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Dreamie
06-30-2015, 06:44 PM
Hello Mers!
I have been coveting tails for a number of years, but have never taken the "plunge". Since I was a little girl first learning to swim, I always naturally gravitated to a dolphin kick. At 6 I was scared of the water at first, until I was given goggles and fins, then I was off like a dart. I am currently researching to purchase my first monofin, but I'm having a hard time deciding..... Rapid? Mahina? I want to eventually transition to a full silicone tail though I need to work up the proper muscles to do so.

A little about me personally....
I was born and raised in Seattle, with a degree in Microbiology and a Certificate in Scientific Illustration. Around the age of 19 I started working at Renaissance Faires as a Pirate, and shortly thereafter began travelling around the country working the largest Faires in the country. I have been an entertainer on stage with my husband Thomas Wood the Pyrojuggler as extra bawdy comic relief, a boothy, then 5 years also I was introduced to the world of Henna Tattoos. I currently run my own business called Hullabaloo Henna Tattoos, where I use my skills as a scientific illustrator and life long artist to create very unusual and surprising henna creations. "If I'm not creating a Hullabaloo, I'm doing it wrong." I always say. I end up drawing a great deal of custom mermaids in henna! I travel all around the country slinging henna now including Texas, California, and Washington State. I am also assistant art director for the largest ren faire in the country Texas Renaissance Festival, and I am periodically hired for odd art jobs like sign painting, web design, graphics, and fantasy illustrations for RPG game books. I am known as a Renaissance Woman in my circles for my ability to take up any task, be it automotive mechanics to psychological counselling, and everything in between. Call it a propensity to nonchalantly tackle any puzzle and an atypical lack of personally imposed limitations.

I already have designs in mind for my eventual full professional tail... but first things first... which trainer monofin to buy, to inevitably figure out my mermaiding measurements... *taps chin* I am also chronically over-analytic. :lol:

~Dreamie~
Facebook Fanpage:
http://www.facebook.com/dreamiewood

Drake
06-30-2015, 07:08 PM
Hail and well met, Dreamie.

Yulia
06-30-2015, 07:57 PM
Hi and welcome!

I started with a wave and I liked it. Many like the So Dive brand more because of the footpockets and smoother blade.
I haven't tried the mahina yet, but I've only heard good things about it. (Except that some get blisters if they don't have socks on)

Aysun_the_Mermaid
06-30-2015, 08:23 PM
When I saw your name before I read the post I thought, "I wonder how the Dreamie I know of in real life is doing." Then I read the thread and lo' and behold, it is you!

It is nice to see you on the forum and working your way up to a silicone tail instead of jumping straight in and possibly being disappointed in a potentially wonderful hobby. (The weight and leg restrictions of a full silicone tail can be off putting, but after working out in a monofin, it is a whole different ballgame.)

Looking into a pair of neoprene socks can/will help with potential blistering and make the fit of whatever fin you choose be a bit more snug.

I hope you find everything you are looking for here.

PearlieMae
06-30-2015, 08:26 PM
Welcome to the network!

Dreamie
06-30-2015, 08:42 PM
I'm leaning towards either a finis or a Mahina. I'm apprehensive about the So Dives because of the wide spacing of the feet. Another thing I am apprehensive about and thus going for a trainer first is that years ago I was in a car accident and severely broke my ankle. It has never returned to as much of a point as my other foot (maybe 4 degrees less?), but hopefully is enough that it won't be a problem. Or maybe it might rehabilitate my foot to a true point? I can only hope.

Ahoy Aysun! Good to see you all the way from Scarby! I know quite a few Mers already having done pirate and RenFest events nationally. Just this last weekend I was slinging henna at the Long Beach Pirate/ Mermaid Festival. Do people ever join multiple pods? There are several that would apply to me! LOL <3

~Dreamie~
Facebook Fanpage:
http://www.facebook.com/dreamiewood

Aysun_the_Mermaid
06-30-2015, 08:46 PM
Indeed, you can join as many pods as you like.

Dreamie
06-30-2015, 08:47 PM
Thank you for the welcomes!
Here's a quick driveby selfie my mer-friend Regina took of us in my henna booth from this last weekend at the Long Beach Pirate & Mermaid Festival. Boy was I busy! 31006

~Dreamie~
Facebook Fanpage:
http://www.facebook.com/dreamiewood

Merman Jamie
07-01-2015, 10:41 AM
Welcome

Elodea the Mermaid
07-01-2015, 12:12 PM
Good morrow and welcome!

Madison MerFaerie
07-01-2015, 03:41 PM
Hi Dreamie! Any chance you'll be at any midwest ren faires this summer?

Dreamie
07-01-2015, 04:04 PM
Alright I did it. I ordered a Mahina monofin in sunset orange, some dakine fin socks, and some flesh colored darkfin gloves.

310293103131030

Madison: I currently am not booked for any midwest ren faires. But I have done S. Ohio, Bristol, and Silverleaf in Michigan when it existed. ;)

~Dreamie~
Facebook Fanpage:
http://www.facebook.com/dreamiewood

Dreamie
07-01-2015, 04:18 PM
I also wanted to share some artwork I drew recently while experimenting on my new phone..... Sometimes I get bored and draw mermaids.
31032

~Dreamie~
Facebook Fanpage:
http://www.facebook.com/dreamiewood

Mermaid Enora
07-02-2015, 12:11 AM
When I saw your name before I read the post I thought, "I wonder how the Dreamie I know of in real life is doing." Then I read the thread and lo' and behold, it is you!

It is nice to see you on the forum and working your way up to a silicone tail instead of jumping straight in and possibly being disappointed in a potentially wonderful hobby. (The weight and leg restrictions of a full silicone tail can be off putting, but after working out in a monofin, it is a whole different ballgame.)

Looking into a pair of neoprene socks can/will help with potential blistering and make the fit of whatever fin you choose be a bit more snug.

I hope you find everything you are looking for here.

I was wondering the same thing!
You used to hang out with Twig and Nobbler at scarby right?

Welcome to mernetwork!!

Dreamie
07-02-2015, 02:45 PM
Yup it's me! I used to be hired as a street character there! Man, I miss Noobler and Widdershins and Twig. That was good times. These days Bryan (Noobler) and I are the Art Director and Assistant art director at Texas Ren Fest, but we do sit around reminiscing on how much fun those characters were. It was magical for a time.

31064
31065
31066
31067

~Dreamie~
Facebook Fanpage:
http://www.facebook.com/dreamiewood

PearlieMae
07-02-2015, 03:19 PM
Y'all are gonna make me drag out my garb, aren't you???

Mermaid Enora
07-02-2015, 03:36 PM
Yup it's me! I used to be hired as a street character there! Man, I miss Noobler and Widdershins and Twig. That was good times. These days Bryan (Noobler) and I are the Art Director and Assistant art director at Texas Ren Fest, but we do sit around reminiscing on how much fun those characters were. It was magical for

~Dreamie~
Facebook Fanpage:
http://www.facebook.com/dreamiewood
oh yes I do recognize all those pics!
Thats the way yall looked on my first visit to scarby ever!!

Dreamie
07-02-2015, 04:40 PM
PearlieMae: My garb never gets tucked away. I wear that stuff more than any of my other clothes. LOL

Elodea the Mermaid
07-02-2015, 05:18 PM
PearlieMae: My garb never gets tucked away. I wear that stuff more than any of my other clothes. LOL
Same! I even have some in my trunk... just in case!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

Drake
07-02-2015, 06:03 PM
I also wanted to share some artwork I drew recently while experimenting on my new phone..... Sometimes I get bored and draw mermaids.
31032

~Dreamie~
Facebook Fanpage:
http://www.facebook.com/dreamiewood


That was done on your phone? :jawdrop: amazing artistry

Dreamie
07-02-2015, 06:27 PM
LOL yup. I was sick for a few days and just laid in bed playing with my new phone. It has a stylus that's pressure sensitive. Thanks! :)

~Dreamie~
Facebook Fanpage:
http://www.facebook.com/dreamiewood

Dreamie
07-06-2015, 02:00 PM
Look what came in the mail today!! Latex gloves by Darkfin!
31195
My Mahina fin should be here tomorrow, though I'm hoping for later today.

~Dreamie~
Facebook Fanpage:
http://www.facebook.com/dreamiewood

Dreamie
07-07-2015, 08:19 PM
Huzzah it came!
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/07/7158d6b98056fb90b83faf40ee8bd16f.jpg

Dreamie
07-12-2015, 04:39 PM
I had the opportunity to take the fin and gloves for a swim. Nothing could feel more natural. Next time I need a bigger area to swim.

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