Stingray top

[MermaidHyli]

After such a huge success with my silicone shell top I decided to try my hand at some others. I have a customer who would like starfish so that is one of my next adventures and I will do my best not to copy Raven :) but I was thinking about the mers who are a little more modest? I havent really seen any professional looking tops so I decided to make one. Now whether or not it looks professional haha we shall see. Anyways I took some pictures of different rays and put it together. I think he turned out rather swimmingly if I do say so myself! I may or may not have time to cast him before the wedding but I will keep you guys updated! Again no interwebs at my house so Im stuck on my phone and cannot post pictures :( but I will asap when I find sone wireless haha

[Mistnoth]

That sounds awesome! I love rays! ...And eels. :)

[Mermaid Allie]

I FRICKIN LOVE STINGRAYS OMG

[MermaidHyli]

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Yay for coffee shops and wireless at 9 o'clock!

[Mermaid Tula]

Interesting. I can't wait to see how it looks once you've put it in silicone.

[spottedcatfish]

Very cool!

[Mermaid Muir]

Looks really cool!

[MerEmma]

SO pretty! <3 Very creative.

[AniaR]

I've been saying for years that someone needs to do this! so happy to see it get done!

[MermaidHyli]

Gosh you guys, youve got me blushing like a red snapper ;) I'm really excited about.how it will turn out

[Mermaid Dottie]

I would definitely be into something like that.

[Mermaid Kenzie]

:jawdrop: *grabs at computer screen* I NEED IT.

[Dacora]

D: I need a stingray on mah boobies!!
I can't wait to see how it turns out. :D

[Ariel-Starfish]

:jawdrop: Wow

[Mermaid Marissa]

LOVE!!! I'd also love a starfish top if you start making those :D

[MermaidHyli]

That is next on my list :) I want to find the right shape and type that will fit the best balance of mers :)

[Cordelia]

That is so cool looking!!!

[H. M.]

That's amazing! I've been trying to order a custom top for modesty. :)

[Mermaid Ashleigh]

i love it...will def want to get one...im big on modesty around kids

[Gem Stone]

looks amazing!

[WillowAnne]

oh wow, that's amazing! Love this idea. I can't wait to see it finished!

[tealmermaid]

n/a

[MermaidHyli]

Just got back to the states, so once everything calms down in a week I will be back to work on this guy :)

[MermaidHyli]

Just order my mold making materials and hopefully can get started this weekend. Im also working on a starfish top but I'll make my own thread for that

[Mermaid Dottie]

EEP! I'm so excited!

[Samantha Siren]

I had the same idea and made one out of fimo clay which was a complete disaster, didn't have enough and he was too small. That and my sculpting is terrible! Well done for succeeding where I failed so miserably!

[MermaidHyli]

Got all my materials today to start casting the mold...lesson learned that clay and gel coat do not mix. So I will just cast it in fiberglass tomorrow hope it all goes ok

[Mermaid Muir]

I can't wait to see how it comes out

[Carolina Mermaid]

When I first saw the stingray I thought it was real, freaked me out.

[Mermaid Avalon]

love it!

[MermaidHyli]

Well looks like Raven is also doing a sting ray top..I know its next on the list because there hasnt been anything else to design really. I've worked so hard and now I loose. I dont know if I will be finishing my top or not sorry guys.

[AniaR]

Yeah, I knew she was going to make one a while ago, I actually kept suggesting it because it's one I'd personally wear (this was before you posted or I even knew you). But I don't think you should let that stop you :) Everyone is able to be unique in their own way! Besides, wouldn't you rather make your own than buy from someone else? If I had the fine motor skills you can bet I'd be making tails, haha. I just physically can't do that sort of stuff, hand tremors and all. But I think you should keep going :)

[MerEmma]

Yes! Your sculpt looked AMAZING! Don't worry about it, I really think you should make the top. Yours will be different! <3

[MaskedNightingale]

You should definitely keep working on it even though another mer has it in the works you started on it first anyways ;)

[SeaSister]

I absolutely agree with the above commenters; just because another mer has started a similar project doesn't mean you should give up on yours! And like Nightingale said, you started yours first anyways. :P

[MermaidHyli]

I talked to Raven and she basically said what Raina said. There are plenty fish in the sea, so I will finish it. It may not get as many hits and I might not sell as.many as her but I can say its my creation. Next project figure out a jellyfish top ; p

[MerEmma]

OOH! A jellyfish top! I freaking love jellyfish AND manta rays (unsure of how it'll look on a top, plus I can't afford it anyway but STILL). I totally look forward to seeing your work! :D

[MermaidHyli]

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First layer of paint done. Hoping to do some shading if I can kick this fever

[Jessica]

This is so pretty!!! I absolutely love it! What paint are you using?

[MermaidHyli]

Jacquard Pearl ex Pigements and a special blend of my own pigments ;]

[Jessica]

I thought the colors looked familiar! I bought the big pack of jacquard pearl ex and have been testing them all trying to decide what colors to use on my tail.

By the way....your stingray looks completely different than raven's and I'm so glad that you decided to finish this project. :)

[MermaidHyli]

;] Yeah I really dig the colors but I added my own spin on them to get different shades.
And yes me too I was so nervous that it would look realistic, not too say that it doesn't I think it looks more cute than real. I really wanted to capture the idea of catching a real stingray and throwing it on a mermaid haha

[MerEmma]

WOW! It's so detailed! :D

[Mermaid Kalliope]

Personally, if I was looking to buy a stingray top, I'd buy yours.

I love Raven anf her work, but her sting ray just didn't strike a chord with me. I think yours looks more realistic and I dunno.

Also, Emma, a manta could be done as a "halter" top. Using the things in front of their mouth to "hug" your neck.

I have a top idea, but no resources to do it. Hyli, message me and I'll let ya know, if you're interested. ;-P

[Blondie]

I just saw the Raven stingray top. I mean, I understand that there's only so many things you can come up with for a mermaid top. But I don't know... It felt fishy to me since this has been on the network since June. But that's my personal opinion.

I personally like your mold better to be honest. I'm glad you're continuing! i'm sure you will have plenty of people interested in it!

[MermaidHyli]

I think a customer wanted her to make one she was just so jammed with orders she didnt have time until recently. I'm ok with it knowing its two very different shapes and she doesnt think I copied her. I do have a lot more ideas for different tops. Like I said starfish is a definite but its wont be exactly like ravens. I have a sculpt of a jellyfish ive been working on and who knows what I might come out with next :)

[Mermaid Dottie]

Yeah, I like yours WAAY better! So much cuter!

[New York Mermaid]

I like and think its super cute :drool:

[Ariel-Starfish]

I think a customer wanted her to make one she was just so jammed with orders she didnt have time until recently. I'm ok with it knowing its two very different shapes and she doesnt think I copied her. I do have a lot more ideas for different tops. Like I said starfish is a definite but its wont be exactly like ravens. I have a sculpt of a jellyfish ive been working on and who knows what I might come out with next :)


If you are ever coming with a starfish top that fits a C/D cup, I'M IN! <3

[MermaidHyli]

Hehe Ariel Starfish I am :) if you notice in the pictre there are two bigger starfish ;)

[MermaidHyli]

So I FINALLY got the guts to start airbrushing haha but I decided to do something small so I started on my starfish ( I should probably rename this thread Stingray/Starfish top)

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Again I want to reiterate that I am not copying Raven, this is the best type of starfish to resemble since it is amongst the largest. I will be adding my own spin to it and incorporating some other starfish into the top, which I hope to have done by tomorrow. =]

[AniaR]

First off, Hyli, I love it like. Like I first said I've been saying this for like a year.

Second, I'm the customer that asked Raven to make a stingray top, and I have been asking her for a year, lol. But she wanted to try it out first before decided if it was something she wanted to make and sell. She did it in between orders to give her creative mind a break so she wouldn't get burnt out trying to finish stuff, I sincerely promise that the timing was just coincidental. It was the same time she gave her seaweed tops a new look too. I even pointed this thread out to her after the fact.

I think there's more than enough room for more people to make their own variations of the same creatures etc. And I'm not sure Raven was all that pleased with her stingray experience so it may not be something she even decides to do. But even if she does, these are clearly two totally different styles so don't be discouraged. <3 Keep going. I am determined to own a stingray top at some point.

(FYI, Jesse made stingrays years ago, I have one, but it's tinted silicone so couldn't work as a top and as far as I know he was THE first person to make them)

[AniaR]

Found a pic of my Jesse one!

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/578428_473877619313653_1832784458_n.jpg

[MermaidHyli]

ITS SO TINY AND CUTE! Oh my word... put a leash on it and have it as a pet at your gigs haha Yeah I'm not upset. I was really sad when I found out Raven was making one but after I talked to her about it and she made the obvious point that I seemed to have over looked :EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN INTERPRETATION she was very encouraging to me and I've challenged her to some cool ideas I'm also working on if and when she has some down time (if that happens..haha) I really want to make the community of top making something unique and not competitive. I may not know Raven on the most personal level but she still spent hours over my tail and after airbrushing tonight all I could think of was "I will never bug her about time constraints again" It took me two hours to do just one tiny starfish. That woman is an amazing artist to whom I tip my hat in respect.

[MerEmma]

YES! A pet stingray! xD

[New York Mermaid]

OHH Id personally love to see a Manta ray top. I think it would look amazing, Hyli, if you ever take it on let me know as well
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/p480x480/154359_496434393724050_1930983558_n.jpg

[MermaidHyli]

It can def be something I do in the future.
Airbrushed the sting ray this morning =]
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Almost finished.

[MermaidHyli]

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All finished =]
Starfish top is still being worked on, my molds are giving me a bit of trouble
Jellyfish top has been sculpted and molded as we speak. Hope to be opening my etsy shop again soon with all new stuffs <3

[Mermaid Veruliya]

So creative Hyli!!

[Merman Dan]

Outstanding! Granted, I cannot help but think of a Jenny Haniver (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Haniver) .

[Jessica]

Great job hyli! This is really unique. I was wondering though...how long is the top? Does it touch the top of your tail? This is an awesome top for mers who want more coverage!

[Mermaid Saphira]

Neat idea!

[MermaidHyli]

From head to tail he is about 15.5 inches

[Mermaid Veruliya]

I can't find ravens stingray anywhere.. Someone post a pic?

[MermaidHyli]

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From the photo shoot I did today to show off the top =]
between getting lost, freezing water, and a random old man hiker I think it was a success!

[Mermaid Veruliya]

Whoa hottie! This is awesome

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Awesome!!! Can't wait to see more sea creatures. You should try a moray eel!!! Keep us posted on all tops and your etsy store too!

[MermaidHyli]

hehe an eel may have been commissioned ;]

here is the finished starfish top!
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i wanted to stay away from Raven's recent design so I added the starfish on the top and the pearl drapes at the bottom.
The jellyfish top is also on its way just needs some paint =]

[Echinacea]

Covet, covet, covet!! I would dearly like one of these! (The starfish, that is, not the stingray!) Please PM me if/when you are taking orders!

[MermaidHyli]

Shop is officially open

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SirenAllure

[MermaidHyli]

Jelly fish in progress
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Sorry its so small, I still haven't quite conquered the art of adding photos to mernetwork..

[Aziara]

You know what would be awesome for your next design? Sea turtle shells! I think they'd look awesome on a top. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KCbC8R9TWs4/TpC9TUgofKI/AAAAAAAAD4I/sxA70ZQd7BI/s320/Sea-Turtle.jpg (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KCbC8R9TWs4/TpC9TUgofKI/AAAAAAAAD4I/sxA70ZQd7BI/s1600/Sea-Turtle.jpg)http://static.travel.usnews.com/images/destinations/80/sea_turtle.jpg

[MermaidHyli]

Hmm I could give it a try. I'm always up for a challenge!

[Mahi Mermaid]

where's this sting ray top raven made? i haven't seen it

[Aziara]

It was posted on the Merbellas thread... I'm sorting through it now trying to find it again...

[Aziara]

Aha! Page 79 of the merbellas thread is a picture of Raven's stingray top. http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?3783-Merbellas-Thread/page79&highlight=Merbellas

[MerEmma]

How's the jellyfish top going? I was thinking about this earlier today and remembered you had started one. I'd love to see yours completed!

[Mermaid Galene]

Whoa! Aziara - a sea turtle top would be amazing! I believe I shall have to make one.

[Lostariel Telrunya]

Another thing you can do, you know, instead of going through all that work of making the entire sting ray and using it as a top: go out to sea, catch a REAL sting/manta ray, and train as your pet. It will have so many benefits! 1) You can say you have a trained manta ray as a pet, 2) No idiot guys would try to flirt with you anywhere, because if they do, you can just get your ray to sting them, 3) You can train the sting ray to give you hugs so that you can still wear it as a top, and then you can wear another top underneath it, and when you do gigs like birthday parties, you can surprise the kids by having the sting ray suddenly leap into the air and do tricks for them! (Bonus: you can leave the second top underneath, and surprise the adults too!)(Note: the bonus may or may not be a one-shot), 4) You can go out to a beach, and wait for a bunch of small children to come and wait for you rise up out of the water all majestically, and then, as a little practical joke, just float bellyside up to the surface so that all they can see is a little ray smiling back at them, 5) When the ray has become old and tired, he will probably be famous enough for you to sell him to a marine park for millions of dollars. You will become rich and live out the rest of your days with absolutely no regret whatsoever.

[Lostariel Telrunya]

That... I did it again, didn't I? I should never daydream with my fingers on a keyboard...

[Mermaid Galene]

I like your plan! I will teach mine to sing.

[Lostariel Telrunya]

Oh yes. It will sounds like a nasally Sebastian, and can use its tail as a baton for its underwater orchestra. There will be magical times wherever the ray goes, and it will bring everlasting joy to all the ocean.
http://static.themetapicture.com/media/funny-cute-little-manta-ray.jpg

[Raayvhen]

I love all of you.