Melissa Loves

Melissa loves: Maine Momma

Dear sweets.....

                             Friday is here again, the weekend stretches before us....I hope you all have fun things...or relaxing things....or holiday things planned. I recently saw the brilliant and amazing photo below on the lovely flickrstream of Mainemomma. Have you had the pleasure of  visiting her? I think a lot of you have....and if you haven't now is the perfect time to! This photograph filled me with joy, made me smile ear to ear and I believe I gasped audibly when I first realized what I was looking at! :) I asked sweet Kristin what the inspiration behind it was and she had this to say....

" My inspiration in winter is to find the beauty in all the cold. It had been snowing big fat flakes and I wanted to capture the detail in a flake. My son and i went for a hike in the woods and i found this rusted nail sticking out of a random piece of wood with the flakes piling up high. i just paused to appreciate the simple beauty around us. It makes me happy seeing it over and over. It reminds me of that walk and how very happy my little boy was with all the white fluffy fun falling from the sky. As an adult I often tire of winter and see it as a chore and time to "get through" til spring, but by seeing it through his eyes, the wonder and excitement returns."

 

1~ the most magical of mittens here

2~ the perfect collaboration here 

3~ I don't think I have ever coveted a door mat until now.... here 

4~ a lovely ring here 

5~ one of my favorites of Liane's lovely creations here

6~ a gorgeous creation from sweet Cassie here 

~Kristin's shop

~Kristin's blog

Thank you Kristin for being here with us today and for this most magical capture.....it makes my day every time I look at it. I hope it makes all of yours as well..... I will see you back here on monday friends, for a new Monday: inspired post. Until then, have a wonderful weekend and be well. 

xo

Melis 

  

The little things: feeling silver

Hello my sweets...

                               Well, my love affair with gold has been well documented here I think :)  But, perhaps I have neglected beautiful silver? Inspired by all of the gorgeous silver pieces I have been seeing, I thought I would get together a little collection for you...                                             

~ candlesticks( I have lost count of how many times I have favorited these or featured them) here 

~ comfy top here 

~ gorgeous blanket here( I bought one of these for a Christmas present....shhhh) 

~ one cool lamp here ( this shop is so well curated, I love it) 

~ beautiful garland here 

~ such a sweet necklace here 

~ gorgeous mug here 

These are the little things that are making me happy today, how about you my friends? What is a little thing that is making your day today? I would really love to know....I will see you back here tomorrow for a new "Melissa loves". Until then....be well. 

xo

Melis

 

Cheap & Chic: Interiors?

Hello my sweet friends,

                           Well, I am trying something new today and a little bit apprehensive. I hope you will go with me while I get my sea legs under me & do give me your feedback as to whether you would like to see this as a weekly feature or not. :) I saw this gorgeous room in the lovely Yvestown's flickr stream & like a lot of folks was smitten with her beautiful interpretation of pink & green together( two colors she seems to love). So, I thought I would try to get together the fixings to replicate this sweet room, keeping expense in mind of course. A cheap & chic interior if you will! :) 

 

~ sweet collage here ( as with anything, I think it is important to put your own spin on things, you wouldn't want to exactly replicate anything if it wasn't your thing, right? ) $20.00

~ gorgeous wallpaper here ( and then, when replicating a room,  a substitute will not do-even if it might be cheaper) $30.00 per meter

~ cute clock here $14.88

~ a similar color to paint your table with here  ( usually paint runs about $20- $24 a gallon, depending on the paint) 

~table here  $189.00

~ironstone pot here  $30.00

Total~$ 303.88( give or take depending on your paint and how much you need) 

I sure hope you like it, and hopefully I will get a little more deft at it as I go along.....Thanks for being patient with me! Have a wonderful wednesday my friends. I will see you back here tomorrow with a new "The little things". Until then....be well. 

xo

Melis
 
 

Cheap & Chic: for the Holidays!

Hello darlins! 

                 So, I thought it would be fun to pull together an outfit for the holidays.....inspired by these super cute but, super inexpensive pants(below)! I love the unexpected touch of the lavender purse & coat...with the gold rings and bracelets. I hope you like it too! 

 

~ holiday top here $98.00 

~ fab coat here $42.00

~  lovely ring  here $3.80

~ sah-weet bag here $20.00 

~ pretty bracelets here $6.80 

~ gorgeous heels here $19.80 

~ perfect holiday pants here $12.99

Total~ $203.39 

Have a wonderful Tuesday my friends and I will see you back here tomorrow for a new "It's my bag, baby!" 

Until then.....be well! 

xo

Melis

 

wow.....

Hello sweet friends! 

                    Just popping in to say....

 

This print by Emily of The Black Apple is so very beautiful.....don't you think? I will be back in just a bit with today's "cheap & chic". See you soon! :) 

xo

Melis
 

Monday: inspired by Tartlette

Hello sweet friends! 

                 How were your weekends? Did you have a relaxing and lovely time....I surely hope so. Over the weekend, I saw this beautiful photograph from the lovely Helen of Tartlette. I am always in awe of these artists who are not only masters in the kitchen but, masters of the photographs & styling of the food they make. This particular photograph captured me with it's casual air, gorgeous blues & just a hint of gold. 

 

what makes it even more lovely is that Helen said that this was one of her "heart" favorites because they were having a great time with friends they don't see very often. I love that.....

  

~ pillow I am in love with here

~ sweet bag here 

~ beautiful new earrings here 

~ gorgeous gold tea pot here

~ lovely flats here 

~ one fantastic pot here 

Isn't it lovely? We are going to get our Christmas tree today and I can't wait to see my girls faces as they take out each ornament one...by...one and hang it on the tree. :) Have a wonderful monday friends, I will see you back here tomorrow for a new cheap & chic. Until then....be well! 

xo

Melis
 

Melissa loves: Amy Ruppel

Hello dear ones...

                    Happy Friday! I swear I don't know where these weeks go?...They go so fast. I am so happy to have the lovely Amy Ruppel here today. I have been a fan of hers for a long time now, along with a lot of you I am sure. This piece of Amy's made me feel as if I had happened upon a quiet and private scene. One that was a privilege to share. So simple in black and white....but, so layered and poignant. I love it...and was thrilled to know a little more about Amy's inspiration behind it. Wouldn't you like to know too? I thought so....:) 

"I have always been endeared by the solitude and beauty of woodland creatures, especially deer. I grew up in the woods of Wisconsin where I saw them every day. But no matter how often you spotted them, they always had this sweet, regal, untouchable quality to them. They stand out among their surroundings. So here I placed a fawn on a simple background, feet fading into unseen grass." 

(how does this piece make you feel when you look at it now?)

"Well, the original painting is actually hanging 2 feet from my head, on the wall next to my computer in my studio. It calms me, makes me happy. It brings a sweet serenity to my everyday."

 

~ gorgeous earrings here

~ sweet garland here 

~ one scrumptious top here

~ sweet little cup here 

~ one of Nicole's beauties here 

~ lovely little hair pins here 

Thank you so much Amy for taking part and being such a sweetheart! I wish you all a wonderful weekend, I hope it is filled with laughter and lightness. I will see you back here on Monday with a new inspiration post. Until then...be well. 

xo

Melis

ps have you seen Amy's state animal series? It doesn't matter what state you live in, they are all gorgeous and covetable! *sigh* 

 

The little things: an offering..

Hello my sweets....

                    Ah, the holidays are upon us...and I can feel excitement in the air. So many lovely things are popping up here, there and everywhere. Special things....new shops opening , folks putting out their finest...and amidst it all...some quiet and calm things that make me pause and take a breath. I know lovely Aran, doesn't need any introduction, and her food and photographs are truly sites to behold. Gorgeous....delicious....serene...and special. 

 

~ Aran's gorgeous photograph( featuring her mother's hands..so sweet) here

~ gorgeous studs here 

~ lovely necklace here 

~perfect plate here

~ one sweet chalkboard here 

~ beautiful "gems" here 

~ sweet coat here 

Simple and beautiful....calm with a chance to breathe....these are things, the little things, I am treasuring today. How about you my friends? What is a little thing you are treasuring today? I would really love to know......I will see you back here tomorrow for a new "Melissa loves", Until then....be well. 

xo

Melis
 

 

PS...

Dear Clare, Karey & Mary....

                        I am beyond thrilled that you finally opened etsy shops....now, we can all have a little piece of your genius to hold and inspire. 

xo

Melis

 

I know these ladies don't need any intro or if they are indeed new to you, I know you will be thrilled too! 

I have followed Clare here, for quite awhile....hoping one day she would sell prints of her gorgeous work.

And followed wonderful Karey and Mary here and here (respectively) and when they opened T.ruffles....I didn't think it could get any better....but, it did! They opened a shop too. 

So, thank you ladies , you have made us all very happy indeed! 

xo

Melis

ps I will see you back here tomorrow friends for a new " The little things" Until then.....be well! 

 
 

Please welcome....

Helllo my dears! 

                      I don't think this lovely lady needs any introduction but, I am happy to do it all the same! Lovely Shanon has a  shop called My fine Garden filled with beautiful photographs...and I am honored to have her as one of my newest sponsors. 

This is just a small sampling of what is available....but, wouldn't these make lovely gifts for the holidays? Or the perfect card for best wishes? Thank you Shanon for choosing Melissa loves to advertise your beautiful work. You can visit Shanon right here....oh, and she also has a blog! 

xo

Melis

ps I will be back in just a bit with a little "ps" :)