I have a very special guest poster here today!

photo by me

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to say thank you for all of you Happy Mother's Day wishes.

I hope you all had a great weekend.

Well today I have a really special guest poster for you.

Her name is Melanie, author of the blog, Pretties and Posies.

Melanie is a very talented girl. I was blown away when I first found her blog. Not only am I inspired by her talent, but I am inspired by Melanie as a person.

I have to tell you a few stories that my friend, Melanie, has shared with me.

I think she has a great eye, when I told her that,

she humbly told me a story about how she was hired

by an Ethan Allen Furniture store, as a designer, because they thought she had a great eye. How did they discover she had a great eye? Well she was purchasing furniture for her home, and they liked what she was picking out. So they asked her to be part of their design team. I wish I could have that happen to me.

Then she told me about when she had spotted a desk in an antique store. It was $600.00, she really wanted to purchase it, but her husband wasn't excited about the price. She said that antique store was right next to her shop. She would always go in and admire it. One day she saw two men who had just visited her shop, come out with it. She went running out to let them know that was her desk. They told her that this desk was worth a lot of money. They even got the owner of the shop to come down. She said later she saw those same two men, with the desk, on the antique road show. The desk was appraised for over $100,000. She said that her husband now trusts her judgement. I want her to go shopping with me!

I wanted to share these stories because I think you will all agree that she has a great eye after you see her guest post!

photo by me

These two pictures are pictures I took of Melanie's painting she sent me.

She is such an artist and paints beautiful paintings.

She recently opened an etsy shop, called Melanie M Originals, where she sells her beautiful art.

Thank you Melanie for sending a piece of your beautiful work!

Now I will let my friend Melanie, from Pretties and Posies take it away!

All of the pictures below are property of Pretties and Posies

It all started with this door. This is how I met Maria. She loved my door. A few months ago she so generously posted about my blog and commented about how much she loved my ten dollar door that rests above my bed. Our friendship bloomed immediately.

I should introduce myself. My name is Melanie and my dear friend, Maria asked me to do a guest post here on her lovely blog. Thank you for having me, Maria! You are an inspiration to us all!

This is my first ever guest post so I apologize in advance if I have broken any rules.

I blog for many reasons. I began blogging a few years ago as a creative outlet while raising our two little girly girls. A way to connect with similar souls in this gigantic-sometimes crazy -world. When my dad became ill two years ago it became more of a way for my family to stay updated on his condition. After he passed away last year, I began blogging as a way of healing my heart. I have eventually made my way back to blogging as a way of releasing some creative energy!

Anyway... I live in Michigan. "The Great Lakes State." Most of my design inspiration comes from my everyday life. I live in the country... the middle of farm fields to be exact. So naturally, I am inspired by nature. I love the idea of a single birch branch being recycled into a drapery rod. Or trimming my fruit tree branches and popping them in an urn. They are just as interesting after the blossoms are gone. Seashells. Sand. Grasses. Stones. You will find all of these things throughout my home. The beauty of it is that they are free. All I have to do is step out my front door or take a walk on a beach and I have found a new treasure.

Most days I am running around, chasing after my daughters, breaking up arguments over lipstick and purses. { did I mention that they are 4 and 5?} Once in a while I get the opportunity to indulge in a favorite hobby of mine. Painting. Most days my daughters are painting right along side of me.

As with the rest of my home... my paintings are mostly inspired by nature. Cherry blossoms, Apple Orchards, Beaches and Farms are among my favorite scenes to paint.. I am terrible at painting people. This is one of the reasons I stick to nature. A tree never yells at you if you do not get the color of its eyes right.

Although I am a lover of all things white, I have a bit of color in my home. Mostly blues and greens, otherwise known as Nature's Neutrals. My feeling is if you get the shade right, both colors go with just about anything. The combination of the two together brings me a sense of peace. Even when all is not quiet.

Our master bedroom is the place I go to relax and rejuvenate. The hallway leading to our bedroom is filled with family photos and keepsakes along with vintage letters that represent each of our family's first initial. I never tire of taking this walk. It reminds me that first and foremost, love is my home's foundation.

My bedroom is all about comfort. I chose to paint my walls a soft blue to remind me of a summer sky, a day at the lake, or as my niece once said... " A white-washed Tiffany box."

I have sheets over my sofa cushions {inspired by Maria, of coarse}, an uncovered slip covered chair, buttons sewn on simple white pillows , photos of our favorite places and easy, breezy draperies. Nothing is fussy. Our family does not do well with fussy. Especially in our bedroom. Somehow, this has become the place where our family hangs out most. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I cannot say the same for my bathroom. I am a little selfish when it comes to my tub. I lovingly share everything else in my home. Not my tub. I only wish I had more time to use it.

{ Sigh.}Someday.

Most importantly, My home is filled with people I love and memories I cherish. Many of the things that fill my home are here for a reason. There is a story behind most of them. My grandmother's glassware in our kitchen. Barnwood frames in our dining room holding pages from her composition books where she composed some of the most inspirational songs ever written. A piece of birch bark from my Dad's favorite spot in the woods. My husband's grandmother's quilt. The 150 year old roses that grace our front walkway given to us from his Great grandmother's garden. All of the things that make our house HOME. The beauty of it is that all of these things were free. Now they are priceless.

There you have it. A little about me and the place I call home. Thank you all so much for allowing me to share a bit of my life with you. I hope you enjoyed your visit. I certainly did!

Be Blessed!

Melanie

Pretties and Posies

Thank you Melanie!

Isn't her home amazing?

I love it!

You can visit her over at

Pretties and Posies!

I also wanted to tell you the M pillow you see in her guest post was made by Melanie.

Melanie also hand paints the monograms on her pillows.

She has a separate etsy shop for her pillows.

It is called Lettered Threads.

I have a few updates for all of you as well.

I am so excited because guess what?

The ceiling is finished.

My husband completed it for me for Mother's Day.

He is a real sweetheart.

We are now caulking, priming, and painting.

So next week I will have my bedroom in order,

and will be able to show all of you the finished product.

I can't wait.

Hope you all are having a great Monday!

Take Care,

Maria