Raina's 'new' sequinned tail!

[AniaR]

So as a few may remember, I have an old MermaidFX tail, from years ago, my practice tail! I decided I wanted to sequin it, so it could be used as a back-up tail, but I can't sew to save my life. So I hired Illonka Papp to do it for me! I bought all the sequins and had them shipped to her, I shipped her the tail but left the monofin at home (it's very easy to take in and out since the fluke isn't glued down in anyway yet- and since it's so well fitted we probably wont glue it down) I picked out colours but told her to do her own design! She's totally sewing it all by hand right now, and making amazing progress. With her permission I am sharing these photos from her instagram account for the progress.

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she's doing a koi style and the entire tail will be sequinned. She's a champ. No way to glue it, as no glue bonds to the stretch vinyl. Too shiny!

[MermaidHyli]

I've been following this on instagram, its such a beauty! Can hardly wait to see the finished product!

[MerEmma]

WOW! It's coming along AMAZINGLY! I can't wait to see it all done! <3

[Ariadne]

So. Many. Sparkles. My little heart can't take the splendor! Cannot wait to see the finished product.

[AniaR]

it's really great because Mimi's tail my old mertailor one, has literal holes in it that cant even be patched. Paint wont even bond to it anymore. She has to fix it after every single gig. So this will be a transition tail for her until I get her a merbellas tail :)

[PearlieMae]

Lovely! I can't wait to see it progress!

[Merman Arion]

it's really great because Mimi's tail my old mertailor one, has literal holes in it that cant even be patched. Paint wont even bond to it anymore. She has to fix it after every single gig. So this will be a transition tail for her until I get her a merbellas tail :)

A transition tail soon-to-be awesome with all these sequins and a Merbella tail for her?? Wow! You make a great boss! :D

Are you looking for a cute merman in your squad? I would love to join if that means to work for you LOL :highfive:

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m312ndUbdd1r4fuk0.gif

[Echidna]

Aren't you a bit far away for that?

If you're willing to travel, you could consider joining my merballet-team as, say, a special guest? :p
(There were a few couples synchro swimming on the sl party yesterday, that gave me ideas)

[Miyu]

Oh my goodness Raina, I love it! It's going to be beautiful... I'm loving the gold :D

I'm falling more and more in love with sequin tails... even if I have to replace sequins on the regular, whatever, any tail is going to need maintenance work done on it if it's anything more than a costume tail!

Transition tail? That's going to be flashy enough to be a "dream tail"!

[Ashe]

Oh yesh finally! Really excited to see the final tail!! :D
And you said that the tail is vinyl? What's it like? Stretchy, draggy, etc.? I've been eying that material for a while...

[Mermaid Adriel]

I love how it's coming *_* Just a great job! <3

[AniaR]

it's a transition tail because it fits me, lol. Mimi is an AMAZON. She is tall! She needs her own custom made tail at some point instead of my hand-me-down ones! lol

It's stretch vinyl, so it stretches to fit most sizes. Only problem with it is that water doesn't flow through it at all, and it drags. So I will have to put some drainage holes in it I think. I'm going to wait til I can test it out when it's done to try and figure out what else can be done or if I should glue the fin down.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

So glad to hear Mimi is getting a new tail! That poor girl needs one. XD

[Ariel-Starfish]

oooh so shiny! :D

[MermaidMimi]

This is so beautiful, I couldn't have imagined it prettier!!! I wanna cry of happiness. :) It looks so perfect already!! Raina, I cannot thank your generous heart enougj. Xoxox

[AniaR]

Yay mimi so glad you joined mernetwork! Be sure to post in the introduction thread. <3

[Cordelia]

I made a non-stretch vinyl tail and I had to leave most of the fluke open to cut down on drag, but I like that there is a little more rigidity to it. I'm excited to see how the sequined tail turns out!

[Ashe]

How durable is it? Does it get scuffed up easily? And oh my gosh Raina, that is so nice of you! Again haha!

Welcome to MerNetwork Mimi!!

[Cordelia]

It's held up pretty well for two summers of use. There are two little scratches on the back heel where I was not being careful and scrapped it on a rock. :( But it really is hard to see.

[Mermaid Caspiana]

Can't wait to see this Raina!

[Mermaid Danielle]

Looks great, Raina! I can't wait to see it when it is done!

[Mermaid Star]

It's so pretty!!! I love it! The sequins are so beautiful! I can't wait to see it finished

[Mermaid Zaffiro]

aww that's loos great ^^,

[AniaR]

Ilonka posted another pic, she's starting to add details, really looking super amazing! I sent the woman like a gajillion sequins, lol. 14071

[ShyMer]

I like the places where the clear and gold overlap a bit. It's gonna look gorgeous when she's done!

[Miyu]

That's looking amazing! :O_o: I love the clear sequins on the orange tail, very realistic-looking :D

[AniaR]

I think it helps the fabric is orange so the clear has something behind it :)

[PearlieMae]

The transitions between the gold and iridescent with the orange ground is so organic looking! This is going to be a FABULOUS tail!

[Mermaid Danielle]

I love how the clear looks on the tail!

[MerEmma]

What sequins are those? The holographic, or...?
I thought those had the covering that would rub right off?

[Ashe]

Its amazing!!!!!

[PearlieMae]

Raina, if I may...

The gold sequins are made from polyester sheets, stamped and heat formed into the shape. The holographic component is in the sequin...think pigment embedded into silicone instead of paint on it.

The iridescent sequins may eventually lose their luster because the AB effect is a coating.

[Jadestone]

Oooh, can't wait to see how this looks finalized. Ilonka has a lot of talent :)

[Miyu]

Like PearlieMae said, AB is a coating (oh man I wish they could just figure out how to get it inside whatever material)... it sometimes rubs off my glass/crystal beads if it's not bonded to the material well enough and I'm rough with it.

But dang, does it look awesome :D

[Meemerdd]

That's amazing Raina!Mind if I ask where you got those sequins?

[AniaR]

I ordered them from ccartrightsequins but I had them shipped directly to her. So I havent even seen them in real life yet haha

[AniaR]

More pics...

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[Meemerdd]

It's fascinating how much they look like scales.

[PearlieMae]

That last sequin looks a little oversized and furry. ;)

[Meemerdd]

OVERSIZED FURRY SEQUINS!!!!!!!!!! YESH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MerEmma]

SO gorgeous! I cannot wait to see this finished.

[Kumori Kitsune]

awwww all looks great and your kitty

[Sammi Ray]

:) it's looking good! :) how long till it should be finished?

[AniaR]

I told her to take as long as she needs. She's hand sewing that thing!

[Ariel-Starfish]

:jawdrop:

[Ondine]

It looks awesome! At Merlesque, mermaid Melusine and I have been debating getting stuck into some hand-sequinned tail-making this winter... still kind of putting it off, it took forever for us just to make our sequined tops, and they're just a tiny fraction of the sewing you need for a tail. But I have to say that following the progress of this tail is definitely making me want to just go for it!

[AniaR]

she's really exceeding all my expectations!

[Ondine]

Haha, I think farming the work out is definitely the way to go ;) Ilonka is a gifted lady!

[AniaR]

I have hand tremors, I could never sew :( plus it was cheaper to ship the scales and tail to her, than ship the scales to me!

[MerEmma]

Then Sean will be doing the maintenance on the tail? hehe. :b

[Ondine]

I have hand tremors, I could never sew :( plus it was cheaper to ship the scales and tail to her, than ship the scales to me!

Oh really? That sucks :( I used to have minor tremors, it was a side effect from the tumour - but I got lucky and with treatment it cleared up. So I guess now I have no excuse not to sew on my own darn sequins haha! Can't believe the shipping thing though, that's crazy. I think if we both do sequin tails we might try to buy wholesale from India or China, it would be cheaper for two tails - but not really worth it for one as you have to buy so many at a time. Do you have a timescale (lol) for when the tail might be finished? Definitely going to have to photoshoot it for us all!

[AniaR]

curious if anyone has heard from this lady in the past while? because the last photo i showed of this almost 2 years ago was the last I ever heard :( I sent my tail, paid for bags of sequins etc. I totally appreciate now that we have a sequinned tail how much work they are and it may have been too big a project for her but all my emails bounce back.

[Mermaid Mystery]

I talked to her early last year, and she's been a little active on my blog (liking posts and such) but otherwise I haven't heard from her


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[AniaR]

Yeah I just tried reaching out on FB again. I can't find her personal account anymore so I commented on her fanpage.

[Mermaid Pickles]

Sounds like she bit off more than she could chew or something and dropped off the face of the Earth. Most likely the "or something" option. :I This makes me sad.

[Mermaid Mystery]

her fan page is where I was able to reach her


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[AniaR]

I did tell her she could take as long as she needs, I just didnt think it would be 2 years. lol. I'm still happy to wait if it's being worked one.

[Mermaid Sirenia]

I'm sure you'll hear from her soon:) that tail is going to be so pretty!!!

[AniaR]

I still haven't heard anything

[PearlieMae]

Hey! You broke 10k posts!

[Rett]

Wow... This is taking crazy long! I would have never EVER guessed it would take more time than a silicone tail! Hope the final product is worth it! Have you maintained contact Raina? To make sure she's still working on it? I'd hate to think its taking this long because she is busy and hasnt worked on it in months (or, gulp, years).

[AniaR]

that's what I am trying to say, I am not getting any replies from her. I havent heard from her in over a year. :(

[Nadine Persing]

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[Nadine Persing]

is that it?? bc if so its on her page

[Rett]

is that it?? bc if so its on her page
I dont know if thats it, but it better end up more sequined than that!

[Mermaid Melusinah]

Let me just say... As some one that works with Sequins and HAND SEWING quite a bit. It takes a LONG time. a very long time. and to try and to it with an already constructed/sewn tail can make it that much more of a challenge.... It is much easier if the pieces are not yet sewn together. The thing is with sequins that small, sewing by hand is the only way that it can be done confidently. But as old as this thread is... I would expect more progressed results then what Is being seen... I hope this works out for you Raina.

[AniaR]

Well she's had it two years and that's an old pic and she did take the pieces apart. She switched from sewing to gluing ( without checking with me) I am pretty understanding its not like I need it this second. Very aware of how much goes into this stuff. I just would appreciate answers to my messages etc. If she can't finish it she can mail it back to me. It is my first tail it is sentimental.

[MerEmma]

She moved to Sarasota I recall but that's the last I heard I think?
She's still active on her Instagram, have you messaged her there, Raina? https://instagram.com/amyfantasea/ Because if she doesn't reply to that, then it'll really be obvious that she's ignoring you... :/

I really remember her having pictures of your tail on there though, and I don't see ANY progress photos. Seems like she's deleted them to me.

[Mermaid Melusinah]

gluing is faster... but there are huge risks with that. for one, the tail is going to lose its stretch and flexibility once that glue dries, making it difficult to move well in... second, movements could potentially cause the sequins to pop off if its not the right kind of glue (even if it is the right kind) when it comes to sequins, in my opinion and experience, there is no room for short cuts. you have to dedicate fully. its a work of sweat, labor and love.

[AniaR]

well no glue that we had tried originally bonded to it which is why we wanted sewing. Because it's vinyl. glue just peeled right off. Like I said, this is my first tail it's sentimental to me. If she can't finish it I' djust like it back and maybe over time I can work on it.

[Morticia Mermaid]

Coming from experience, gluing sequins on a tail SUCKS. No matter how careful you are they usually end up glued together, which makes the tail REALLY stiff. I've been working on my tail off and on for a year, barely half way up the calves (my tail is sewn together as it was made with scraps from orders). But seriously though, a tail thats been split shouldn't take that long to finish. Hope you can get it back from her :(

[PearlieMae]

I certainly hope that's an old photo because I can sew that many sequins in an evening!

[Seatan]

well no glue that we had tried originally bonded to it which is why we wanted sewing. Because it's vinyl. glue just peeled right off. Like I said, this is my first tail it's sentimental to me. If she can't finish it I' djust like it back and maybe over time I can work on it.

I'm sorry, Raina, this is really sucky! I think it's been long enough that it should definitely be finished. Sure, sewing sequins by hand takes awhile, but you can also do it while you watch TV--it's a pretty mindless action if you are good at sewing. So it's not like she'd have to put her life on hold to finish this! If you make a commitment I feel like you either need to stick to it or admit defeat and cut the losses.

[PearlieMae]

I couldn't find a sequin tailmaking thread, and since this isn't a full tutorial, I thought I'd post it here for easy reference...Please tell me if you want it moved to its own thread...

Some things I’ve learned about sequins...

Contemporary sequins are colored plastic disks that often have a mylar coating, either metallic or iridescent, that can sometimes peel off - THIS CAN BE A PROBLEM WHEN GLUING ON SEQUINS, the coating can lift off and you lose the sequin. Iridescent/AB finish sequins are best sewn on because of this. ALWAYS test/destroy a couple of potential sequins to see if that will be a problem BEFORE you start a big sequin project. Holographic sequins are usually made from solid sheets of holographic plastic and don’t have a peeling issue.

You’ll always need more sequins than you think. The overlap eats up a lot of coverage.

Attaching methods:

Gluing sequins to fabric: 
For making scales, I have successfully used E6000 for gluing sequins to Spandex, and what I do is squeeze a small blob onto the top 1/4 of the back of the sequin

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and press it into place, giving a little pull then a push to get some of the glue to squish through the hole and over the top edge of the sequin to grab it - the bottom 3/4 of the sequin stays unglued.

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For both methods, overlap your next row over the top, building up the rows. This way, the sequin is captured, it overlaps like a fish scale and there is enough unglued fabric between each sequin for it to stretch.

Sewing sequins to spandex (I haven’t tried neoprene):
This method is METICULOUS AND TEDIOUS, but I find the best way to make your sequin tail the most comfortable and durable.

Each scale gets three stitches and two knots. You don’t have to cut in between each scale, but you do have to leave some slack in the thread. I’m telling you now, you will feel threads breaking each time you put it on if you don’t, but, if done correctly, it won’t be an issue. I prefer to go back and cut in between each sequin so I don’t tear anything.

To get the scales to lie flat, here’s how I do it...this works for sequins whose hole is in the top or sequins with a center hole:
First: make a small knot in your thread, one that won’t pull through your spandex, come up through your sequin...make a LEFT, CENTER and RIGHT stitch. Make another knot. Personally, I prefer French Knots, they’re easy and won’t pull through the fabric or sequin. LEAVE AT LEAST 1” OF THREAD LOOSE BETWEEN SEQUINS. This will accommodate for stretching, and if it breaks, you MAY only lose one sequin.

START NEXT SEQUIN WITH ANOTHER KNOT. Make sure all your knots are on the inside of the tail.

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So, it’s KNOT, STITCH STITCH STITCH, KNOT - REPEAT. Cut later.

Hope this helps!

[Seatan]

Pearlie, you are awesome as always.

[PearlieMae]

Awwww!!! Thank you, Seavanna!

[AniaR]

Yeah e600 doesn't work on stretch vinyl. I tried before I sent it along with multiple fabric glues.

I don't wanna sound ungrateful I just want it back :(

[PearlieMae]

Yeah, not a lot sticks to that. It would have to be sewn.

[MerEmma]

Still haven't heard anything? :(

[AniaR]

Nope

[MerEmma]

Damn. I wish I had any more advice for how to get it back. It's such an awful situation, just not being able to get her to respond. :/

[Ashe]

And so she's just disappeared off the face of the earth like other mers? Weird.

[Mermaid Mystery]

I think she's still a bit active on Instagram. I see her posting sometimes, especially in the past month.


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[AniaR]

yeah she's liked my stuff on instagram but not replied to me on there.

[Imogen Finnly]

I hope you hear back from here. It woumd suck to not have your first tail:(

formerly jayy

[Rebekah.fish]

I just finished my glued sequin tail if that helps any

[AniaR]

So here I am necro posting in this old thread.

Back years ago I hired this lady to put sequins on my old first fabric tail. According to my records,
On June 24th 2013 we started communicating about her sequinning my old tail.
In July 2013 I had 5 bags of sequins sent to her, sent her my tail, and she confirmed getting the tail in July. I also sent her a $250 deposit
She posted a few behind the scenes photos of the tails here on mernetwork but I can't find the thread anywhere. She posted two updates on FB and then disappeared from the mermaid world.


I saw her resurface on tumblr working in the adult industry years later, and on instagram. I tried emailing and contacting her but heard nothing.

I am not worried about the sequins or money at this point. I don't want drama or any kind of war. I just would really like my tail back. It was my first tail ever, and since we're doing the documentary I'd really like to be able to show it in the film as well.

If anyone knows her and wants to pass on my mailing address she can just send it back to me no questions asked! I don't care if it's unfinished. No drama. The tail is just my very first and has sentimental value and it's been 4 years now, :(

[Slim]

Raina because of the situation, I can try to use some of my old school searching skills to find a mailing address for you to send your info to but I would need to know who I looking for. It's your choice and if I'm able to find the address; it's only up to you to use it. I just hate using my skills because I don't want no one doing it back to me.


So here I am necro posting in this old thread.

Back years ago I hired this lady to put sequins on my old first fabric tail. According to my records,
On June 24th 2013 we started communicating about her sequinning my old tail.
In July 2013 I had 5 bags of sequins sent to her, sent her my tail, and she confirmed getting the tail in July. I also sent her a $250 deposit
She posted a few behind the scenes photos of the tails here on mernetwork but I can't find the thread anywhere. She posted two updates on FB and then disappeared from the mermaid world.


I saw her resurface on tumblr working in the adult industry years later, and on instagram. I tried emailing and contacting her but heard nothing.

I am not worried about the sequins or money at this point. I don't want drama or any kind of war. I just would really like my tail back. It was my first tail ever, and since we're doing the documentary I'd really like to be able to show it in the film as well.

If anyone knows her and wants to pass on my mailing address she can just send it back to me no questions asked! I don't care if it's unfinished. No drama. The tail is just my very first and has sentimental value and it's been 4 years now, :(

[AniaR]

it's ok slim I know she's still on contact with some mers so maybe someone will let her know for me :)

[Mermaid Lieke]

I really hope you get your tail back

Verstuurd vanaf mijn ALE-L21 met Tapatalk

[AniaR]

necro posting. found this searching for something else. 6 years later :( if anyone knows this mer I'd love my tail back. was my first tail.

[The Water Phoenix]

6 years without hearing anything is just ridiculous, I think she really has just disappeared and taken your tail with her....

[Mermaid Jaffa]

What did the tail look like? Maybe post some pics, and we can help you find it. It might be a long shot but you never know...

[AniaR]

It's on the start of the thread, pics :(

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[Slim]

Are you trying to get an email address or a way to mail her?


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[AniaR]

Already tried that for years.

I am just bumping it in case someone active on the site happens to still be in communication with her.

[TheChimera]

Already tried that for years.

I am just bumping it in case someone active on the site happens to still be in communication with her.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190315/05161c1961015e5a9415cffae1e535ec.jpg

Hi Raina, just taking a chance here, I just finished watching one of your videos on your channel and you mentioned and had shown a few photographs of your tail. I just saw this tail being worn by an anonymous mer on one of Mermaid Linyenea's Seattle mermaid meetup videos. Looks so much like yours o_O



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[TheChimera]

Looking at your old photographs for comparison, the fluke does seem different though. And the sequin spacing isn't exactly the same. I feel bad for you that you lost a tail with so much significance in such a manner :/


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[H2OPaige1229]

Please please tell me who made those sequins, they look similar to a type I have an I need to know how they got them that color and glitter, I really need help I’m trying to paint my sequins but idk what with

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