My last post was all about my word of the year for 2014-REACH. This year I have chosen my focus word to be “simplify”.
I thought long and hard about what I wanted my focus to be for 2015. This seemed to be exactly what I need right now in my life.
This year in my life has been a year of growing and developing in many ways. Now that it is the end of the year, I would like to reflect on what I have learned and accomplished.
This past year my “focus” word was REACH.
I was contacted by Terry’s Blinds awhile back. They asked me to share my Designer Insights.
My interview was posted on their website here, just last week. I was/am honored to be chosen among SO many talented designers, creators and talented people.
Here is the post in it’s entirety. I hope you enjoy it.
Meegan Fast is a lover of all things thrifting and vintage, sharing her latest finds, DIY crafts and recipes at What Meegan Makes. Meegan use to stage and decorate weddings for 17 years, where she organized and decorated every aspect of a wedding to give a bride her perfect dream wedding. The most rewarding part of this being, seeing a bride’s eyes light up after seeing all of her hard work. So we are proud to bring you the Designer Insights of Meegan Fast.
My Interview and Designer Insights with Meegan :
1) In your own words describe your unique style and creative aesthetic?
My style is cottage, vintage, beachy, and thrifted. It comes from years of collecting vintage items, shells, shopping thrift stores and desiring a beach cottage.
2) When starting a new project, what is your creative process?
When I spot something unique, I ponder about how I can make it my own. The creative juices are flowing until I find a place for it in my home.
3) Out of the creative people you have worked with, who is it that you respect and admire the most?
When working as a wedding coordinator, my partner Wendy. We had chemistry much like one another. She would suggest an idea and I create from that, and vice versa. Our creativity went beyond our own expectations. It was an enjoyable time-and many times did not feel like work, but pure creativity.
4) When looking for inspiration is there a particular thing you do to get inspired?
When looking for inspiration I browse through antique malls, thrift stores, and high end furniture shops. Then can envision our small condo on a smaller, simpler scale. BUT, with a high end look.
5) What has brought you to this point in your career? And what is your advice for people looking to follow in your footsteps?
I came to this point after raising a large family and designing weddings for 17 years. I find fulfillment in creating and designing. I stick to my core when choosing pieces. Advice: Follow your love and creativity. Not trends.
Thanks for stopping by today and sharing one of my blogging accomplishments with me. It was a BIG deal for me: Designer Insights with Meegan.
Make it a lovely Tuesday.
Looking Back at September is going to be a delight and a lot of fun for me today. I had a wonderfully busy month not only on my blog, but with family and friends, too. I am blessed to be able to share some of that with you here today.
While I was in Cali, I found a vintage window frame to add to my mantel/headboard.
I made a Fall Book Page wreath for our front door.
Using some wood scraps from another project, I made my own version of pumpkins. Yes, there HAS to be a blue one. (HUGE smile!)
I was on a blog tour with 29 other bloggers. I was able to show my Blue and White Fall decor ideas.
I hosted the FIRST ever #BestofDIY Link party with 27 bloggers total. I am still blown away by the response and the INCREDIBLE projects that were linked up.
I have been looking for a new lamp, and didn’t like the price, so I made my own DIY Lamps Plus Inspired Gold Lamp with DIY Burlap Lampshade.
One of my favorite posts was:
I am Brave and Beautiful
In-between there are many more posts, Inspiration Monday link parties and lots of love.
Thanks for visiting my blog while I am Looking Back at September. (Since it is almost November)
Make it a fabulous Wednesday!
Sign up to receive my posts by email. I don’t want you to miss out on anything!
Today I am doing something a little different on my blog. Cancer Awareness Pink. I don’t want to miss acknowledging those who have had Breast Cancer before October is over.
I personally have had 1 dear best friend, 1 grandmother, and 2 mothers-in-law pass away from cancer. Two mothers-in-law because my father-in-law remarried after his first wife passed away. Sadly enough, his second wife was taken the same way.
So this post is dedicated to those we love, have recovered, or going through treatment; and have, or are, in the midst of a great fight.
Wow! This is an exciting day! I am part of the Blogland Tour.
I have the opportunity to introduce you to my friend, Jeanette. She is one of my blogging friends. Her blog is Country Design Style.
Have I ever met Jeanette? No, but I LOVE her style. Do I want to meet Jeanette,? You betcha! We are kindred spirits, in that both have a love for rustic, thrifted and refurbished items. Not only that, but she is patient kind and FULL of talent. Her vision and insight is beyond compare. AND she has been featured on Houzz. Woot woot!
So it is my honor for YOU to meet my dear friend, Jeanette.
Some of my favorite projects that have inspired me on Jeanette’s blog are:
Her repurposed blogging desk, which once was a dresser.
Jeanette’s scrap wood mantel. YES! SHE MADE THIS MANTEL. Can you say LOVE???
How awesome is her ottoman makeover?? Yes, this was featured on Houzz.
Oh! And did I mention that Jeanette lives in a cabin? Yes, she most certainly does. And it is GORGEOUS. To see a FULL HOME tour, visit here.
As for another part of the Blogland Tour I am suppose to answer 4 questions. Are you ready?
And here we go…
Hmmm…That is a REALLY good question. I am working on a lot of projects. But are these are the most recent:
a thrifted mirror,
a decoupage project,
and a mosaic tabletop. Yes, I have been working on this for a year now. I think it’s time to finish it, wouldn’t you say?
I would say my work differs because I have done DIY, furniture makeovers, had my own style as long as I can remember. I am a lot older than most bloggers. I am 56 years old. The average blogger in my genre varies from late 30s to mid 40s.
I do what I do, because I love it. I love to create. I love to share what I create. I enjoy having somewhere to share it.
My creative juices never stop. Never, ever! Sometimes my brain won’t stop. Hubby will often ask me, “Does the creativity ever stop?” My answer is always, “NO, but sometimes I wish it would.” I don’t have nearly enough time in my lifetime to get everything done that my brain can conjure up.
Honestly I have projects in my head and on paper from 2-3 years ago that are still waiting for me to accomplish them. It’s not that I procrastinate. It’s that there is a REAL need for some to get done, and others are just for fun.
That’s me in a nutshell.
NOW for you to meet 3 of my other blogging friends. I hope you will pay each one of them a visit and tell them I sent you.
Cat is the oldest of 5 daughters in my family. My mother had awful morning sickness with all of my sisters for the entire pregnancy. So growing up, she taught me how to cook so that I could help in the kitchen while she was trying to keep her composure in the other room. After I left home and went to college I took some cooking classes as electives and just loved them. From there, it’s just been a process of teaching myself various techniques, trying new things, and doing A LOT of research in cookbooks, online, and just flat out experimentation. I love to make new creations. And I am grateful that I have a husband and two awesome little girls who have been my guinea pigs in this journey. Join me on my blog: He Married Me For My Cooking.
Julie started her blog Sum of their Stories almost exactly a year ago to share her love of all things crafty. Brought up in a “don’t buy it, make it” environment she was inspired by her Mum and Grandma’s to try all sorts of crafts. Julie describes herself as an enthusiastic amateur and just wants to encourage others to have a go too. She has a selection of tutorials for sewing, knitting, crochet, paper craft and recycling projects and even a few family recipes.
Hi, my name is Leanne from Organize and Decorate Everything I have a wonderful hubby and kids that put up with me organizing, rearranging, and decorating our home constantly.
Organizing is a passion of mine, so much so that I made a business of it. I love sharing my ideas on organizing your home and life and especially what works in my own large family (I have 8 kids and 9 grand kids). I also enjoy decorating, thrift shopping, crafting, gardening and DIY projects. Thank you for letting me share my ideas, transformations and thoughts with you.
Thanks for joining me on the Blogland Tour.
I LOVE sharing other bloggers with you as well. I am blown away by the blogging community as a whole. They support and help one another constantly.
Make it a wonderful Wednesday everyone!
Sign up to receive my posts by email. I don’t want you to miss out on anything!
For my focus word of the year I chose “Reach”. I think about that word almost on a daily basis. Today, I am going to reach out by telling you a few personal things about me.
For me, as a person first and foremost I am a daughter of God. I know this. And, have always known it since I was a small child. Next, I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and grandma.
Today I want to share: What Meegan Makes Focus Word For 2014-Reach
It is a common practice to have new year’s resolutions. I don’t ever have new years resolutions. I never have. I hold my resolutions close to my heart. They are almost sacred to me. They are between me and God. Instead of a resolution for my blog, I have chosen a What Meegan Makes Focus word for 2014:
I thought about this for many days. It had to be just the right word for me and my blog. I wanted it to pertain to my personal life as well as What Meegan Makes.
When I think of the word “REACH”, I think of many things that connect me to my blog and to my personal life.
Here are a few of my thoughts:
REACH:
~out of my blogging comfort zone. I don’t share much of my personal life here on What Meegan Makes. That is going to change. I feel like I want YOU to get to know ME and not just what I do.
~out to my readers and followers. I have’t been very faithful at responding to comments. That is going to change. It is one of my biggest weaknesses as a blogger. And, I need to REACH to change that fault.
~out to looking into how my blog can be a better, more informative place for you to visit. That will be changing VERY soon!
~out and try new projects. I have SO MANY projects in my head, but I am afraid of failing. So, I need to conquer this fear and REACH forward.
~out to other bloggers for help and ideas. I can learn so much from other’s experiences and wisdom. I need to do that for myself and for YOU.
~out and attend a blogging conference. I honestly haven’t gone because I am too scared. Isn’t that silly?? I don’t know what I am scared of…But that is something else that will happen in 2014.
~out and make video tutorials for you. So, you can better see what I am writing about. Won’t that be fun?? I am super excited about this REACH goal!
~out to serve others in my own community. I have many opportunities, but I don’t often take full advantage of them. It’s time I do so.
~out to work out more. I need to care for myself, so I can better take care of Hubby and my family. And, in turn that will help me take care of my blog, too.
There are so many more ways the word REACH coincides with my personal life. When I think of the word REACH, I actually picture a hand reaching out to help someone or something. That is what I want to do this year REACH out in every aspect of my life.
I am excited to visualize this word in my life and take action. Because after all, REACH is a verb, an action word.
What word would you want to apply in 2014? What word would best describe what you want to accomplish? I hope we can help each other through this upcoming marvelous year with anticipation ans REACHING out.
I look forward to accomplishing What Meegan Makes Focus Word For 2014-Reach
Make it a wonderful NEW YEAR!!
