April in Paris

Some destinations are sublimely beautiful in April. New York City with its abundance of cherry blossoms is one. England, with its magnificent gardens, is another. 

But perhaps one of the prettiest place to spend an April afternoon is Paris. 

Paris in April is pure magic. It's a cinematic sweep of postcard-style streets, overflowing florists, cheerful shopkeepers and charming maître ds, scented parks and gardens, exquisite window merchandising, elegant exhibitions and altogether entertaining street scenes.

April is also one of the best times of the year to travel to Paris—and many other places, for that matter. Skyscanner.com recently revealed that the cheapest week to travel is the last week of April and the first week of May. 

I tested the claim last night. Sure enough, return flights from Sydney to either New York or Paris that are normally A$1700—$2000 are just $1350. 

Oh April, you really know how to tempt us.

Here in Australia, my publisher and I have been working on ideas for a new book. It's about—you guessed it—Paris. I had planned to go to NY for work this month but now it looks like I may have the take the long (and scenic) way around the globe. Who can resist a chance to photograph Paris in spring?

I hope to show you some beautiful new 'finds' from the City of Light, from secret fashion museums and ateliers to gorgeous stores and hotels and even delightful walking trails that take in the best bits of this photogenic city. 

Some people abhor Paris (including my partner). And I must admit that every time I return I think: perhaps we should try a difference place next year? And then I find myself going back, yet again. Paris will do that too you. Almost 30 years after my first visit, some things haven't changed. My French is still shameful, but my love for the city hasn't waned.

On this note, I want to thank everyone who kindly bought Paris: A Guide to the City's Creative Heart. We've just learned that it recently hit the No. 1 Ranking on US Amazon for Illustrated Travel books. 

Actually I can't quite remember the category: it was a niche one, so it's not a big deal, but we were still very surprised—and grateful for the No. 1 ranking.  I'm deeply grateful to everyone who bought a copy. Book buyers are the loveliest people.

I also want to recommend some other Paris books. Nichole Robertson's Paris in Colour is delightful if you want some photographic inspiration, while the new book The Gardener of Versailles: My Life in the World's Grandest Garden by Alain Baraton is a superb read if you love gardens. 

Another I've recently bought is A Day at Versailles by Yves Carlier; a sumptuous behind-the-scenes look at the inner-workings of this grand estate. 

And Edmund White's new memoir, Inside A Pearl: My Years in Paris is... well, I had mixed feelings about the name-dropping and cruel characterisations, but there's no doubt he's a brilliant writer. And when he admitted he also struggled with the French language, well, it was a sign he's as human like the rest of us... It's an evocative book that beautifully sums up Paris in a way I could never do.

Au revoir for now. And once again, a sincere thank you.

[All photographs by me.]

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Gilded Lives: Collette Dinnigan and others

One of the most beautiful books ever published was released today: Collette Dinnigan's illustrated memoir, Obsessive Creative.

A pictorial history of Collette's life as one of Australia's foremost fashion designers, Obsessive Creative is filled with exquisite images of her family, her travels, her inspirations, her fashion collections, and her friendships and clients. (Including Princess Mary, Sarah Murdoch, and Toni Collette; the latter two were married in Dinnigan's designs). It's a sumptuous tome that (almost) justifies the $100 price. 

I've had the privilege of seeing a preview copy, and couldn't put it down. I've also had the privilege of interviewing Collette, for a magazine article several years ago, and she was considerate, thoughtful, well-mannered and surprisingly calm, given her workload. "All I wanted to do was turn my craft into something I could make an income from," she said humbly. But she added that she was always very focused. And had a firm work ethic.

However, like all hard-working women, she said that she sometimes finds life exhausting. "A lot of hard work, energy and tears" have gone into the business over the years," she admitted. 

In fact, when she finished writing this book, she decided to close another chapter in her life: her business. She had been in the game for two decades but it was only in writing her memoir and looking back over her life that she realised how much she had achieved – and just how much she had sacrificed.

So this book – as well as her collections – will be a legacy of her 24 extraordinary years in fashion.

All the best Collette.
We will certainly miss you.

Now out from Lantern/Penguin. $100. 
(Limited edition version, cover shown above: $250.)

Another beautiful book that's just been released from another beautiful designer is Tricia Guild's Colour Reconstructed. The head of Designer's Guild is as much of a prolific writer and traveller as she is a designer, and this book reveals her love of colour, with photos taken across several continents – including the always-spectacular India. 

And while nowhere near in the same league as Ms Dinnigan and Ms Guild, my next book, an illustrated guide to Provence and the Cote d'Azur, has gone off to the printer. It will be published on December 1, just in time for Christmas. (Pan Macmillan/Plum, $49.95)

I'll gladly share some Provence secrets in the next few weeks, for those planning a trip there next year.

Oh – and if you're wondering what's happened to other book projects, including Picnic at Hanging Rock, I've recently changed publishers, having decided to return to my former editor/publisher, whom I adore. We're currently working on these and some other wonderful new book projects, including a new series of beautifully illustrated guides to New York, London and Paris. 

I'm very grateful to be working with her again. She's already lined up one of Australia's most amazing book designers to do the first guide, so I can't wait to see what the creative team will come up with.

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The World Through Blue Hues

Blue may not be the colour of the month in former prime minister Julia Gillard's house, after the "men in blue ties" controversy helped to cut short her term in office, but elsewhere blue is being embraced by fashion designers, interior decorators, gardeners, and even a few stylish hoteliers. (Did you see that JK Place has just opened a new Rome outpost?)

Here's a long and very blue post about this classically beautiful and coolly glamorous colour, which just keeps on comin' back into fashion.

Chanel's wildly successful range of blue nail lacquers. 

(The Coco Blue shade is the perfect summer colour.)

Have you seen Chanel's 2014 Resort Collection yet? Karl has gone back to the classics. 

Some new silk fabric bought from Mood in New York. 

It's called 'Ocean Liner'. It's almost Titanic in its elegance, don't you think?

A blue border at Chateau Brecy in France.

Our messy kitchen, which seems to be becoming blue-er by the hour...

See?

This is our breakfast table. We can no longer sit here for all the white geraniums in blue pots.

Still, a $300 navy Ikea sofa, a $100 rattan wingback armchair (bought on discount) and a $50 blue-and-white planter with a home-made ottoman mean a $450 sunroom. 

As you can see, we're not design snobs in this house. Any ol' (blue) bargain will do.

Harbour Island in the Bahamas, on a very blue day.

The blue bathing box on Harbour Island.

Cap d'Antibes in May. 

This was a perfect cove, on a perfect afternoon.

St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on the Cote d'Azur. 

One of the prettiest villages in the world. Tall call, I know.

More from Cap d'Antibes.

Kew Palace in Kew Gardens. 

Did you see that an Australian has just taken over the head role here? Wonder what the English think about that? Probably muttering dark thoughts into their Hunter wellies.

A friend's house, with antique light sockets on exquisite blue wallpaper.

This London bookshop is lovely. It's owned by Graham Greene's nephew.

Did you see Australian Story on Sunday night? It focused on 26-year-old Hannah Kent's new novel Burial Rites? She's written a haunting tale about the last woman beheaded in Iceland. 

The unpublished manuscript sold for a reported $350,000 in Australia, and a reported seven figures in the US. 

The Australian Story doco was very moving. Especially for this author. Who's never had a seven-figure advance in her life.

But the book looks like an extraordinary story. I'm so thrilled for her. Hope she goes and treats herself after two years of hard work and pauper-dom.

It was also interesting to see how Australian Story do things. I've been in talks with them this week about doing something on the Picnic at Hanging Rock story. It's strange to see how electronic media works, and how it's so different to print media and long-form journalism – and then again to writing a book (which is another beast altogether).

But back to blue. And the Belles Rives Hotel on the Cote d'Azur.

The new Provence book, in which this features, is almost finished. Yay. Never thought I'd say this but I don't think I can write another word about lavender. Ever again.

The copy and images have now gone to the designer. 

Pub date is this Christmas 2013.

The ' Do Not Disturb' sign from The Roger Hotel in New York.( A hotel's that a tribute to blue.)

You may not be able to see because of my appalling photography but this is a little bow-tie, which is actually un-tied, so as to signal to the maid to "come and clean the room". 

Or take off some clothes. 

It's your interpretation, really.

Nice. 

Which is very nice.

The view from my Riviera hotel room. 

Highgrove's branding is some of the most elegant in the world.

The garden's not bad, either.

The view from my Harbour Island hotel room.

The John Dory bar in New York.

Such a bustling place. Full of blue-shirted bankers and hip Flatiron creatives tossing down oysters and knocking back vodka shots. Had a great time here. Until I saw the prices.

The Landing on Harbour Island. (More on this in a post to come.)

Two of the loveliest ladies on the Garden Tour, Kerry and Trina. 

You can't see this as we were all laughing and my hand was shaking wildly as a result, but their dress sense is impressive. Their humour is superb too. AND they're beautiful. 

Kerry runs the Mudgee Readers' Festival, which is on August 10 and 11. If you love books, go along. Sarah Turnbull  (Almost French) is speaking this year. 

www.mudgeereadersfestival.com.au

Another cute blue beach house on Harbour Island.

New book. Looks good.

Another newie. Out October. 

Already on the Christmas Wish List.

We are seriously considering booking tickets to fly to Scandinavia to see this man, Peter Gabriel (although I'll probably be in Europe for work anyway, so it's not far to go). He's doing a world tour to celebrate the re-release of his iconic album So. I have to go up to Scandinavia anyway to see family, so it's perfect timing.

If you want to know why we want to go, just take a look at this (blue) video clip; of Solsbury Hill. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah3vTq2ZxYk   Link here

As one viewer said, it's just about the most joyous performance you'll ever see. And how HOT does he look?! I've started running again to get my fitness back and have put this version of Solsbury Hill on my iPod. I tell you, nothing gets you up a hill faster than Peter Gabriel singing "my heart was going BOOM BOOM BOOM!"

He's getting older but he still looks as good as he did when he was in Genesis. Oh yes. We may just have to go to Denmark in September, I think. Plus Fleetwood Mac and John Mayer are playing at the same venue. In the SAME week. How fortuitous is that?

Just had to sneak another pic of Pete in there...

The view from my room on Harbour Island. 

Seems almost anti-climactic after seeing Pete grind his hips, doesn't it...?

Dinner with the girls (and one boy) in Paris. This was the view from our restaurant table. 

Very hard to find a restaurant with a view of the Eiffel Tower but we did. 

(PS It's called Chez Francis, and it's fabulous, despite the dubious reviews on TA. Don't believe everything you hear. Gossip is sometimes unfounded, you know.)

An old Hermes scarf of mine, with a vintage bag I bought for $100. Love a bargain.

The pool house at the Dunmore club on Harbour Island. The chairs here were the prettiest turquoise blue. The pool was a design delight, too.

Just like these planters, at Chateau Brecy.

More blue at Chateau Brecy.

A potting shed with a blue door, also at Chateau Brecy.

Yet another blue corner at Brecy. 

(Do go if you are ever in France with a hire car at your disposal. It's just beautiful.)

Harbour Island. Again. 

Loved these shutters.

Someone said this was Mick Jagger's house, but I doubt it. 

Still, it's a good story.

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