Off to New York next week to support my great friend Dr Farber at the launch of the Farber Centre for Radiation Oncology in New York.

Dr Farber is on the cutting edge of cancer treatment and we’ve designed a bespoke ‘Rocks Against Cancer’ bracelet from which all of the proceeds will be donated straight back to the charity.

Check this out – after all, everyone knows someone.

http://bit.ly/rocksyoutube

Post Ibiza week can give some people the blues. Personally I see it as a chance to hear some music with lyrics.

Considering its August we have a million things going on at work. We have finally got the applications in for the building and electrical permits in order to start construction on the new shop in the heart of Beverly Hills. No2 Rodeo Drive. How posh is that I ask you?

We finally settled on interior designer Alexes from Texas to implement the vision we have for this amazing space. I say amazing as the configuration is over 2 floors; the ground floor will be the SW boutique inspired by our flagship store on London’s Mount Street. This space is under the supervision of eagle eye Claire DS my Brand Director and Head Designer. No detail gets by Ms DS.

The second floor is my domain. Historically a bit redundant for retail, this is going to be the first SW curated space. Feeling like a loft with amazing views of Wiltshire Blvd and Rodeo Drive, the loft will be a moveable feast of art, photography, music and even food, in the form of pop up restaurants every now and again. Plus there’ll be a full free bar (for customers, potential customers or just my boozy mates) to enjoy a Webster Martoonie.

The space will be known as the No Regrets lounge. Make sure you are on the guest list.

As if that wasn’t enough, our shop in the immaculate city of Vienna opens at the end of August. This again has been painstakingly put together by Claire and Kate the dynamic duo. The building is nearly 300 years old, complete with vaulted ceilings; it’s the perfect setting for SW jewels.

The Vienna boutique will be the second Stephen Webster store in continental Europe following the very successful boutique in Marbella. If anyone is in the mood for a Viennese whirl then come on down to 10 Petersplatz, Vienna.

Finally, I have just landed in Mumbai, having been asked to speak at the first Indian International Jewellery Fair. IIJF . It’s hot steamy and 1 in the morning.

More Indian adventures to follow

I have been tweeting so much lately I feel like a Cockney Sparrow. It’s nice to get back to a medium with a few more characters than Hollywood.

Since the last blog I have been on holiday with all the family to the Balearic Island that dances to the beat of its own drum Ibiza.

It’s the best place for a holiday. You can chill at a villa or a beautiful beach, or you can drop the sort of cocktail that killed River Phoenix and wave your hands for 6 hours at the world’s most famous DJ’s. The choice is yours. Just remember one will relax you after a long spell at work and the other will make you feel as though someone has laced your veins with Starbucks crappaccino and put matchsticks under your eyelids.  

We started by helping my old friend Pete Tong come to terms with being 50. As a long term man of 50 I felt qualified to give a speech.

After a wonderful dinner we shuffled around his pool to Carl Cox, the Van Dykes (too many to mention) and every other big DJ on the island. After about 5am the music all sounded the same to me.

The next few days were spent comatose. I remember making the effort and asking for nuts with my Rose.

During the following week there was Nick Lazlau’s yacht for the day (amazing); lunches at Blue Marlin, Tropicana Beach and the always good value @ €1500 whatever you have; Es Torrens.

Followed by Mark Ronson at Space. Peter Simons 67th Birthday (what a pad he has for an ex hippy); a very quick trip around the Island in Paul Tucker’s (member of the Lighthouse Family) Ferrari.

And another Pete Tong night in Eden, just myself, my daughter Amy and her friend Lorrie. For some unfathomable reason Pete’s working day is 4am - 6am. I thought milkmen got up early but that is insane. Plus they pay him the best overtime rate I have ever heard of. So we get there at 1am because if I had stayed at home longer I would have been pushing Z’s. Of course at 1 it’s empty. By 3am I am anxious having been listening to house at a million decibels for 2 hours. Then in comes Pete. Phew we were nearly there but no, first guest Annie Mac until 4am, then Africa someone until 5.20am when Mr. Tong finally came on.

By this point I was river dancing backwards to Christmas and as usual thinking it was a good look due to the Parkinson’s effect of my hostess’s vodka wrist. Over pour was an understatement. I looked around me and to my surprise the Dutch chapter of the hells angels had joined the party. Why do such macho guys have bum bags or fanny packs? No need to answer.

Finally escaped at 6.30am. How many Dads show commitment to their teenage daughters like that?

I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

Back at work today. Always busy after a break. We have started work on the new store we are opening in Beverly Hills and our new little Viennese whirl will open in 2 weeks.

Going home on the train with Rosie the fastest tortoise in the west. She doesn’t even look pleased to see me. I think she’s only in this for the lettuce.

Until next time… or follow the tweets, they are shrill but make a lot of sense x

http://www.twitter.com/NoRegretsat50

Row 34A American AirlinesLA-Dallas. Guy next to me is literally half over my seat, this is gonna be a long one. 

He is huge. Don’t let anyone say I have lost touch with the common man, I am in touch with a little too much of this one and boy is he heavy. 

Had a great couple of days in LA putting the team together for our new project. Can’t tell you details yet but will very soon.

Lunch yesterday with Christina and Jordan. It was great to see them both, it’s been a while. Christina was looking good and on good form after a period of well deserved rest. Filming the lead in the upcoming Burlesque movie, recording the soundtrack and recording her solo album took its toll a bit. I said to her ” what the hell did you expect?” but she is a workaholic who like a lot of creatives drives herself to the limit. 

After our work was done Claire Denham-Smith (Brand Director) and I took a stroll along Melrose. She had never been and I hadn’t for a few years. Glad to see that the time warp boulevard is still in a time warp. Its like a gothic pierced and tattooed theme park. If ever you feel the need to go Adams family then the choices are endless. 

Did find a period piece bar called Bungalow club . Sam the bar tender was lovely and said he takes all his cocktails personally. I said I knew a barman like that once who ended up in rehab but Sam didn’t mean it that way. He meant that he wanted everyone of them to be savoured. Well I can tell you as a bloke who takes his booze straight I was more than surprised by how good his ginger pear martoonies were. And at $6 a pop you could easily loose a couple of days at Sams bar. 

Later mingled with the cast of Mad Men, my favourite TV show at the post premier of the new season party in the garden of the Chateau Marmont, my LA home. 

Rudely woken by reception at 5.45 am in order to catch my 8am flight to Dallas. There are plenty of PA’s out of work you know Claire H. You know who you are . 

As soon as I land its straight to the Crescent hotel to join the judging panel of Ken Downing, Lisa Kazor and I to watch and analyse the latest SW puppet film ‘Project My Way’. Introducing Kate, our Sales Director as Heidi Klumsy and Avant Ga(Ga) as our new almost impossible designer. God help the poor 100 Neiman Marcus managers who are our shackled audience. After that fiasco they are straight in for a cocktail, popcorn and the documentary about moi ‘The Devil’s in the detail’ Some of them may need sedation after that lot . 


I will fill you in later  

On a very bumpy flight back from Marbella.

Flew in Friday to host our summer party at the Villa del Mar… I know, they really pulled out all the stops naming that one. Guess Villa del Sol was taken. Anyway, the villa on the sea was pretty amazing. We had a large stage built at one end of the pool behind which was the med. As clichéd as you can get but when the place is that beautiful it has to be done. The evening started at 7 with a press conference featuring myself and my guest artist performing later Bryan Ferry. Questioning all very routine until one smart Alec asks Mr Ferry if he ever makes love to “Slave to love”? And if so why is it only 4 minutes long. Bryan didn’t see that one coming and feigned not to hear so I helped out and said there is a 12” version that he uses.  

The rest of the night was as good as a do gets. Loads of booze and loads of beautiful people… couple of mingers also but I think they came in over the wall. Little bit of argy bargy when it came to sitting for the gig. Basically 200 seats at tables with champagne and 300 people. I did apologise before Bryan sang but told them all it was because they were at a bloody good do. Not sure if the many Russians or Spanish understood ‘bloody good do’ but once the show kicked off all was forgotten. By the time the band got to “Let’s stick together” some of the women had gotten so carried away with it all that I thought we may have a When Harry met Sally moment .

Made it along the beach to the nightclub “Suite” which I swear from a distance after a couple of Sherry’s reads “Shite”. Stayed there until 5 then went back to the room and polished off everything in the mini bar, bar the crème d’menthe.

Rudely awoken at noon by reception informing me that a young woman was waiting for me. Then it all came back to me. Mario the Marbella Ferrari, BMW and general expensive car dealer who had loaned us a brand new Mini Clubman to customise for our shop, was taking me to the race track for the day. Oh god I was still drunk! Half an hour later I was doing a good impersonation of a showered sober person. The woman threw me the keys to a white convertible M6 BMW and said “You drive - I’m taking the Ferrari”. I did and just about pulled off the 50K mountain road trip in the midday sun. No hat and no roof all the way to the track.

Asked to strip off and don a proper fireproof racing suit and helmet. This was getting serious. Take it from an old soak; being strapped, gagged and bound in a minute seat almost on the lap of the driver in a F3 car on a race track, is singularly the best hangover cure ever. This is instantly replaced with a sensation of sheer terror. My driver obviously wanted to demonstrate to me that he was as good as any of those overpaid overblown F1 drivers. I have to say after the first 20 seconds of something that now I realise was me turning to God, I calmed down and actually enjoyed it. Bring on the pit girls.

Ended the Marbella trip with lunch with an ex Sex Pistol, my friend Paul Cook and his wife Jenny who’s daughter is now the lead singer of my band the Rotten Hill Gang. Followed then by the crazy party which hit the streets of Puerto Banus along with every street in Spain after the team stuffed Holland in the dirtiest world cup final on record.

.

The week started kind of where it had ended; in a field, along with thousands of revelers with one or more hands in the air singing along to the familiar bits.

Last Sunday the acts were Faithless (my end to Glastonbury) and this Sunday the act was Jay Z in Hyde Park.

Before we get to that, there was the bit in between Belfast and Hyde Park.

Friday we arrived at Stansted (London’s most inaccessible airport, apart from Luton of course). Ryanair to Toulon. It always feels like a good way to start an away event when you recognise most of the people lining up to check in with you.

First were Sue Webster and Tim Noble (the Noble Webster’s, which distinguishes them from us: the common Webster’s), then Anya Hindmarch and her husband James, as well as a long list of others all bunking off for a long weekend to celebrate Tracey Emin’s birthday at her place in the South of France.

Even Ryanair couldn’t put the dampers on this one. They did try, I asked Andreas (Mr Vivienne Westwood to you and I) “What is that you are eating?” he said “they haven’t named it yet so I can’t tell you”. Even the baby sat right behind didn’t make a peep after his mother warned me that he may well cry the whole way… I think the rest of us were more than enough entertainment for the little fella.

Tracey’s place was beautiful. Only an hour’s drive from the vulgarities of St Tropez but a world apart. Calm and very French. Only two fancy yachts in the bay and they both belonged to guests of Tracey’s.

The Friday night was one of those where all the planets line up. We started with a few Martoonies at a beautiful bar sort of dug into the cliffs. Then descended on a restaurant that really had no idea what was about to hit it when the unsuspecting soul took our booking. I don’t need to go into details but even before we hit the lemoncello’s a few of the party were passing a fish eye between each other orally and I had fashioned a new nose from myself out of a baguette end. I took a bit of a liking for it so kept it on all evening; at least I won’t be recognised if I ever go back.

The next night was Tracey’s night and it was really brilliant. She hired out the restaurant Cocoa Beach and there was a brilliant vibe all night. I got to have a long chat with Jennifer Saunders which was a real treat. We were all asked to wear badges which Sue and Tim had made from a photo of the perfect black eye Tracey was sporting after Sue had given her a proper left hook in the back of a cab a few weeks back. Of course all is forgiven now.

Sunday and breakfast on the beach. Many people were still hoping to find the perfect hangover cure which I happen to know (thanks to Alex Sepkus) is the vinegar from pickled cabbage. Just one shot works a treat but it’s only available in old soviet block countries; France unfortunately not being one of them.

We left mid afternoon having to get back to our date with Jay Z. We had the full works tickets - access all areas; stood at the mixing desk next to Beyonce, Gwyneth Paltrow, David Haye and John McEnroe.

The show was amazing. The combination of atmosphere, music charisma and stage set made this one of the best shows I can remember for years. He really is the king of America right now and of Hyde Park last night. However the most ridiculous part of the evening was still to happen…

We hung out back stage waiting for the great unwashed to leave the area. Following behind them was amazing. Sue Webster gets very excited by rubbish. Of course anyone who knows her and Tim’s art will know this. So when she is confronted by a tsunami of it she is like a pig in s—t. Collecting bras, torches and even someone’s underwear (which Tim made her drop with some resistance).

Even after half an hour Marble arch was totally blocked up. As we live a stone’s throw away from speakers corner this was a challenge. It was 10.45pm on a Sunday night. One call to Scotts and the four of us dressed for a gig in a field were welcomed in to eat what was left. Oysters, Crab and Potted Shrimp - I bet even Jay Z and Beyonce didn’t end July 4th in such style.

Blog off 

Bit of a hangover this morning. Last night was our event with Lunns Jewellers in Belfast.

Those Irish wrote the rules on how to party. The theme was circus; the location, the extraordinarily opulent Merchant hotel. The team there transformed the downstairs nightclub into a proper circus.

All of the rooms were tented big top style; there were sideshows and performers including myself, who was persuaded to dust off the tea leaf reading kit once again. Sat in my harem-like tent for over an hour of vodka infused nonsense, I once again saw everything from sausages to snails in people’s leaves. One thing I noticed is that superstitious people like the Irish and the Russians take anything you tell them about their futures very seriously. I had two pregnant women to read and boy do you have to be careful about what you see in the leaves of a pregnant Irish woman!

Paloma Faith was great as our DJ; opening up with Soft Cell’s Tainted Love (my neighbours in St Margaret’s favourite track… I’ve received many letters complaining about  the volume of which it’s played!) She is also a top sort. And unlike James Nesbitt, I am happy that I only had to catch a plane back to London this morning while he had to leave at 7.30am to go play golf with Sir Alex Ferguson, bloody fool. 

Anyway, big thanks to my team; Caroline, Amelie, Eliza and Kate for putting our contribution together.

Got to go do some work now.

SW

I have to say, after 33 years of festivals, this Glastonbury may have been the most enjoyable.

Admittedly I don’t remember the finer details from most of the earlier ones but it would be hard to beat this one. My daughter was there which was a first apart from a one-dayer last year at Hop Farm to see Florence and the Machine and Echo and the Bunnymen.

So lots of mates, sun each and every day and some memorable performances. Oh and the last bit that really helped was sneaking off site every night in a blacked out bus and sleeping in the positively perfumed surroundings of the Royal Crescent hotel in Bath.

This may seem like a cop out and of course it is but this is far outweighed by the feeling of the soil being flushed from ones orifices by a power shower, a fluffy towel and breakfast in bed. I can’t believe I even told you. Well its out now and while we are at it I have to confess that apart from one relapse a few years ago when we chose to get down and dirty with the great unwashed and take a caravan on site alongside Kate and her then squeeze Pete (not only did this cost £750 a night but there was no water at all - let alone a hot shower) I have been staying off site at festivals for years.

I feel better for telling someone I have to say.

Back to this year. Having the kind of pass that got me onto the stage while people were literally performing on it did give me a glimpse of Glastonbury from the artist’s perception. It’s an amazing site. The ultimate combination of brilliant performance and connection with a crowd of maybe 100,000 revelers was the penultimate event on the Pyramid stage. Faithless - Sunday evening - God is a DJ. It would have brought a tear to a glass eye.

A couple of hours before that tear jerker was another eye watering performance by the England team. Had to feel sorry for Slash who were belting out Sweet Child of Mine to half a crowd while the rest of us were once again being hurt by our national side. We were all screaming at the telly in the backstage dressing room area when a woman came out from Ray Davis’s room and said Ray wants the TV turned off until he goes on stage. WTF. This was from the man who brought us Lazy Sunday Afternoon and Waterloo Sunset! We did as we were told but he had to put up with a lot of sniggers when he finally emerged. I caught the tail end of him and a bit of MGMT. But my favourites of the weekend were Band of Skulls . The National. Faithless and my bed at the Royal Crescent.

Good times 

It’s been a hot and beautiful week in London. This is the longest period I have been in my studio and at home for months. I am getting used to it even though I do find myself missing terminal 5 and all it has to offer… like shops , food , germs etc.

It is nice to be with my amazing design team. There is so much going on at the moment. I will try to work through as much as I can…

The week started with a treat. It was time for a meeting with my band (that’s The Rotten Hill Gang for those who may not know). They have just finished their new video which is gritty, grainy and sometimes a bit punchy, so very much like the band members really. That aside we needed a meeting. Maia Norman my co manager suggested we hold it on her new speed boat on the Thames. If ever you get the chance on a hot summer night to have a meeting on a speed boat - do it, bloody fantastic. Needless to say we didn’t get a lot of meeting done but then again we never do.

While on the music front, I went to see the Black Keys at the Roundhouse this week. I am a late comer to the two guys who like the White Stripes and the Kills, make a big noise for a twosome. They were brilliant. Thank you to Mol who recommended them to me.

This weekend is gonna be a big one. I am off to Glastonbury. I am 50 and the event is 40 so I figured I have to give it one more shot. It’s supposed to be a beautiful weekend. Thank God, as the last time I went 5 years ago it was not just rain, it was biblical. I swear there were frogs and locusts mixed in with the tsunami that fell over the field that year. The other stage was struck by lightning and I swore  I would never go again but I can’t call myself a rock star if I can’t take a bit of rough. I will be reporting from the event next week.

Back to work. We have two big events coming up. Belfast on the 30^th June and Marbella on 9^th July.

The Belfast bash should be great. We’ve been planning it for months with Lunns THE jewellers of the city have gone ‘In Deep’. The theme is the circus, which let’s face it was only a matter of time before some smart alec realised we are just a bunch of jokers.  We have Paloma Faith as DJ and the night promises to be great despite the fact that once again I will be reading tea leaves for a few poor sods (someone has to tell them it’s actually vodka).

The second do is a party in Marbella for our store in Puerto Banus. We have secured one of my favourites Bryan Ferry and his band to belt out a few Roxy Music numbers for us to dance the night away to. The last time he played for us was in Kazakhstan. Almaty has never stopped talking about it.

We have just finished customizing a Mini One for the event. I can’t show a photo as it’s a surprise.

That’s it for now I need to get a quart of Jack and head out west. Talk when I sober up.

Blog off

Following the habitual 9pm - 5am days that seem to just happen in Vegas. I have gone dry.

There is no other way for me. As disappointing as water can be as the beverage of choice, one beer or one glass of wine is even worse.

No, in true Ronnie Wood style it’s all or nothing.

I quite like the first day and to a certain extent, the second. After that it’s one day at a time. This is not about the 12 steps. This is more about the night out. In the same way as tea and biscuits and sausage and mash, a night out just needs to be taken with booze. In fact, there is a very good chance I could imagine adopting a Howard Hughes way of life if tea total.

Last night we were guests of the fella and his wife who bid £9,000 at the Mummy Rocks auction in aid of Great Ormond Street hospital to have Tom Aitkin come round and cook dinner for up to 8 people (about £1,220 head). There were a couple of rock stars and a couple of rock stars wives, Assia and I and the hosts. The food came, the wine flowed and I had so much mineral water (avec gas to keep me awake) that I honestly felt as though I had been water boarded. You get the picture. By about the 8th or 10th bottle of wine if one more person had said “do you want another sparkling water?” I think I could have punched them. I am not a foodie and to my wife’s disappointment probably never will be (food to me is something I have to do a couple of times a day). So an evening spent eating and not drinking has me asking the question why?  We all know how challenging a conversation between a sober and a wasted person can be, primarily for the sober person. Well last night was the perfect storm.

To cut a long night short. We left at 1.30am - an early night. Stone cold sober.

Tonight we stayed in and watched football… it was a lot easier. Tomorrow is another day.

Being a mock rock star comes with its own set of draw backs. For a start, you kind of live the life but at the same time feel the need to be up and in the office by about 9-9.30am. True rock stars don’t even have the gene that says “you have responsibilities and need to get up, its 2pm”. That alone sucks. The second thing is travelling alone. And the third and foremost is not getting on stage to the screams of adoring fans. Obviously I try not to dwell on this to an unhealthy extent but now and again it can be tough. Yesterday I said to Mick Jones “how many games have you seen in the world cup so far?”. He replied “all of them”. Followed by “It’s great, it starts at about noon and goes on all afternoon and evening. Roughly 10 hours a day”. Just to clarify, that’s every day for a month. I’m not jealous, it’s just very grounding. On top of that, Mick will stroll out on stage headlining Glastonbury in front of 100,000 people as part of the Gorillas next week. Be adored and still be in front of the telly the next day to resume watching the next game having earned an honest months pay for an hour and a half’s work.

I am of course kidding. I love Mick and out of the thousands of hopeful musicians who have to work normal jobs to support their passion, there are only a handful who have earned the right to watch every match of the World Cup between gigs.

Blog off

SW

Sitting in the BA lounge at LAX on my way home after a week in Vegas and a couple of days in LA.

What the hell has happened to Vegas? We all know that the Sin city of the rat pack, Elvis, high rollers and proper glamorous women came to an end pretty much when the Luxor (a Disney style Egyptian themed hotel) opened in the mid 90’s. Rewriting the model for the new wave of more is more; ridiculous child friendly casino’s which have rapidly replaced the faded smokey monuments to a bygone age of Scotch, rocks, drugs and strippers.  

Like passive smokers, the new mock sinner Vegas trippers’ suffer all the side effects of the strip without enjoying the actual drag. But hey who cares about them, they could have chosen a destination that their children might have actually liked; maybe a beach or hotels with pools that aren’t full of women complete with their own 32DD flotation devices and men with their tongues hanging out helping them to do the breast stroke followed by a session at the all you can eat fish taco buffet.  

Enough of my cynics guide to LV. That’s just far too easy.  This rant is about the next incarnation of the desert flower, almost now complete and boy this time round it’s a mystery.  

Everyone can tell after just 30 seconds on the strip that LV is populated and visited by folks who, putting it politely are probably not the movers and shakers of the high earning, high flying and jet set.

No, Vegas is the destination of choice of the same poor sods who were offered mortgages of 100 % on soon to be their own homes. No means test, just a loose inspection for signs of life. If there was a pulse and an X where the signature was required that was good enough for the lender.

After pawning everything, including the family hand gun and the prettiest daughter (or the one with most teeth) in order to make the first payment, they went back to the project or side walk from where they came. No, the folks of Vegas don’t shop Madison Avenue or Bond Street when they are back home. So why do the developers and retail planners think that the new Vegas should provide a level of luxury shopping that could equip the whole red army should they decide that Chanel bags, Christian Louboutin heels and a Lanvin dress (military inspired of course) could provide adequate protection and disguise for the inevitable march to the west .

Really most of the tribes prowling the malls and Casino’s have perfected the look first seen in the cult classic “Night of the Living Dead” or more commonly are sporting the wife beater for him, her and the terrifying kids… Matched with the short longs or long shorts for him and the camel toe inducing cut off jeans for her; the only real luxury things they have are a gold tooth or two and a tattoo of the D&G logo. So if this is the demographic being catered for, why have all the mega brands just decided that they need to open yet another bigger, better and flashier store in the all new and all empty “City Centre” mall on the strip. It has to be seen to be believed. I lost my wife for a day and a half in the Cartier store and she only went in because she thought it was the car park. I mean how big does a jeweller’s have to be before it becomes eligible as green space for grazing cattle?

If all these luxury destinations appeared to be doing some business that would be one thing, but it’s as though they are just part of the luxury retail side show experience that is the current Las Vegas.

You can imagine the concierge at the $99 a night Treasure Island hotel, casino and home of the original $9 all u can eat shrimp buffet saying would you like to go to “Cirque du Soleil” or better still “have you been to the new Louis Vuitton experience? There are 10 in town, all of them the same but some people are seeing if they can get to do the lot. If you do them in any order then at the last one you get a ‘I got to level 10’ key ring. It’s a collector’s item. A real luxury mam”.

SW

According to some accounts, the opening of the new Louis Vuitton store on Bond Street last week was the party of the year. Well that may be, but our invite is still on the mantel piece unused.

Walking past the crowd and the barriers on my way home from work, I said to my wife Assia “why aren’t we going to that?” She said “because we already have tickets to the theatre with Gary and Lauren Kemp and I thought you would want to see them after Gary has been away so long on tour with Spandau Ballet”. I had to agree. I don’t care how much the fella’s at LV spent on the do. It’s still only another do in a big fancy shop. But boy what a shop! It looks as though bling is back on Bond Street.

I only hope the light bulbs are those eco ones because if not, the carbon footprint will be the size of the other LV: Las Vegas.

Which brings me to where I am now; up in the air again in the pressurised cabin I call home, gagged and bound for sin city.

It’s the 2nd June. The start of the month brings with it the new movie offerings in high life entertainment. I fancy The Ghost writer.

This year marks my 19th time exhibiting at the Las Vegas show, Couture.  But like anything you experience that many times, the gilding wears off a little after a while.

Don’t get me wrong, I still get a buzz on the eve of any big show and let’s face it there a few bigger shows than the desert city of Las Vegas.

19 years ago my booth was a table with a kind of homemade showcase on it displaying everything I owned. I used to drive to Las Vegas from Santa Barbara where lived with everything you could possibly need to conduct a show for a week in LV. I seem to remember you could never have enough double sided Velcro tape, everything else you could live without. 

The hotel we stayed in back then, long before the cockroaches started holidaying there was called the Alexis Park which had no Casino and was therefore, cheap. This made it a favourite with the Hasidic Jews who I guess believe life is enough of a gamble without actually handing your hard earned money over to casino owners. That was until one year when a diary malfunction by the hotel meant that the rooms not taken by very quiet religious families were booked exclusively by followers of a fetish S and M show that was also taking place in the city at the same time as the jewellery show.

Well I can tell you, watching a parade of rubber bound impossibly pierced folk going up and down the grounds was total entertainment for us. I even got to know a couple of transvestites quite well in the hotel bar. But this was a step (in 10 inch heels) over the biblical mark for the Hasidic guests. Men in fish net tights and women with exposed nipple clamps was enough to cause a second mass movement of the people on an old testament scale.

That is still one of my favourite LV experiences… and I have had quite a few over the 19 years but most of those will have to wait for my memoirs.

Nowadays we get put in the executive tower at the Wynn which offers very few surprises.

It’s not really my kind of town any more, but for one week; Viva Las Vegas!

Finally I have more than a week at home.

My own bed, my own wife and my own studio.

It’s always a bit mental when I first get back from a trip. For some reason everyone wants a piece of me even though they soon usually give it back as it’s old and tough.

This week is particularly busy as we are working on the final pieces for the big US show in Las Vegas.

I have got so used to posting photo’s from my travels that I forgot how much more interesting snaps taken of the creative team all beavering away on new projects would be for you all.

The creative department as you may imagine consists of…. well an incredible bunch of creative’s really. By that I don’t mean a freak show but liberals, radicals, and non conformers yes. I love them all.

From bejeweled great white sharks jaw clocks; artwork for motorcycles and food mixers; all of the artwork for our retail stores; T Shirts and of course the odd piece of jewellery. All these things we do in house. Often unsuspecting outsiders go in dressed as normal folk but come out if not completely gem set then with at least a tattoo (Dan was a tattoo artist before he became part of the SW design team).

The photos of Mike painting his nails are quite normal as long as it’s in his own time. Caroline creating a backdrop for our Harrods display; Gisele designing a new piece for our Autumn Winter 2010 silver couture collection; Dan generating a print for a T shirt;  Ed building a new piece with CAD. And Claire (the boss) designing another macabre number from her tortured soul. The table shows literally the things that are always there and ready for bejeweling to be sold as interior home pieces.

Please don’t try to contact any of them directly.

These people are artists not only people looking for dates.

Thank you

SW

Even though the Emirates flight was very comfy and I took off at 9.30pm in the evening, I didn’t sleep on the 6 and a half hour flight to Dubai. Arriving at 7am, I was definitely more bleary than starry eyed. After passport control, a scruffy looking fella approached me and asked to see my papers. “Where was I coming from and did I smoke cigarettes?” Well I am fully aware of the ever tightening laws on smoking but having given up now for 18 months I found this a little presumptuous and quite frankly bizarre. He loitered trying to look busy while I collected my bag, then started a comedy fast walk to head me off in the direction of the nothing to declare lane, pointing me out to be searched. Much to the disappointment of the customs officer but to my relief, no cigarettes or anything else were to be found in my bags. Though it was not for want of trying by the guard; he even passed comment on the brands of my clothing.

Straight to the hotel. Changed and then on to meet my partners from Al Tayer who had organised an editors brunch. They as usual, had done an amazing job of decorating a room and presenting our new “In Deep” collection. We had a great turn out of editors. Drank a lot of tea and ate a lot of cake. Following this, it was over to the new and pretty spectacular Zuma restaurant to meet with the CEO of Al Tayer for a huge late lunch. Zuma has apparently taken off due to the fact that you can smoke. And everyone did.  I could see a bit of a theme starting here, perhaps if I had answered yes to the scruffs “do you smoke?” question he may have left me unrifled after all.
After lunch I asked to be taken to Sol Kerzner’s Atlantis Hotel. I had heard there was an amazing aquarium (I am a sucker for one of those) which didn’t disappoint. It was right up there with the London one, only with less mackerel. Struggling now to keep my eyes open I had two hours before the dinner for VIP clients at which I was to sit at each of the 5 tables between each of the many courses. This trip was not so much smoke and mirrors but definitely smoke and food; the first person to my left lit up a cigar during the first course.

After that I managed a 13 hour sleep. I guess I needed it as they say.

The next two days were spent sitting with clients. And between meetings I had my sketch book. Yes just like Rolf Harris I was going back to my roots banging out designs and just like Rolf, keeping the audience puzzled as to what it was until the final pencil stroke. Even after the final stroke most people still appeared puzzled.

The new Burj Khalifa tower, the tallest building in the world is truly beautiful. Reminiscent of a giant Apollo rocket, the massive glass footprint really looks capable of a 5.4.3.2.1 blast off. “Abu Dhabi we have lift off”

Looking out over the circus that surrounds the Burj Khalifa tower from the outdoor balcony of Address Hotel with its Vegas style musically accompanied fountain display, I was torn between visions of a blade runner style future or something that could with its sparkler-like lightshow be a kind of showbiz attempt to cover up the fact that for the time being, everything is temporarily on hold in Dubai. There is still money. There are still many young people enjoying a lifestyle that is unachievable in most of the surrounding areas. And there is still an energy that can only be found in emerging places. But for now the skyline that until very recently changed every month, will remain the same and will become familiar. This could be a good thing. Talking to many people who have lived through the heady times, most of them have fond memories of Dubai before all the craziness. For the first time in a long while the dust may be allowed to settle.

The shopping and hotels are second to none all the same and I am looking forward to my next trip when the thermometer shifts back a little from the 50c highs of summer.   

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I landed at 3pm in LA after a 17 hour journey from Manchester this morning and honestly believed that my event at Maxfield was the next day but no, that would be too kind. My itinerary states very clearly that they would like me in the store at 4pm. I just hope the home security officer doesn’t mind me slowing down a little rather than stopping for all that finger printing nonsense.

Ran into Chateau Marmont; shower, change and straight to Maxfield. The store looked beautiful, in the theme of ‘In Deep’ our new collection. Chivas Regal placed a 25 year old in my hand. Unfortunately it was a Whisky but it tasted pretty good at 5pm… after all its martini time somewhere.

The event was fantastic. Lisa Marie Presley came with her daughter and John Lithgow told me that one wing of Maxfield was actually funded out of the proceeds generated from his wife’s shopping habit there.

Had to leave by 8.30pm due to a zombie like state, the result of a very long day.

13th May; another day, another 5am call. Still dark. LAX bound. Trying Virgin America. This is the new domestic service offered by Virgin. Typical of the values important to the brand, the staff are all young and there is a slight nightclub feel when entering plane due to the blue low level lighting. Very CSI.

I recommend it.

Arrived at Boston. Big night tonight. One of our great friends and clients is one of the owners of the Boston Celtics.

We are courtside which is an extraordinary place to be. Only a blue painted line between my feet and the size 15 feet of the giants on the court.

This was play-off game, 6 out of a possible 7 depending on who won.

The opponents, Cleveland Cavaliers are home to the best player in the NBA LeBron James and the now older but legendary Shaquille O’Neil.

Even though James was unbelievable, the Celtics held them off to win and go onto the next and final round of the Eastern Conference facing the on form Orlando.

For those who have never been, an NBA game officially consists of four 12 minute periods. 48 minutes you would think. But of course not this is America. With the allotted TO’s and commercial breaks complete with synchronized cheers leaders (who appeared to be midgets against the likes of O’Neil). Clowns with canons firing rolled up shirts into the ecstatic crowd and blasting instructions to cheer; “D Fence” and “Go Celtics Go”. To a back beat from; Guns and Roses or to my surprise Gary Glitter. (Surely they must have heard about his indiscretions?)

Anyway, after all that the game lasts just over 3 hours and what a blast that is. One thing that QPR could adopt is the beer service that runs throughout the game. Brought to you in your seat by guys who must be blessed with photographic memories… with everyone dressed in green and chanting the same chants, they still manage to get the right beer to the right guy.

The next night and the reason for the trip to Boston was a PA in Neiman Marcus, our number 1 NM store. And for the first time in my career a client actually sang to me in the store!  This was followed by a Gala fund raiser for the Boys and Girls Club of America. A charity which SW has supported for 5 years now. The beneficiaries are kids who for whatever the reason may be need a safe environment to go at any time.

We made a bespoke piece to be auctioned at the event to help boost the funds raised on the evening. This year we broke the previous year’s record by raising $100,000… not bad for a necklace called the Boston Chowder.

Home for 2 nights, then Dubai on Monday. Might try not drinking while I’m there… after all it isn’t easy to get a drink there at the best of times.

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SW

What a very exciting end to the Football Premier League with Chelsea humiliating Wigan with an 8-0 annihilation. Roman’s blue army lifted the trophy. Talking of which, that very trophy now credited to Asprey was actually designed and made not by them but by my lot Garrard. Under the supervision of the then Managing Director, Richard Jarvis (our Sales Director, Kate’s Dad). He nearly has a cardiac arrest every time he hears the words Asprey and Premiership uttered in the same sentence.

Oh well someone will listen one day.

It’s Tuesday and I’ve had a couple of days to shuffle some paper on my desk. Now I’m moving again 1st class (its only £10 more off peak) Virgin Trains to Crew. Tonight Ladies and Gentlemen I am playing Nantwich. Not the Town Hall but the Clive Christian Kitchen Showroom.

“Stop it your saying”.  It’s true… Clive I believe makes the most expensive kitchens in the world or at the very least the Midlands.

Come on you Aga’s.

Fly to LA tomorrow via Heathrow.

My next gig is Maxfield the original concept store in Hollywood. It’s funny because Ozzy and Sharon became clients of mine through Maxfield years ago but the reality is they are actually from a place that’s not far at all from Nantwich.

I wonder if Black Sabbath played Clive Christian’s Kitchen Showroom back in the day?

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 SW

Just headed back to NY after a three day event in Omaha Nabraska . I know its only Rock n roll but I like it !! 
There is only one reason for me to participate in a 3 day event in the largest small town in America and that is that America’s wealthiest  man lives there owns the largest jewellery store in The US and holds his AGM there every year at this time . Warren Buffet is the man and Berkshire Hathaway is the fund . Famous for only investing in things he either eats, drinks, chews or understands such as Coke, Dairy queen, M&M’s, wrigleys, insurance, fruit of the loom and modular housing etc . This fund invests in America and the things America needs or buys . 

40 000 people descend on Omaha to glimpse at or listen to some words of wisdom from the man himself or his fund partner Charlie Munger Held in a sports arena on the Saturday at the Q and A session over about 3 hours before the AGM also in the arena . Any share holder has the right to ask him ” what does he think about the Goldman Sacks scandal example. He then does his political best to give a straight answer .  

Not one to miss an opportunity Warren holds the welcome event and Sunday brunch throughout the day in Borshimes the jewellery store he owns .

On the Friday I personally stood in the store for over 10 hours while officially 19, 400 people shuffled by . 

Even though there are many rich folks in the crowd otherwise every one from Cartier, Roberto coin Pomallato. Serious coloured and white diamond dealers     (I saw one ring with an amazing emerald cut pink for $5.2 mill) and of course myself wouldn’t be there . But along with the potentials comes the B shareholders , who may only have one $75 share but as democracy will have it are invited to the whole event . This includes 25% discount on any item of jewellery and watches sold over the weekend . 

Now these are the type who will turn up at anything with the promise of a cheese ball and a glass of wine lake red . They also like to ask a lot of questions . “Are these vintage ” to which I reply “yes madam some are old stock”
Or looking in my counter say “who are u?” Reply “SW” “oh I only buy David Yurman”

You get the gist of it . 

On my way to Omaha, Nebraska. Why you may ask? Well it’s to do with a couple of things; 1. I am a masochist and 2. The wealthiest man in the US (even above Bill Gates) Warren Buffet lives there.

Once a year he holds the AGM for the uber successful Berkshire Hathaway fund in a football stadium in Omaha. Warren also owns the largest independent jewellery store in America. So what would be better than to hold a party every year during the AGM weekend in his own jewellery store? It all adds up to fishing in a barrel for me showing my jewellery there.

If only the night life was better and there were fewer cows and more women it would be the perfect weekend in the country.

After a 3 day ash delay I am approaching Heathrow on one of the first BA New York to London flights. Even the crew are flying for the first time in a week.

At first I was just relieved to be on board with no anxiety about the potential of encountering an ash cloud. However for some reason (mainly due to having seen all the other films) I watched the totally ridiculous 2012. I never really thought about it but the plot relies heavily on a world size cloud of volcanic ash. This did have me regularly looking out of the window to check if the cloud layer happened to be turning gun metal grey like the spectacular one in the disaster of a film.

Working for a couple of days in our NY office was really a first for me. I tend to pop in, maybe have a meeting or pick something up. This time I actually did pretty much what I do in my London office. I liked it. I have recommended an office swap for all those working between both markets.

I might start a trend.

Landing

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You just know that the international travellers question is going to be “where were you stranded when the volcano blew?” I am finally on the way to NY from Kansas which is where I was stranded. Well I say stranded, it was actually a perfect place to be. The weather was superb and the people are relaxed. One of the cops who guarded my event at Tivol over the weekend kindly took me to the range and taught me how to use a hand gun. A Glock .40 to be precise.  It all felt miles away from the scramble going on at cities all over the world with direct flights to UK airspace. As I said, perfect.

Going back to the Tivol event over the weekend, it was just sensational. About 250 people, a great DJ, plenty to drink and an after party. What more could you ask for in Kansas City on a Friday? Not much it seems as the crowd went crazy over the jewellery. I gave a short speech and said that I had never experienced a jewellery frenzy before. Anyone would think we were giving it away. People were asking me to use my influence to get them a spot at one of the counters.

All in all, it was one of the best shows I’ve had for about three years.

I would like to thank all the staff at Tivol for being so enthusiastic and bringing such a great crowd.

After that bun fight, having a day or two with little to do was perfect .

Back to the shooting, I have kept my target just to prove that if I have a hand gun and you upset me then you are toast for sure.” Go on punk make my day”.

For concise deadly coaching I would like to thank Kansas City police officer Chris Gilio.

Also KC is beautiful in the spring. Very green.

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I am at 39000 ft on my way to Kansas city from LA in search of Dorothy. All of my friends are back in LA on their way to Coachella the big music festival Palm Springs way in search of a legal high thanks to the new medical marijuana laws; now everyone has developed a condition which can be alleviated by smoking weed. None of them camp a la Glastonbury. No this is California. One could damage a Birkin with only a ground sheet between it and the grass. So instead they take houses for the weekend in Palm Springs and drive in every afternoon, after all there is no act worth seeing before 5pm surely . 

I spent yesterday meeting with Jordan Bratman about a new collection of jewellery we have just designed and made for Christina Aguilera to sell on her new website. The pieces are inspired by the story of Mr Waddington and how when he created the board game Monopoly, he needed some counters to move around the board. Finding nothing suitable around, he removed all of the charms from his wife’s bracelet which is why they are a strange collection of hats, shoes, an iron and a sports car etc. The collection for Xtina is a charm necklace made up of charms representing different elements of her life; a gold disc, a microphone, a pair of lips and so on. I then went to the coolest store in LA; Maxfield to do a re-sort of our pieces and to talk about my upcoming event there on May 12th. (Tickets on application).

In the evening Christina,  Jordan, Mick Jones (who was headlining Coachella on Sunday with the Gorillas), Miranda his wife, Banksy’s agent, Ron Burkle and a few others had a boozy dinner at Osteria Mozzo on Melrose. Then back to my home from home Chateau Marmont on Sunset. It was of course a late one and I woke to find an unfinished Martini next to my bed… I thought about it but decided 5.30 am was too early for a dry with a twist. 

Prior to LA I did my first show since Basel in Las Vegas. Started with an all store talk and told them about the immigration officer who asked me “where was I going” and “did I have more that $10,000 on me in cash”. I told him “Vegas and that I only had $500” he then said “Well why are you going to Vegas with so little?” I replied “to sell things”. He gave me a long look which I knew if I had been 20 years younger would have had me arrested on prostitution charges.

Anyway the meeting and the show in Las Vegas went well; the creator of the C.S.I. series came in to see me and ordered for his wife a murder weapon! Only joking… he ordered a fancy ring which we are designing for his wife’s 40th birthday. I asked him why all of the Labs in the show are so disco. He just said ” I am selling sex” which reminded me about my encounter at immigration. 

After the show I flew to LA and filmed a part for a VH1 show about Christina called ‘Behind the Music’. I’m such a camera tart, any chance I get I take it! I have been looking for a part in an online car insurance ad, after all Iggy Pop stole my alter ego puppet idea for his insurance ad’s!

Last but not least, our Far East , Middle East and now South American sales manager Frida found in Brazil last week not only a company making exact copies of our jewellery but worse still advertising the collection on Gisele Bundchen! We might just use the images ourselves after all they never asked us if they could knock off our designs. 

When I arrive In Kansas I am hosting the first of a year long series of events to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Tivol Jewellers. They have done an amazing job in dressing their flagship store for my visit, even having had a sculptor make animal skulls out of guitar picks. This is all thanks to Marketing Molly their Marketing Director whom I would like to thank. 

I will let you know how the event goes next time.

TTFN