Upcycled: Christmas Decorations at Hillsong LA

This year I was able to help lead the Christmas decorations for church at Hillsong LA. Since we are a new church and we set up/break down every Sunday, decorations had to be durable, easy to move and easy to set up. We came up with the idea of using reclaimed wood, lights and mason jars as our theme. Eventually for Christmas eve, we added a green Christmas trees and presents to the stage.

We were given a large amount of reclaimed pallet wood for FREE which helped us so much in regards to the budget. Outside of using Christmas lights, we decided to build two large wooden wreaths, one large wooden Christmas tree and one large "Peace Has Come" sign.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLEP2xTJ8uA)

It took us a few Sundays to decide which way we liked the decorations. The first Sunday we used string lights alongside the stage vertically, and the wreaths in the blank space. Unfortunately, they didn't show up well, so we decided to change it up for the following Sunday.

The next Sunday we decided to wrap the wreaths in Christmas lights, and wrap lights along to banister next to the stage.

We liked this much more and stuck with it for the weeks to follow. 

We also strung Christmas lights along the railing in the balcony, and around the doors at the entrance. 

(Megan and I)

It was such a fun season and I couldn't have done any of it if it wasn't for the countless helpers and support from my community. You guys are the best and I am so grateful to be serving next to all of you! 

Upcycled: DIY Chevron Table

A friend of mine lived in a beautiful loft downtown and wanted a 10ft table at a reasonable price. We threw ideas back and forth and eventually landed on a chevron table with a border and pipe legs, like the image below.

Successful trip to home depot, getting all of the above supplies! 

After assembling the legs, setting the plywood/base, I then attached the reclaimed wood in a chevron pattern. 

Halfway done! 

Done with the base and chevron. 

After attaching the border, here is the final product! 

The owner of the table is a photographer and she took an amazing photo the day she had a dinner party. I just had to share! 

Upcycled: DIY Piano... Or Rather, DIY "Keyboard Shell"

Last year I met a guy named Stephen Limbaugh. Stephen is an amazing pianist and and just came out with his debut EP! Go on over to his webpage http://stephenlimbaugh.com/ and check him out. Don't be swayed by his love of cats ;)

Anyways, we met and collaborated on a project called "The Limbaugh." The design concept was definitely interesting and something that I had never thought of doing before. A puzzle-piece gutted piano. Stephen is a concert pianist and he has a small SUV. The idea was to make a "piano" that encased his keyboard and broke down easily for transport, which meant that it had to fit inside his car. And I had one month to make it. Unfortunately, I have a full-time job, so it meant working every weekend, up until his performance, but it was definitely a rewarding experience.

We started with designs that he really liked. Stephen really preferred the modern piano by Fazioli.

We came up with a design (major thanks in part to Stephen's manager) for a similar concept based off of a craigslist find. We would use hinges and dowels to allow the pieces break apart easily and fold up into his car. 

I found an old Pre-WWI bathtub on Craigslist for $300. 

The idea was to flip it upside-down and use it as a base (see pic below). 

We negotiated and purchased the tub! It took way too many hours to remove the three layers of paint, but it was worth it. The original steel was absolutely beautiful. 

(Halfway done)

Next step, cutting and assembling the wood with dowels. 

Once the dowels were in place, we cut and placed the top. 

In the photo below you can see the guys finishing up the paint removal on the tub and I'm working on the inside placeholders for the keyboard.

After the paint on the tub was removed, we put it all together. It was great seeing the idea come to life! 

Stephen wanted black glossy paint and then the guys decided they liked the idea of gold lettering and a gold base. So, after several hours of paint, here's the final product: 

We later added lettering from Dana Decals, officially naming it "The Limbaugh." 

It took a ton of hours and a few moments of panic, but the finished product was awesome. It breaks down into 8 different pieces, and along with the keyboard, fits perfectly into the back of Stephen's car. 

Below is a picture from Stephen's concert using the piece! 

Upcycled: Singer Side Table with Live Edge Wood

My friend had a class project on the power of negotiating. She had a great idea to practice her theory by going to the Pasadena Rose Bowl Flee Market and purchasing something that caught her eye.

She found an old Singer sewing machine base that lacked a few screws and some love and care. We came up with idea of refurbishing it and using it as a side table. She negotiate the price and then sourced the live-edge wood piece from E&K Vintage Wood in Los Angeles. After acquiring the wood, she fixed up the base and I helped her attach the wood to the base. There is the final result!

It turned out beautiful! 

DIY: Drip Chevron Painting

Last September I went to a "artisans retreat" and I watched an LA painter paint the above piece in less than 20 minutes. Her method was to use watered down color and then spray water (using a spray bottle) over the piece immediately following her strokes. 

As inspired as I was, I wanted to use her technique, but modifying it a little. Instead of creating a flat painting (like the one above), I wanted to create one with texture and noticeable color variations. To me, the above piece was very similar to watercoloring instead of painting.... so cue my second attempt with drip-painting. 

First, select your colors. I decided to stray away from my typical color scheme of grey, blue and gold... adding pink, purple, red, green and periwinkle. Then, I mixed one part acrylic gloss and one part water, creating "cake batter" -like consistency.

I decided to paint with a chevron pattern, alternating colors. Apply pressure where you want your drips.

After I finished, I couldn't decide how I should hang the painting: dripping up or dripping down. My instagram followers voted and said that drips upward is too weird... so it drips down, for now ;)  

DIY: Lia's Headboard

My roommate Lia loved the headboard that I made for myself and asked me to make one for her. My only request was that she help me. In fact, that's the only rule I stick to. If you want something, then you get to spend "QT" (quality time) with me and we'll do it together. 

Lia and I went early to Home Depot and picked out "fence wood" for her headboard. We had everything cut (including the plywood) and then brought it back to our apartment. 

Side-note: remember your transportation. Thankfully HD in Marina Del Rey was used to people with small cars. Thank goodness for shrink-wrap! 

We built the frame (the exact same measurements/layout as my first headboard) and then attached the plywood on top.

Here's where the story gets funny. I absolutely love recycling wood... so I found a large crate in an alley and brought it with us to use for her headboard. The only thing is that you have to take out all of the rusty nails in order to use the wood. As we were pulling out the nails, my finger slipped and a nail went straight through my thumb. I actually saw the nail on the backside of my thumbnail...

Below is the photo of us before we started sawing, drilling, removing nails and getting tetanus. 

We continued on and ended up with a beautiful 1/8th reclaimed wood headboard and me with a bum thumb. 

The next day however, I woke up with a slight fever, headache and back pain. I called my mom and asked her to look in my medical file for my last tetanus shot. It was out of date, which means that I could have been showing signs of tetanus... or I could have just been hallucinating. Either way I wasn't going to risk it. Lia, being a good sport and supporting my decision to get a shot, decided to go with me and get a booster. 

We then returned to the headboard, sanded down the fence wood and carried it into her bedroom. 

It looks absolutely beautiful in her new room and she loves it! 

Drip Painting

This was one of my favorite crafts so far, because the turnout was totally out of my hands. 

Prep: find squirt bottles (I found mine at Walmart) and "mix" your 2/3 paint + 1/3 water mixture in it. Once you have your mixture... just squeeze with the nose pointed down towards the canvas. Let the paint run either as long or short as you'd like.  

I decided to do four different colors, so it took a bit longer to finish (because of drying time, but I'm very happy with how it turned out... 

"Dripping in Gold" wooden artwork.

I just love it on the wall next to my shelf :)