Mirror Gallery Wall

After months of having a barren wall above our sofa, we finally have a mirror gallery wall to fill the space and brighten up the room! I originally wanted a mirror for over our couch, but had a completely different look in mind. Here's the post where I share my Pinterest "inspiration" photos.  However, after finding a beautiful focal mirror at a vintage sale, I decided to go a different route.

The bonus of choosing to do this instead of one of the ideas from my Pinterest catalog was that it used mainly things I already had on hand. The only thing I had to purchase was the center mirror (at $14, it was a steal!).

I had 2 other vintage style mirrors around the house. So I gathered those along with 2 gold-toned frames (with backing and glass removed) and created this grouping. I really love the way the mirrors bounce light around, and the structured (yet not too formal) arrangement. 

In case you're wondering how to create a gallery grouping of mirrors, frames, or other objects, here's what I've found works well.

1. First, lay all of the object on the floor to decide on what arrangement you like best. It's easier to move things around and play with the arrangement when they are at ground level.

2. Lay newspaper under each frame and trace around it with a pen or highlighter (highlighters work especially well with newspaper!). Then cut out each shape and use masking tape or painter's tape to tape the newspaper shape onto the wall. (Oops, forgot to photograph that step!) 

3. Next, if any of the frames do not have a hanging device, you can easily make one by hot-gluing a paper clip to the back. SO easy. Just be careful not to do this with heavy frames, it probably won't support too much weight. Both frames I used this for were really light.

 4. Finally, mark the spot on each hanging shape where the nail should go. I just used a pencil to make a mark.

Once you have the nails in place, you can tear off the paper and tape, and hang your frame! Another little trick I learned is to use poster putty to center each frame, instead of a leveler. I'm too lazy to use a leveler, and I like it when frame galleries have a slightly off-kilter look. So, I just put a little dot of poster putty on the bottom two corners and adjust the frame by sight. Easy-as-pie!

I love how this gallery wall worked out. I think I will probably continue to add a few more mirrors/frames here and there as I find them, to beef it up a bit. But in the meantime, it's the perfect solution!

So in Love...

No, this post is not about my husband, even though I am in love (a different and MUCH greater love) with him. No, this is about love of the inanimate object kind.

 Every once in a while (maybe once a year?) I stumble across something that grabs my attention and captures me so much that I just fall in love. Inanimate object love. 

I found this mirror at a vintage sale this past weekend, and was immediately smitten. I love the shape, the weathered look, the details. 

Oh, the details! 

So, for a heftier-than-usual price of $14, it came home with me. My return home with yet another mirror elicited a humorous eye-roll from my Hubs. I tend to amass mirrors like Snow White's stepmother. (Except I don't stare into them and demand confirmation of my beauty....) 

I thought about where I wanted to put the mirror, but I just couldn't decide. Finally, I realized that I liked it so much it needed to be somewhere where I could see it a lot! So I focused on the blank wall in the living room, which has been needing something for a while.

I knew it needed something more to beef it up, since the mirror is smallish. I scrounged around and found a couple of other vintage mirrors that I had on hand, and started playing with some arrangement ideas. 

I know I want the new mirror to be a "focal" point, and I don't want it to get too cluttery. What do you think? Do you like the idea of a mirror gallery-wall?

Some Vintage Finds...

I went to a vintage sale a couple of weekends ago with a dear friend, and of course I found some things that absolutely had to come home with me.


Yes, owls. You know I can't resist those owls.

An apron. I love the cute print and the yellow trim! Sigh. I need to bake some cookies just so I can wear this thing! Would it be weird to wear an apron to work? Ok, I know. I just thought I would ask.

And the piece de resistance. There is actually a fraternal twin to this mug as well, with different shades of blue. I saw them sitting there and knew they were destined to become my new Fall coffee mugs. I swear, the coffee tastes better in these things!

Have you found any fun vintage items lately? I would love to hear about it!

I Heart Vintage

I just adore pretty much anything "vintage." I'm sure you can probably tell from the way I write here, but I just had to say it officially. I was born in the wrong century.

The problem is- I can't decide what century it is that I should have been born. Perhaps the roaring twenties? The flapper era seemed so glamorous and fun.

Or maybe the fifties? Many times over I have bemoaned the fact that I can't stay home and cook in the kitchen all day. Don't get me wrong, it's great having rights for women, but sometimes it would be nice to *not* be expected to work 40+ hours a week, keep a house clean, feed my husband, and somehow keep myself looking decent as well.

How about the seventies? Does anyone else look at those ridiculously amazing "Gunne Sax" dresses and just pray for the right opportunity to wear one? Seriously, any decade that combines the pioneer era with platform shoes has got to be amazing.

Just for the record though- any era that I happened to be around for is pretty much struck off the list. The 80's and 90's can keep their hairspray, stirrup pants, onesies (seriously, who wants a shirt that you have to wash as often as your undies? With metal snaps down in the nether regions?!), and florescent colors. I am happy with skipping those decades.

Just to show you that I am really not kidding about this in the slightest, I am including this picture. It's me, dressed as a Bavarian milkmaid. In a field. Next to a Real Haystack. In Germany.


What about you? If you could choose a decade, what would you turn the clock back to?

(image found here)



I used to watch the Dick Van Dyke show a lot when I was growing up, and yesterday I thought I would relive the good old days so I brought the laptop in the kitchen and watched it again while I baked cookies. Did you know that Hulu has all of the episodes, and you can watch them on your computer for free? Awesome.

Well, I just have to say that I am in love with their TV house. I would pack my bags and move into black and white if I could live there! I was just drooling over their furniture, amazing lamps, and fun decorations. I love the show because it is so light-hearted, uplifting, clean, and absolutely hilarious. Why can't we have TV shows like that these days? It seems like our comedians have all been replaced by foul-mouthed wierdos who just want to shock people into a laugh. I would rather watch Dick Van Dyke fall over a chair any day.

How about you? Any fond memories of watching old TV shows? What are some of your favorites?