A butter knife used to scrape the chilled candle wax, along with a few prayers, was the magic remedy for this mishap!
Yes indeed, accidents happen in preparation for or during any party! For example, my favorite Brunschwig & Fils linen damask for our antique chair in the front hall at Fox Hall was recently covered in spilt wax! On top of that, the fabric has been discontinued. So, now what?
Mummy always said nothing ruins a party faster than a hostess who becomes uptight and stressed over an accident. Mentally prepare in advance for mishaps to occur and then stay calm and carry on. This takes practice, along with a bottle of seltzer water close at hand!
The entertaining mishap stories I could share with you through the years could be yet another book! From the water pipe breaking over the Butler’s pantry causing the ceiling to fall through two days before Lady Carnarvon arrived for lunch, to a full glass of port wine spilling across the dining room tablecloth onto a guest, we have almost seen it all at Fox Hall.
Most recently, melted green candle wax was accidentally poured onto my yellow antique chair, the day before a black tie Christmas party!
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My darling daughter, Caroline, shared with me how to rectify this wax calamity. First, I put the chair outside in the winter cold for a few hours to allow the wax to harden (you could place it near the air conditioner vent if you live in the south!). Then, I took a butter knife and scraped it off. Only a slight residue was left. I called Stanley Steemer who then cleaned off the remaining stains. Voila, like new, and just in time for the guests to arrive for the party!
Red wine spills, of course, are also a common problem! I keep a bottle of seltzer water and some hand towels close at hand in preparation for this type of mishap. Of course, a guest will be mortified to have spilled wine, so to put them at ease I say something like, “The magic fairy comes in the morning-not to worry!” Smile, pour some seltzer water quickly over the stain, and then just leave it alone. That’s key!
Once your guests depart, you can attack the stain. The less you do to clean it up, the more your guests will feel comfortable and continue to have a merry time. Try your best to keep that “sick, pit in your tummy” to yourself!
If you find white rings from the condensation of a cocktail glass on the table, I share mummy’s secret recipe to remove them in my book.
Enjoy your guests and forget about the mess... there is always tomorrow to rectify it!
On a different note for the newsletter, we are so pleased to welcome Lemondaisy as our newest sponsor. I invite you to look at her website… you too will be delighted with her simply darling designs and cocktail napkins!
I am so grateful to have my chair back to its lovely self again!