Merry Christmas

Loving God, we open ourselves to your this Christmas season.

As these candles are lit, light our lives with your imagination.

Show us the creative power of hope.

Teach us the peace that comes from justice.

Fill us with the kind of joy that cannot be contained, but must be shared.

Maginfy your love within us.

Prepare our hearts to be transformed by you,

that we may walk in the light of Christ. 

Last Sunday's Call to Worship -Rev. Dave Stambaugh -Hollywood United Methodist Church 

Merry Christmas!

A Kitchen Business Perhaps

Hello!

We have had company for the last few days which has meant I needed to keep the apartment clean. This has put a halt to all creative endeavors for a bit. Tons of ideas in my head though, so stay tuned.

This week I listed the Simple Blue Kitchen on the Los Angeles Craigslist. While I have yet to sell it, I did receive this email which I thought could be really interesting.

"I just have to tell you you are doing a great job with the play kitchens. The black one you sold was awesome I wanted to buy it but I was not able to take the time to go pick it up. I liked it a lot. I am a preschool teacher and a mother of a little girl. How fun to have one. I have a cabinet that I think would work out to be similar to your last one. What would be the price? What a great ministry. Thanks!"

I guess it sort of is becoming a ministry. I am a big believer in abundance thinking. I believe that when we pray to God and row for the shore, our needs will be provided. So far, I have found all three cabinets for free. Now it seems that that good Lord is actually sending the cabinets and the customers to me!

Speaking of ministry, if you live in Los Angeles and are looking for a church home, please feel welcome at Hollywood UMC. If you are ineterested in visiting, email me. I would love to meet you!

The Play Kitchen Sold!

$150 for the Homeless Ministry at Hollywood United Methodist Church!


My first ever sale!

Tie One On: Spend No Money

Remember that 12 pounds of fabric from the Loft that I washed and folded on Friday night?

Yeah well, I didn't use any of that for this project. The theme of this month's Tie One On is "No $$." So, I stuck to the rules and used some scraps from my stash and an old sheet.

I didn't use a pattern either. That explains the wonky pleated pocket on the side.


Still, I am pleased with this apron and it will serve it's purpose just fine. You see, I park cars for my church in the summer months. My wonderful church is walking distance to the famous Hollywood Bowl and we provide "no stack" parking for every single concert all summer long. 100% of the money collected goes towards the many programs at our church including our work with AIDS patients and the homeless. Sure beats a bake sale!

This apron will replace the free Home Depot apron I usually wear. Plenty of pockets for tickets and change. Plus a secure pocket for my own keys.

So, if you are local or visiting LA this summer and you have the good fortune to attend a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, I hope you will consider parking at Hollywood UMC. If you see a lady with a tricked out apron- that would be me!

If your interested in participating in this months Tie One On, there is still time. The deadline is May 1. This month there is a give away too! Check it out!

Trash to Treasure

Kari and Kijsa are hosting a "Trash to Treasure" party today.
So without further ado, the curbside nightstand I rescued and transformed into a play kitchen.

Thanks so much to all of you who offered color advice last week. I really like the black and think I have made a pretty, yet gender neutral play kitchen that could be in a living room without embarrassment.

The best part, I am going to turn this trash to real treasure when I sell it. The proceeds will go to my church's homeless feeding program. The program is seriously strapped because of the economy. This is the first time I have ever sold anything. Wish me luck!

Updated: Thanks everyone for your kind words and encouragement! I have added notes to my flickr pictures if you are interested in making one yourself.

Another Thought

OK, still obsessing on how to paint the new play kitchen.

I agree- it should be gender neutral. Also, I thought a lot about Lori's comment that it should look good in grown up areas of the house.

I was browsing a local paint shop and discovered a faux stone finish, chalkboard paint and even magnetic paint. This cabinet has nice big flat panels on either side which would be fun for a chalkboard/ magnet area.

Is a black play kitchen with faux granite "counter tops" too sophisticated for kids? Would they like it? I have some nice black check fabric for the cupboard curtain. Kind of country French?


The whole front is different now. There is an oven and a small cupboard on the right and a curtained shelf area on the left, but this pic shows the carved legs.

Any other ideas?

Updated to add: It's a kitcheny kind of day! The Pink Kitchen is featured today on Design Dazzle!

Play Kitchen Workshop -The Second Season

Aren't these velvety curly q's fun? They are particle board sawdust from my drill.

This is my improvised way of cutting out a circle without a proper saw. I drilled over 80 holes to get that circle out.
Yes, the little apartment workshop was open for business this weekend! Kitchen #2 is well underway. Except for a frustrating trip to Lowes, this time around is going so much faster.

Now, I need some advice. My plan for this play kitchen is to sell it. I will have more details later, but the proceeds will go to my church. So, I do want to fetch a nice price. I'm thinking about half of what a PBK play kitchen would cost. Of course, I am noticing that they are on sale right now, so who knows. Maybe the market is really soft.

Anyway, at Lowes I miraculously found the *perfect* shade of Jadite green paint on their seconds cart for just $3! Then, trough a series of misfortunate events it was taken from my cart, restocked, and sold out from under me!

I have plenty of pink paint at home. Maybe this was a sign to go ahead and use the pink paint I have?

What do you think...will it sell better pink or a more gender neutral color? Is Jadeite green gender neutral enough? I kind of have that in my head now but, I noticed a red kitchen at PBK. Maybe red?

Cliff said he thinks most people buy play kitchen sets for their daughters and to go with pink.

I am not so sure. What would you do? Any advice or thoughts about the color or what price to ask are appreciated.

PS:
In case you are interested in trying this for yourself, I have a "tutorial" of sorts on flicker.
This is a price breakdown so far:

free cabinet from the curb
$1.49 1"X2"X 36" board
$6.00 thin plywood sheet, cut for me free at Lowes
$2.00 L brackets
$0.99 handle for the oven door
$2.00 hook
$0.99 metal bowl for sink
$1.99 wooden letter J for faucet

Left over from other kitchen:
primer
gray paint
silver paint
nails
screws
wood glue
wood turning pieces for knobs etc.

A Brush With Kindness

I have a not so secret desire to be a carpenter like Amy Wynn Pastor from Trading Spaces. So, I was super thrilled that I was able to go with my awesome church on this month's Habitat for Humanity work project.

I imagined myself learning how to drywall and using power saws.

That didn't happen, but the storage POD did remind me of Trading Spaces.

We were working with the A Brush With Kindness Program. A Brush With Kindness helps low income homeowners maintain the value of their property by providing painting and minor exterior repairs.

Lead by two amazing Ameri Corps volunteers we spent the day in LA painting the home of Ms. Rose. Like many seniors, she lives on 80% less than the median income for LA and qualified for the program.

See that big bush? I spent the better part of the day getting cozy with that bush and all the spider friends who lived there. I chose this assignment because it was a cold day and it looked like a warm spot.

I am now also skilled at painting window
trim and the decorative security bars.

A Brush With Kindness Program is available in many cities. Maybe you have a friend or neighbor in need? I know the LA organization is currently accepting applications. I am going to let our community rep at school know about it. It would be so great to see this kind of improvement going around school.

It felt great to get out and spend a day doing home repairs. It also felt great to come home to my apartment with it's crew of handymen who take care of things for us!

I Spy Tote Bag

Last year I made a "Champagne List" around New Years. Looking back now, I see it was a total bust! I didn't do a single thing on the list. Seems that life got in the way of my caviar dreams.

Actually, the only thing on the list that bothers me was the Linus Project. I still really want to contribute to that worthy charity. I even feel a bit guilty that it didn't happen this year.

So, when my pastor informed us of Marissa's surgery I figured I could sort of make amends. A quilt is out of my range, but I am still crazy for I Spy. So this is what I came up with.

I don't actually know Marissa, but I have seen her around church quite a bit and I think she's a bit of a girly-girl. She kinda looks like the girl in that patch.

I added some stickers and a package of Crayola modeling magic clay stuff and sent the bag with my pastor. The latest report is that she did really well during the surgery, but is now in quite a bit of pain. Ugg.

I love how this bag came out. I hope it brings some measure of cheer. Goodness knows playing with these prints makes me happy!

Praying for Marissa

I have mentioned a few times that I love my awesome church. One of the things I love is the children's choir. I love the earnest elementary kids who sing without reservation and the toddlers who sometimes sing and sometimes wander. Every performance fills my heart with joy.

Another thing that warms my heart is the father love. Many of the children at my church come with their dads. The dad's are super involved in the children's programs. The altar steps are filled with men holding their babes in their laps for the children's story.

Marissa and her dad have caught my eye many times. She is a beautiful eight year old who sings with all her heart. Her father hides behind her, holding her up so that she can stand with the other children in the choir. There is so much theology in their example that it leaves a lump in my throat.

Today everyone at my church is pausing at 8:00 to pray for Marissa as surgeons at the Children's Hospital of LA operate to strengthen her legs and hips so that she can walk without crutches. I pray that her father's days in the children's choir are numbered and that he soon will be able to enjoy Marissa's performance from a seat in the audience.

I have written a few times about my love for the Hollywood United Methodist Church. As a new member, I am always surprised and impressed by the ways this church reaches out into the community.

Last week we were each given a teddy to love on, pray with and personalize for someone suffering from AIDS. Then on December 1, (World AIDS Day) we will return the bear to church where it will be distributed to an AIDS patient.

In addition, I was asked to write for this year's Advent Devotional Book. My verse is from Isaiah Verse 40:1-2:

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. ²Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

So, comfort has been on my mind lately.

Of course, my faith, family and friends are my real source of comfort... but I do love my woobie!

Naturally, I had to make my little bear a woobie of his own. I made it an I Spy quilt because that's just the mode I have been in lately. I tried to put symbols of good luck and health into it: a clover and ladybug, horse shoes,"apple a day..."

Vacation is so fun!

Old Faithful

I had been feeling a bit unmotivated craft wise in the past weeks.

I may have burnt myself out a bit in the month of February with so many new projects. Or, maybe it's the same creative energy that I am spending instead, with the Slice of Life Writing Challenge in the Crayon Box?

In any case, when I was called to donate a raffle prize for a church event, I fell right back on my old standby, tote bags.

They only take me a couple of hours to make and the materials are already in my stash.


I suppose at one point, a housecoat was sort of an "old faithful" outfit. Well, creating bags out of housecoats, dresses, and sheets has become my "old faithful" project for last minute gifts.

I like to make bags because they fit women regardless of their clothing size or home decorating style. It seems like an easy gift to give and receive.

Still, I would like to branch out a bit. I had thought of making some baby bibs to donate. There were ten babies born last year at church so it seems there would be a market for them.

What are some things you make for last minute gifts or donations to raffles and the like?

Can She Do It? Yes, She Can!

In NJ I helped with the Inter-religious Fellowship for the Homeless dinner at my Former Awesome Church. In Bergen County, New Jersey a partnership of many churches and temples of all different faiths joins together to feed and shelter homeless men and women who are in a transition program. Most are working. By staying in church/temple program they are able to save money for a deposit and first months rent on an apartment.

Every Tuesday in October we hosted about 12 people for dinner and then they also slept over in the church. In the morning they were picked up and taken to jobs or job training classes and other programs at a main shelter. I really enjoyed being involved in this innovative program.

In November I had an encounter with a young homeless boy. There are thousands of homeless teens in Hollywood. Anyway, this particular boy kind of got to me and I vowed to get involved again with this issue. I agreed to co-coordinate this month's dinner for PATH Homeless Shelter here in Hollywood. My Awesome Church sponsors a dinner there three times a year. My jobs were to grocery shop and to supervise the cooking. Other volunteers would transport the food and serve at the shelter.

The budget for homeless missions at my church is shrinking rapidly. Our weekly Tuesday feedings have expanded over the last few months from about 100 people to upwards of 140+. The increase is becoming a financial problem. So, I was charged with making a cheap meal for about 75 people. Yikes!

I have been reading Like Merchant Ships and Frugal Hacks for a few months now and trying my best to internalize the frugal mind set. I think it paid off. While I cruised the aisles of Smart and Final (a smaller non-membership Costco knock off) I thought to myself "WWMD?" What would Meredith do?

I think I did a pretty good job. I bought supplies for baked ziti, salad, brownies and lemon aide. I used ground turkey in the meat sauce to save money. We bought enough for 100 people so that there would be plenty of extra for seconds.

The manager of Smart and Final was super nice and gave me a ten percent discount. I met Teo last week when my class entered a coloring contest at the store. He had called to say that he had some candy for my class. It turned out to be five *huge* cases of Valentines candy. My hatchback was completely filled to the top with Nerds, Sweet Tart Hearts and Fun Dip. Teo also said he would call me again after the "holiday of the bunnies" to get more left over candy.

I passed on some of the candy to my church. We made a big basket of candy to take to PATH.

My grand total at Smart and Final was $73.04! I then spent another ten dollars on bread to make garlic bread, a dozen eggs, and some oil.

We were able to use paper plates, utensils, napkins, butter and spices that the church had on hand. There was also a big drum of ice cream left over from another function that was used to make brownie a la mode. Those items would have added a lot to the bill.

My partner bought a few extra things as well, but in the end, we came in around $100! I think it was a pretty nice meal for a dollar a person! To think back in November when I met that homeless boy outside of Ralph's, I spent $1.25 on an apple and some Gatoraide.

It's Gonna Take a Miracle!

This is the kitchen at My Awesome Church. During World War II this kitchen served 3 meals a day to hundreds of GI's on leave in Hollywood. They would take their meals in our dining halls and sleep wall to wall in the Sunday school rooms. 

Today, this kitchen is used to prepare meals which are taken to AIDS patients awaiting treatment at 5P21 Clinic. Since 2002 this kitchen has been pressed into service each Tuesday to make 12o sack lunches for the homeless. Sadly though, in recent months the numbers have been climbing towards 140. 

This Christmas in conjunction with a local temple, 1,000 people received a free hot meal served from this kitchen.

Times have changed, but this kitchen hasn't changed at all. So, I have decided to pursue getting us  grants, donations, miracles even, to fix up this kitchen and enable it to live up to it's impressive legacy. 

We have the space, the man power and some equipment to expand our service to the homeless and needy. However, the layout is inefficient and even dangerous. We would really like to go "green" and serve meals exclusively on china. We have the dishes and the dishwasher, but they are stored in cabinets so high that it is impractical and unsafe for most of our volunteers. 

I would like to follow the example of my childhood church and expand our care to include laundry service for the homeless. Right now our members scour the circulars to buy socks and underwear to give out on Tuesdays. There is room in the kitchen for a row of industrial washing machines. Clean clothes would go a long way to improve the quality of life for these neighbors.

The ideas for improved missions are endless. Our resources seem to be limited, but I know that with faith all things are possible. So, here I go.

My first plan was to write to Tide. I am so impressed with this program and I am hoping I can get them to swing on by. We could host a washing day along with meals and maybe get a mobile health clinic to come by. This kind of corporate partnership would help us get other grants. So far, I haven't heard from them.

My next plan is to write to Nate. He is my favorite TV decorator. Wouldn't it be a joy to work with this cutie? He has done some miraculous makeovers and he has connections to other big companies. And, uh...Oprah.

Wish me luck!