The Mosaic Process

This ia a close up of one of my larger pieces that I call "Waiting Angel". It won 3rd place in the Delphi Glass Festival. It stands about 4 feet tall. Since I do not do mosaics full time it took me about 3 months of working a couple hours most every day to complete.

I work with the same glass used for stained glass. Some nights when I am not feeling very creative I just nip glass into tear drop or leaf shapes for use in later projects.

I start by drawing my idea on paper and then enlarge it with my copy machine to be transfered to the working surface. I usually prepare the surface by paining it white so the glass looks more colorful. Then I transfer or draw the design on the surface. From that point I begin kind of painting with glass. I often will have a lot of glass pieces just sitting in place. This allows me to try out different colors or glass shapes. Once I am happy with a section I start to glue it down.
I use the clear liquid nails on all my projects. The last step is to apply the grout. It is like a cement that holds every thing together. Grout is not my favorite part and most of the time my husband Marco will grout things for me. Grout comes in lots of colors and the color can greatly change the look of the piece. Most of the time I use one grout color on Waiting Angel I used several grout colors.

Anyway I have been doing mosiacs now for about 3 years. In doing them I find hope that no matter how shattered or broken our lives may become, in the hands of the Creator, the master artest, it becomes full of new possibilities. He can take our brokeness and make something beautiful. Isaiah 61:3...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and the garment of prise instead if a spirit of despair.

Runner

This is a photo of me Apri 15th 1978 I was 17 years old - I was a runner!
Oh I'm in white and we got 3rd place in the 2 mile relay.

Today I ran - well I ran and then walked, ran and then walked to the park and back.
It is drizzly out and I did not let that become an excuse for putting it off.
Considering that there is now 70 pounds less of me - it felt pretty good.
My friends over at www.eatinglow.com are running so I figgured I might as well get out there and beat the streets too. It is good to have some accountability particularly when one struggles with consistency as I do.

So I am reminded of an old song by Twila Paris

RUNNER

Courier valiant, bearing the flame
Messenger noble, sent in His name
Faster and harder, run through the night
Desperate relay, carry the light
Carry the light

Runner when the road is long
Feel like giving in but you're hanging on
Oh runner, when the race is won
You will run into his arms

Obstacle ancient, chilling the way
Enemy wakened, stoking the fray
Still be determined, fearless and true
Lift high the standard, carry it through
Carry it through

Mindful of many waiting to run
Destined to finish what youíve begun
Millions before you cheering you on
Godspeed dear runner, carry it home
Carry it home

Ok so my run today did look quite like the runners in the song. What it does remind me is that to accomplish Gods larger purposes in my life - I do need to get in to shape both physically and spiritually. My own will power or good intentions are not enough to carry me through this journey. I know that I do not on my own have the resolve or the consistency

Well if you are reading this - welcome!
I am going to try to be consistent about posting something at least every week day. So you potential dear reader are my motivation to be faithful to this task.

Not sure what I will write each day but I hope you find with in my posts hope and encouragement for your own journey.
Blessings, Margot

He must become greater; I must become less."

He must become greater; I must become less."
John 3:30 (Today's New International Version)

So welcome to my weight loss journey. It seems that in the quest for less of me pound wise that I have discovered that there were many other area where less of me might be a good thing.
Certanly plenty of areas where I need to re-examine the excess in my life.