Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Christmas Porch

Thought I would share the last of the photos that I shot for Romantic Homes that did not make the article. Plus, we sure haven't had snow yet, so I haven't even taken any photos of this year's porch.

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Thursday, December 15, 2016

How to get the aroma of a live Christmas tree in your home

I have always loved the smell of a fresh-cut Balsam fir. Even with a live tree, I have never really gotten the aroma I remember from my childhood. 

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Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Romantic Homes photo shoot -- the Christmas bedroom

I wanted to share with y'all some more of the photos I took last winter for the Romantic Homes feature this December that did not make the magazine. None of the bedroom photos were in, so I can show you all of those. 

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Thursday, December 8, 2016

Christmas Home Tour

I'm so excited to welcome you all here for my Christmas Home Tour, and am very thankful for Marty at A Stroll Thru Life, for inviting me along, as this is the only tour I'm part of. 

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Thursday, December 1, 2016

Christmas dining room and kitchen pics that didn't make the magazine

Since I have all these photos already, and no one has seen them, I couldn't just let them sit in my computer, right?  Especially since they are so different from what I've done this year in the house, which y'all can see next Friday, Dec. 9 on Marty's 2016 Christmas Home Tour. These are all from the shoot I did last winter for Romantic Homes Magazine. I'll share the dining room and kitchen today and finish up with the bedroom later. 

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Monday, November 28, 2016

Christmas photo shoot -- what didn't make it in the magazine


I had the amazing opportunity to shoot photos and write a story for this December's Romantic Homes Magazine. Over the course of a couple months, I shot a lot of photos and thought I would share the ones that didn't make the story with you all here, starting with the  main living space.

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Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Colorful Thanksgiving

I always come up with something different for Thanksgiving, and this year is no exception. 

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Thursday, November 10, 2016

Romantic Homes Magazine Christmas feature!

About a year and a half ago, I got an email from the editor of Romantic Homes asking if I would write a story to go with some photos they had seen, and if I would also write and shoot a Christmas feature for 2016. After I recovered from passing out, I went ahead and started planning, without telling anyone because I was petrified something would go wrong, or they wouldn't like what I did. 

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Saturday, November 5, 2016

Book giveaway winner

Thank you all so much for the comments you left about my cousin's wife's book, Cancer Mom. What a wonderful, caring group of readers you all are, and I know you are encouraging and inspiring to those in your lives. 

The winner of Cancer Mom is Jenny. I know you will be encouraged, Jenny:-) Just email me your address at anita-faraboverubies@live.com, and I'll get your book in the mail.



The book is available on amazon if others of you want a copy. I promise this is a book of hope for you or someone in your life -- no matter what you face.




Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Southern Cottage Magazine feature

I was really shocked earlier this year when I got an email from a writer at Southern Cottage Magazine asking for photos of some of my Christmas tablescapes. Fast forward a few weeks, and they ended up featuring several rooms dressed for  Christmas. 

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Monday, October 31, 2016

Something to encourage you

I usually do not veer from decorating and design here at Far Above Rubies. But, I thought it was really important to share this book, and offer one to a reader.

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Saturday, October 22, 2016

A fall tablescape

While I was changing out flower arrangements and fall leaves at Balsam Mountain Preserve, I decided to set a table for two out on the porch at the Boarding House.

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Sunday, October 16, 2016

More fall at Balsam Mountain Preserve

I had the opportunity to go up Saturday to Balsam Mountain Preserve and shoot some photos at the main security gate. This is obviously not your everyday security gate:-)

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Tuesday, October 4, 2016

More Fall decorating at Balsam Mountain Preserve

First, I have to extend my heartfelt thanks to those of you who left such encouraging and inspiring comments on my last post about the ups and downs of blogging. As always, you all inspire me and make me feel like I'm doing something right here. Thank you so much for that:-)

Now on to some more of the design work I have been fortunate to do at Balsam Mountain Preserve. They hosted a fish fry last Friday, so I tweaked a few things outside and added some fall goodness inside. 

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Saturday, October 1, 2016

Seven years


Seven years ago today I hit the "publish" button on Far Above Rubies with this post.

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Friday, September 23, 2016

Rustic Mountain Fall at Balsam Mountain Preserve

I had the amazing opportunity to not only design the mantels I shared last week, but also to create some outdoor fall displays at Balsam Mountain Preserve. In keeping with the rustic aspect of the property, and the natural habitat, I wanted to put something together that was simple, all natural and reflected local culture.

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Friday, September 16, 2016

Fun with a design project

 I had a fun and different opportunity today to style not one but three mantels at an exclusive gated community on a nature preserve here. 


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Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Eclectically Fall Home Tour

I am so happy to have you all here for my fall tour! I was really excited when Kelly asked me to be part of her Eclectically Fall Tour this year, so please go by and start the tour from the beginning at Eclectically Vintage so you do not miss any of these talented bloggers' beautiful homes.  Welcome to all of you who are coming over from the multi-talented Jennifer Rizzo's blog.

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Tuesday, September 13, 2016

DIY tiered tray

I'm a big fan of the tiered tray, so when I could not find exactly what I wanted, I made my own.

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Monday, September 5, 2016

Pumpkins, pumpkins and more pumpkins

Like I said in my last post, it's that time of year here, and I couldn't love it more:-) I am shooting for a Fall Tour this week and wanted to make sure I found some pretty squash and pumpkins, so I headed down to Bryson City, N.C., and Darnell Farms. 


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Thursday, September 1, 2016

Fall Inspiration

It's that time of year again. I don't know exactly what it is, but when the kids start back to school and we get a little respite from the summer heat, I start thinking fall. I think the nostalgia of it all is what ultimately lures me in, but regardless of my motivation, I start longing for all things autumn. 

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Friday, August 26, 2016

Karabakh "rose" kilim

I'm not sure I have ever been as excited to get something in the mail as I was this rug. My friends at Unique Rug Store offered me the opportunity for another rug, and I already knew what I wanted -- a "rose" kilim or Karabakh kilim. I knew what I wanted because I obsess over the rugs they offer and spend an insane amount of time virtually shopping the site:-)

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Monday, August 22, 2016

Native art: Cherokee bread boards

I have collected Native art for at least 20 years or more and recently starting adding more of my collection back into my decor.

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Monday, August 15, 2016

Feature in Romantic Homes

I was so excited when I walked through the magazine aisle at Food Lion last week, I had my 14 year old snap a photo of me right there in the store:-)

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Friday, August 12, 2016

New kilim pillows on clearance

It's no secret I am in love with kilim pillows. I think it goes back to when I started collecting Native American art and found, on a trip to Turkey, that the geometric tribal designs there were very similar to Native designs, or at least they coordinated really well with Native art.


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