Posted on Tue, May 25, 2010 @ 02:49 PM
Went to an amazing Aladdin's cave of Antiques, outside Savannah....
We also shopped the ‘Design District’. An elaborate title for one cross roads. It only takes a few minutes but reaps huge rewards, specifically Mint Boutique (note the David Hicks wall paper) One Fish Two Fish for Tupelo Tree honey, La Paperie for exquisite and uncommon papers and Arcadia antiques, in an abandoned gas station, for cast iron pineapples you have to ship home and have no real use for, or a silver water jug which I turned into a vase, now sitting on the Hibiscus Hill mantle piece.
Posted on Wed, May 19, 2010 @ 02:49 PM
Many moons ago I took a degree in photography. I spent hours studying the masters: STEICHEN, CAPA, ERWITT. So you can understand how excited I was to be photographed for the new TOD'S campaign by Elliott Erwitt. Mr. Erwitt has spent his career making wry, ironic observations, often involving dogs.
I was therefore rather a disapointment to him, not being able to produce any of my numerous dogs, however I could provide a location.
"I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them" he told me about his lasting career.
Posted on Sat, May 15, 2010 @ 02:49 PM
A Japanese fighting fish has just arrived. Funny, because what with potty training Domino, and puppy training Banger, and feeding all the other strange creatures that live in our house I felt something was missing, it must have been a Japanese Fighting Fish....
Posted on Tue, May 11, 2010 @ 02:49 PM
Last week a much-awaited meeting with the HOME SHOPPING NETWORK was suddenly confirmed. It would be a dash though; I needed to be back in time for Conrad's birthday. It suddenly occurred to me that we could track down a longed for dachshund puppy, which I could bring home as a surprise.
Claire, Top Banana, spent the morning googling 'Doxies Florida'. A small advert posted on a breeder's blog directed us to a strange private phone number. We called. A woman confirmed she did have the puppy we wanted, but how did she know we were not scammers? Scammers? Confused Claire passed the phone to me. "I assure you we are not scammers. I would like to collect the dog tomorrow, it 's for my son's 7th birthday" "They all say that" she said suspiciously "my hair dresser told me" "Look, I am English, we are dog lovers" I retorted "I grew up with dachshunds, in fact right now my brother has a wire haired and my mother has two long haired" "But they are out of fashion, no one wants dachshunds nowadays" she replied.
Dogs can be in fashion?
Out Of Fashion from INDIA HICKS on Vimeo.
The woman was clearly out of her mind. I suggested she look at my website, she could assure herself we were reputable. "You English and Nigerians are always scammers" she said.
When I called her back she was still not convinced and there was the question of payment and collection. Nutty breeder woman lived 3 hours north of my meeting and wanted cash only. "Give me an hour" I said. I tracked down the owner of HSN'S car service. A dog lover, with cash.
Upon landing in Tampa my heart started beating frantically, was it the excitement of the puppy or the anticipation of my HSN presentation? In the back of the limousine I met a shivering-confused-out-of-fashion puppy, he crawled into my lap and looked up with beseeching eyes.
Puppy and I were shown into a boardroom, a team waited. Not a strong beginning I realized, Puppy and I. I quickly put puppy on the floor whilst I opened my computer and composed myself. I glanced down; an eruption of diarrhea was taking place. Oh God.
Posted on Thu, May 06, 2010 @ 02:49 PM
AM CANADA Fragrance Awards from INDIA HICKS on Vimeo.
In 1995 this man (below) was responsible for my visit to CANADA. I was on tour with my Aunt, who was Colonel in Chief of the PRINCESS PATRICIA'S CANADIAN LIGHT INFANTRY.
In 2010 this man (below) was responsible for my visit to Canada. As ambassador for Crabtree & Evelyn I presented the Mens Hall of Fame category at the Canadian Fragrance Awards.
(Seen here we are both trying to impress our dentists.)
On my 1995 trip I caught my first 5ft 3 inch 80 lb. STURGEON.
I know which trip won the fragrance award.
Posted on Mon, May 03, 2010 @ 02:49 PM
Teatro Verde is the design laboratory for my friends Shawn and Michael. Set in the heart of Toronto in a Georgian mansion (well perhaps not as Georgian as the house I grew up in in England) it is meticulously merchandised from top to bottom. Small secrets lie waiting to be discovered, like the Belazu olive oil that customs threw out from my overnight bag on the way home, or a corner filled with home remedies from Crabtree & Evelyn (UK)or this chinese armchair found by the boys on their travels round the world. And if you are lucky you may catch sight of Michael's octogenarian Italian mother bringing him his lunch. Pure theater.
