Meagan Abell Photography

Who loves DIY?? THIS GIRL! I know a lot of us are Pinterest-a-holics, but when do we ever actually DO them?? Well Since I just moved into a great big new apartment, and I’m on a TIGHT budget, my decorating is pretty much limited to what I have on hand, so DIY is basically my lifesaver for my apartment makeover! I’m gonna start doing a monthly DIY project to hopefully inspire you to do your own projects and create!

Today, in honor of Valentine’s this month, I’d thought I’d do a little project inspired by love! I’m really into the rustic feel, and what’s more rustic than a slab of wood and a hammer?!

What you’ll need:

-A slice of wood (you can find these at Michael’s or JoAnn’s)

-A pencil or sharpie

-Thin nails (mine were about one inch long)

-A hammer

STEP ONE: Draw out your design!

If you’re not doing a heart, and you’re not comfortable dotting it out freehand, print it out and lightly trace it with a pencil, then draw dots where you want to put your nails. I spaced mine about half an inch apart. The beauty of it is that it doesn’t have to be perfect, it’ll still look awesome!!

STEP TWO:  Nail it down!

Hammer in your nails where you placed your dots, and PLEASE be careful to not hit your little fingers!!

STEP THREE: String it up!

I used baker’s twine for my heart, but you can also use yarn, hemp, string, whatever! Get creative! Use different colors, textures, etc. Tie off one end and then just randomly wrap your string around the nails! Make sure you outline your shape at least once to give it definition.

STEP FOUR: DISPLAY IT!

Hang up your work of art! Show it off! You’re a DIY MASTER now!!! I hope you enjoyed this!!

If you’d like to see more of these each month, please leave a comment below

I’d like to start out with a story from elementary school. When I was in kindergarten, my art teacher, Mrs. Fenske (now Mrs. Rodriguez), was pretty much the coolest. I’ve always been a very right-brained, creative person, and as a five year old, getting to play with paper mache, glue, and clay was probably the coolest thing ever. Scratch that, it was definitely the coolest thing ever. Mrs. Fenske was an energetic, colorful lady who always encouraged her students to think outside the box. Seriously, she was always telling us, think OUTSIDE the box! Don’t be afraid to do something different!!! And even though the school said she had to teach us to color inside the lines on our projects, she still gave us an A if we didn’t. Once, when we were learning about Picasso, we had to do self portraits in his style. Most of the kids did pretty normal portraits, and moved their eyes around, but mine looked like an elephant had chewed up my portrait and spit it back out on another piece of paper. I got an A+.

I’ve always been one of those people who thinks being conventional could be likened to prison. I live and breathe different and often awkward, and the thought of being just like everyone else makes my skin crawl. There was a time in my awkward teenage years where all I WANTED to be was exactly like everyone else, because I didn’t want to be not liked or unwanted. Then I grew up and realized that there is NO way you can please everyone, and trying is just going to make you sick.

I like to live outside the box. 

I like to do things that might make people uncomfortable because it means potentially failing. I like to sing at the top of my lungs in public places because I’ve had an excellent day and I’m celebrating. I like to talk to complete strangers at restaurants and make new friends and connections. I like to leave encouraging sticky notes on public restroom mirrors because sometimes women are having a rough day, and looking in the mirror is difficult. I like to create art and images that are totally me, and reflect what I love.

It’s hard being different, and living outside the box. People will whisper, and maybe they’ll be unkind, but when has living conventionally ever been satisfying? When has being like everyone else made you happy in the long run? At first it might suck, and that’s okay. Being yourself isn’t all rainbows and sunshine, but it’s worth it, I promise.

I challenge you to not just think outside the box, LIVE outside of it!

Are you up to it?

-M

Okay can we just talk about how FRIGID it is outside? Where is the snow??? I can deal with cold as long as there’s fluffy whiteness to play in! Brrrr. Well this week was a LITTLE boring, but I still managed to come up with a few Instagram photos to entertain you with

Follow me on Instagram!: @alwaysabell

A few things that happened this week:

1. My sleeping schedule got WAY off…I ended up making a baked potato at 3 am to help me fall asleep!

2. I started playing around with fun iPhone photo editing apps, because I need MORE of a reason to be attached to my phone…

3.  Hung out with my little boy Zak and kept me company as I set up my CRAFTING area! (I seriously love crafting)

4. I got this amazing 1930′s camera, a Six-20 Duo Series ii, and I started using it

5. I FINALLY got in my canvas of my Autumn Angel!!! I’m in love!!

6. I made a flower crown for Cammy, and I can’t wait to see it on her!

7. I put googly eyes on my food sometimes…people look at me, but oh well

8. I did some more Apartment Sessions! If you want to check them out go here

PS- as I was typing this, IT STARTED SNOWING. YAY.

 

 

Fluffy white stuff and warm winter blankets,

-M