Alabama artist ,Melanie Laten, was enjoying her coffee and breakfast with a friend at a restaurant. Looking down she was surprised to find a beetle, large and iridescent, making its way across her foot and toward her purse. "Step on it Melanie!" her friend urged. But for reasons that only other artists can understand, the beetle fascinated her. The restaurant manager did not find it so funny when Melanie asked for a to go box, not for her breakfast, but for her beetle. This same beetle who Melanie named "Sweet William", inspired your Sweet William Series of note cards.

She has explored furniture as another avenue of her artistic expression. Several examples of Melanie's furniture examples are included.