More Oyster Shell Mirrors

I sure hope you are not tired of my posts about oyster shell mirrors, it is all I seem to be doing lately. I do love making them and it is such a soothing hobby.

Below is daughters that we delivered and hung last weekend in their home in Ft Walton Beach, FL. It looks amazing over their Aiden Gray buffet.

This round mirror turned out to be over 47 inches in diameter, but they really needed a huge piece to fill up the space. What a job my husband and I had getting it of my kitchen table and into the back of our SUV. Only 3 shells came off. We ended using a suction cup handle that glass companies use for large sheets of mirror and glass.

Here’s the rectangle one that I have finished. My husband wants me to sell or give it away to someone. I’m not so sure I can part with it.

I’m working on some more as well as a different type that is going to be stunning. I am going to have to make a decision as to what I’m going to do with all these. I wish I had someone to market them, marketing is not my forte. Artistic creation is my thing to the point that if I’m not creating, I go crazy. Son, I paid for your degree in marketing, why did you have to move away to Charleston, SC?

Can you market them from there? I miss you much!

Oyster Shell Passion

It’s that time of year when the oyster shells are calling me. Last year after I made my mirror and lamp, I’ve had so many requests from family and friends to do more. So I am.

We are so fortunate that the oyster shell industry opened back after after last year’s oil spill. Just before Christmas, I hauled a stash of fresh oyster shells home and have been cleaning, rinsing, bleaching, rinsing, and sorting them since. I even learned how to use my jig saw without cutting off any fingers. I’ve sanded all the boards, painted them, and are using french cleats for the hanging system. I’ve got 3 mirrors going right now.

This is the 36” X 28” rectangle almost complete, needs it’s last row of tiny shells.

Close up:

This is daughter’s whopper. It will be aproximately 47” in diameter. Needs many more rows, but this is a slow and tedious process. The outer rings have to dry completely before the inner rings can be put on.

The third mirror is an oval, like my originally one. No shells on that one yet, so I didn’t snap a picture. It’s sitting on the dining room table. And oyster shells are everywhere, in boxes sorted out by their size. Oyster shells have taken over my home, my thoughts and my dreams. So what am I going to do with all these mirrors and other oyster items? Not sure yet how I’ll procede but am thinking of a giveaway, stay in touch!

Gulf Coast Christmas front door

Wordless Wednesday

Lately I’ve been …

working on this. Love the leather, love the chair (it’s one of my most comfortable seats) but need to

lighten up spots in my living room. Glazing to follow.

Working with oysters shells again. Using gorilla glue on this project, so it’s a slow process. Only a couple shells at a time can be be placed on. When they dry, then a few more can be added, etc. I varnished the inside of these to get a nice glossy, pearlized shine.

This pair of extra chairs in the entry hall are getting their 3rd makeover since I’ve owned them.

Bidding and won this on E-Bay, it will also get a makeover.

Searching for and ordered 20 more yards of white linen. This is picture off internet, not what I ordered. For some dreamy projects.

Celebrating with my Gulf Coast region. This is the most wonderful thing to happen to this entire area in many years. Are you crunked?

BLESS YOU BOYS!

Oyster Shell Mirror for my aqua dining room

Melissa's Inspired Rooms Fun and Whimsy post. Tools are for women too!

My oyster shell mirror is my fun and whimsical creation that I just love. The dining room might be boring without it.

Joining Leigh for Thrifty Thursday and Cindy for Show and Tell Friday since I saved myself gobs of money by making this oyster shell mirror myself!

Read way back about 6 posts on my blog about this oyster shell mirror, if you want more info and how- to- do. I got the oyster shells free, thanks to my husband! I love that my oyster shells took on a creamy, brownish shade after their bleaching treatment....

It’s finally hung! It was a project, itself, just getting husband and son together long enough to do this. But the biggest problem I had was where to hang it?!? I debated hanging it in several different rooms. And visualzed it in my mind. Since husband was not willing to move it, ever again, I had to pick the right and perfect spot. I think I made the right choice.

It ended up weighing 37 pounds, but I still pray it doesn’t fall of the wall. We used an Ook professional dry wall claw with a 200 lb. rating.

It was awkward holding it. Had to be held by the hanger on the back

Fiddling around with what to put on the wall sconces, shopping my house. Tried about 5 different items, decided on the Staffordshire dogs for now. Until I find something else. Any suggestions?

Close up. Board is well hidden. Wish that I thought of Teresa’s comment to paint the board an oyster shell color first. In the end, it worked out fine. The board doesn’t show.

Love that I was able to find the little shells. Their color blends nicely with the oysters.

I switched out lamps. These tall skinny ones are perfect with the mirror. I think they don’t compete too much with the mirror.

It was a fun project. I learned so much that I’m ready to make another one!

Still looking for the things to put between the lamps. Would love some ideas from all you talented decor bloggers. I have a very difficult time with accessories and decorative vignettes!

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.