Wednesday, May 18, 2011

It's all done with Mirrors!

Don't we all have items on our list that we forget to pick up at the quilt shop only to remember later, when you "need" it? I have long thought a set of right angled mirrors would come in handy when designing. While at a local quilt show recently I asked Shirley, owner of The Marsh Store if she carried these, Shirley told me that she did not have any in the store and would gladly order them for me, BUT she said, her opinion was they were a little pricey for something you could likely make yourself. She went on to suggest that I purchase a couple of inexpensive mirrors from the dollar store and see what I could do with them. Well.........THANK YOU Shirley......money saved on mirrors can be better spent on your luscious fabrics and fibre art supplies.

So.......$2 (plus tax, of course) and I now have a quick and easy way to develop designs and see how multiples will look, without having to spend time on the computer manipulating photos.

The mirrors
A small screw driver to pry open the plastic frame.......it popped open very easily
I used a set square to get the proper angle, a little tape on the back and I was in business ( you do need to leave a small gap when creating the "hinge")
Did you notice the doodle on the sketch pad there? Look how these mirrors allow me to see all sorts of possibilities simply by placing the mirror(s) on various sections of the doodle. You will also see that sometimes I placed the mirrors at less than a 90 degree angle to see the effect even more sections would give.


16 comments:

Joan said...

Those mirrors are wonderful for design - I got mine made at 12" square from a glass shop - they cut two for me and I used electicians tape to get them together . They really were curious as to what I was going to use them for. I do love your designs in the mirror. I hope to get larger ones as I am still unsure how to enlarge designs. What size do you make your initial designs?

Clare Wassermann said...

ha - genius

Bunny said...

Great idea and your artwork is so awsome.

Brenda said...

I bought a set like that at a clothing store -- it even came in a special case.

Anonymous said...

Now that is smart!!!

Kim said...

So simple......so why didn't I think of it? thanks for sharing...yes I'm making one!

Happy sewing

Diane J. Evans said...

I thought you said that you weren't good at math??? This is what we teach our students in geometry classes when we want them to explore transformations! What a great technique for quilt design -- would you believe I've never tried it???? Gotta go get some mirrors now . . .

Love your designs, by the way . . .

Diane

Createology said...

Well that is certainly a thrifty solution. I so appreciate helpful people who are more about solving the problem than the ocassional overpriced sale. I would definitely go back to that lady and buy fabrics and such. Your doodle is fabulous and how intriguing all the angles become great possibilities. Happy mirroring...

Robbie said...

Well, how clever this is!! And I love the look of the designs you got just playing with it!!! thanks for sharing with us!

Sherry said...

I also heard about this and how wonderful and cheap is this. I have used mine a few times but I will use it more hopefuuly in time to come.

yetunde said...

i am going to try this. i also zentangle on the side and i think this is a great idea to use.

thanks

Mishka said...

Great money saving tip Jill. I'll have to look for some mirrors at the dollar store next time I'm there.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for a great tip!! I'm amazed at the sheer number of beautiful design options you ended up with!!! How will you ever choose which design to stitch?? Beautiful!

Magnolia Souls said...

such cool idea.

Quilter Kathy said...

Very clever...and fun!

Quilter Kathy said...

Hey...I just thought of a title for a quilt you could make "Smoke and Mirrors"!

Copyright Jill Buckley