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Taz
02-06-2012, 07:34 PM
Hello mermaids! What a wonderful forum! I'm glad to have found it. Oh boy, I can really derail my train of thought sometimes, so I will try and keep this sweet and short(ish).

My name is Tasli, but call me Taz. I live in Vancouver, British Columbia and work as a marine naturalist on a whale watch vessel. I moved to Vancouver to become involved with the ocean and marine life, and to be a naturalist out there on the water spending time with killer whales is a dream come true. Its hard to explain my love for orcas; I have devoted my whole life to them, and will continue to do so.
They are my passion, my life, my muses. Here are a few photos that I took last summer:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/gotthelife/jandkpod_activepass.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/gotthelife/example.jpg


I'm also a creative person, and have been since day one (i'm sure the vast majority of us here are the same way!). I am currently studying in a fine arts program, and I strive to promote ocean awareness through my art. Here are a few examples:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/gotthelife/Untitled-1.jpg


To top it all off, I have in the last few years become an avid costumer ...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/gotthelife/cos.jpg

(here is my cosplay.com (http://www.cosplay.com/member/89386/) account for more)


So its no surprise that I want to dress up as a mermaid. I hope to somehow use this not just a fun pastime, but to utilize the costume in a meaningful way. I work for a shark conservation group here in Vancouver (Shark Truth (http://www.sharktruth.com/)), so perhaps I can use it in a conservation and educational context (I have already made two shark costumes for Shark Truth! Haha). I'm thinking it might come in useful for protesting the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline.
As for a tail, I have started a painted fabric one (see thread about it in the tailmaking forum (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?1362-Painted-fabric-tail-Taz-s-first-tail&p=12437#post12437)). I think I could handle creating a latex one (lord knows i've done crazier with costumes), i'm just not sold on the environmental impacts of using such materials. The last thing I want to do is jump in the water with a tail that will poison the sea.

Anyway, can't wait to get to know the community better <3

Amphitrite
02-06-2012, 07:41 PM
Welcome! I say that as I'm technically 'older' here than you although I joined yesterday. :p Sounds like you have a colorful life with water. :D As someone whose closest large body of water is a polluted river or a huge lake two hours away it sounds great that you get to be in/on the water so often. I'd love it if you shared more on that. :)

Mermaid Saphira
02-06-2012, 07:48 PM
Welcome! :)

Mermaid Sirena
02-06-2012, 09:42 PM
Welcome! I love your cosplays, I know what you mean about the toxicity to the ocean and tails. You might be interested in this, it's an all natural latex (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?1049-100-Natural-Latex). Haven't been able to experiment with it yet but all the info points to yes :)

Sea Pearl
02-06-2012, 09:43 PM
Welcome to MerNetwork, Taz!

Taz
02-06-2012, 11:14 PM
Welcome! I love your cosplays, I know what you mean about the toxicity to the ocean and tails. You might be interested in this, it's an all natural latex (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?1049-100-Natural-Latex). Haven't been able to experiment with it yet but all the info points to yes :)

Thanks Sirena, I saw your post in my research for tail making. I have contacted a few local suppliers, and only one had a natural latex product, and they did not have enough in stock for a mermaid tail (darn!). I'll be pestering them in the future for sure!

AniaR
02-06-2012, 11:30 PM
welcome and yaaaaaaay for another Canadian *glomp*

Maple
02-06-2012, 11:48 PM
Woohoo! Not only another Canadian, but another Vancouver Mer!! Even better.

Funny enough, I was thinking a mermaid at the Pipeline Protest might be effective as an attention grabber...

Taz
02-06-2012, 11:51 PM
Woohoo! Not only another Canadian, but another Vancouver Mer!! Even better.

Funny enough, I was thinking a mermaid at the Pipeline Protest might be effective as an attention grabber...

I envision mermaids tied to trees, Clayoquot Sound style! Haha, glad to hear you are similar in thinking on that. I really do plan on following through, I will get in touch with you about it!
Also, *fist bump* for VanCity mermaids.

Joy&RaptorsUnrestrained!
02-07-2012, 02:03 AM
I love the Morrigan costume (especially the wings... they look incredible, and it can be really hard to pull off wings of that style... I'm impressed!) and as a Marvel fan, I have to applaud the Scarlet Witch costume. I definitely look forward to your posts :)

Maple
02-07-2012, 02:14 AM
I envision mermaids tied to trees, Clayoquot Sound style!

This would be EPIC!

And yes, *fist bump* to Vancity Mers!