My First (definitely not last) Swimmable Tail Process (pic heavy)

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Bonjour compagnons de sirènes! Or hello fellow mermaids!
This is my first ever swimmable mermaid tail and my process in making it. I will have pictures and explanations and such. I've already started and so I will post all I have for now and keep everymer updated. (Ps. If you are wondering why I greeted you in French. I'm taking French through high school... thought I'd practice. ;] )
Well, I have an album of the picture already and thought I would make a thread to communicate with you guys so I could hopefully receive tips and suggestions and comments and stuff easier. And I like threads. Easier to look at too. Lol well there's not much else to say because every one know that a picture says a thousand words. So lets see them. (And I will have more threads about businesses that I mentions throughout this process. So here we go.)

[Mermaid Saphira]

Good luck! Starting a tail is always exciting! :D

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Hi! Thanks! I hope it goes well! Can you help me with something? It won't let me upload pictures. Can you help me? Thanks!

[Mermaid Caspiana]

For now, theses are the pictures in my album. You can comment on twm here go. Hopefully I will figure out how to post pics on here tho.
http://mernetwork.com/index/album.php?albumid=709

[Mermaid Caspiana]

So excited!!! Sequins arrived today way earlier than I expected! I'll post the pictures in my album. There are so beautiful! Better than I imagined! They will look so cool!

[Carolina Mermaid]

Yay!

[Mermaid Caspiana]

The pictures are up in my album for everyone to see the excitement!

[SIF]

Can't wait to get to this point....

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Are you going to make one of your own? Please do tell?!

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Ah! We have sewed the sides and now we are going to turn it inside out, do the side and dorsal fins and then put the monofin in and see the bottom. Then it's my turn! I'm going to do arches of scales by sequins and as you get further down the tail the patches will increase and then on the sides of the fluke there will be a frame-like thing of all scale sequins. And the inner fluke will have a texture design on it. I'm trying to figure out a way to make a disappearing waistline. Would finding a paint to math my skin and then blending it into the tail work? Or any ideas? Please help! I'll post pictures soon. Maybe to here but most likely in my album. Lol

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Ok, so you know the part in the title that says defiantly not last... Well, since my mom had surgery, my tail is put off for a couple days and I'm drawing, planning and thinking about future tails and vacation and such. And in my tail designs for the future album I have my lion fish design. Well, that will be the one I want to make next. For the side and dorsal fins to stick up, would crafting foam work or would water (chlorine and salt) deteriorate it? I'd so what could I use? For the translucent parts in between the spines I was thinking of using sheer fabric and if it wouldn't last in water coating it in something. But what? And if that wouldn't work... What would? And since I have to paint all of the striped and details I couldn't bare to paint scales or glue sequins. So I would tell kids I'm like a dolphin, slick like skin. Lol

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Also what would e the best base color to paint over... White? It either has to be white, orange, or red. I'm thinking I might want to use neoprene because its more durable. Anyone know where the best place to buy it from is? Price and quality? Would I need the same amount as I would with fabric, 3 yards? And what place online or actual store sells lumiere paint cheapest?

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Idea!
would translucent vinyl shelf liner work for the parts in between the spines?!?!?

wow. I'm not even done with my first tail and planning on a pretty complicated second one. Lol

[Azurin Luna]

There is my post with clear vinyl and transparent blue vinyl. I hope you can use some of the information I found out
http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?1982-New-tail-in-the-works-D (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?1982-New-tail-in-the-works-D&highlight=Neoprene+tail)

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Thanks Luna! That was helpful! What do you suggest might work for the spines, craft foam or would that deteriorate? Also wouldn't white be the best base color soothe other colors pop too? An3 yards is good for neoprene? Like fabric right?

[Azurin Luna]

I have no idea what craft foam would do in chlorinated water over time. I once made a dolphin dorsal fin out of neoprene, I sewed to halves together and turned it inside out, it comes out pretty firm that way without being dangerous for other swimmers. Your base color for your neoprene depends on what colors you want to use. I have no experience with painting neoprene though, as my tails are just the base baby blue color that the neoprene is.

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Ok. Ill try it out. And thanks for the info!

[Mermaid Caspiana]

My tail sewn/taken in, the waist hemmed, the dorsal on and now all we need to do tomorrow is put the fluke in (which I have on in the picture but not sewn in) and sew it right on in and then to my decorating!!!
I just realized this is the first picture of me on here. Lol
I'll have more shortly of first swim and such!
After this is done I'm gonna start on my top and probably a belt most likely with weights. Anyone know how to make weights for a weight belt?
And we might not do side fins because the material I chose is of course hard to deal with and we might add something of a side fin but not the dorsal material.
There will be pics and videos here and YouTube of my first swim and stuff. So excited to finally get it done and swim in it!!!

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Hey it worked!

[Mermaid Caspiana]

I got a couple more things today for the tail and top. In order:
Shells for top
I already had shark teeth for top
I already ha a starfish and sand dollar for top
Sea glass for top
Disappearing waistline ribbon
Ribbon thing for dorsal detail

[Mermaid Caspiana]

:)

[Mermaid Caspiana]

:)

:)

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Oops. That was sea glass then shark teeth. Now here is starfish and sand dollar, and both ribbons.

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Now I need a nude bra and plants.

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Does anyone know where to get 'mermaid treasures'? Like bulk.

[Kumori Kitsune]

Its so cute! love it!

[Mermaid Dottie]

Mermaid Treasures? You mean fish bowl marbles?

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Its so cute! love it!
Thanks! It's not close to done yet though. Hahaha




Mermaid Treasures? You mean fish bowl marbles?
Well that's an idea, but I was talking more choices, like shells, shark teeth, gems, stones, maybe take a few sequins and glue them together and call it a molted scale patch...?

[Mermaid Caspiana]

We probably aren't using the skin colored ribbon. It looks a little finny. (Teehee)
Any suggestions for a disappearing waistline on a fabric tail?

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Paint?

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Here's my bra I made! Shells, sea glass, shark teeth, sequins, aquarium plants, and waterproof glue.

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Bra:

And a sneak peak o my almost finished tail! I just have to finish some painting and sequining on the back then mod podge both bra ad tail. :

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Carp!!! The bra didn't show up! I'm still getting used to posting pics on threads. Lets try this again...

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Here's a icy ire of a hair price I made yesterday waiting on work on my tail. :)

[Mermaid Caspiana]

*picture*

[Mermaid Caspiana]

In a little over 24hrs I'll be at the beach!!!

[Mermaid Caspiana]

About 15hours!!!

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Back from the beach for a couple days and have a couple a one picture for now of my finished sequin tail!

[Ashe]

Cute!!! That color looks great on you :D

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Cute!!! That color looks great on you :D
Thank You! Although this year I didn't get to lay out and tan so by belly is super pale! Lol. But thanks anyways. Hahaha

[Mermaid Caspiana]

As you can see compared to my lower arms. Lol

[Miyu]

Oh, your tail looks so nice all finished! PINK! I love pink. And I am seriously in love with all your sparklies and treasures :)

You said your monofin was handmade? How is it? :D SO CURIOUS

[Mermaid Danielle]

Great photos!

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Oh, your tail looks so nice all finished! PINK! I love pink. And I am seriously in love with all your sparklies and treasures :)

You said your monofin was handmade? How is it? :D SO CURIOUS
Thank you! Ya, I originally wanted blue but I like this anyhow. Haha ya, sequins mostly but some ain't as well. :) Yes, we'll, mostly, I got some fins from SwimOutlet for only $16, got some old durable plastic folders and duct tape. I traced my fins onto poster board, drew my fluke design, cut it all out I. One piece and the cut the folders into the shape of my fluke where the fins don't touch. There are 3 layers of folder in there. And then at least a good 2 layers of duct tape. It works amazingly! Maybe could have used 1 more layer of folder but my hands and back were killing me. So this was good. Lol. It swims so flowy yet kinda stiff. I live it! I think Im gonna make a business out if it. Making customizable monofins. You choose the fin(s) and send me a fluke design and approx. measurements. And I make it and send it. What do you think?

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Great photos!
Thank you!

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Here are all the pictures from my trip to the beach this summer!!! There are some repeats because my mom took a couple each pose. ;) hope you like them!
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/pv4u97xkiqt7u9k/hJ8RKXEo0m

[Mermaid Caspiana]

From home:


https://db.tt/1BxgwP5x