There’s a touch of scarlet fever on the boat today as we got the go ahead for something really exciting which I’ll be posting soon, proof that sometimes things are worth hanging on for and spurred on by Sofia Coppola – why not a bit of red?

Some of my favourite pictures taken by my friend Inness that sadly never made it on to the Gypsy Rose site but enjoy the rest here.

xxx

Yes it is. Even when I’m pulling out rose thorns I can hear the jingle of Jazz.

So I beebopped a bit when I got a long email from the amazingly cool Bob Dorough this week. Any man who includes a ‘hee hee’ by mail has my heart, let alone Mr D.

Saying hi and talking hippy communes in San Francisco with strict instructions to carry on the love for boats, blossom, music et chacun. We will, we will I promise.

Making my search for Gypsy wallpaper seem rather well…super lameo (in an I played with Miles Davis and you well never… piano kind of way).

Swooneroonie, here’s to the promise of tea on the boat next time you’re here.

And a top tune for a tuesday.

xxx

A skirt for a sunday – Back down in sunny surrey we’re escaping London for the weekend with a splash of inspiration from a flower friend. xxx

Apart from floral nosegays and tussies the victorians, bless them, really did love a bit of fancy dress pet action, and what’s so wrong with a cat in a ruffle?

I’ve been collecting old postcards for a while now and they look pretty gorgeous with my vintagy posies and bits and bobs.

Plus my heart really pitter patters when I read the polite scrawls on the back. “Ernestly Yours Ethel.” A declaration of love?

These newly acquired Christmas ones really tickle my turnip… handpainted, I’ve bought loads for cripper and gosh I really wish we still made this sort of shizzle.

Sharing a love for cats and upside down Union Jacks my lovely boat neighbour sent me this.

Fun for a friday.

xxx

With a wedding next summer to plan we’re rapidly being presented with lists and plans by a little red hen from home in France. Next up…

Cider brewing and friends staying over on the farm. I’m favouring the fifties caravan and homemade cakes – but have a hunch this a bit Darling Buds, nay Carry On.

But I do love these…. and as boat life has made us pretty transient maybe we can put one on the wedding list? It’s in one of my favourite colours too. Swoon. O?

To Cider – the farmer is harvesting our apple orchard – the perfect excuse to get designing twee country livingesque labels…maybe a crooked heart and a cat or two?

Like our apples things are falling in to place, my favourite people can come, fireworks are the bees in France and now cider and caravans. Marrying high summer in camping season? We must be Nuts. xxx

xxx

I will never be, but I am rather fond of nasturtiums and their hues so as autumn exhales its fullonness we’re preparing to batten down the hatches with colour.

This time last year the harsh reality of life on a grey canal was setting in. Now, with a captain on board, a quirky clock collection and candy coloured cushions to comfort it’s a different story…but maybe just maybe there’s room for some wallpaper too?

I have a massive crush on these books by Abigail Ahern. Imagine leaping up and dancing fingers across spines of browbeaters – whilst actually reading some naughty friperie?

This stuff is pretty bonsa too…part of Open House week meant we could do some designer snooping. Too much fun.

xxx

Everyone seems to send me florals, I don’t mind but just as I have a drawer full of porcelain cats and feline salt and pepper shakers, it is an acquired taste.

But I do love these prints by Celia Birtwell, once Hockney’s muse – I’ve done flowers for her and she really does have the most exquisite taste. How sweet are the birds?

This week I’m working on colourways for my Gypsy Rose stuff accompanied by some good jazz to beat the blues. Check out this beautiful french take of Lullaby of Birdland by Blossom and her band. Moi, j’aime. Happy tuesday. xxx

In no particular order it’s been a few days of … Tip tappeting, props for a photoshoot, Belladonna and bulbs, fashion week with Kitsune and rasberry mohitos.

Richard Nicoll with cakes and ribbons, a lot of Bryan Ferry lookalikes, obla dah’ing (I like this man he sounds like a cat) and a favourite pair of white brogues.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-jEKVq38bY&feature=related]

Getting tickled by Gypsy Rose Lee – I just ordered one of her books as she’s kind of charmingly silly don’t you think? xxx

I’ve been asked to cage some camelias. Could there be a crueler yet prettier fate?

There are parakeets on the towpath, beautiful fluorescent free green ones…

I think they’ve flown over from the graveyard…maybe we could teach them to chat?

I’ve read up on the subject and it works…but English or French?

Whilst I think of blooms behind bars and get my Henry Higgins hat on have a peek at these adorable vintage illustrations, most definitely on the Christmas list.

xxx

Flowers aside this week I’m really jellybugs as I’m missing Agatha Christie Week…batty Miss Marple, Tommy ‘n Tuppence and Hercule fans en mass, machinating over murder on the English Riviera. It’s too much.

Imagine the clattering lipstick stained teacups over cream teas? The faux moustaches and theme tunes, walking sticks and comedy murder set ups?

I know I know I can be a real snore about Agatha Christie stories, it’s the covers that get me and their dusty book jackets have always held a place in my heart.

They live in crooked half read piles in the cabin, crammed secretly in to in cookbook shelves and can be found a top of O’s record player.

So. I’m peeved to think I won’t be with the hundreds of fans who’ll be tritt trotting around discussing in rich tea whispers whether Roger Ackroyd’s murder was the best ever written or if And Then There Were None was indeed her finest hour.

I personally would have to scamper around her cutting garden snipping at the hydrangea, camellia, magnolia and rhododendron which she so avidly grew…and lament the bad casting of Miss Marple since Joans demise.

I really should be donning white mittens, my best starched floral frock and taking the 4.50 from Paddington …hmm maybe there’s still time?

TBG? …only her best short story ever. xxx