Dragons & Pearls

In 2015, we had the bathroom remodeled. It was a terrible contractor experience. We all have at some point in our lives, right? Kind of a right of passage to becoming an adult?

Once the dust and drama settled, the creative spirit pulled me to make it feel like "The Shire Repurposed Neat."

There was a frame at the thrift store for $7.99. I felt challenged to see what I could do with it for decoration over the latrine (toilet). Over the last nine years, the interior has been updated three times.

2015 - 2018 Baby Belly and Feet Painted on foam board.

2018 - 2024 Mermaid Tail made from gems found on clearance at a craft store on foam board.

2024 - Present Dragon Eye for the win on foam board.

Upon 2024's arrival, my brain noted it'll be the year of the lioness, not the gazelle. There will be things that bring me joy. Those things bring pain/discomfort and will be placed within healthy boundaries.

That brought me to stand in the bathroom in January, annoyed at the mermaid tail and desiring something new. Art that spoke to the strong and creative spirit today. However, keeping with the lifestyle of interesting shire and repurpose, we toyed with the idea of a HUGE sticker, a painting...or something unique but dragon-themed. Then I thought, man, the dragon is tough texture-wise. What would offset that?

Pearls. Pearls would offset the scales and tough texture of the dragon.

So from Mermaids and Octopus, we are rocking the Dragon and Pearls in the loo (bathroom).

We couldn't just hang a sticker...nope. Nope. We now were committed to gems, pearls, and sequence. What is more chuckle-worthy than a dragon eye looking in through a frame at you while you use the privy (restroom)?

Here is how to create it.

Our creation is perfectly imperfect like most things within The Shire Repurposed.

Ultimately, the only cost was the price of paint, gems, pearls, and sequence ($30) & time.

Ingredients for Success:

Paint of your choice. We used acrylic paint as it was here and ready to be used.
Painters Tape
Sharpie Marker
Drop cloth of some sort. Especially if kiddos are to assist.
Paint Brushes.
Glitter - Color preference makes it uniquely yours.
Gems - Color preference makes it uniquely yours.
Pearls (half-spheres)
Sequence - Color preference makes it uniquely yours.
Foamboard - Used White and painted its base green like dragon skin to fill in between the gems and such.
Tweezers for gem placement
Mod Podge - Small bottle did the entire thing with some to spare.
Moss - We needed it as the spare foam board had a gap in the bottom left corner that needed some filling.

How to get there:

Tape off all areas that may get paint on it that you don't want on the frame.
Sketch the eye lines/layout. Feel free to use a template if desired.
Paint the foam board green. Let it dry.
Paint the eye and accents of your choice. Let them dry.
Place gems and pearls, sequence with tweezers, and Mod Podge as you desire/it flows.
Place the moss/fix the places needing some TLC.
Step back and enjoy the new scene.