A seashell framed mirror

After repainting my bedroom, I also moved artwork and mirrors around.  This was a mirror that hung in the studio, and it had a carved shell at the top, so it fit in nicely with my beach paintings.

But it was a little blah and a dull tan color.

So I gaudied it up a bit!

I used shells collected on our last vacation, mother of pearl and pearl beads, and Beth gave me a huge box of seashells she’d gotten from an estate sale.

My first move was to lay them out in a pattern to accentuate the carving at the top.

Then removed a few shells and  I spread tile adhesive in about 6” areas.  Kind of like icing a cake, not the way you’d lay tile on the floor.

It went on nice and thick, so I could smoosh the shells down into it.  While it was still wet, I pushed pearls and smaller shells into the adhesive that wasn’t covered by the main shells.

I worked my way around the frame, in those 6” patches at a time.

After it dried, I filled in bare looking spots with the Diamond Glaze and sprinkled crystal quarts chips into it.

It may look like a jumble, but there was a plan.  Big shells at the top, then black and gray ones down the sides, starting with darker at the top and going lighter towards the bottom.  The very bottom is all cream and white.

I go back and forth, wondering if it is glorious or just too gaudy.  But since I do enjoy some over the top foof, I think I like it.