Mirror With a Mystery
I’m a romantic. But, of course if you’ve been reading this blog for long, you already knew that. And so many times when I come home with a great find from a thrift store or antique market, I wonder to myself about the story behind it. Who did it belong to? Where did they get it? What was the occasion? I’ve yet to get an answer from anything so far.
But, just a couple weeks ago I stopped at a roadside sale & bought this antique mirror for the bargain price of $8. It needed work, but I loved the true antique look of the mirror & the detail in the frame, so it came home with me.
I wanted this white, but the paint on the mirror was so thick, it needed to be stripped in order to retain any of the detail. So I removed the backing off of the mirror & found quite a surprise. There, sandwiched between the mirror & its backing was an old section of newspaper from my city, dated June 10, 1963.
When I unfolded it, I noticed the wedding announcements. My guess is that one of the women pictured was the owner of this mirror. Was it Nancy? Evelyn? Barbara Sue? Ramona? Who knows? But my mind started to wonder as I worked on the mirror.
To remove the old paint, I used this spray-on Handi-Strip from Lowes. I highly recommend using the mask & gloves if you use this stuff, by the way.
I followed the directions, spraying it on, letting it sit for a few minutes, scraping, then repeating the process.
As I sprayed, I continued to wonder. Maybe the mirror was a wedding gift. Or MAYBE the owner of the mirror was not one of the brides at all, but a victim of unrequited love. Maybe she had been hopelessly in love with one of the grooms in the article, and just maybe he chose Barbara Sue instead. And maybe she hid this newspaper in her mirror for years as a reminder of a love that was never to be. Or MAYBE the fumes from the paint stripper were getting to me.
Either way, I let the frame dry out, & a couple days later, I sprayed the stripped frame with a few fresh coats of flat white.
And here it is now– perfect in my daughter’s room. Whatever its story was before I don’t know, but I do know it has a great life now.
{Sharing this mysterious makeover with these great parties.}
One Life Many Journeys
April 19, 2010 @ 12:37 pm
It looks like it was waiting for just that spot! Beautiful!!!!
Jill
April 19, 2010 @ 1:06 pm
It seems to have found a very happy ending to whatever it's story may have been!
Blessings!
Jill
Beth
April 19, 2010 @ 1:09 pm
I like the mirror much better painted white. Great story!
{All Thingz Related}
April 19, 2010 @ 1:15 pm
The mirror is GREAT…so is the story! I tellmy hubby all the time I love antiques because I feel they have a story to tell! How FUN to have found the news paper! GREAT post! We would love to have you link this to our Anything Related party tomorrow!
~Bridgette
Red Door Home
April 19, 2010 @ 1:41 pm
Very pretty. I agree – one of the great things behind vintage pieces is imagining all the stories behind them.
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions
April 19, 2010 @ 1:54 pm
Ha! The fumes were getting to you ~ love it! : ) What a great mirror. I love that it is round and it looks great white. Interesting story somewhere in there, I'm sure, but you're right that it will have a new story now.
Creative Decor by Brooke
April 19, 2010 @ 2:14 pm
Everything does have a story and it would be nice to know them. Very interesting to find that newspaper in there. Makes you wonder for sure. I love how it turned out. The round shape in really unique and it does look great in that room. Thanks for sharing.
Brooke
Amy
April 19, 2010 @ 5:07 pm
That is really cool! Looks great in L's room. =]
Joy Williams
April 19, 2010 @ 5:12 pm
BEAUTIFUL! Love it! 🙂
Stef
April 19, 2010 @ 5:50 pm
Thanks for such an entertaining post. Funny how our minds wander like that. The mirror looks gorgeous!
Kaysi
April 19, 2010 @ 5:54 pm
I love the white, it looks great!
Michelle @ Sweet Something
April 19, 2010 @ 5:56 pm
Great job on the mirror! The fumes tend to get to me too!! 🙂 1963 is the year my parents were married…maybe you should put a newspaper article behind the mirror too! It could be the time capsule mirror! 🙂
junkdreams
April 19, 2010 @ 6:33 pm
A gorgeous find and a gorgeous transformation!
xojanis
honeysuckle
April 19, 2010 @ 7:55 pm
Your round mirror is great! I am glad that you stripped it first too. Good job
Kelli
April 19, 2010 @ 8:37 pm
Oh, please, tell us that you put the newspaper back in the mirror. Please!
Judy @ In His Grip
April 19, 2010 @ 8:57 pm
Great redo!
Amber
April 20, 2010 @ 1:49 am
That mirror is gorgeous! Great makeover!
Amber @ It's Greener Over Here
Melissa
April 20, 2010 @ 3:14 am
A beautiful mirror, a beautiful make-over, and a fascinating story…
Hello everyone...
April 20, 2010 @ 6:37 am
Very very pretty !
Tammy@ Not Just Paper and Glue
April 20, 2010 @ 12:51 pm
I love to imagine where antique things may have come from and who owned them. How fun that you found the newspaper though. Your mirror turned out absolutely beautiful.
Our Suburban Nest
April 20, 2010 @ 1:17 pm
I love how your mirror turned out! I have that exact mirror my great great aunt gave it to my mother and about a month ago she gave it to me. I have been debating painting it. I love the white I might just have to do the same. I'll let you know how it turns out:) Thanks for sharing.
CourtneyKeb
April 20, 2010 @ 1:18 pm
That mirror IS perfect in her room!
Oh I love it, and it's stunning in white!
{All Thingz Related}
April 20, 2010 @ 1:51 pm
Yeah! You linked up! Thanks for sharing this with all our readers!
~Bridgette
Ingrid @ Morestylethancash
April 20, 2010 @ 4:39 pm
Or maybe…the newspaper has a secret code that is actually a treasure map! Oh boy, I've been reading way to much Dan Brown lately! LOL The mirror looks great!
Bobbie
April 20, 2010 @ 4:44 pm
I love it! I have a link party on saturdays that I would love for you to join
http://www.iamonly1woman.blogspot.com
Cole
April 20, 2010 @ 9:16 pm
wow looks beautiful. Just visited your etsy shop too and love it. lovely blog.
nicole visiting from
http://lettersfromcoco.blogspot.com/
gail@myrepurposedlife.net
April 20, 2010 @ 9:21 pm
your mirror looks great, and what a story! I would be making myself crazy trying to figure it all out!
gail
LuckyStarHeather
April 20, 2010 @ 11:36 pm
I love it…now I want to find a mystery mirror!
Thanks for linking at Lucky Star Lane!
Kim
April 21, 2010 @ 12:01 am
What a perfect spot for it – your daughter's room is beautiful!
Molly @ A Bit O' Shine
April 21, 2010 @ 12:15 am
It looks fab! I loved your musings on what the paper might mean. 🙂
Wendy
April 21, 2010 @ 12:32 pm
great mirror and I love your theories ☺!
Jan @ bobbypins boardwalk
April 23, 2010 @ 3:59 am
Awww — I love it when that kind of thing happens! The newspaper is just as precious as the mirror, which turned out wonderful! Great job!
Rachel Lynn
April 23, 2010 @ 6:03 pm
I love your imagination! I can totally relate!