Nashoba, The Native American Mermaid's 1st Fabric Tail

[Nashoba]

Hello, my lovelies!

I just got the fabric to make my first tail, today, and I thought I'd share with everyone.

Going with my mersona, it's brown with various animal prints going through it. Over the animal prints are little blocks of shiny gold that look like scales.

It may take me awhile as I am also planning my wedding in May and making my own wedding dress, but here is the beginning and I am so excited about this project!



Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MermaidNashoba
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/magicmissbri

[BriannaPixieDee]

I can't wait to see the progress photos! This tail is going to be quite interesting.

[Lucinda]

Interesting fabric, Nashoba. I'm looking forward to seeing the end product. :)

I'm also considering using animal pattern fabrics myself. I've been on the look-out for green snake or lizard skin patterned cloth.

[Nashoba]

I got my fabric on Ebay. 4 yards for only $20 which is not too shabby.

This listing was what I was considering before I went in a different direction. I was thinking green, as well. . .

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apparel-Fabric-ITY-Yellow-Green-Black-Animal-Print-Polyester-Lycra-Sewing-BTY-/321673545283?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ae53cc643

A cursory search yields these. What you're looking for is out there. ;-)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dance-Costume-Spandex-Lycra-Fabric-Green-Blue-Snake-Skin-Print-50cm-x-150c (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dance-Costume-Spandex-Lycra-Fabric-Green-Blue-Snake-Skin-Print-50cm-x-150cm-/121277575589?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item1c3cb4f1a5)

And there's only 2 yards of this, but it's got a good look.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-YD-GOOD-WEIGHT-NYLON-LYCRA-SPANDEX-PRINT-S93-/311048688415?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item486bf2531f

[Echidna]

Love the look of it!
I don't think I've seen a similar tail before.

[SeaGlass Siren]

That is a very interesting print choice. i can't wait to see it!

[mermaid_lover]

I'm really curious ;) but what can go wrong with such nice fabric :p

[Ashton]

neat, i cant wait to see more!

[Mermaid Galene]

I'm really interested to see what you do with this, Nashoba!

[Nashoba]

For anyone interested, I found this fabric on Ebay, today.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HOLOGRAM-GREEN-GOLD-OVAL-STRETCH-MESH-SEQUIN-FABRIC-DANCE-WEAR-TABLECLOTH-DECOR/111506247545?_trksid=p3693.c100102.m2452&_trkparms=aid%3D333008%26algo%3DRIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D20140212121249%26meid%3D4dd2338c77914a95913 df2f88615ed54%26pid%3D100102%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26 sd%3D400867356018

It's a bit pricey at $17.99 a yard, but there seem to be 44 yards available... and it looks scaly AND sequiny!

[Ashton]

I have seen that on my adventures up to the LA Fabric District. I believe there are different varieties of the colors, but they are all around $18/yrd. I was thinking of making a tail out of some I found (photo below) But I have yet to have the time to devote to having to sew sequin fabric. Before you run it through the machine you need to take some of the sequins off (so they don't ruin the machine) and then if you want you can sew them back on. But it is a painfully detailed and time consuming process.
Plus with sequin fabric you just keep finding them everywhere!!! OMG I keep finding sequins from a costume I made 2 years ago on the floor every once in a while... and I am always like "hey... where did you come from"

27930

[Nashoba]

My monofin came in this week. Check ebay for monofins. I got mine used, but never worn. Lady got the wrong size for her - perfect size for me. Picked it up for only $22+shipping.

28235

[Ashton]

Cool! I never thought of eBay for monofins.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Nashoba]

So, now that I'm married and got the wedding out of the way (Whew! What a ride!), I can resume work on my tail.

Progress pics:
All cut out
29533

Top of the cutout with fabric
29534

[Keiris]

That's cool fabric Nashoba! I have been looking for a lizard/crocodile in golden greenish colors for a Medusa costume I am making for someone. Congrats on your wedding BTW!

[Nashoba]

Thank you, Keiris. I found the fabric on Ebay. Still have enough leftover to make another tail, plus some accessories. :D

[Keiris]

Can't wait to see the finished product!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

A fin top like your avatar!

[Nashoba]

Ok, so the main part is sewn. Not too bad for a first attempt. Still trying to decide what I want to do with the fluke as far as detailing, but here it is - sewn with yours truly.

29552

And me with my purple fade to pink hair - no makeup - trying it on for the first time.

29553
29554

[MermaidAine]

Such pretty fabric!

[Keiris]

It will be very interesting once you have the fluke completed. I bet that fabric looks waaaay cooler in person!

[Nashoba]

Ok. So I got it made. Haven't gotten any decent "out of water" pics yet due to loss of camera, but off to the Bahamas I went with the dubbed "Jungle Fantasy Tail" and here is some of the result.

And, yes. That is a real jaguar. His name is Simba. It was his first time meeting a mermaid.

I swam with him in the water a bit, his big paws paddling in the lagoon. What you can't see is the ring of people on shore snapping pictures as I doubt any of these people had seen a mer before, either. And I think I might have been the first mer (with tail) to visit this little island). Then, after splashing around, Simba and I got up on the platform together. He sat beside me, examining my tail and sniffing me. He put his left on the thigh part of my tail and kinda put his claws into me. Not in a way to hurt or scratch me, in any way.

The crowd gathered around gasped and Simba's trainers were getting wary, I could tell. But I've been around big animals my whole life and I was totally relaxed the whole time. I said, "No claws, honey. No no," very sweetly. He retracted his claws, then put them in again. Just enough to hold on to me. Just enough to say "This is mine" in that way that cats do. Again I said, "No no claws, honey." Still, I was claimed by this very big kitty. So, I gently reached down with one hand and lifted his paw up, unhooking it from my tail. This is when he saw my fluke floating in the water and thought it looked like a fun play toy and jumped off the platform and in the water after it.

Long story short, Simba didn't end up getting my fluke and it was a fun time.

Also, yes. Those are also real and wild stingrays I am holding as well as kissing.

As a note to everyone . . . please don't just go and frollic out with critters you're unfamiliar with or untrained on how to interact with for everyone's safety, PLEASE! I know what I'm doing. That's why I'm still alive and kicking at 34 with zero animal injuries to date with adventures like these. I know it looks like amazing fun and magical, but KNOW YOUR CRITTERS and BE SAFE!!!

Osiyo

-Nashoba


31043

31044

31045

31046

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Cute! Is he still a cub? He doesn't look very big.

[Nashoba]

Almost a year old, from what I understood. Very playful boy. When he was being brought to the lagoon, he had stolen one of his trainer's flip flops and there was a little bit of a scuffle trying to get it back. lol

[Seraphina Suds]

What an incredible opportunity! Do you have more pictures?

Sent from my C6725 using Tapatalk

[Nyx]

That is amazing Nashoba!

[jukumerboii]

i looove it! your so natural playing with him! we mers love our fellow animals!

[Mermaid Alea]

What an amazing opportunity! You and the jaguar match! :D

[Nashoba]

Those were pretty much the only pics that came out. I don't have a waterproof camera, except for the disposable ones, so a lot of the pics got washed out and / or weren't very good. And, thank you all. I felt very natural with such a big boy! lol

On a good note, the camera I lost on this trip has FINALLY been sent back to me - what it means is pics of this tail. Yay!!! So, here you go. Lots of photos!

31759

31760

31761

31763

31764

31765

[Keiris]

Wonderful pics Nashoba! Looks like fun!