this project is a 32" x 28" mirror frame, with a 20" x 16" bevelled mirror in the center. there is a 6" frame area for mosaic around the center mirror. i will probably have the piece framed when finished, so i will allow for 1/4" on the outside edge of the piece before the actual pattern begins. in this 1/4" area, i will use short strips to finish to the edge.

i have decided on my color scheme, and have a rough idea for my pattern. i have the preliminary pattern shown in the photo. i am clear on the borders, but still need to work out the repeating pattern for inside the borders. i know that i want the main theme to be squares with small diamonds. my preliminary lay-out seems like it will work for 2 repeating squares of small diamonds (not really diamonds, but squares turned diagonally) within the borders of the 6" frame area. i have not worked it out mathematically for the length and width of the frame, but just for the area with the borders.

this is typically how i work. i have an idea for what i want, but i more or less work it out as i go. i like to get my borders worked out... that means having part of it actually glued... before i move on to the rest. that is because it can be difficult to know the exact measure of the border until it is actually in place.

although i may ususally have an idea for layout before i begin, i like to cut up some shapes in the colors that i am considering and just play around with them. sometimes, i may find that what i want to do will not work out too well mathematically, or that the colors don't really look so good. so, the best way to start is to cut some pieces in a variety of shapes and colors, and just play.

for colors i have chosen mirror glass in deep burgandy, bronze, and silver frost. for van gogh, i am using red/champagne and bronze. i will be using both 3/4" and 1/2" tiles:

- triangles in deep burgandy mirror and red/champagne van gogh 3/4" tiles
- long strips in bronze mirror and bronze van gogh 3/4" tiles
- short strips in bronze and deep burgandy mirror and bronze van gogh 3/4" tiles
- long strips in silver frost mirror and deep burgandy mirror 1/2" tiles
- small squares in silver frost mirror 3/4" tiles
- squares in bronze mirror and red/champagne 1/2" tiles (each tile cut into quarters)
- triangles in bronze mirror 1/2" tiles (each tile cut into 8 triangles)

a bit about the colors...

the deep burgandy mirror tile is really very dark, and often looks black. this is fine, as the black look is very elegant, in my opinion. i chose the red/champagne for a couple of reasons: i think that the red helps bring out the deep red of the burgandy mirror tile; and the champagne van gogh color is very close to the bronze van gogh, which i am also using, so they go nicely together.

i like to mix the mirror and the van gogh because i think that they work very well off of each other. the van gogh, by itself, can be dark, and the mirror, by itself, can be harsh. so, i almost always mix them. i have done one mirror in just mirror tiles, and it is very bright and colorful; i do think it is a bit harsh for my taste though. this is certainly a matter of personal taste.

there are certain combinations that i am very fond of, so i tend to use them over and over. a couple of these would be bronze mirror with bronze van gogh, and gold mirror with gold van gogh. i particularly like these combinations when used either in long/short strips or small squares. you will see that i am using the bronze mirror/bronze van gogh combination in both long and short strips on this project.

i have also cut my cement board, and measured and marked the area for the mirror. i will install the mirror just before grouting.

on my next post, i will get started gluing the borders. i will show how i go about measuring and marking to make the borders work out.