Bahrain and the Costa Rican ring and Balinese bracelet she'd picked up in Mexico. She even drew this beautiful card herself.

Aren't I lucky?
1970s maxi dress by CanCan, London (£4.99, eBay), Madeira souvenir basket (£1.95, Acorns Hospice)


Can you see the sandstone mermaid and bird cage? They're more discoveries I made whilst tackling the garden. If the weather stays as lovely who knows what else I'll find.

See you soon.

79 comments:

  1. There's plenty going on outside London, for sure. I'd like to have six months off work to travel around and visit galleries, museums and exhibitions.
    Yep, you are a lucky girl..that's a fine collection and I love the ring.
    xxxxx

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  2. I love the blue hair - it is great fun. Your garden looks really lovely - keep searching for more treasures! xxx

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  3. Your dress and bag are freaking awsome. You look gorgeous!

    I love how your pond area is looking it's so pretty.

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  4. I find the blogosphere a wonderful place of friendship and warmth. So many good friend, so much kindness, and beauty.
    I am so glad you had a lovely day, my beautiful VIx.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  5. England is such a great place to visit when you stop and think abut it there really is something for everyone. I love your outfit today its fresh and sunny looking. Gorgeous bag to. Lovely goodies that little black and gold evening bag is smashing and so is that orange pendant necklace i can see that right at home on you ;-) Your garden is looking lovely really like the little white cage i wonder what else is hiding ;-) dee xx

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  6. Lovely parcels and great dress - like the extensions, they're fun!
    Looking forward to seeing more of your garden discoveries - do you fancy a spot of gardening/treasure hunting in Bristol when you're done at home?!

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  7. Ooh sounds u had a fab day - that dress is delightful - and that towel looks amazing!!!

    Will resend u that email RE my exciting news - I still can't believe it!!! (some people didn't get it btw!!)

    XO

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  8. I love you bag Vix!!! And must say enjoying all the new discoveries in your garden!

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  9. You look great from head to toe,make-up,dress,bag,jewelry.Im so glad you like the bag :) xxx

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  10. Wow you found the birdcage in the garden?! That's an amazing find!!

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  11. Love that lurex bag and that Maxi looks so so very pretty!

    The blue pound land extensions don't look too bad actually!

    Your garden is like a second hand treasure trove all by itself.. and you don't have to pay for whatever you find! Awesome! xxx

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  12. I blimmin' well love that bag! I think the blue hair pieces look really good for £1! Well done!

    I might have to visit Walsall and check out it's art gallery one day! xxxx

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  13. You look freaking beautiful Vix I would have been hand holding the entire time :) I simply love this dress on you! The purse looks perfect with it! I think you must have some pink extensions too :) I hope there are some cool exhibits that we can check out while visiting!
    So many thoughtful and wonderful things from fellow bloggers, that handmade card is super sweet!!! I can't wait to wander through your yard and see what I discover, who knows I may leave something behind :)
    MISSYOU, we will talk soon!!!
    Tonsoflove~
    Krista

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  14. Your frock's a lovely example of how some of the 70s clothes looked back to Victorian styles - get that high neck and the ruffles, and then the ethnic/Tyrolean stitchery!

    A day that starts with art, veers into drinking and then onto blue hair extensions is an excellent day!

    What lovely postal goodies - love Heather's drawing.

    Spotted an identical trough in a neighbour's front garden yesterday btw! xx

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  15. How lovely to receive such pretty things from great blogging buddies. You are so generous to everyone else, Vix, it comes right back to you!
    That dress is a beauty, fits you to perfection, and suits the sunny weather.
    I get thoroughly fed up with the London-centric media assuming there's nothing going on anywhere else. Yay for art and culture in the provinces!!
    And an even bigger YAY to drinking Rose with a mate in the afternoon! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  16. As you well know I rather love hair extensions and those ones look rather fabulous for the price.

    I love getting mail so much too - your wee packages look amazing. I especially love the hand drawn card.

    Isn't it cool you found a birdcage in your garden - I wonder what other treasures its hiding!

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  17. Vixcita,
    You lucky prosti, you deserve all the gifts amor.
    loving your blue hair extensions matching your pretty eyeshadow.
    your little creepy pond is looking great with all the newly discovered treasures.amar your in white Maxifabuloso frock.
    besones

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  18. The blue hair bits are great against your maxi dress with all that lovely embroidery. Thanks for showing us your new treasures too. The handmade card is beautiful! What other interesting things will your garden yield up to your probing fingers?

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  19. Lots of lovely gifts, glad you have festival plans for the towel!

    oooh I love a lunchtime drink or two, especially at that price it WOULD have been rude not too! Sadly still can't do it yet, can't wait til I can ha ha!

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  20. That maxi is gorgeous - you look great.

    Yes, it's important to remember that culture does not stop with London - I do get fed up with London-centric culture reporting in the papers!

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  21. Dear miss Beautiful Vix, I just think you look so very pretty in that gorgeous dress today.
    The bag is a beauty too!!!!
    I always love that people send you treasure, it's because you are a treasure.
    Love v

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  22. Oh I love your dress, so hippytastic and pretty. It sounds like you had a perfectly lovely day. Nothing better than catching up with a friend over a bit of daytime drinking xx

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  23. Glad you had a great day. I love the birdcage you found in your garden! xx

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  24. Loving your dress Vix, You look fab.

    I will have to pop in to the art gallery and have a look when I go to pick up hubby one of the evenings.

    You find so great discoveries in your garden, it certainly is a treasure trove.

    X x

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  25. I can't tell you how gorgeous I think that dress is, I love the embroidery. Divine, also, I really like the blue clip ins, but then I've got a thing with fake hair right now lol. Xx

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  26. This dress is lovely. I especially adore your purse though. :)

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  27. Fabulous dress (loving the embroidery, so pretty) and bag, and what lovely blog gifts you've received. Hair extensions in Poundland??, will look out for them next time I'm there.
    £5.99 for a bottle of Rose in a pub is an absolute bargain, down here you would pay at least twice that. I do love a lunchtime session don't you?
    Super shot of you in the garden underneath the birdcage, although birdy has flown he did leave something behind. xx

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  28. Sounds like you had a fabulous day.... catching up with an old friend, new acquisitions and magic finds :-)

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  29. Love your dress - and the blue extensions look great!

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  30. Aww love that frock luv! You might find some long lost pygmy tribe if you keep uncovering things in your garden lol!

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  31. Argh,that frock is GLORIOUS!!! The blue extensions rock! Hurrah for trusting the boozey instincts!
    Yay for having a grand time and getting nicely tiddley!!! And double YAY for receiving such lovely treats from such lovely people!What goes round,comes round,as they say!
    Love you MADLY!
    Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  32. That is such a Gorgeous dress! I Love the embroidery!

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  33. I am also Loving those blue extensions! I put pink streaks in my daughter Bella's hair over the weekend! Great minds think alike : )

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  34. Love the dress and the purse. Looks kind of Eastern European, no?
    xx
    maya
    http://byebyesoccermom.blogspot.com/2012/03/bright-blue-love.html

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  35. I love your maxi. The work on it is very pleasing to my eyes.

    ∞ © tanvii.com ∞

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  36. yes, yes, I'm sure the art is great but I want to talk about that dress! The embroidery is soooo pretty and that style suits you purrrfectly. You get the best prezzies in the mail; I'm green with envy!

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  37. Always inspiring finds Vix. Yes, culture definitely doesn't stop in London. I love those bags, and the jewellery oh my, you are quite the lucky lady. -xo

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  38. I would love to spend some time in your part of the world; it sounds lovely!

    And what a perfect way to spend an afternoon; good wine, a good friend and sunshine; what's not to love?!

    Your dress is amazing!

    xo, Anita

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  39. Yeah so glad the parcel arrived!! I was so curious how long it would take....not as long as Bahrian mail hehehe....Okay where in the world do I start. That dress is amazing and it has me totally convinced when I get to Cali I will find myself a smashing vintage dress...the bag and all the goodies are wonderful!! Your an amazing girl ~Love Heather

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  40. Oh my darling Vix your frock has my mind in tatters ... it's so, so beautiful with all that embroidery and totally made for you!! It sounds like the Black Country is one of the UK's best kept secrets and you are so lucky to have such treasures on your doorstep ... and a mermaid and bird cage in your lovely garden!! Another fecking AWESOME bag and blue clip-ons, it's enough to make me want long hair again:)). Aren't bloggers such beautiful creatures? You are so admired by many and you deserve all your lovely treats:)) xoxoxo

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  41. Lovely gifts along with an afternoon of 'day drinking' with a friend. What a way to enjoy the day, and with that bag! Very festive!

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  42. That dress is so charming and fits you perfectly. What a perfect day to include art, friends and unexpected presents!
    Thanks so much for your comments on my blog. It's very sweet of you to stop by.

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  43. I was so relieved to learn the strands of blue were extensions. The bag is so complimentary to the dress. Of all the gifts you received today, I love the Balinese bracelet!

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  44. That dress is to die for!! As I face some unseasonably warm weather, it's totally inspiring. What wonderful friends you have. I may have to toast with a few of mine tomorrow!

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  45. I agree that dress is totally amazing! Glad you had a nice day out at the gallery :)

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  46. Double bag envy: the basket you're holding AND that lurex number...dunno which I adore more.

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  47. Your garden is full of treasures! And all those amazing gifts you received!!! Love the dress, I`v been on the lookout for something similar - very bohemian and so cool with the blue hair!

    >'.'<

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  48. Love the dress! Something I really miss, being way out here in the bush where I am, is being able to vist galleries. Sounds like you had a great time!

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  49. What a lovely day (hic) lol!!
    The Nothing But Blue Skies exhibition looks beautiful

    http://www.thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk/whats-on/exhibition/skies

    and yes - SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ARTISTS!! There's more to life than the big name galleries.

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  50. Aren't blogger friends lovely!

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  51. Gorgeous dress Vix, and I like the blue clip ins. :)
    Can't beat a bit of daytime drinking, glad you had a lovely time.
    xx

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  52. I love the bag(s)! Still waiting for you to dig up that treasure chest....

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  53. Your dress is so gorgeous! I love the bag too. Lovely brocade bag & towel too.

    Catherine, XO.

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  54. Blue Hair with that dress= totally awesome!!!!

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  55. hi vix!

    i love this maxi. you are so lucky to find so many. i am not that lucky and i really, really love them - so i'm really, really jealous that you have so many!

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  56. Lovely dress,lovely embroidery on the dress, lovely Lady!
    This style looks lovely on you, adore and Indian inspired dress.

    Nice discoveries in your garden, Mr.D found a death fish in the pond, that is not too happy hey?

    Have a lovely day

    Ariane xxxx

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  57. That dress was an absolute bargain. The embroidery is so pretty.

    I love the birdcage too. I think it would look great with candles in when the nights get warmer. In fact, it's actually pretty enough to go into the house.

    I'd LOVE to meet up for a trip to the Gallery - have replied more fully on my blog. x

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  58. Lovely outfit and gifts, lucky lady! And only you could rock those pound shop extensions and make them look cool :)

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  59. I definitely agree on Midlands culture. In our stretch of the Midlands we get to see world class touring theatre in village halls. In fact, I get disappointed by the comparative lack of innovative theatre in London.
    What a beauty of a dress - perfect for spring socialising.

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  60. oh those blue extensions are foxy and hot, i love them;) and this dress is a embroidered hippie dream! what a perfect day after meeting a friend receiving amazing parcels!!!
    love and kiss,mary

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  61. there are a lot of things going on around the big big big cities....

    the madeira bag looks perfect with this 70s dress.

    http://wardrobexperience.blogspot.com

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  62. Fab dress and the hair extensions are a wow too. The garden discoveries are so good. But not as good as your pics - my fav from previous post is the enchanted garden but very pleased to see the kids being as miserable as ever xx

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  63. That frock is devine Vix! And your garden is looking spectacular!
    Go Girl x

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  64. love that dress~

    I've decided everyone who entered my op-it-forward comp will get a prize so please send me your address and I'll pop some little goodies in the mail for you xxx

    (http://theseaandmechange.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/send-it-forward-seventies-beauty-and.html)

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  65. Sounds like a pretty awesome day to me! Nothing better than a few drinks and gossiping with girlfriends.

    I ADORE the embroidery or whatever it is on your maxi dress. Looks gorgeous! xxx

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  66. I love, love love your peasant style maxi dress. Its like Edwardiana given a good shot of 60s hippie love. Let us know if you find more treasure in your garden.
    xxx

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  67. the blue hair is so cool!
    xx
    www.vnikali.blogspot.com

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  68. The dress looks stunning on you Vix! It's so pretty!
    Sophie
    x

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  69. sounds like the perfect day!! and how beautiful do you look in that perfect dress! i really like the blue hair too, suits you ;)

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  70. That dress looks like you bought it off the rack yesterday - perfection. What fun gifties to come home to! Culture, hey any petrie dish can have that - it's what you Do with it that matters.

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  71. Beautiful dress Vix, it looks so light and cool.
    Dx

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  72. The dress is so wicked! I love it.

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  73. It's getting to be like 'The Secret Garden' out there!

    Loving your dress and the Balinese bracelet.

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  74. Adore your dress and bag - just gorgeous!

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  75. I totally love that dress its beautiful. xx

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  76. As a lover of birdcages myself I couldn’t help but spot it there in the background, your garden is very enchanting xxx

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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