Mermaid Lily's First Silicone Tail

[MermaidBrandie]

Im sitting at work, surrounded by sex toys and porn, and looking like a crazy person cuz I'm laughing hysterically.


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[Lily]

Im sitting at work, surrounded by sex toys and porn, and looking like a crazy person cuz I'm laughing hysterically.


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Hehehehehe, awesome!

Also, Maethor, who says I'm functioning?? Literally every waking moment the last few weeks I've been thinking about my tail. I forgot to put my car in "park" this morning and almost rolled out of my driveway. It was not the first time...

[OceanWhisper]

(I wanna say this without sounding weird, excuse me if it does) Awwww honey >.< :hug: as long as you're functioning enough to not actually lose your car, then you'll be okay! :D I love this project/tail, please keep uploading pics :D

[Mermaid Kelda]

Aaaaaahhh noooo this is too amazing why don't I have any money ;__;

I CANNOT WAIT to see this baby finished and swimming! You are an inspiration! *bows*

[Mermaid Neri Elvina]

OMFG LILY!!!! FOR A FIRST TAIL THAT IS F*CKING AMAZING!!!! I'M GONNA JOIN Y'ALL IN SCREAMING!!!! :swoon:

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[PearlieMae]

COWABUNGA!

Well everyone else was shouting...

Your tail looks wonderful! Congratulations!

[Kishiko]

SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALADOCIOUS

What are we shouting about? :D

Lol I'm kidding, Lily your tail looks incredible!!


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[Lily]

UGGHHHHHH I WANT TO GO SWIMMING SO BAD BUT MY HUSBAND HAS FRIENDS IN TOWN WHO ARE ONLY AVAILABLE TO HANG OUT DURING TIMES WHEN MY POOL HAS OPEN SWIM!!!! WHY DID WE HAVE TO PICK THIS WEEKEND TO ACTUALLY HAVE SOCIAL LIVES???

Anyway.

Got some cute pics of the back yesterday!

Taken just after adding the accesory fins! The back is generally a little darker than the front, because I figure mermaids should be countershaded like all marine life. Don't want to get eaten by a shark just because I don't blend in with my ocean environment!
http://i.imgur.com/yg4T09J.png

Back spots! You can see I left out the pearl white than runs down the center of the front.
http://i.imgur.com/ZxHZC6F.png

Back of the fluke! Far less white than the front and the rays are all dark blue.
http://i.imgur.com/galt3uH.png

Ankle fins! I realize while taking this picture that I meant to have them the other way around, but they look cute this way, too. I may take them off and reattach them the right way someday but I want to see how they look in action first.
http://i.imgur.com/SpxTeRU.png

Side fins! These are at about mid thigh. I even countershaded these so the back part is a little darker than the front :)
http://i.imgur.com/A38iN57.png

I love it so much I'm almost afraid to touch it. I want to just hang it on the wall and pet it and maybe lick it a little...

[Maethor]

YOU HAVE A TAIL JUST TAKE YOUR FRIENDS SWIMMING WITH YOU
YOU'RE A MERMAID SO YOU AUTOMATICALLY WIN THE DEBATE :D

[Mermaid Freyja]

What Maethor just said!!! DOO EEEET! Make them your production team to get video and photos, lol! Fun for everyone.

[Mermaid Neri Elvina]

YES!! YES!! YES!! TAKE THEM WITH YOU!!

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[Lily]

YOU HAVE A TAIL JUST TAKE YOUR FRIENDS SWIMMING WITH YOU
YOU'RE A MERMAID SO YOU AUTOMATICALLY WIN THE DEBATE :D

Oh god this is going to sound so pathetic but it's the truth:

I don't actually have any friends. Like, ANY. Not in this state, anyway. We moved about 2 years ago from San Francisco CA to Portland OR and have made precisely zero friends. My husband has some people that he works with (including those in town this weekend) who we consider "friendly" but we almost never hang out with them. Certainly I don't feel like we're good enough buddies to call them up and ask them to video me swimming around in a giant silicone body suit and also please don't let me drown.

I need a life...

[Mermaid Neri Elvina]

Aww I have a pretty nonexistent social life too!! *hugs*

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[Maethor]

That's not pathetic! It's hard to meet new people you get along with! Maybe when you go swimming you'll meet someone who is totally into it.
Quick story: like two months into school I realized I hadn't told some of the girls on my floor about my monofin. I (kinda shyly) told my friend/aquiatance Morgan about it and she responded "WHAT THAT IS SO COOL. WHY DIDNT YOU TELL ME EARLIER I WOULD HAVE LIKED YOU SO MUCH FASTER." And now all the girls know and support me as the mermaid.

[Kishiko]

I know the feeling :( We moved states 3 years ago and I don't have a single friend here. Especially sucks when I need a mertender and both the parents work


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[Lily]

Okay so I might not be able to get to the pool today, but I still put on my tail because WHY NOT?!

http://i.imgur.com/6WItxJQ.png

Mermaids don't have to put away laundry. That's for lowly bipeds. Don't judge me...

Bonus cat!
http://i.imgur.com/dEK0Gdh.png

Here's the first pic of the blended waist! It's not 100% perfect but I'm pretty happy with it. I couldn't get the tail pulled up all the way dry but it will fit tighter and look better when it's up higher.
http://i.imgur.com/1bTcwIb.png

I made a little tail chain of pearls last night to wear around my tail like an anklet. In the original story the Little Mermaid's grandmother adorned her tail with pearls and shells for her first trip to the surface.
http://i.imgur.com/mZKpH4t.png

[Mermaid Kelda]

You look absolutely fantastic! *screams some more*

[Lily]

Thank you! How I feel right now:

http://i.imgur.com/iEdGjQe.gif

[Seraphina Suds]

Simply gorgeous!! And I love the pearls! I wanted to do something similar for myself but never got around to it xD

[OceanWhisper]

That gif >.< YOU LOOK AMAZING! Wooh!!! that tail.... Djveidvdhwjskveh*breathe*omghsjdvzhbskswhdv

[OceanWhisper]

Simply gorgeous!! And I love the pearls! I wanted to do something similar for myself but never got around to it xD
Same with the pearls, *I luv dem* <3

[Fifi Tigg]

That is one gorgeous tail!!! :mermaid kiss:

[Mermaid Galene]

Tremendous job! WTG!

[Lily]

Thanks everyone!!

If you guys really like those pearls I could add some to my etsy shop :) They were fun to make and I have TONS of pearls still. I'd just need to know the circumference of your tail where it meets your fluke so the shortest strand would fit properly.

[Maethor]

Thanks everyone!!

If you guys really like those pearls I could add some to my etsy shop :) They were fun to make and I have TONS of pearls still. I'd just need to know the circumference of your tail where it meets your fluke so the shortest strand would fit properly.
I would love to buy some when I get my tail!

[MerEmma]

Awesome job! The blended waist looks like it came out pretty well, and I love the pearl adornments. <3

[Dancing Fish]

This turned out simply GORGEOUS. I particularly love the swirly shapes in your fins and flukes. And such a nice job on the waist!

[Mermaid Freyja]

I'm swooning over your tail!!! Well done :swoon::dance::yay:

[Shimmer Mermaid]

Im in Arkansas. 19. I have no friend either social life either. Moved from illinois when i was 8. Maybe a meet up will have to happen in the future?

[Mermaid Wesley]

great!

[Merman Arion]

you look FINTASTIC !!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

Kuddos to you for this amazing journey! You rock!

[Kabuki-Bunny]

The fit is like....PERRRRFECT! I mean daaaaamn,girl... Lol seriously I'm amazed at what a clean,professional job you've done on this and I can only imagine how good you must feel right now! Congrats on a fantastic job!!! [emoji7][emoji7][emoji7]


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[Mermaid Rillia]

If I had $2000 I would be shoving my money in your face. Lol. That tail is absolutely stunning!! Can't wait to see a swimming video. :)

[Keiris]

Absolutely fantastic!!!!!!

[MermaidBrandie]

If i had $2000 i would too but i'm trying to make my own and hopefully mine will be as pretty.


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[Mermaid Neri Elvina]

Omg omg omg so beautiful!!!

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[Mermaid Alea]

Oh wow that is just so beautiful and I love how unique the paint job is. I hope you can swim soon!

[Lily]

VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


http://youtu.be/E7blQ2z2kJo

The pool was more crowded than we'd expected - a water polo team had taken over the deep end so we were stuck in the shallows with a TON of people. But hubby and I had a lot of fun! The tail is indeed a little too big at the waist so I got some slipping and gapping but overall I AM SO HAPPY! I can't get over how beautiful the fluke is in the water!

[Keiris]

Lily you look fantastic! Your tail fits you beautifully and it flows so nicely behind you. What a professional job. WELL DONE!!!

[Merman Arion]

You look fintastic! :clap:

If I may give you an advice, try to swim with your arms in front of you so you can work on the fluidity of your body.

I do it and I find the swimming easier this way :)

[Seatan]

You look fintastic! :clap:

If I may give you an advice, try to swim with your arms in front of you so you can work on the fluidity of your body.

I do it and I find the swimming easier this way :)

Arion's right on all points! It is sooooooo gorgeous and you look amazing!!! It is asi much easier to swim with hands cutting the water in front and has a super delicate feel to it as well-but you look awesome!!!! Your fluke is glorious!

[Lily]

You look fintastic! :clap:

If I may give you an advice, try to swim with your arms in front of you so you can work on the fluidity of your body.

I do it and I find the swimming easier this way :)

I have tried so hard to learn to swim with my arms in front and it feels SO AWKWARD to me. Suddenly it's like my arms are these weird alien creatures and I don't know how to use them anymore.

http://media1.giphy.com/media/6bTT8y6cyL4SQ/giphy.gif

[Seatan]

Hm... Try swimming with your arms crossed over your chest as a starting point--it's what SCUBA divers do and it might get you used to not using your arms. That is if you even want to learn to swim arms first--it's certainly not a requirement and you look fab however you swim! I've just found that arms out make you less hydrodynamic and getting that "cylinder" shape takes less effort to swim.

[Yulia]

Lees knees, more hips! You're doing well, and it's hard swimming in a tail with all the drag.

[Mermaid Galene]

Your tail looks fabulous, Lily!

[Merman Arion]

Lily, I encourage you to watch my swimming video with mermaid Crystal :)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TSKMPBvFtc

Look how we swim. This might help.
Of course, the level where I am came with lots of training with my fabric tail. When I began mermaiding, I was also using a lot my feet. At the moment, my swimming is not perfect yet but I'm on a good path and I'm sure you will too. Your tail is top notch and you will do wonders with it! :thumbs-up:

[Seatan]

The main reason I now swim with hands first always is that the first time I used a Competitor I gave one kick and hit the bottom teeth first, LOL! Well, it's LOL now but considering I have caps on my front teeth that I got as a teenager because my teeth were so dis colored (darn expensive caps) it wasn't so LOl then! Being in the shallows makes it even harder to mermaid. But you're looking great and Yulia is right, working the abs more will help to minimize the strain from the drag. Also if you get slightly more horizontal in the water (craning your neck up to see rather than tilting your upper body) you will have an easier, gentler swim where one single kick will propel you farther. But that's hard to do psychologically and especially in the shallows!

[Seatan]

Lily, I encourage you to watch my swimming video with mermaid Crystal :)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TSKMPBvFtc

Look how we swim. This might help.
Of course, the level where I am came with lots of training with my fabric tail. When I began mermaiding, I was also using a lot my feet. At the moment, my swimming is not perfect yet but I'm on a good path and I'm sure you will too. Your tail is top notch and you will do wonders with it! :thumbs-up:

Yeah see how Arion's body forms a more horizontal line without arching his back too much? That helps A LOT. "Point the top of your head where you want to go"--ultimate diving advice.

[Mermaid Freyja]

You look amazing!! The way the fluke flows, it totally reminds me of a betta; it sort of flutters a little at the sides. So lovely :)

[MerEmma]

Congrats on the tail! Great first tail, seriously impressive. :)

Where's the post with the graphic someone made just like, last week? It had the image showing how to properly swim in a tail and was really, really great. I can't seem to find it now.

[Yulia]

This video is great.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAIRWXYX3s8

[Mermaid Sirenia]

That tail though, GORGEOUS!!! Seriously I'm dying over here just looking at its beauty! You need to make a lionfish tail! If I had the money I would have you make one for me, but sadly I'm broke right now lol! Maybe in the future ;)

[Pixiidust]

UGGHHHHHH I WANT TO GO SWIMMING SO BAD BUT MY HUSBAND HAS FRIENDS IN TOWN WHO ARE ONLY AVAILABLE TO HANG OUT DURING TIMES WHEN MY POOL HAS OPEN SWIM!!!! WHY DID WE HAVE TO PICK THIS WEEKEND TO ACTUALLY HAVE SOCIAL LIVES???

Anyway.

Got some cute pics of the back yesterday!

Taken just after adding the accesory fins! The back is generally a little darker than the front, because I figure mermaids should be countershaded like all marine life. Don't want to get eaten by a shark just because I don't blend in with my ocean environment!
http://i.imgur.com/yg4T09J.png

Back spots! You can see I left out the pearl white than runs down the center of the front.
http://i.imgur.com/ZxHZC6F.png

Back of the fluke! Far less white than the front and the rays are all dark blue.
http://i.imgur.com/galt3uH.png

Ankle fins! I realize while taking this picture that I meant to have them the other way around, but they look cute this way, too. I may take them off and reattach them the right way someday but I want to see how they look in action first.
http://i.imgur.com/SpxTeRU.png

Side fins! These are at about mid thigh. I even countershaded these so the back part is a little darker than the front :)
http://i.imgur.com/A38iN57.png

I love it so much I'm almost afraid to touch it. I want to just hang it on the wall and pet it and maybe lick it a little...


How did you attach the extra side fins to the tail?

[PaolaMF]

that amount, or percentage of paint thinner to add pigmented silicone?
thanks

[Trident True]

that amount, or percentage of paint thinner to add pigmented silicone?
thanks

what do you mean by this? if your asking about a percentage on how much paint thinner to add to silicone, all i can say is it's trial and error. most people will add a small amount of thinner until the right consistency is achieved. the more solvent you add the more runnier it will be.

[PaolaMF]

thank you very much TRIDENT TRUE

[Mermaid Lilium]

:catfight:

(It's the closest I could find to a bitchslap.)

Bit late to this thread but reading through just now...

I may have just spat tea everywhere. Love you two :P <3

And this tail is f*cking epic. I cannot possibly give you enough praise for it.

[Mermaid Jessica Pearl]

Late to the party here too (I don't get on here much anymore :( ) but DAAAAAAMMMMNNN I am in love with this tail. So so pretty. The way the fluke flows underwater is just gorgeous! I wish I had some money to throw at you too! The details are so cleancut and peeeeerfect!

[Lily]

How did you attach the extra side fins to the tail?
I put a small amount of silicone in the freezer overnight so that it partially cures and gets a little thick, then I spread it on the edge of the fin and pin it in place to cure.


that amount, or percentage of paint thinner to add pigmented silicone?
thanks
As Trident True said, it's trial and error. To run the silicone through my airbrush, I had to thin it down to the consistency of heavy cream.


Late to the party here too (I don't get on here much anymore :( ) but DAAAAAAMMMMNNN I am in love with this tail. So so pretty. The way the fluke flows underwater is just gorgeous! I wish I had some money to throw at you too! The details are so cleancut and peeeeerfect!
D'awww, thank you! Still star struck :D

[Daylee]

This thread has made my night... I laughed, I cried, I cried laughing. You are super funny and have made a truly gorgeous tail. And the comments...I am so overjoyed by all of it. Thank you for taking the time to include us on your journey.

[Keiris]

It's just GORGEOUS!!!!

[Naufra]

Remind me to commission you if I ever go for a silicone tail. That monster is GLORIOUS!

[Merman_Shawn]

This is amazing! You should be so proud of yourself! :D

[PaolaMF]

that technique you used for stacking the flakes of clay? no gaps? Thank you

[LouLouBelle]

That is absolutely stunning! I'd love to see some pics of it in action [emoji4]


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[Mermaid Kim]

Reading through this thread tonight and just wondered does filling the mold with clay where the bubbles are allow the silicone to cure in the mold in the spots you fill in with clay? Thankyou for the advise (: i have a couple spots I am worry about on my fluke mold.

[Lily]

Reading through this thread tonight and just wondered does filling the mold with clay where the bubbles are allow the silicone to cure in the mold in the spots you fill in with clay? Thankyou for the advise (: i have a couple spots I am worry about on my fluke mold.

Yep, filling it in with clay works great! You may have to refill it after a few casts because sometimes the silicone will pull it out, but it won't flow into the bubbles. Just be sure you get it really smooth.

[Stormy]

Amazingly beautiful! great work!

[Mermaid Caspiana]

So I just read through this entire thing and have a few things to say...
one, I'm so very sorry for everything that's happened to you, between sickness and Phoebe... I lost my cat Sebastian (I named him that when I was four or five and my sister and mom were fighting over the name and I was watching Little Mermaid. Haha) last year at 12 years old. So I'm sending virtual hugs even though I came to this thread late. And the new puppy is freaking adorable and I hope all is well and everyone's loving her. <3
Two, I'm absolutely in love with this tail. I cannot believe this was your first tail... I'm in awe. I love the tattered fins, the color scheme, the detailing, the blended waist... literally everything. *more hugs* ;) :))
Three, I wish you great luck with your business! I'm trying to start my own ups so *high fives* lol.
and four... your comments and gif usage was great. hahaha bravo. ;)
Can't wait to see more of this piece of art!!! <3

[Mermaid Enma]

How do dreinage holes work ? I mean, do the drain channels need to be the hole fluke long or just at the bottom, if so, how does the water flows through it ?
And do I need to make some channels while attaching the monifin to the silicone or anything else to make the drainage system work?
sorry for my poor english, THANKS!

[EmyLock]

Wow, your work is just amazing <3 thank you for sharing it with us <3