Of a pale predictable song title, polaroids, petals, plans and plumbing.

With the lure of a French barn to do up in Normandy and nuptials occurring in the surrounding orchard there’s been a heck of lot to think about not least Gypsy Rose plans, but surrounded by healthy piles of Interior magz I’m spoilt with inspiration for both. Far off chalky white froufroulala dreams but good ones…

After the onslaught of autumn leaves, a winter palette beckon for both flowers and buildings. This is why I’m getting carried away with the idea of converting half the upstairs barn in to a dreamy bathroom with views of apple trees where I’ll eat sleep, soak and read. This, this is the room to escape to…

Somewhere to make a posey, hang a hat, place my horse and sprinkle my bits and bobs.

Home.

xxx

Sometimes I’m lost for words, even about flowers, but not very often.

Tarting up the boat…hmmm have we had enough of the keep calm crew?

Mixing fake with real – vintage china flowers and silk hydrangeas…do they work?

Jury’s still out xxx

Today I…

Found an old bus conductors machine.
Boxed up some herbs in vintage boxes.
Saved a mouse, but don’t tell the O.
Worked on a wedding pitch…pretty!
Squealed in horror at pink cellophane.
Bought pretend homemade lasagne…tsk.

xxx

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

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