Saturday, August 28, 2010

And the winner is...

We decided to do the drawing the old fashioned way!


So I had to get the "sheriff" to make sure things were legal...


Close your eyes!! Well, he can't read yet, so it really doesn't matter!








The winner of eight place settings of Mikasa "Brava Rooster" is Debby (Deb S.) from My Country Oven!! 


Please go by and visit Debby's new site. She posted a yummy looking recipe for "Overnight Coffee Cake."

I have to say a big thank you to Mikasa for sponsoring this incredible giveaway! I am so glad that many of you have been shopping Mikasa products, and I'm sure we'll be seeing those in some beautiful tablescapes soon. 

Also, thanks to all of you who came by here and entered!

Congratulations to Debby, and I cannot wait to see her table!! 

Anita

Thursday, August 26, 2010

The Glory of the Lord...

Exodus 24:15-18
15. Then Moses climbed up the mountain, and the cloud covered it. 




16. And the glory of the LORD settled down on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from inside the cloud.


17. To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the LORD appeared at the summit like a consuming fire.


18. Then Moses disappeared into the cloud as he climbed higher up the mountain. He remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights.



I was amazed to see this as I drove home from teaching a piano lesson this afternoon.  The glory of the Lord is amazing and so much bigger than we can ever imagine:-)

I'll be linking to "Inspiration Friday" over at Southern in my Heart and to Skywatch Friday. Please go by and be inspired!!

Anita

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

More Mikasa "Brava Yellow"

Now, what would the world come to if I didn't show you how to take Mikasa and mix it with Walmart?
As always, I am up to that challenge, why? Because here in Western NC, Walmart is pretty much the only choice, lol!


I am using the Mikasa "Brava Yellow" that I chose as an accent for the "Brava Rooster," which you still have a chance to win HERE. I only changed a few things from last week's table to show you some versatility. 


This salad plate is from the Walmart Better Homes and Gardens collection. I bought it for an accent, but never used them. Then I got the yellow, and it just worked perfectly! I am using again the vintage Bakelite flatware in addition to the Mikasa "Italian Countryside" flatware. The amber glassware is from Pier 1 a few years ago.




I am in love with the Waverly "Sweet Pastimes" toile. These colors are so rich, plus it washes very well even though is says dry clean. I have to have linens that are washable as we use them, so I pre-wash everything *before* I make it in case there is shrinkage, etc. 


Since we'll be using this table for dinner, I added tall candle holders and cream candles tied with raffia. 


And now, another option...I used bamboo napkin rings from Bed, Bath and Beyond for a more casual look, and added Hull "Brown Drip" coffee mugs and the vintage iced tea glasses by Indiana Glass "Whitehall" in amber. BTW, these are our everyday glasses. I also have them in pink/coral and clear in three different sizes. I love these and they are easy to find on ebay.


Mr. Rooster came back for this one...






Love the school bus parked under the table! Cristian also loves the rooster, and has claimed it as his. 


Now we are getting that beautiful pre-fall afternoon sunlight streaming in through the french doors.


I love the sunlight with the amber...




Here you have a couple different ways to use the same linens, flatware, chargers and napkins with different dinnerware for a different look. I have found that I have a lot more combinations with the yellow than I had anticipated, so I'm glad that was the choice I made.

You sill have a chance to win 8 place settings of Mikasa "Brava Rooster" in the round!! Click on the photo on the top right for directions on how to enter. I am so thankful for everyone who has entered, and especially those who are new followers! I am getting around to all of your blogs slowly but surely:-) 

This is such a generous giveaway from Mikasa, don't miss it, and be sure to tell all your friends!

I'll be linking this table to "Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch, so go by there and be inspired!!

Anita


Monday, August 23, 2010

The sideboard...

I hope you are all dreaming about what you are going to do with the Mikasa "Brava Rooster" when you get it! I cannot wait to see the winner's table! Don't forget to enter below! I will take entries until midnight this Friday, so be sure to enter!

When you have lots of windows and an open floor plan, you lose out on wall space, which means there is no place to put large pieces of furniture! I try to get the most out of my sideboard, the piano, and the tops of cabinets, etc. Today, I thought I would share my sideboard today for Tabletop Tuesday, and Vignette Friday.

I am not a person who changes things constantly. I tend to find something I really like and stay with it. I do change seasonally, though. 
This sideboard is an antique walnut piece that I inherited. I love it's dark, rich color. I'll start with a vignette I did last Fall. 


When I got this piece, I tried many different accessories and settled on this tapestry from Belgium, candle holder from Turkey, and an antique Chinese brass bowl.



Then I tried this antique print by Guido Bach titled "Child from the Campagna." I thought it was too light.



I love this bowl...







I brought this print from my mom's house and really liked it over the sideboard. It is also old and from the same relative who gave us the sideboard. I had brought out the blue and white and used a "Blue Willow" plate and tea set I bought in Japan. I also added some very old books belonging to my grandfather, and prints of my father as a child. 



But, I couldn't leave it that way, so here it is now! My mother bought this sandwich glass decanter and cordials, and the rich, amber color just seemed perfect here.




As fall approaches I'm looking through fabric thinking about a runner or something to warm things up a bit. I'm loving the Waverly toile I used on the rooster table, so I might do something with that. I'll show you when I do! 



As you can see, little changes really can make a difference! Be sure to go by and see Marty, and all her participants. 

Don't forget to enter the "Brava Rooster" giveaway here before Friday! I will be showing you some more combinations with the Brava yellow on Thursday, so please come back:-) 

If you have already entered or left a comment, please know that I will be getting over to see you. It's just taking me forever. I sincerely do appreciate and love every comment, and I'm so excited to be able to offer such a nice giveaway to all you very special people!! Can't wait to see who wins! 

Anita




Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Mikasa for you!!!

I have a big surprise for all of you who are followers of Far Above Rubies! But first, I have to show you what arrived last week. You know how much I love my Mikasa "Italian Countryside." I have used it in many tablescapes, and was so happy when Blake from Mikasa started posting links to my tables on their Facebook page.  I was even more thrilled when they contacted me about a giveaway. I love Mikasa dinnerware and couldn't wait to get something to review. You have probably guessed that I chose the "Brava Rooster" pattern, part of the "Gourmet Basics by Mikasa" collection! After seeing that rooster party go by with nothing to show, I "needed" something with roosters! After trying it, I knew you would love it too! I'm so excited to show you this table...so let's go!


Don't you just love this? I love the colors in this guy! There are different roosters on each piece. And if you notice, the cups have roosters on each side.


I thought vintage Bakelite flatware would be perfect for this breakfast table! Since spoons in the Bakelite are rare, I added the Mikasa "Italian Countryside" flatware. I will go into detail about this flatware in another post, but I can tell you it is fabulous!! It is very substantial, which is a big deal for me. The square rattan chargers are from overstock.com.




I took the plates my local fabric store to find something with an American "farm" feel, but ended up with this red and mustard toile and headed for the French countryside!


I made two runners and layered them...


I sewed tucks on each end for interest and added the fringe.


I decided to use the "fleur-de-lis" fold for the napkins for a little "french" feel and to coordinate with the "fleur-de-lis" on the topiaries.  I made these napkins 18 1/2 inches, so they had to be folded in quarters to do this fold. I used raffia to tie a rustic little bow...


Voila, a little French twist! 


The goblets are Imperial Glass "Old Williamsburg" in amber.








These topiaries actually used to be faux. I bought them at JoAnn Fabrics when I lived in Washington, D.C. in the 1990s, and they were covered with faux ivy. I stripped the faux ivy and "planted" the forms in clay pots that I had painted and glazed, then added real ivy. Now the question is how long can I keep them alive? I generally have good luck with ivy, so we'll see! 


I gathered anything yellow I could find from the property and placed it all in this antique basket that belonged to my grandfather. 


After seeing the dinnerware, my mom brought me this guy! Isn't he handsome? The salt and pepper belonged to my grandmother.




I also got the yellow accent plates! Don't you love this color? They also have them in red, green and brown.









This is my rooster table, now how about yours? One lucky person will get 8 place settings of "Brava Rooster" in the round!!! Yes, I said 8 place settings! 

In order to be entered in the giveaway you need be a "follower" of Far Above Rubies, then you can add more entries by doing the following:

1. Leave a comment here to let me know you are a "follower" for one entry.

2. "Like" the MikasaDining Facebook page: www.facebook.com/mikasadining for another entry.

3. Post the name of your favorite Mikasa pattern on the Mikasa Facebook wall for another entry.

4. Visit www.mikasa.com and sign up to receive special offers and promotions from Mikasa for another entry.

5. Post about it on your sidebar for another entry.



Make sure you come back here and leave a comment letting me know which of the above you do so I can add to your entries!

Deadline for entries is midnight EST August 27. So tell your friends, get over to Facebook, and let's get started!

I am really excited to be part of this giveaway because I really do use Mikasa and love the quality. We are seriously enjoying this dinnerware, and I am also loving the yellow. I'll be showing several different tables with that in the next few weeks.


FYI...I am not an employee or affiliate of Lifetime Brands, and I received the Mikasa items at no cost to review. The opinions here are mine and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lifetime.

I will be joining Susan at Tablescape Thursday over at "Between Naps on the Porch" and for the first time to "Fabric Fun Thursday" at "Cheap Chic Home," so be sure to go by there and see all the participants!

Anita