There's a Fish in my coffee!

In the enchanted poinciana-shaded glades of the Hotel Brunswick garden little trippy things are welcome to happen. It took several minutes of delighted appreciation and a couple more of agonising before I could bring myself to dissolve this masterpiece of piscatorial ephemera (thankfully my husband had his phone with him and took a photo, or I might be there still).

My mother, visiting from cooler climes, was similarly impressed with (although less compunct in getting down to the business of drinking) her frangipani-topped cup.

Not in any way related to vintage fabrics of course, but thanks to Nadia for not being afraid to express her happy spirit and for weaving a sparkling thread into the fabric of our day :)

Bernard Bowd Jnr. and the 'Scamps'

Today I have the delight of sharing one of my absolute favourite labels. The most tantalising fragment from a groovy time. Even the font is fab.

But who were Bernard Bowd Jnr. and the 'Scamps'? I can't find out a thing about them but the name has always conjured a mental image closer to a musical act than a design team - the 'Scamps' of course would be up for an interlude of interpretive dance during Bernard's guitar solo.

Not just an enchanting label but a superb psychedelic Peter Max style print. The garment itself is an incongruously druidic hooded piece suspiciously close to loungewear, which spends much of its time lamenting that it wasn't incarnated as the mini dress to which its spirit rightfully aspires.

Knowing The Ropes

From this otherwise unassuming mid 60's button-through cotton shift dress by Roth's of Sydney springs a printed stream of pure design joy. What beautiful mutiny allowed the ropes to rise up from their coils on the decks and cavort in attitudes of abandon with rum, pipes and semaphore flags?

A strikingly perfect detail is the placement of this button - the pattern only allowed it to happen once but imagine the satisfaction!