V from Stick Horse Cowgirls asked me about the mirrors I have hanging over my floating books shelf. I love those mirrors. They are all vintage. One is inherited. Right after it came to my house to stay, I saw one at an estate sale. I loved its cute shape, and thought it needed to come home with me too. Then I thought they would be really great hanging on the wall together. But, you know, it's always more harmonious to display collections of odd numbers, so I kept my eyes open at auctions, estate sales, and Ebay. You know how that goes. The collection grew and grew, as they are wont to do. There are actually a few in a drawer somewhere that I should probably add to the grouping.
V also wanted to know how I hung them. I'm pretty proud of the method I devised for that. I didn't want to do anything that might mar the bakelite.
I took cut lengths of ribbon and a split key ring (the kind you break your thumbnail on when trying to add or remove a key). Fold the ribbon in half, slide the key ring onto the folded end, then place the two loose ends of ribbon through the fold and pull the fold down tight against the key ring. Tie the ribbon in a bow around the handle, making sure that the key ring was on the back side of the mirror. Also, be absolutely sure that the ribbon is tied tightly and securely, and that the handle widens above the tie, so that the weight of the mirror won't allow the mirror to slip out of the ribbon and fall to the floor, because that would make you really sad (not to mention unlucky for the next seven years).
I laid the mirrors out on the floor first to determine an arrangement that I liked. Then when hanging the mirrors on the wall, I placed the nails in the wall at an angle so that the rings wouldn't slip off.
And there you have it.
love, love the look! so cozy and calm...
ReplyDeleteYou know I have an old dresser set (my grandmother's wedding gift from her first marriage to my grandfather) --that mirror could be the first of a new collection!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for explaining how you hang them--very clever!!
What a lovely little collection - and beautifully displayed as well. So glad you enjoyed Room - I'm always a bit wary of recommending books, and people's taste is so different.
ReplyDeleteI love your mirrors, too! Such a cute idea! Thanks for visiting my blog and for your sweet comment on my laundry room redo. Wow, has that space been a god-send. It is actually the laundry room, but it was an old kitchen when we bought the house, as the house had been turned into apartments at one point in the 1950's. Imagine how ugly and outdated it was, with wallpaper pealing off the walls and a linoleum floor that looked like a semi had driven over it about a thousand times. U-G-L-Y. I'm even more appreciative of the space since we have the baby...and since I had to go to a laundry mat during the time the room was being redone. Whew. I forgot what that was like, as I had not had to do that since I first moved out on my own right after college. I've been spoiled by in-house laundry facilities (grin).
ReplyDeleteStop by and visit me again when you have a little time! Love, love, love your adorable decorating ideas!
Best,
Paula
www.paulasserendipity.blogspot.com
Your idea for hanging the mirrors is ingenious!!!! I've been looking for a way to do that in my bathroom. I think though, maybe I will use black ribbon - I think white would get funky after awhile in my bathroom. Thanks for the idea! Come visit me at www.lifeatwildberrycottage.com Lana
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