From Broken to Beloved: A Personalized Hand Mirror Restoration

This project showcases the transformation of a hand mirror whose handle had broken and whose original construction was simple and not particularly refined. Its owner, who treasures her beauty routine as a moment of care and grounding, wanted something special—an object that felt truly hers.

Knowing her deep love for the sea and the sense of clarity and renewal it brings, I crafted a new handle from carved wood, shaped and detailed entirely by hand. Inspired by underwater landscapes, I decorated the piece with a marine scene that flows gently around the mirror.

To preserve more than just the reflective surface, I repurposed the original blue-grey plastic backing, cutting and shaping it into the small fish that now inhabit the painted seaworld. The result is a restored and reimagined mirror: practical, expressive, and infused with the calm brightness of the ocean she loves.