Sunday, July 29, 2012

Making mosaic crosses in 'The Keeping Room'


Becky and I collected chipped pottery in a basket int the N2God Tea room for some months for this project. Most from my 'Beginner's Mosaic basics gift'.
I had no idea we'd have so much fun.


Now, there isn't anything easy about breaking up the pottery pieces.  It was VERY, VERY, VERY hard (literally). The one thing I didn't like at all. I just want to warn you ahead of time. There were memories in some of our pottery pieces or else I don't think we would have used them. I know...more re-purposing right?  One of my favorite worn out cups, had Scripture of 'Wisdom' written on it. It was a gift from a friend years ago.  I hated every minute of breaking the pieces and reminded myself that I would be putting something back together and it would be remarkable because God was going to guide us...helping each one of us to fit pieces of glass and ceramic close together and make something pretty, whole again. I loved this whole idea!!


Yes, unfortunately I did cut my fingers in a couple of places. No pain...no gain...right? If you try breaking up pottery, be sure to wear eye protection!! Ear protection wouldn't be a bad idea either. The basket collected...a  Happy Birthday cup, a beer stein, a beautiful antique saucer, the sugar bowl, a couple of small Mother's Day collector plates and more...

Honestly, I didn't have a clue about what I was going to put together this time...this time making a mosaic as a meditation, it was going to be different. I just knew that 'the Greatest God was right beside me, maybe whispering to my heart 'I will mend your broken heart, My Child, because I love you tenderly'. Thinking about that as I type these words makes my heart truly go pitter patter. I want you to consider that not only does He love me....He loves you!!



desire of my heart, to continue to put my life back together and creating my second mosaic  has helped me in the healing process. I often say to myself, and now I type, spell it out loud in words 'God is so  good to me.' In the Word, the Bible, it says to shout on the roof top the good things that God has done for you!
The ceramic pieces looked beautiful placed into containers. I took a fancy to the antique sugar bowl pieces.  They  are delicate with a very smooth surface. The baby blue flowers reminded me of the times wonderful times I held a baby my arms, just as last week when I met my great niece Vivian for the first time.  She is precious! There's not too many feelings that can compete with that.
The three musketeers mosaic crosses pictured. Phyllis, Becky and Rose were the best company! Too bad I didn't get any photos of the messy (fun?)  grouting. My hands were much too messy to use my camera.
I worked hard  keeping my ideas to myself...in other words....I wanted my friends to be lead by their own idea. It's hard for me to be quiet when I'm crafting. I'm trying to change...really I am. God's not done with me yet. My 'mosaic cross as a meditation' is far right. I'll try to show the finished cross after it is grouted.
My first mosaic cross (in photo above, far right) was crafted with  our beautiful daughter Amy. I waited patiently for months for us to  'make time' as I really needed her expertise. In other words....I just couldn't get started with out her help and that little nudge. She is truly my best girl friend! One of her many gifts is listening with her heart. When she learned of my interest to mosaic she gifted me with a huge box many mosaic projects. My flower mosaic cross is in my office. I chose the flower for inspiration to bloom where I'm planted and colors of the glass for the birthstone colors of all my family treasures.  A great memory I have spending time at home with Amy on a free Saturday afternoon in the front TV room at my little craft table. Amy practiced her Calligraphy technique as I began work on my first mosaic. Our granddaughters were visiting had great  big smiles & when Anna asked if she could  learn Calligraphy, I said "Why sure!" It gets pretty exciting when three generations get together to craft. Fun Central!
The three musketeers Becky, Rose and Phyllis got their title just yesterday because they are go-getters....they had the grout on their crosses before I could bat an eye. When they were ready for a snack...they didn't wait for me. I didn't plan to put together lunch however...the cream-cheese cucumber sandwiches, cold watermelon, pretzels and cold mango-peach tea were perfect for this very hot summer day.

If a picture is worth a thousand words....this one sure is! Our friend Adam was visiting and I invited him to be in the picture. What an inspiration Adam is. His smile and faith are contagious and every time he visits the N2God Store he has an inspirational song to share with me. 

Some friends just couldn't come today for one reason or another and they were missed. Then, one friend  who said she couldn't come because of her busy Saturday routine, came after all. Everything must be in God's timing and I'm getting more relaxed learning this very gradually...the hard way. One day at a time...

Becky, used pieces of a plate which once was once a gift from her sister, to add to the cross she made for that sister. Sweet!

The memories of this Saturday will be held near my heart because the company and insight of these friends makes my heart smile. A few of the many 'God Things' (as I refer them as) on this day in reflection, thoughts and quotes:

"Oh my, this cross I made for my sister has the birth date (month, day & year) of one of her children written on one of the pieces of ceramic!"

I encouraged one friend to please take the bowl of water melon home, after all I had the other half at home in the fridge. She said the fruit she just had purchased for her meals, wasn't ripe (didn't taste all that good). She knew and trusted God to provide for her and yes, He did.

On friend brought a gorgeous wooden bracelet with the most lovely 'Our Lady of Guadalupe' Icon art on it. She said that she felt that God wanted her to bring it today, that it was for someone here.  As much as I liked it...I knew instantly that it wasn't for me. "Oh my, it must be for Becky. We talked about Our Lady of Guadalupe picture for long time this morning when we shared faith". 

One friend found a copy of a book that was a desire of her heart, on top of a pile of books in the tea room. She recently shared the copy of her book with someone else. Happy as a lark she is to  have another copy.

Making more memories in 'The Keeping Room' was filled with blessings and I pray you will be blessed on this lovely Sunday!