Wooden It Be Lovely (WIBL) is known for its beautiful and colorful hand-painted furniture. This is a ministry started by Margaret Ann Jessup in association with Douglas Avenue United Methodist Church that offers hope and employment to women healing from lives of poverty, addiction and abuse. They recently opened the "be lovely Boutique," featuring hand-poured candles and decorative items made by women who are healing while working to turn their lives around. The Boutique is in back of the WIBL residential home established earlier this year at 801 S. Grand Avenue West. The home and Boutique are recognizable by their bright pink doors.
Positivity is at the heart of WIBL, and the Boutique reflects that. Large hand-painted letters hang overhead beneath a paintbrush with pink bristles, declaring "What A Lovely Day to Be Kind." Candles, with names such as Be Thankful, are packaged with a message to "shine your light" and "Be Lovely – one who is grateful, kind, forgiving, strong and seeking a better tomorrow." Hand-painted pillows, metal wall hangings, cards and kitchen towels are examples of items for sale. Many feature hearts, flowers, butterflies and other symbols of love, beauty and renewal.
The Boutique will be open Oct. 15, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. A holiday open house is set for Nov. 17, 4 p.m.-7 p.m. Additional hours will be posted on the Wooden It Be Lovely Facebook page. The next Showcase Furniture Sale at Douglas Avenue Methodist Church is Nov. 12, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. More information is at https://woodenitbelovely.love/ along with this message: Wooden It Be Lovely if All Women Had Hope?
