Bejewelled Boudoir Mirror Progress

Progress on my “boudoir” mirrors is proving to be slow, but thanks to all the precious bits and pieces Marc gave me during my half term visit I have been able to progress a little further towards their completion.

On Saturday afternoon (2nd March) I spent several hours working on them, one on each side of my work area, so that I could go quickly between the two, owing to my going all anal about making them look almost identical. To be honest,  when I had finished it didn’t look like I had done very much ….. but as my fingers got increasing covered with glue and irritating I decided to call it another day.

I think another afternoon filling up the remaining gaps should complete the overall effect and then I will need to see where I need to add an extra layer or two to add depth and a little more opulence. I have some birds and butterflies from dissembled necklaces to do that with, but I still think I may need some large Primark type flowers to get the look absolutely right.  The narrowness of the mirror frames has limited my scope for flamboyance a little, but by using the first layer of jewels as a base I am hoping that I will be able to spread a little more to the sides and over the mirror, some of the lower pieces will be partially hidden, but, in away, that will hopefully add to the eventual magic. So bear with me a little longer and watch this space.

Jewelled Mirror Progress And A Case Of Too Many Projects …. Not Enough Time ….

Agggh …..  my projects seem to be getting bigger, more ambitious and more time consuming.  I have been slowly redecorating the house because, to be honest, it was all looking a little tired. I haven’t done anything flamboyant, just laid down magnolia and white as a base for each room, which has then given me a blank canvas to add my twiddly bits to, but although I am desperate to get a start on my ideas, I know I need to do one thing at a time, and not begin anything new until another project has been finished, but it’s hard to do as I am such a flitterer!! 

Progress on my matching pair of boudoir mirrors has  temporary drawn to a reluctant stop, mainly because I need some large “signature” pieces of disassembled Primark jewellery to strategically place and then build around with the smaller pieces I already have,

…. but unfortunately stocks of new pieces haven’t yet hit the shops (what with the January sales etc.) so I will have to wait patiently, but once I get the pieces I need, I don't think the mirrors will take that long to complete.

I said when I started that I wasn’t planning on making the mirrors identical, well I am afraid it didn’t take me too long to become quite anal about it …. and now, in all probability  the mirrors will be “almost” exactly the same!!!! Once the mirrors are done, I have two more projects that Tom bought me for Christmas that I said I fancied having a go at …… ….. namely a Decopatch deer head for the top of my landing ……

And …. this mahoooosive 3ft 3ins x 4ft 10ins canvas, because I said I wanted to have a go at painting!!!!  Whatever possessed me?

I adore Collier Campbell designs after I finding them accidently while searching on Google,  and “thought” it may be something that I could try, inspired by the patterns and vibrant colours, to create a “picture” for my dining room, however the size of the canvas is a little daunting ….. so I may try a smaller canvas first!

…… Well,  I think I have got enough bits for getting on with ….. so watch this space!

Two More Jewelled Mirrors … And Another Labour Of Love In the Making…..

What have I done? ….. Every time I have shown someone my “boudoir” mirror, they have immediately wanted one too …. but because of the work (and expense) involved, I will only make them for very, very special people ….. like my daughter Lucy and my sister-in-law Sarah,  both of whom I cannot thank enough for all they have done for me over the past seven months and still continue to do, I would be so lost without either of them!

Sarah’s mirror (above) measures 51.5cms x 35.5cms and, as with Lucy’s, was a charity shop find for £3.99.
I bought copious amounts of suitable jewellery to disassemble from Primark and large acrylic flat back gem flowers from e-bay. 

Lucy’s mirror is slightly smaller,  measuring 45.5cms x 34.5cms and cost just a bargain £2.99.

The frames of these mirrors are narrower that on my first two projects, which in some ways proved a little more fiddly to get gems/jewels to fit.  However with each batch of gems and Primark jewels I dismember I am also beginning to build up a reserve ….. which is quite fortuitous …..

….. because I am about to start on a new project for my boudoir ….. the re-decoration of which starts on 7th January ….. I wanted two fancy narrow mirrors for either side of my bed, I thought I had found them online, only to be told they were unavailable, after which I stopped looking for a while, until, I found these two gold framed mirrors in a new BM Bargains type shop, that has just opened in Wolverhampton.  They measure approx. 35ins x 12ins and only cost £3.99 each (saving over £60 on the original ones I wanted)  I knew if I didn’t buy them there and then I would regret it as they would disappear ….. I didn’t care how, but I was determined to get them on the bus and home!!!!

I am going to marry them up with these nightlight holders that have been in my boudoir for years but are now tired and dated ….. gluing them to the mirror and frame with E6000 glue, which is strong enough to take the weight, and then I plan to bejewelled and bedazzle them robustly as befits my new lady boudoir! I have ordered some more flat backed flower gems, but just need a “small” spree, curtsey of Primark,  for a few extra bits and pieces …. with an eye for something big and sparkly,  particularly for the corners.

It’s going to be a challenge as I shall be “encrusting” both mirrors at the same time, I don’t want them to be completely identical, but I would like them to look like a matching pair……. so watch this space! 

Jewelled Mirror No. 2…. But Shhhhh…… It’s A Christmas Present!

I use E6000 glue on all my mirrors.

As soon as she saw it “The Lovely Laura” wanted a jewelled mirror just like the one I made for my boudoir ….. and it was most fortunate that I had acquired this old mirror measuring approximately 40cm x 40cm from a local charity shop for £3.99 …… the frame was originally dark green, but I sprayed it gold before the gluing fest commenced!

Unfortunately, the mirror was not as cheap to make as my first one, because the original had used up most of my old jewellery ……..

….. so I am afraid that to get it done in time for Christmas I spent a fair few pounds in Primark on pieces of jewellery that I could disassemble!!

…. but I did have quite a few acrylic flowers, pearls and other gems to fill in the gaps.  Not a cheap present by any means …. but something very unique and special present for Laura.  However,  I have enough bits to start (but probably not finish, another mirror) and I will no doubt now be found prowling the aisles of Primark in the sales ready to snaffle up any reduced items that can be used to finish off the project.

Jewelled Mirror

I don’t often make things for myself, but this is ALL for me ….. and my Lady Boudoir!!!

Do remember the jewelled mirror I saw in Accessorize in Exeter in April this year? Well I never forgot it and Marc and I often talked about the idea and other ideas he had used to make similar mirrors using all sorts of things, other than jewellery.

The whole thing took me about five nights to complete over a couple of weeks using an old mirror which measures approx. 23ins x 23ins, that I’ve had for at least twenty five years and has been on almost every wall in the house!

To cover it I’ve used up all my old unwanted jewellery, flat backed gems, charms, beads etc. anything that glittered was bunged on, plus a few new bits from Primark and Claire’s that I needed to fill in the last few gaps … so I guess it’s cost me £20 to complete, plus a tube of E6000 glue, as recommended by Marc.

I have to admit I had a love hate relationship with the mirror all the way through until the very last evening, which is why I kept on leaving it and then going back to it ……

It wasn’t pretty enough, the bits didn’t look right together, it looked messy  …..and then I got irritated by having really gluey fingers!

But the last lot of frippery that I bought especially, including six Primark stretch bracelets and three daisy chain necklaces from Claire’s sale …..….. especially the  metal daisies, that are the only “jewels” that I have scattered all round the mirror that seemed to bring everything together.It was on the final night of gluing and sticking that I could see that it was going to be even more beautiful than I had imagined and then I got obsessed by filling in the tiniest space with small pearl beads or tiny gem …..  less was definitely not more as far as I was concerned!  And now, I have my fairy mirror …….. even if I don’t exactly see a fairy looking back at me ….. I shall always feel like a fairy when I look at it!!!!!