Oyster Shell Mirror, Part II

It’s almost done!

Yesterday I glued on the 2 outer rings of shells on, let them dry

Today I glued on the tiny shells around the mirror, let them dry. Then glued on ring # 3 since they do not touch the very inner ring of tiny shells. I placed ring # 4 on, just to make sure I have the right size shells and enough of them. They are not yet glued on as ring #3 and #5 of tiny shells need to set at least 24 hours. There are spots where I need to add very tiny pieces of shell to hide the board.

Now, here’s my biggest worry and lesson learned. What will this baby weigh when it’s finished? !? I have no clue! The hanging kit that I installed on the back is for 50 lbs maximum. If this weighs more then 50 lbs, I have to turn it shell side down and put a new hanging kit on. Which could disturb, break, or knock of shells!

Let’s hope it’s not more then 50 lbs. I can’t wait to hang it, somewhere. Not sure where it will end up. I expect I’ll have husband move a few times! I do so love the texture that these shells have. Delightful to look at.

Making an Oyster Shell Mirror, Part 1

As I’ve gotten into this project, I’ve realized it is very slow, involved, and tedious. Maybe that price of $399 from Wisteria was not so bad. I appreciate the hours of work that went into that mirror! But I not giving up! Bear with me as the “drying time” takes so long.

Picked up the beveled edge mirror and a large 1/4 inch piece of plywood, both from Lowe’s.

Before cutting the board, I played with the shells. This gave me an indication of the size of the board that I needed to cut. My mirror will end up being a lovely oval about 44 inches high by 37 inches wide, due to the overhang of the shells.

I drew a shaky line around the outer shells. Then I added 6 and 7 inches all around. I using the 6 inch mark. I penciled around the oval mirror so I can place it later for gluing.

The shells need to hang off the edge of the board so it made sense to use the 6 inch line. The 7 inch line might require more oyster shells. And since the shells need to hang over the board edge a little bit, the line and the cutting of the board don’t need to be too perfect.

Used my jigsaw to cut the oval. Actually, husband did. I held the board steady.

Everything will be LIQUID NAILED!

After the board was cut, I glued these picture hangers to the back of the board.

Then screwed in wood screws for extra support. The back of the entire mirror needed to be finished and dried before attempting oyster shells on the front. Brought the whole mirror into the house with the hopes that the Liquid Nails might dry faster.

Glued mirror on the front of board. I let all of this dry and set for 48 hours. The 2 little squares of wood I glued on the front. These are supports for the back screws as the wood is only 1/4 inch. I wanted to make sure my back hangers had a good grip to hold on to. Then I screwed the nails in.

Got the wire on.

Then I laid the the larger oyster shells out around the outer edge of the oval board. Again. Just to make sure it all looked good.

The Liquid Nails gluing process. A little on the board…

and a little on the outer edges of each shell. I do hope this Liquid Nails works!

Progress as of this morning. The small shells in the mirror are the last to go on, around the mirror edge. I have to leave this alone at this point and let the Liquid Nails harden.

So I’m out in the yard, cutting down all the dead tropical plants that we lost during those 2 weeks of record low freezing temps we had.

OYSTER SHELLS

I’ve been working on my oyster shells all week. The biggest problem is to get rid do the terrible fishy smell. I googled how to clean shells and read lots of advice. I’m trying the BLEACH treatment.

Here’s some shells before bleaching. I washed them and still need to scrape off barnacles.

This batch came out of the bleach solution. They lost their grayish tint (which I love) and now have more creamy brownish shades.

My bleaching tub. 4 gallons of bleach and some rain water that poured down over night.

Close up of the bleached oyster shells.

Still very pretty. But how do they smell? This is my biggest issue right now. I brought a couple shells into the house, just to test the smell factor. Right now, I do not smell anything unless I pick them up and sniff them . They smell…BLEACHY WEIRD!

This is what I’m dreaming to make. Wisteria, $399. plus shipping and tax. I don’t know if I can make it or if it will be a total flop! But I’m going to give it my best!

I would love any advice from any one out there in blog land about shells, getting rid of the smell, or making a mirror!

Teresa from Art’s The Answer asked about finding oyster shells. Check out her amazing, beautiful blog.

Teresa, here a some links to sea food factories. Sea food factories here do deliver 18 wheeler loads of crushed oyster shells. I’m sure you could get a delivery of whole shells from a oyster place in Texas.

You could call some closest to you in Texas and they should give you advice or help. Good luck and let me know what you find out. Here are the FDA links:

FDA shellfish shippers list

Texas oysters

MY DEAR MAMIE

My beloved friend and across the street neighbor died in the early hours of Sunday morning. It was expected as she battled terminal cancer for 21 years. I was was one of the 6 woman pall bearers, Mamie’s choice. Girlfriend pall bearers was definitely “ a spunky Mamie thing”. After the funeral and burial, I hosted all family and friends here at my home. My gift to Mamie, her sweet husband, and their family. This was one less worry for the family and it filled my heart with joy to do so. This is the arrangement I put together that sat on my dining table with my food this Tuesday as we remembered our dear Mamie.

Mamie’s life story is incredible. She was a championship golfer, a fierce and successful business woman, and a fighter. She never gave up, ever! She taught me so much.

Mamie refused to evacuate prior to Katrina, even though we begged them to come with us. Mamie wouldn’t leave her daughter and granddaughter that live around the corner. Mamie’s daughter is paralyzed from the waist down. This happened many years ago, in a large city in Louisiana. Mamie’s daughter,at the age of 16, was shot by an intruder breaking into their home. Years of surgeries and worries filled Mamie’s life over her daughter’s health.

The morning of Katrina, Mamie and her husband tried to swim down the street to get to daughter’s house. Mamie & hubby had to be rescued by other neighbors when the rushing tidal surge swept them away. Meanwhile daughter, granddaughter and a few other neighbors climbed into daughter's attic and prayed the water wouldn’t come any higher. How they managed to hoist Mamie’s daughter into the attic is a feat we all marvel at still today. They all survived.

In the 3 year aftermath of Katrina, Mamie and I sought and found comfort in each other’s arms. It was the comfort and understanding that bonds women friends together. Our husbands moved on much easier, they could never understand why we still had that vacant look in our eyes and lost our zest for life. But we did get our joie de vivre back. Mamie made sure of that!

Mamie outlived her terminal cancer diagnosis for 21 years, much to the surprise of the doctors at MD Anderson. Mamie always said this was God’s choice. God knew she needed to be here for her daughter. We know it was a “Mamie” thing also!

I love you and miss you Mamie! I know you are at peace in heaven and still taking care of us from above.

OYSTERING IN THE PASS

Saturday was raining with a chance of more rain so hubby couldn’t play golf. I had just the solution for “what to do on a rainy day before we watch the Saints game”! We went oystering in The Pass. The Pass is Pass Christian, MS, pronounced Pass kris-chee-ANNN. Never Pass KRIS-chan! Katrina brought total destruction to The Pass, it is slowly rebuilding. It has some of the most amazing beach front mansions that survived and alas, many did not.

I decided I just had to have OYSTER SHELLS for a project and needed a man to help me brave the unknown territory of the biggest oyster factory around:

CRYSTAL SEAS OYSTERS

This place is huge, this is just the office area. Husband went to the office asking to buy oyster shells. They looked at him like he was a crazy man. They said “Go back down to Oyster Mountain and take as many as you want.”

so we drove way to the back

passing 5 of these 18 wheelers ready to take oysters all over the country

down to the end

to OYSTER MOUNTAIN!

Crazy Man Husband saying” I can’t believe the things I do for you”! It was a nasty, messy job. We put on our leather gloves and tossed shells till we got a huge bin of lovely barnacled oyster shells.

I think we made a dent in OYSTER MOUNTAIN. :)

Then we drove around the PASS downtown which there is not much left on. The only place to eat now is SHAGGY’S on the Gulf of Mexico and the the harbor.

Pirate flag for David!

Inside there is only heavy plastic covering the open windows. In better weather the plastic is rolled up so the view of the Gulf and harbor are spectacular.

It’s a little bit Caribbean, a little bit Buffet, and all relaxed Gulf Coast style. How can I not love it with the TURQUOISE table tops?

Local station with the SAINTS pregame tailgating.

Husband had OYSTER Po-Boy.

I got the Caesar salad with Jamaican Jerk chicken and

a tub full of beautiful OYSTER SHELLS!

Project oyster shell to follow!

Repurposing my hutch

This cherry hutch was given to us about 20 years ago from my MIL. It’s very nice, has a ton of storage in the bottom half, survived Katrina, got refinished but somehow I have never really LOVED the way it looks in my dining room. SSHHHH! Don’t tell husband or MIL!

Never found anything to put on the shelves but this set of Rose Medallion, also a gift from MIL. The hutch takes up too much visual space in my small dining room.

I’ve painted the bead board back many times, thought about painting the entire thing creamy white! I’d love it but husband and MIL would die. They don’t get the painting furniture thing! This was from 2 years ago when room was green.

The only time I like it is at Christmas when a swag goes over it.

Judy at Gracious Southern Living inspired me with her beautiful post on her sideboards. I love the look of sideboards, especially with lamps and a mirror. So I did the only thing possible. I took the top of the hutch! Found the NO Paint from 3 paint jobs ago. Got out my Palladian Blue.

BEHOLD my sort of sideboard!

Keep in mind I borrowed the lamps and mirror from other spots just to see how this might look.

And I still have all my china storage.

I love the way this looks and opens up the room.

Now I’m looking for a larger mirror and a slimmer pair of lamps to replace these, got a few ideas I’ll post on later! Oh, I’m storing the hutch top in daughter’s closet and taking advantage of the shelves to store paper towels, dry swiffers, tissue paper, etc. So the hutch top has finally found it’s true calling! :)