DIY, I know exactly what you mean. MIL is always exchanging her gifts, her children took to giving her cash just because she's so hard to buy for. But she has been here and seen my blue mirror and my doors so when she asked for a gold mirror I really hope that means she knows what to expect! LOL

Icheer, the salt dough recipe is in this thread

Here is a link that might be useful: Oh Grrrrrrrrrrrr

WOW! That is an awesome mirror, it looks so rich. It would be hard to give away. You should keep taps on it, if she doesnt use it or hides it somewhere (you never know), ask for it back or just take it, LOL.
Bianchi

WOW, that is awesome. I'm not a gold person myself but wow, it is very very nice.

I'm happy. I wasn't sure how to handle that rounded edge so I put thin row of van gogh there.

taking grout suggestions, obviously gold is at the top of the list. lol

{{!gwi}}

that mirror is salvaged from the trash at the auction house. It's like the silver is purposely gouged to get that "textured" look. (Dh dug it out of the trash can for me) AWE!!!! neat huh?

NT, I love it! So glad you edged it with the darker VG. It's just the right finishing touch!
Grout color?? I'm not sure about gold, might blend in with instead of accenting your tesserae. Maybe a bronze color? Or a black with a gold wash? Hmmmm. Heck, you know what you're doing. Use the force NT!

OMG NICE!!!! I'm in LOVE with that!!!
It is so up my ally! WOW!!!! I ordered Laurie Mika's book
the other night, and am hoping to get rubber stamps for Christmas. I want to play in that medium really bad.
I'm just in AWE!! Just too cool Nice!

Hazie

Is that an earring on the right side??!! Awesome mix of found and glass tesserae! Lovin it!! I would do gold grout and gold glitter, then probably lament that it was too much. I trust you will come up with something awesome to finish it off!

NT, that is AWESOME! I just keep looking at it. STUNNING would be appropriate. Yeah, don't get your feelings hurt if MIL returns it, there's plenty of us here that would like to put our name in a hat for that one.

It's wonderful, NT! Oh my goodness... all of the shades of gold! AND... the depth! Love it!!!

Aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... This is making me CRAZY!!! All of these wonderful new ideas!!! :)

Whoo-hoo that is some piece!!
Gold grout is the obvious, at least whatever with glitter!!
The Van Gogh edge is great. I left it painted on my Step D's mirror. I was afraid it would be a "pita". yours looks great!

Maria

OH Nicethyme that is WONDERFUL!!! LOVE IT!!! WOW You made it up so fast too.

And Yippieee hubby for his salvage for you. Verry Cool. My hubby brought me a BIG glass lite shade once from the dumpster. He said I could use it for a totem. He is learning.
Chris

Nice that is really cool. Thank you so much for linking us to your salt dough recipe I was feeling quit blonde not knowing how I missed the post and not knowing where to find it!!!! Have you used the salt dough before in your mosaics? Do you think it will hold up? It really has me intrigued. I clipped your recipe and thought it awesome that you put admix in it!!!!!

The mirror is really pretty. I love all the gold. Dont have any suggestions for grout other than gold!!!

This is awesome:) I just love how you added the dough with the words stamped in it:) GREAT idea! Should make the gift recipient smile every time they see it:) I love all the found objects added,too!

How lovely. We learn so much from you, girlie. Never w/have thought of the admix. That'll keep them from being brittle, I suppose. This is a wonderful gift. Sure went together fast. Love the mix of tesserae and the balance in the dark/light design.

Sooo Beautiful! How bout a sand colored grout? King Tut would be proud of all that gold!!!

My first attempt at gold was too light so I did a wash of gold with black and I got what I was imagining.

Introducing Laugh, Sing, Dance!

{{!gwi}}

do you think it will be tacky to include a note that I'll take it back if it doesn't suit her? LOL

LOL, uh, yeah, it might be just a tad tacky...but the tought of it not being appreciated.....might lead me to...uh...be...tacky....

Anyway, tell me about the wash. Exactly what do you mean by using both black and gold. Mixed together? Or one over the other? Did you use white grout and then paint it with the two colors? When you say wash, you mean diluted by water, right?

yeah, I mixed gold with water then dripped in a little metallic black. It was cool because they didn't really blend but just swirled in the water so it gave me a mottled look on the grout... kind a "old gold" and also some shine too.

Sometimes certain projects just need some "shine" on the grout, like the grout lines appear WAY too dull next to some things. I had to do it on my tea set too, because the carnival glass was just SO BLING!!! LOL

The first gold tone was too matchy with the gold painted plate and overall too light. I have realized that grout lighter than the tesserae makes the grout lines look bigger.

It's AMAZING Nice! I just LOVE it.
What did you do to the mirror to get that beautiful effect?

Hazie

Lookit!! Great job NT!
I think you should just send it on down to me! For I would TRULY appreciate it. Naw, I'm sure she will too since she asked you to do something for her. She's lucky to have you for a DIL. (oohh, did I really say that??)

Just wonderful. When you say gold, do you mean gold-colored acrylic or gold metallic? I REALLY LOVE this mirror. It's so elegant as well as a very unique mosaic. The "aged" mirror is a nice touch. I used a REAL aged mirror shard in my lantern mirror and just love it. What's your next project?

Slow, it was an artist acrylic in the tube, called pale gold. It's definately metallic. Right now, I've set up DD to make some pic frames for her teachers so she's got my space. It's killing me because she glues a few things and studies it forEVER. very pretty though, she's making a pink and black checker board in glass with matching found objects and beads. Her next one she wants all my leftover golds for a blue and gold combination.

Hazie, I'm not sure how that's done but I think the silver coat is gouged. It was a trash find by Dh at the auction house

*Gasp* ..... that mirror looks like it should be in a gallery . I always brag that I hang around with the best artsy fartsy group on the net ! LOL

SO TRUE !!!

Nice that is just divine!!! I love it. Your MIL better like it!!!! Yes I would put a note in there...tacky be damned!!! You have put so much work in that I'd hate to see it at the SHS (which i would then buy it!!!) or at a garage sale (which I would also then buy it) I love the grout color it turned out perfect. I will remember that tidbit about the lighter grout making the grout lines bigger.

Dear MIL,

I was so thrilled that you wanted me to make you a mirror for your collection, and hope that you like this one. If for some reason you don't though, please let me know and I'll take this one back and make you another one more to your liking.

Or just send it on to Eileen, because she loves it!;)

Heyyy..I already called dibbs!

VERY glam, tres chic and dramatic, NT! I've been trying to figure out what that tile or piece of glass is to the left of "dance". Well, if MIL doesn't like it, that's her loss and your GAIN!

Rosemarythyme, those are from a serving plate that I bought at an auction. It's amazing, clear with a gold filligree over the textured pattern. DD's gonna try it over a blue painted background.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Goldilicious!!!

Love this one! You did an amazing job.

You could make your own colored glass with this stuff too!
I think it's the same pattern.

Here is a link that might be useful: tapestry glass

NT, your grout couldn't be more perfect for that mirror. You have an outstanding work of art here; it's so unique.

I like Panther's note. I definitely would let her know you will take it back if it doesn't suit her.

WOW!!! I do love it it would be hard to give it up .She should know she is w very lucky ML.

Wow, NT - that is just totally AWESOME! Fantastic job. I love it!!!

Wow, that is just awesome!!Love that plate you used!

Maria

That's is a really interesting piece of art. I love all the different textures you added and the salt dough thing, what a cool idea. AWESOME!

Hey, that appears to be the very same pattern in the one BAMA posted. I can just imagine NT's special colors on that textured glass. The plate looks like it breaks nicely. Some of those pieces just shatter and seem so brittle. Your cut tiles look nice. It's fun to watch your DH, as well as the DHs of others on the forum, fall into this art once they "get it".

That turned out so lovely, and thanks for explaining the paint/grout part cuz it really is perfect!!!

Too wonderful for words.Your MIL is one lucky woman !Love everything about it.

Thank you all.

Bama, yep that is the exact same pattern and I've wanted it ever since Jane used it in her bridge mirror. I even found a source of cathedral colors in that pattern. The cool thing I like about the plate was the combo of clear and gold and it's thicker than sheet glass so it really gave it depth.

Slow, I was really surprised at how well it nipped up. The metal filigree had me worried that it wouldn't cut well but it went perfectly.

Thanks for answering my question. I really like it! You figured out the right mix to set it off just right. MIL is fortunate to have such a talented DIL!

MIL called today

SHE LOVED IT!!!!!!

See, we told you she'd love it!!

Maria

I missed this somehow the first go-round...just want to say I would love to have it!!! Beautiful!

WEll OF COURSE she would love it!!! If not she would need serious help.Not to mention half this board or more would be beating down her door for it. Heheheheh I think this mirror So ELEGANT!!! I am so glad she loved it too for your sake.

WooHoo!! Merry Christmas to all!!

Chris

Like We sooo knew that would happen, especially after seeing the "Bling" she sent you! I too had rave comments on the gifts I made!(All 6 were quite happy!)

Did MIL say she'll love it forever? Is there still hope you'll get it back. How can you not absolutely love it though. This would be so hard to give away. Its a most beautifully gorgeous mirror, so perfect, so awesome. I am sure it will be featured somwhere and make you famous!
Bianchi

Who WOULDN'T love it. Congrats.

Oh my goodness, that is gorgeous Nice!

Stupendous! I'm glad your MIL loved it. That makes it all worthwhile.

Love the colors, love the bling-bling, love the mirror...
And you said the mirror is just old, you didn't do anything to it? Wonderful.
It looks kinda 'Laurie Mika'-ish to me.
Linlee