I forgot to take pictures of the left over Efex appliques. This is the picture I took before I used them on my French bed.
The mirror is plain but it has so much potential. I painted the trim with a coat of Chalk Paint® in Antoinette. It actually didn't matter what color I paint it since I plan to gild it anyway. Painting the frame just help the wax go on better. Then I cut the appliques and tape them to the mirror to create a design. Don't be afraid to experiment with design and patterns. Go big or go home, ladies. Do it up! If I have more appliques, this mirror would be so much more ornate but I didn't want to spend any money for this project. I truly believe that with a little bit of imagination, you can turn any ordinary object into something truly beautiful.
The mirror, itself, costed me 10 dollars. I brushed my new bff contact cement on both the appliques and the frame. I let them dry for about 20 minutes and pressed them on. Brushed some gilding wax on and after it dried, went over the whole piece with dark wax. I am kind of glad I didn't have a lot of extra appliques to use for this mirror. I like that it is a bit understated yet still demand your attention.
It is going to be hanging in my bathroom but it's super heavy so I have to wait until the weekend for B to help me with it. In the meantime, she resides in the living room with all the other beauties.
Next time you walk past by a plain old mirror, don't just ignore it. Imagine all the wonderful things you can do.
Love,
Victoria
Linking up with:
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com/
http://www.findingsilverpennies.com/
http://www.cedarhillfarmhouse.com/
http://elizabethandco.blogspot.com/
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/
http://shabbyartboutique.com/
http://www.commonground-do.com/
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
http://missmustardseed.com/
I agree, there is magical charm with mirrors, they capture and reflect light and seem to enhance any room. Without the beauty of mirrors rooms look plain. I hope you post about your soon to be hung bathroom mirror.
ReplyDeleteVera
Vera, you are absolutely right. Rooms would look plain without mirrors..they bring so much romance.
DeleteOh my goodness, I love the mirror and all the appliques, they are exquisite. Great job.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marty. These appliques have opened a whole new world of possibilities for me.
DeleteOh my that mirror you redid is amazingly beautiful, and love the way you have all the vases with flowers
ReplyDeleteon the mantle in front of it. very very nice...........
Also like your use of the Roca candy container, I love using things like coffee and tea boxes to put
arrangements in too...........great idea...........
Enjoyed my visit and you have some lovely mirrors.
Blessings, Nellie
Thank you, Nellie. Mirrors are kind of my obsession. I too love using tins and old bottles to decorate. They are the perfect balance to all the gilded stuff going on in my house.
DeleteGorgeous mirror! I love all of your vignettes too!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I think creating vignettes are as fun as painting.
DeleteTotally beautiful! Everything you do looks so fabulous!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Darrielle. It helps to be inspired by all the talented bloggers like you.
Deletevery beautiful Victoria!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Maria. I tried leaving comments on your blog post but I couldn't find a place for it?
DeleteI love to visit, Victoria, and see your latest transformation. This mirror is truly gorgeous!!!! And you are amazingly talented!! Beautiful inspiration!
ReplyDeleteMary Alice
Thank you, Mary Alice. Your collections have inspired me to start collecting. So instead of my face serum, I am buying iron stones. I am blaming you if I find any wrinkle! : )
DeleteHi Victoria,
ReplyDeleteReally looks great! What looks so cool about this mirror or any project you have worked on is the fact that you have a care free attention to its details. Making it a piece you can really blend in with a euro French brocante home....so Paris apartment chic.
I am adding a bit more drama to the pieces I am working one, getting my flooring completed as of today it's all done, and wanting to add to my Cement painted floor.
The cans..floral can arrangement I so loved it and loved it years ago when I did something similar using the idea from Tracy Porters book her second book. You should look up her books at the library you will find your style is so in keeping with her look and style. I use to create around her look for myself long ago, long before I started blogging, a bit Bo-ho to its chic-ness! I love the look and in ways reminds me of years ago how Anthropologie in Santa Monica second story would create around, with great grand pieces and large cement garden pieces and mopey tattered vintage laces and velvets. I so see your home as a display in Anthro type shop!
Really you can be proud of what you are accomplishing with pieces thought of to be less then what they are, and you have given each piece a voice blending in harmony in your home poetically.
I love you style!
Xx
Dore
Ps, just make sure your mirrors do not face into a window... Flung Shui !
ReplyDeleteI make sure my own home has great energy no matter what pieces or how I design around.
Xx
Dore
oooops or at the foot of your bed facing to you at the head of your bead picking up your reflection
ReplyDeleteXoxo
Lol
That's it for now
Dore
just amazing, I'll never look at a Plain Jane mirror the same again!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debra. I have so many more plain mirrors waiting for me to fancy them up.
DeleteIts fantastic Victoria!! What a beauty~~!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThank you, Amy. I can't wait to do more projects now with the appliques!
DeleteThe mirror is gorgeous! It looks like it easily could cost $100's! I have one that I picked up at a thrift store for $25 and added appliques to a couple of years ago, it's really big and I just love it but it was very ugly when I bought it. I agree, the big ones are always so very pricey though!
ReplyDeleteLove seeing what you come up with Victoria, it's always amazing:)
It definitely has some fairy tale bling now, Victoria. How fun to be able to work with so many different appliqués and design a OOAK piece like this! Love the little floral swags. :)
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Lin
You know how much I love bling bling, Lin. Good thing I didn't have a lot of left over appliques to work with because I am pretty sure it would have been a lot more bling out.
DeleteI so love your style! Always since a small child and living in Germany, seeing the beauty of their countryside and lace at all of the windows, then going to my grandmother who had flowered wallpaper and ruffled sheer curtains and dainty vanity jars I have loved being surrounded by "fancy" "french" "girly" "flowery" but in my words, beautiful decorations that would please God. I tried all white Shabby Chic but now I am ready to go all out and do what you did to all of my white mirrors. Can you tell me what is the gilding wax that you used? You got a very pretty glow to your mirror! Your are really an artist.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen. I too did all white shabby chic and painted every single mirror white. : ) I use this wax called Rub n' Buff in antique gold. You can get it at any craft store or amazon. The trick to Rub n' Buff is you have to go over it with dark wax. It will look too fake and one dimensional without it. Hope this helps!
DeleteMe again! I saw your comment on my blog asking about the sconce. Yes, I did find it on Etsy. The flowers are their original paint but the rest of it seems to have been re-painted at some point. I'll keep my eyes on Etsy and let you know if I find a similar one:)
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'm with you on the lizard thing, I don't like them! Several months ago a frog hopped inside, I called my husband at work hysterically begging him to come home and get it out. He said it would a while before he could leave so I called maintenance and had them come and get it out...I was terrified! I make my husband jiggle the door before he leaves for work so if there's anything lurking out on the porch, it has a chance to run away:)
Thank you, Victoria! I think it would be so perfect for the girls' room. I will look for it too on etsy.
DeleteIt is so beautiful Victoria. You've really made it your style. I was also curious as what gilding wax you are using?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary. I have been using Rub n' Buff in Antique Gold for all of my gilding projects. I haven't tried any other gilding wax. I think the trick to Rub n' Buff is dark wax. It looks very fake and one dimensional without it.
DeleteJust beautiful - all of it!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Donna.
DeleteIt's beautiful!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the mirrors with the flowers reflected,,,gorgeous!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Helen.
DeleteWOW love what you did with the mirror and the bed!!! love your style.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. My style is constantly changing but I am just having fun with it.
DeleteI adore what you did with the mirror - i will have to try that gilding wax. I haven't seen gilding wax in Australia - will have to search. Much easier than gold leafing!
ReplyDeletelove all the embellishments also
Fiona
Fiona, Thank you. It is sooo much easier than gold leafing. The trick is dark waxing over it.
DeleteI love your mirror!!! so beautiful! and everything else you put together!
ReplyDeleteAmazing. It looks so magical. x
ReplyDeleteThat is gorgeous, Victoria! You'd never know it was the same mirror! I think it even looks great where you have it now, but I'd love to see it in its new home, too.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kathy. I love where it is now too. I have a feeling it is staying there. I have another big mirror that I am planning to redo for the bathroom.
Deletefabulous mirror. just the right touch of plain and fancy.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteWOW!
ReplyDeleteJudith
Oh my goodness, there you go again making something plain into something fabulous! Can I come and work with you??? I am definitely pinning this and will be heading over to Maison Decor to look at their appliques'.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Patti
Happy Mothers Day Victoria !
ReplyDeleteXx
Dore