When you hear the term “Party”, typically, one might envision: a gathering of a dozen plus close, and even unmet, friends,  menu planing, venue selection and decoration, and, ultimately, a relatively significant reason for celebrating: Birthday, Anniversary, a Holiday, Diner etc…

However, I have found that some of my most enjoyed “Parties” have been thrown last minute, with one or maybe two other people, and for absolutely no reason at all!… or at least for a quite insignificant reason. In particular, I am referring to the last “Party” I hosted: My “Ingredient Party!”

I saw an article in one of my Home & Style Magazines about the new wave of flavored Simple Syrups and Summer  Cocktails.  Ingredient de Jour: Lavender Simple Syrup! The giant picture in the middle of the page of a crystal clear Lavender Spritzer bubbling in a chilled glass tumbler garnished with one full sprig of fresh Lavender looked so excitingly unique and refreshingly delicious. It made me feel that if I had one,  my life would be just as such!

Though not quite convinced any “real life” recipe could fully satisfy the whimsical flavor to which this picture alludes, I bought the Lavender Simple Syrup on my way home from The Studio, as well as variety of ingredients I imagined to pair well: Seltzer Water, Lemon/Lime Juice, Rosemary, Mint…  My thoughts were that if this actually was as “Simple” and as satisfying as it looks, how fun would it be to serve as this summer’s signature refreshment for my stop by and last minute guests?!

Unloading my groceries at home, I noticed I was going to need more than one cutting board, and began wanting another set of taste buds to create this contest: My mother was in town and I called Ross to come over. I set out a tray of ingredients, ice bucket and a variety of drinking glasses types: Champagne, Tumbler, Tom Collins etc in the living room. When Ross arrived, our “Party” began. As we sat around the coffee table each poured our own ratios of Syrup to Mixer, Juices and other herb flavors; passing each around for everyone to taste and upon which to comment.  The Ingredient Test came to a close once our Taste Buds were all in agreement, and just in time to grab a quick bite for dinner down the street.

It was an easy and unique excuse to all get together on what is usually an uneventful Tuesday. And, yet,  it was even more fun for me to achieve my goal in the form of an event with good company vs. standing solo by the kitchen sink: pouring, sipping and dumping failed combinations.

In short, I encourage that maybe what seems to be nothing is just the right something to inspire you to invite a neighbor or visit with a friend you don’t usually see! And let me say, “Ingredient Parties”  have so far proven a safe bet… I mean who doesn’t like to eat and drink!

Oh, and P.S. This Lavender Simple Syrup is recommended for mixing with Iced Teas, Sparkling Wines, Cocktails, Sparkling Waters, and Sorbets… We tested the Sparkiling Water path and decided it best served in a Champagne Flute of Club Soda and a TINY splash (like 1/4 teaspoon) Lavender Syrup over Ice!

Enjoy!

-Palmer

I was visiting my friend, Lila, touring her new home in Dallas when I learned this “Gilt-Free” Indulgency.

In conversation over recipes and gardens, Lila shared with me an easy, yet pampering “quick trick”. She advised me to use Fresh Lavender sprigs in the Dryer! She just plucks a sprig (stem an all) from the Lavender Plant potted at her back door by the laundry room, throws it in whole with the damp clean clothes, and lets the Drying Machine do the rest!

I was worried about having to pick off all the little bud pieces after the cycle, but because the Lavender is picked fresh it is playable enough to stay intact.

Oh! Can you just imagine the luxurious aroma brought out by the warm clean clothes hinted with fresh Lavender?! It’s like you are living in a five star hotel!

Thanks for sharing Lila!

Enjoy,

Palmer

After comfortably conferencing about style at The Gilt Studio, Morgan, my glass blower, and I stepped outside into the heat of the kilns and rolled out some prototypes. I helped hands on, as Morgan rolled out the glass. Using cork paddles that briefly blazed with flames from the heat , I squished the molten solid into a shape that I think will not only complement the Gilt Glass Holiday Ornament Collection as a whole, but also essence of our mission: Luxury of Balance for the Quality in your life!

We have to let our prototypes cool overnight, and tomorrow will reveal to us the future of the Gilt Glass Holiday Ornament Collection!..

I’m looking forward to it!

-Palmer

Remember it is a sprawly vine, so be sure to plant your patch in an open area with little traffic, ie. the corner of your back yard…  A little trick that I came up with to save some space with the vines, however, was to keep “re-routing” the direction in which the vines were growing, as in an “overlapping” sort of fashion, so that it remained contained in one particular area.

Hope you can enjoy not only watching your pumpkins grow, but also the fun of picking your very own pumpkin to carve from your very own pumpkin patch!…

See our Pumpkin Carving Party from Last year:

Good Luck!

-Palmer

Asked to Gold Leaf architectural detail in the entrance lobby to the new Four Seasons Residences that is under construction here in downtown Austin, next door to the The Four Season’s Hotel,  my fabulous crew and I accumulated six full weeks worth of stories, accomplishment, and new friends.

The Project:

Hand gild on-site Aluminum Reveals tucked 1/2 inch deep in between the apx. 4 foot square, Hand Rubbed, Venetian Plaster panels composing the walls of this elegantly understated, yet warmly decorated room, Designed by Abode, that will soon stage as home to at least 100 of Austin’s Elite.

The Story:

Designed, Built and Run by a stellar group of it’s own, The Four Season’s Residences building soon became my temporary home, putting in over 200 hours (of  my own) within the first four weeks. Meanwhile Builders, Technicians, Sales Crew, Concierge, Investors, and even Doormen became my friends. From a Top Secret roof top pick-nick, to undercover behind-the-scenes tours, from midday chit chats of B.S. and Jokes to after hours cocktails,  everyone went out of their way to accommodate not only me, but also my gilding team, to make sure we felt welcome, comfortable… and more importantly, at home.

I could not have been more thankful, as this project certainly put me to the test. Relying on eyebrow tweezers to apply the 1″ cut leafs (due to the inaccessible positioning our surface to be gilded), it took serious amounts of patience, and more importantly, confidence in my stamina to achieve our goal of gilding in its entirety the apx. 860 feet of surface by our deadline: “Yesterday”

I will admit looking up after spending the whole of an hour deep in focus, only to realize a mere 3 feet worth of progress has been made, does certainly provide for a very fertile ground in which the feeling of impossibility and defeat would thrive… However, thankfully, the silly little childhood song “Inch by Inch, Row by Row” wormed its way thoroughly and deeply into my thoughts, and thus whistled my way into Making This Garden, that is The Gilt Studio, Grow at The Four Seasons.

I could not have done it alone. Thank you every one for all of your help and support on this particular project, as well as for your help and support throughout each of the four seasons: Past,Present, and Future!

XoXo

-Palmer

And and extra special thanks to my crew: Mom, Marci, Ruth, and Lynda

In honor of Mosettee’s “Debutante” season, her Godmother threw a cocktail party based off of Mosettee’s theme: The Garden’s of Versailles…Peacocks, Butterflies, Flowers…Decadence!

Though this was a very elegant affair, our hostess shared with me a surprising secret to the source of her decor… THE DOLLAR STORE!!!! All of the Net Butterflies came from said store.

The unexpected application of hanging her decor from the rafters, so to speak, mixed with elegant Silver Candelabras, Champagne, and a Cake that is truly a work of art made the whole affair seem as priceless as Versailles, itself.

It just goes to show, it’s not what you have, but how you use it!

P.S. I hear word that The Nursery is looking to expand its offerings this Summer, as a Resident Landscape Architect, a Florist, and possibly an Organic Farm Stand are buzzing about setting up permanent shop on-site!… I will keep you posted on that for sure.

My Sangria and Calamari Party was a slightly short noticed, last-minute affair… and making real and good Sangria from scratch is not typically conducive to such situations. Not to mention having to buy so many ingredients does add up.

One option to the solution is buying pre-made sangria from the grocery store ; however, I find the taste of it alone to be bothersome and lacking. So, I like to use it as a base. By adding both frozen and fresh fruit juices, slices, and wedges along with an extra bottle of a more preferred wine, and served for display fills any voids in flavor, appearance and down right fun.

We were asked to Re-Gild and Revive this antique French settee purchased at this years Round Top Antique Market  to better suit its intended new life. Traveling to Houston to work on location at Key’s Upholstery, we soon discovered that there was more value to this piece than what met the eye.

Under neath the surface of this existing dreary gray finish laid a beaming and healthy layer of what was originally water gilded with Karat Gold Leaf craftsmanship. Armed and ready to gild for hours, we quickly changed course and reassigned our project from Antique Repair to Gilding Preservation.

Delicately and diligently we scrubbed and rubbed away at each inch of the existing finish with Q-tips to unveil the original gilding work, unscathed.

It was a real treasure to not only work on such a jewel, but to also enjoy the excitement of the new owners surprise in learning the true value in their purchases!

What other buried treasures may we uncover?!?!

4 for 2″Lips”~Place your Fresh Flower Arrangement in front of a Mirror!~

So basic, I didn’t even realize what I had done until my mother pointed it out. I bought two beautiful White Tulips to enjoy in my bedroom, and the perfect place just happened on my dresser in front of the mirror. Instantly, my two stems became a bouquet of four!….How far can you stretch your stems?….six for three, or even make a full dozen from a half?! Haha!

Rosemary Bud Vase~Garden Herbs in place of Blossomed Buds!~

Yet, another excuse for an Herb Garden. When surprised with little notice, or no budget to fluff your guests’ quarters, simply step to the bushes and snip a branch! Fresh Herbs work great as they decant the air with their flavorful scents, but even twigs collected or turned leaves, if in the Fall, can also set a thought-filled stage.

Regardless of “how many” or even “what is” on display, it is the simple show of extra effort in your hospitality that your guests will appreciate and will make their stay feel special.

Have Fun!

-Palmer