Fear and loathing. And a tail.

[Lotus]

I have let my fear of totally screwing up a tail hold me back and it's JUST SO STUPID. So I am going to start my dream tail, and that's it. It's going to be neoprene/pain/sequins. I will start posting pics ASAP.

[Azurin Luna]

Good luck! :D

[SeaGlass Siren]

cant wait for the results ;)

[Mermaid Annariea]

WOOOOTTT, good luck :D

[Lotus]

Danka! Be posting soooon!!!

[Koral]

I think we all put "pain" in our handmade tails. Keep the merfolks updated. ;)

[Merrow Fair Isle]

Go you!! It's gonna be fabulous. You can doooooooo eeeeeeet!

[Lotus]

Haha it was meant to say PAINT, but same thing right??? Thanks for the cheering guys!

[Koral]

I know you meant paint, but I had to swipe up the opportunity to make a funny of it.

[Lotus]

is it bad thatI never would have noticed the typo if you hadnt said that? lol

[Mermaid Celissa]

Yay! Let's go Lotus, let's go! (cha cha cha) *cheering complete with pom-poms, a dance routine, and a cheerleader pyramid*

[Ashe]

You go, girl! Conquer the tail!!!!!!! :D

[Thalassa]

Excellent news! Keep us posted.

[Mermaid Saphira]

Good luck! I know we are all excited to see this dream tail of yours! :D

[Lotus]

thanks all- I'll be posting the line drawing later on today, minus colors. I know the basic color scheme I am gonna do, just not exactly sure how I'm gonna blend and such. In the meantime, gonna be getting some neoprene this weekend and reading up on sewing technique so as my seams dont part ways! :) OMG SO STOKED!!!!!

[Lotus]

SO, yeah, I'm still doing this! I was super broke thru xmas, so I had to put it on hold (again) but- I'm teaching a class in the Springs next Monday, and as payment, I'm getting two sheets of neoprene! My hubby's gonna help me re-size the pics of my design, so I'll post those tomorrow morning. SO EXCITED!!!!

[Lotus]

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My inspiration

[Lotus]

my monofin goes to the cutter on Monday..... I got in from specialfins, and I freaking LOVE it! I considered selling it a while ago and boy am I glad I changed my mind. 8879

[Mermaid Danielle]

Good luck! And keep posting pictures please!

[Mermaid Saphira]

best to luck for cutting!
Please continue to post pictures! :D

[MerEmma]

That's a really pretty fin. Fiberglass?

[Lotus]

Yes it is fiberglass. I ordred a medium hardness, and it's pretty darn stiff. Up side is I absolutely FLY thru the water with it, down side is it rubs blisters on my feet unless I wear little nylon socks.

[Lotus]

OK, update time! I was in the Springs last night teaching, and Jerilyn gave me a BUNCH of neoprene- like two full sheets and some scraps to experiments with. I did a couple really rough attempts at painting scales to see how the fabric is to paint- I have to say, it soaks up the paint so quick it makes shading a little tough... plus I need better brushes for this type of work. But here's the result I got from the stuff I used:
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These are not the colors I'll be using- I just grabbed what I had and went to town.
Also, fin is at the cutters- gonna have to line the foot pockets with neoprene, kinda over having huge blisters on my feet.

[Lotus]

Also, I think I'll be losing the glitter... looks a little funny now that it's dry

[Lotus]

I bought some different paint colors yesterday, as well as a clear plastic sheet to make my scale pattern stencil. I want to have this tail done by the first of March, I gotta save time everywhere I can and considering how busy I am, this is gonna be tricky! Also, I believe I have enough neoprene for two tails... THANKS JERILYN!!!!!! So, I'm going to make one that has the dark blues and blacks as in the test above as well as a purple, turquois and gold tail. Pics up later today.

[Lotus]

Mono fin back from the cutters:
Ta-da!
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[Lotus]

Alrighty- I am still working on this! I finally found the paint I am using, (lumiere) and I am finishing my pattern today. Then cutting out and going to my sisters place to sew. I'll put up my basic tail design later today, but I am going to keep certain aspects of it to myself until the reveal. Check in with me later!
PS, I got a pair of skin socks from Finis for the fiberglass fin, works perfect! No more blisters!

[Lotus]

UPDATE!!
Pics here of the pattern cut out and pinned:
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and now, sewn and right-side out!
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ta-da! starting paint today!!

[Bellasea]

Good Luck!

[MerEmma]

Woohoo! Great luck to you! <3

[Nykur]

Oh that fluke shape is to die for!:D

[Lotus]

thanks guys!

[MermaidNerenia]

You go mer girl! No fear!

[Lotus]

Just an FYI here- I used a 2 inch wide woven piece of elastic for the waistband, and made it tight! obviously I want it to stay up, and I'm not using a zipper so la-tee-da. The bottom of the fluke is still open- I'm going to use velcro as a temp. closure for the fund raiser, then have a zipper put into the bottom. Also, I did not sew this skin myself. The amazing, patient seamstresses for Aquatails did this for me. I paid them in trade by painting a couple seashell tops for one of the orders that are going out next week. I'm so blessed to have Jerilyn- her willingness to pay me for teaching in neoprene and the trade for sewing has made this tail possible. :)

[Lotus]

the fluke- you can see the inside with the fringe (uncut), and the fringe before and during cutting. I'm going to have to wash the neoprene before I paint- it got rather dirty in the sewing room. :)
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[Mermaid Shayna]

It looks beautiful so far!

[Lotus]

thanks!

[Lotus]

started painting today!
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gonna finish the front today then the back tomorrow

[Mermaid Saphira]

O wow. The fin shape is incredible and i love the blue! Please keep posting pictures, I am in awe!!

[Lotus]

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more progress..... sorry, but I'm not revealing the body design until the reveal. I'll keep posting color photos tho :)

[Mermaid Wesley]

wow.... JEALOUS!

[Lotus]

and more color....
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[Kanti]

Wow that's awesome looking!!
What paint did you use??

[MermaidBrittany]

Wow that looks great!! Can't to see more pics! :D

[Lois]

that fluke has such beautiful colours looks like its going to be an amazing tail once done!

[Lotus]

Thanks!!!
@Kanti: they're Jacquard Lummierre paints :)
I'll post a list of which colors

[Sherl]

Wow what a stunning fluke!! I can't wait to see what the whole tail looks like - all the best! :)

[Kanti]

Oh geeze those are good ones!
They used to be sold at my Joann's but not anymore so it's sad ):

[Lotus]

Hey-low!!!! ok, so here's the paints I've used:
All Jacquard
*Lummierre Pearl blue, purple, turquoise, white
*super sparkle
*Indigo (from the wine country collection)
Neopaque White
flowable extender
powdered pigments in Inference Gold and Macropearl

NOW, who wants to see the whole tail before I start with sequins????? I'll post some pics if there's a strong response! :)

[OceanRose]

I want to see!!!

[Lotus]

I just can't hold it in any more.... Here's the progress pics. PLEASE speak with me if you want to recreate this.
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[Lotus]

still have more to do...
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[Kanti]

!!!!
Thats awesome!
That is seriously the most abstract/styalized tail I have ever seen.
Kudos as f*ck on the artistic design. I actually like that it's unnatural!

Awesome job!

[Lois]

I love it! I feel totally inspired. :)

[Mermaid Hamant]

Absolutely stunning!!! Love it! :)

[Mizuko]

THAT. IS. AMAZING <3

[telzey.amberdon]

Must see in water!!

[Lotus]

thanks guys! It's been in my head for so long.... It's my "Great Wave" tail- inspired by this painting:
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and the white side inspired by butterfly koi. I'm really proud of this! It makes my heart so happy!!

[Mernation]

Looks great :) Thanks for the posts!

[Jadestone]

This is stunning! I love the wave design!

[Lotus]

SO, I've learned a few things while working with this paint...
#1 This paint goes pretty far, especially when you take into consideration how absorbant neoprene is. To make it go farther tho, I mixed in flowable extender and water and kind of "washed" the base colors in, then started layering in the colors over top.
#2 Pearl pigments... wow! they can be a little overwhelming, so as I layered on color I kept with the extender and a bit of water for blending purposes.
#3 Opaque white WON'T COVER PEN. sorry. I'm going to have to use dimensional paints to correct this. Probably can't see it well in the earlier pics, I'll take some close ups of the white side so you can see what I'm on about. And yeah, I used pen on my white neoprene... to outline the fluke pattern... thinking opaque would cover... and round and round we go.
#4 The fabric has definitely stiffened and has lost a little flex. I don't know how this will affect movement just yet if any really, since I've noticed as I work with the fabric (moving it around and such) it seems to be softening up again. We shall see.
I've almost finished the front side, I'm going to be starting the back Weds. I think. I had to wear my fabric tail for my event on Saturday, but since no one had even seen a live mermaid before, they were happy and excited with me the way I was. I'm really glad I didn't try to rush thru finishing my tail and risk ruining it for that event. :)

[Lotus]

Oh yeah-
#5 I have not heat set the paint yet, andI may not need to because of using the flowable extender. I'm going to give Jacquard a call today and get a final answer on whether or not to do this and if so what the best way of getting it done will be. The bottle says to iron both sides for 30 seconds, which I could do on very low heat with a sheet between the iron and the fabric, but the back side is rubber so not sure about that. I know you can also use a heat gun or toss it in the dryer, but there's still the melt-factor. I will say that the test swatches I did held up just fine in the pool without heat setting- I even "scrubbed" the painted side on the rough pool patches a little and had very little rub off. Again- we will see, I'll let you all know

[Azurin Luna]

Wow! That is one epic tail :jawdrop:

[Lotus]

Thanks so much!
After a few days of crippling anxiety attacks and waaay too much on my plate, I'm going back to painting today- I'll start washing in color on the back side this morning and when I get all done, detail both sides and start with sequins. Pics to follow! :)

[Patches]

Wow this seriously is impressive. This is going to be SUCH a unique tail.

[Lotus]

Starting on the back side today- gotta get this sucker done before we go to FL! Or at least the painting and heat setting (it will need to be heat set, I spoke with a rep from Jacquard) I can sew sequins in the car on the way to Ocala if need be. I'll be putting the velcro into the fluke too- I may need to have J's seamstress put a zipper in too. I shall see :)

[Mermaid Saphira]

incredible job with the waves :jawdrop:

[MerEmma]

Looks AMAZING!

[Mermaid Tula]

Omg that's fantastic! Can't wait to see more pictures! <3

[Mahi Mermaid]

Where did you get your white neoprene?

[MermaidIsis]

I can't wait to see it when its finished! Post pics!

[Lotus]

@Krystal Patrick: I got my neoprene from a gal I work for in exchange for teaching a class. I can ask her where she got it.
@ everyone else- Thanks!! I'll post some more pics tonight!

[Lotus]

so, I'm going WAY slower than I was hoping on this, but here's progress pics of the back side of the tail:
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[Mermaid Saphira]

^ So beautiful! This has got to be one of my ultimate favorite tails! So excited to see it all finished :D

[Lotus]

more progress pics....
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[Mertara]

so gorgeous!! I am familiar with the ink you are using to paint the tail. Have you water tested it? I haven't used it for this application before and I am very curious! The colors are gorgeous! I love the watercolor feel the hand painting gives.

[Lotus]

Hey! You know, Jacquard says to heat set the paint on fabric, but I did not and the color is just fine so far. I'll let you know if that changes :)
Also, I started the sequins, and the top to match. I'll post some pics today! ;)

[halesloveswhales]

Wow that's incredible!!! (And I have a journal with your wave design on it!)

[Lotus]

thanks!
Yeah, I fraking LOVE that painting. :)

[Mahi Mermaid]

this is so awesome. Reminds me of the wetsuits they wear at Seaworld :)

[Kanti]

Damn Lotus did you even engrave it to an extent?? I can't tell if it's penmarks or actual engravings but it certainly gives another dimension to it.
Wow seriously awesome job~

[Lotus]

@Kanti- Actually, the raised stuff is just dimensional fabric paints (this one is "scribbles"- a buck a bottle :) ) I just applied it thick so there's some texture and dimension If I ever stop getting side tracked with other projects (see "DIY Blender fish tank lol) I'll finally get the sequins finished.