PearlieMae's Silicone Tail Journey

[Echidna]

..a glitter-laden flashy glittersnake fluke? :rotfl:

[PearlieMae]

..a glitter-laden flashy glittersnake fluke? :rotfl:

Why not? Just say 'it's mythical'! :thumbs-up:

[PearlieMae]

Holy carp! I just got this in my email:

We are excited to inform you that your proposal for World Maker Faire, Bespoke Realistic Swimmable Silicone Mermaid Tails, has been accepted. Congratulations, we are delighted to have you participate in the 5th Annual World Maker Faire New York 2014.

WOOHOO!

I applied on a whim, never thinking I would be accepted! Now I have to come up with a presentation! :yay:

[Aquarianne]

OHMYGOSH CONGRATS!!! That's amazing!!

The faire looks amazing too...good thing I'm in the area, I can check it out. If you need someone to help you for demos or presentations (ie sit around in a tail and hand out stuff), I'm around to volunteer! XD (I do have trade show model experience!)

[PearlieMae]

Thank you! I may just take you up on that, but I only have the one tail, so far! And I probably outweigh you by a hundred pounds! :lol:

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Congratulations, that is awesome news!

[MarkF]

I think you're ready and you have a ball. Good for you! :dance:

[Aquarianne]

LOL! Well yeah, and my own tail is latex so it wouldn't help much to advertise :) But if you finish your presentation design and find yourself needing another mer, I'm always available as a last-minute option! :3 I'm sure whatever you come up with will be AMAAAAAZING anyway!!! XD <3<3

[Mermaid Wesley]

Congrats!!

[Seraphina Suds]

How exciting! Congrats!

[MermanOliver]

Congratulations! It sure will be exciting. :yay: :dance:
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[lasserine]

Great! I hope you share your progress!The slime coat/top coat is more to seal the scales down, so you don't have to clean under them, really...it doesnt stay shiny, unfortunately, the surface dulls down a little with use. It's still pretty, it just doesnt look freshly wet.

How can you keep the shiny/fresh wet look? Will do the single scale method myself, just need to figure out a scale shape.

Is it ok if I send you a note?

[PearlieMae]

I imagine just wiping your tail down with a little coconut oil, or tanning oil, maybe, but I don't think you'll be able to coat your tail in anything permanent for that super shiny look all the time.

Sure, send me a message anytime!

[PearlieMae]

And on another note: Good news, I just got back from a swim with the new monofin design - Stubby Shortiefin - and it's sleek, sturdy, maneuverable, and comfy as ugly sandals! What little I lost in propulsion, I more than made up for in maneuvering! Hahaha! I'm tempted to stick it in the prototype fluke while I finish the new one just to see how she swims under rubber!

[Mermaid Galene]

Congratulations, Pearlie! How awesome that your tailmaking skills will get such great exposure! Fame and fortune coming your way...

[Arella]

Congrats :)

[Echidna]

Stubby Shortiefin - and it's sleek, sturdy, maneuverable, and comfy as ugly sandals!
After trying out every shape and size of fin, I found shorter, smaller ones with just the right grade of floppiness give me the most propulsion with very little effort.
I actually prefer a stubby, sleek and slightly floppy fin to the competitor, which feels like a whale and kills my ankles after a while :p

Grats to being picked for the Faire!
I bet your tail will be one of the prettiest.

[PearlieMae]

:gah:

:::unrelated to thread:::

[Trident True]

WOW, this looks awesome it turned out really well, the flipper looks great not to floppy. The tail also looks light in weight. what i mean by this is, when is saw you swimming in it, it looks almost weightless on the body, not to mention it fits you like a glove. compared to most silicone tails in looks lighter then these. your tail design is definitely a more advanced design than others on here. supa-dupa work.

[PearlieMae]

Thanks so much! :mermaid kiss:

With the monofin, the whole thing weighs less than 20 pounds! It fits so well because I built it on a mannequin of my lower body - cling film and packing tape, and I made it snug so the tail would grip me. When my legs are outstretched, it looks like a smooth tail body - not too tight at the knees - and the ankles fit really well, too...snug, but with lots of flex. When I bend at the knees, there is a wrinkle, but not like some I've seen...and you won't see a seam BECAUSE THERE ARE NONE! And absolutely no gapping!

I mentioned it before that I have to add more to the top for a bit more modesty, don't need the girls making an appearance, and I might go ahead and fill in the tum area with my see-through-tan scales, which will make it a full coverage tail...think Chicken of the Sea coverage. I can't lay still long enough to tan my belly!

I am very happy with it, and tonight - good lord willin' and the crick don't rise - I'll be sandwiching the fluke halves over the fin! :yay:

[PearlieMae]

Well, the sandwiching of the fluke halves was postponed a little, but the flukes are now curing in the sun while I prep the monofin.

Here's the new fluke, curing in the sun:
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[MerEmma]

WOW. What nice big pieces of glitter!!! <3

[PearlieMae]

I love the chunky holographic glitter. The trick to keeping it from cutting its way off the tail is to seal a layer of tulle over it with a thin coat of dragonskin.

[Mermaid Fenicia]

Like Rarity would say: Ho!!! Shiny ^_^

[MerEmma]

Totally. The chunky glitter looks gorgeous. I'd love to see a tail with such big glitter it was used as scales, which I guess is like a sequin tail, but. xD

[PearlieMae]

Yeah, at some point, I think glitter comes out of its cocoon and becomes sequins. :D

[Raayvhen]

And the final form is rhinestones.

[PearlieMae]

There are only TWO rhinestones. Light amethyst teardrops about an inch, one on each side of the fluke, under the big heart.

I mean, c'mon...I'm not a Lady Gaga!:rollover:

[Mermaid Jaffa]

You're not?

[PearlieMae]

No, I'm the ghost of da Vinci. ;)

With glitter.

[Jessica]

Ghost of da vinci with glitter? Yes that's a perfect description of you! ;) I love the new fluke! It's absolutely gorgeous--although everything you've made is stunning! I love the idea of filling in the stomach area with scales--that will be lovely and you'll need less sunblock too:)

[Raayvhen]

Oh wise Aunt Pearlie.....

Do you think mixing the interference colors into the silicone is enough to prevent discoloration?

I'm going to be doing a painted neoprene tail and I thought it would be nice to do a coat of interference blue silicone over it.

[MerEmma]

O_O Unbelievable how gorgeous both those are.

[MermaidMichelle]

I shall simply mention how very impressive your work is! Dazzling is the word that comes to mind! :mermaid kiss:

...Oh, and congratulations on being accepted for the Faire!
"Come to the Faire
It's a very fair Faire
If you go, then you will be there."

[PearlieMae]

Thank you, Michelle! Oh, it's going to be such a nerdy af-faire! http://makerfaire.com/

:hug:

[PearlieMae]

Fellow mers! Help!

What is the best/usual/typical way to attach side fins on a silicone tail??? thought about it some, but I didn't really think it through. Now I think I have to cut into my tail and really have no clue on what I'm doing. I sure could use some advice on how to do this! I am so close to being finished, & I don't want to spend time testing! HELP! :thinks::sweat drop::help::biting nails::gah::surrender:

[Echidna]

I'd probably not attach them at all xD

seeing as there's not a single classical mermaid depicted with sidefins.
(there are a few with tiny dorsal crests, but none with sidefins to my knowledge).

Hopefully, someone with silicone experience will be able to help you out!

[PearlieMae]

I have plenty of vintage images with mermaids with side fins, I made some awesome fins and I love them, and, well, I WANT THEM! :rollover:

[Mermaid Galene]

This is just a thought, but what if you attached two thin sheets of silicone to the fin, one front and one back, and then adhered those two sheets to the outside of the tail?

[PearlieMae]

Thanks!

I'm actually thinking of holding off for right now, I'm rethinking the size because they are pretty big.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Well, you know what they say about big fins...

[Mizuko]

Pearlie, I dont know if this helps, but when I attached my fins I used the sil-poxy first. It dries super fast so I only needed to hold them in place for a few minutes. Then I pinned them more firmly and slowly layered silicone around/up them- it took a while, because I had to keep brushing the wet silicone back up before it got thick enough to stay in place, lol! But my fins are super strong and I dont think I could pull them off without a lot of effort!

[Merman Arion]

Well, you know what they say about big fins...

As we all know what they say about men with a big nose and big feet... ;)

Oops! Never mind! :p


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[Mermaid Wesley]

SEW THEM ON I don't know how it's done but I know that merbella fins are always sewn on and apparently the one tail she didn't see on (kailani's) the fin tore off. Sewing.


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[PearlieMae]

You know what they say...big fins, big wake! ;)

[PearlieMae]

Some pix of the altered tail body, just about to attach the flukes to it!

I had to do some surgery to it, as I've lost some weight since I started it, so I had to extract a swath across the belly. I hated having to destroy some of my favorite scales, but it had to be done! No more pot belly!
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The scales over the belly are translucent and lightly flesh colored, with a little pearlization added. It now has a very streamlined fit! Can't wait to swim in it again!

[Slee]

Ah waitloss, the "downside" to swiming all.the.time.

[Seraphina Suds]

So beautiful~

[MarkF]

It came out so nice it could be a runway gown.

[Echidna]

this is so beautiful, I'm in awe.

[PearlieMae]

Thanks, gang!

Wow! A runway gown! I did base that backless halter style on a wedding gown. When I tried it on to make alterations, I had to shuffle like Morticia Addams! :lol:

[Adalira]

Wow, that is absoultly stunning! Wow wow wow!!!!:)

[MermaidMichelle]

Thanks, gang!

Wow! A runway gown! I did base that backless halter style on a wedding gown. When I tried it on to make alterations, I had to shuffle like Morticia Addams! :lol:

That gives a whole new meaning to the term "mermaid gown"! It looks incredible; like one of those exotic fish you find at pet stores that you suspect aren't all strictly legal....

Yes, that's right: you look like an illegal fish. I like to give unusual compliments! :mermaid kiss:

[PearlieMae]

Illegal Fish sounds like an indie rock band or super trendy bistro. Thanks! :D

[MermanOliver]

^ that reminds me of an old Genesis song from the 90s ;)

Ok, back to topic: that tail and top combo is so absolutely and positively awesome! Pearlie, that tail is not just a tail, it is fashion design at its finest! Have you ever thought about doing fashion design professionally?
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[PearlieMae]

Which Genesis song? I'm at a loss. Pre- or post- Gabriel?

I thought about fashion, briefly, but I don't have the mind set for it. I love working with textiles, but if I made clothes, they would be one-off art pieces/haute couture. Probably more of a career in costuming rather than fashion.

I my regular life, I'm a photographer and art director...seems I've spent more than a lifetime in publishing.

[PearlieMae]

Thank goodness for a bucket of clamps.
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[Lostariel Telrunya]

Oh my goodness I am so in love with that fluke!!! You must post pictures of the full get-up once you're finished with it :)

[MermaidMichelle]

The cicada-wing fluke is gorgeous! My mum found a cicada today and I told her and dad about your design! :mermaid kiss:

[AniaR]

I feel so stupid in this thread because I just cant come up with any superlatives to express my awe. Like I really am just in awe everytime. Are you even human??? lol I turn my head to the side and just stare. lol you are amazing. you took risks and experimented and did this the hard way and it's paying off.

[MermaidMichelle]

Awwww Raina :mermaid kiss: You can have my "illegal fish" if you like...but I must warn you: it isn't all strictly legal.....

...wink wink, nudge nudge, swish swish, flop flop....

[PearlieMae]

So yeah, I'm sitting on my couch with my barely cured flukes on...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCXMhwr8EzU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Raina, you are adorable! No, silly, I'm not human! I'M A F*CKING MERMAID! :rollover:

[MarkF]

I new it! She's been hiding among us all along.

[Mizuko]

Its so sparklyyyyyyyyy <3

[EdenSirene]

You tail is a work of art! Absolutely amazing!

[MermaidMichelle]

It reminds me of She-Ra and My Pretty Mermaid and everything that is sparkly and feminine! :mermaid kiss:

[PearlieMae]

It reminds me of She-Ra and My Pretty Mermaid and everything that is sparkly and feminine! :mermaid kiss:

It is super sparkly! I am such a magpie, I luvs the shiny! Which is weird, because I am really such a tomboy!

[MermanOliver]

Which Genesis song? I'm at a loss. Pre- or post- Gabriel?

It's "Illegal alien", sometimes my thoughts jump a looooong way ;)

[PearlieMae]

Hahaha! That is quite a stretch, but I can see where you'd get that. :)

[Seraphina Suds]

The sparkle is incredible! That's gonna look amazing in the water on a sunny day!

[PearlieMae]

Thanks, Seraphina! We still have to get together and have a tail painting party!

[Seraphina Suds]

Yes please! My mertender has been repainting the gradient in the fluke when she has the energy, but I still want to jazz the entire thing up somehow. Will you be coming to the NY ren faire? I dunno if you saw the post about it.

[PearlieMae]

When is faire over this year? I must have missed the post! My friends Laura and Sandy do face painting and henna/mehendi there!

[Seraphina Suds]

Oh, nice! I know one of the face painting women from my job. I wonder if she's one of your friends lol. I think the last weekend is the 21st, but I made a mermaid event for the 6th since it's pirate weekend. :p here's the facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/732770920118468/ and there's a thread too http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?8704-New-York-Ren-Faire-Pirate-Weekend It should be a lot of fun!

[Mermaid Galene]

Okay, seriously, Pearlie, I'm gonna start taking heart medication before I look at your stuff. Because that tail and fluke stop my heart every time!

[Mermaid Galene]

You know what I wold love to be able to make? A fluke like this, and a way to use it at the end of fully sequined neoprene tail.

[PearlieMae]

I think it could be done, Galene. I was thinking of refurbishing my prototype fluke for a spandex tail, and actually keeping it as a component so I could swap out tail bodies.

[Lostariel Telrunya]

OH THE FISHY-FLOPPY-FLOWINESS. MY BRAIN CANNOT HANDLE IT. I LITERALLY GET A HEADACHE EVERY TIME I LOOK AT THIS BECAUSE IT IS SO FREAKING AMAZING.

[PearlieMae]

:D

It's not much, but it's a start... http://pearliemae.net/

I would appreciate constructive criticism, and yes, I know there aren't any pix other than my closeup, but the new site is coming! Lots of pages, lots of photos, lots of...uh...STUFF!

:mermaid kiss:

[MermaidMichelle]

I like the layout; it has an ease-of-navigation feel to it and the information is both concise and extensive. The background is a beautiful showcase of your work, too! :mermaid kiss:

[PearlieMae]

Thanks, Michelle! I had to have something in place for the Maker Faire website and work's been a bear, lately. Plus, I don't want to add any photos of the old fluke! Hopefully I will get some pix and videos this weekend! :rollover:

[MarkF]

Hi Ya, how about adding an Events and Personal Appearances popup for your faire and About Mermaiding you could leave for the Mythology and Mermaiding Community article.

[PearlieMae]

I would love to, but in this one page format, I'm only allowed four 'modules'.

[Echidna]

:D

It's not much, but it's a start... http://pearliemae.net/

I would appreciate constructive criticism

right then!

To someone running a scriptblocker, the page remains entirely blank (not even the background picture).
I can tell you from experience that many won't look closely at the site, nor disable their blockers, if there is nothing to see at all to determine what the site is about.

If you can manage to put some content up not running on scripts, you'll probably get more page views.

[Lydia Lobster]

stunning. god damn great work. thats it.

(i like your website,too. just saw that link @_@ - i should go to bed. i am getting scattered)

[MarkF]

Works OK from here.

[MarkF]

You could put the mermaid introduction as text in the cover picture and save a page.

[Raayvhen]

Perhaps you could put the Facebook info on the front page so it doesn't take up a page?

[PearlieMae]

Thanks, everyone! This is just a holding page until I can get the full site ready to go live. :)

[Anahita]

Omg the background picture! I'm having scale envy now!

[MermanOliver]

Works ok on my windows phone.

One question though: I always thought the original Splash tail was latex, and that they had quite some issues with it during the shoot because of that? For Splash 2 I think they did something else, maybe urethane, but I could be wrong here.
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[PearlieMae]

Works ok on my windows phone.

One question though: I always thought the original Splash tail was latex, and that they had quite some issues with it during the shoot because of that? For Splash 2 I think they did something else, maybe urethane, but I could be wrong here.
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yeeeeaah...don't care.

:pirate:

[MermanOliver]

;)
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[Mermaid Julz]

Pearlie, You just keep adding to the excitement of this tread every time I pop in. I am just stunned on how great everything is coming along. ITs really making me think of ditching latex and going Silicone.

[MermaidMichelle]

I know that silicone is generally considered the best material for tails; at least according to the Raina​ometer....

(ie. I read it in How to Be a Mermaid​ ​....)

[PearlieMae]

DO IT, Julz!

It's so easy, and well worth the aggravation of latex!

[Mermaid Morgann]

This is the most adorable, princess-like fairy tale mermaid creation I've yet to see. Your scale pattern is breathtaking!

[PearlieMae]

Thanks!Truth be told, I never meant to add glitter. Initially, this tail was going to be realistic, based on arawana fish, and I was only going to use the mica powders for their pearly effect. But, I added glitter to ine batch and was so amazed with how it turned out, I had to use it everywhere!I love this tail and I know I've said it before, but I really think I will be done and swimming by Sunday! REALLY! I've only blown past my self imposed deadline by seven months, but I have learned so much on this journey! I really can't wait to start on the next one! I have a green and golden one in mind... :)

[Echidna]

There can never be too much glitter :p

Considering purple is one of my least favourite colours, I'll probably need sedation if you make another tail with colours I really like lol.

[PearlieMae]

Purple and orange, I find, are two colors that people either absolutely love or absolutely hate. I have an actual physical reaction when I see purple, my heart leaps! I adore it so! I would love to have a functional MRI to see what my brain does when I see it!

And I agree, there can never be enough glitter!

[Starfrit]

Oh hey I haven't checked in on Pearlie's tail thread in a while, I wonder what--

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_leczeiXPOO1qdlkgg.gif

Oh my god Pearlie your tail. YOUR TAIL. That fluke, the glitter, just... oh my god. Oh my god. AND THE TOP. That top is so gorgeous, I can't. I can't.

Look I'm gonna be honest here for the sake of my health I'm gonna have to stop coming into this thread when you post updates because my body cannot physically handle this level of glittery fishy perfection.

[mer_believer]

That I call va-va-voom tail! So sexy!

[PearlieMae]

HAHAHAHAHA! Thank goodness I'm almost done, eh?

(That gif is killing me!)

[Mer-gal]

Amazing tail pearliemae!! I love it!!:swoon::swoon::swoon::swoon::cry::swoon: This is my thought process while reading this thread, I love it, I love it, I love it,I love it, I cry because I can't have it, but I still love it.

[PearlieMae]

Here it is underwater, with the old fluke...

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[Seraphina Suds]

Aaaah it's so hyper realistic!! You're so freaking talented,I can't handle it! I'm starting a tail find so I can be your first customer if/when you start selling @0@

[Echidna]

It's so...PURPLE! xD

they say purple is a spiritual colour.
I think people love colours that match their aura, even unconsciously.

[Mermaid Wesley]

I'mma say it again. You're so inspiring. Your tail is beautiful. I can't even. Gah.


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[PearlieMae]

Cal, the back has a lot of green in it...sorry the pic is so dark.

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[MermaidMichelle]

An "arawana fish"? That doesn't sound strictly legal....;)

However, it looks incredible! :mermaid kiss:

[PearlieMae]

No, not completely legal, more of a FISHdemeanor! :lol: I krill myself, sometimes!

In the meantime, here's new video of the fluke in the sunlight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0xzjiZFMK4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Mermaid Wesley]

Oooh floppeh


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[MermaidMichelle]

Fine film of floppy fluke! :mermaid kiss:

[MarkF]

I'm out of state but after seeing that video I just have to say, "
we knew her when"

[Lydia Lobster]

so pretty!!! :3

[Seraphina Suds]

Those scales remind me of a hummingbird! So lovely!

[SINicallyTwisted]

Epic!


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[Lostariel Telrunya]

Is it sad that I now have this thread bookmarked on my internet bar?

[Lostariel Telrunya]

Howe did you attach the footstraps?

[Mermaid Wesley]

Howe did you attach the footstraps?

That's a secret ;)


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[Lostariel Telrunya]

Haha good plan! :)

[Echidna]

I think I need to re-read the thread from the beginning xD

Based on arowana fish, that's awesome.
One of the coolest and prettiest fish around. And in existence since the Cretacious, no less!

[FaeryTail]

Yay!

[PearlieMae]

I think I need to re-read the thread from the beginning xD

Based on arowana fish, that's awesome.
One of the coolest and prettiest fish around. And in existence since the Cretacious, no less!

It WAS originally based on it, but the design evolved since then. :)

[MermaidMichelle]

No K-T extinction for you!

(Also, I haven't seen someone in a mermaid costume dance on land since Super Dave Osborne did so in his animated series in 1993!

[PearlieMae]

Hahahaha! Super Dave? There's a brain cell of mine that hasn't seen use for a while!

Michelle...for the love of god, put down the remote and step away from the television!

[MermaidMichelle]

....Interesting choice of words, particularly as I haven't actually watched television since August of 2009! Admittedly I used a television on August 23rd of 2013, yet that was only so that I could play my old cartridge of real-time strategy game Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen to access my "PALADIN" general, as whom I hadn't played since mid-February of 1999!

Those dates are all off the top of my head; I have such a razor-sharp memory that people sometimes play the game of naming a month therein; I can always provide an answer as to what was going on in my life!

As for Super Dave Osborne, I haven't seen any of his work since his live-action show which I watched every now and then from September to November of 1994. As one's body's cells completely regenerate every 7 years, the brain cell of which you typed has likely been replaced thrice over!

[Mermaid Wesley]

Nice!


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[Winged Mermaid]

Too cool!

[Mermaid Galene]

Awesome.

[MermaidMichelle]

Mmmm it fits very well, and looks quite realistic, especially for a sparkly pretty tail! <3 :mermaid kiss:

[Echidna]

oh, pretty!
is that the place where you'll put the dorsal?
wouldn't that make it more of an adipose fin?



I built in a little something so it rides upright while swimming, but is totally flexible, soft, and waterproof. :)

yay!
Tradesecrets ftw.

I don't think I've ever seen a truly upright dorsal.
Can't wait to see how it turns out.

[Anahita]

Pearlie, you are an epic bada$$. Omg. :swoon:

[PearlieMae]

Adipose? I thought that meant 'fat'. I'm too lazy to look up the technical term now, I'm about to go to sleep. I thought dorsal because it was on the back. It's actually two test fins I really liked but didn't sculpt the backs of.

I have two two-sided fins that are going to be attached at the tops of my thighs, which I will henceforth refer to as my "hip" fins. ;)

[Echidna]

nah, I just thought because it was so close to the *ahem* FLUKE!

for reference;
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...and now I need to go and look what them fins are called on mammals.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

On mammals, its back fins, boob fins, hip fins, butt fins and heel fins.:lol:

[Mermaid Melanie]

Wow Pearlie your tail is phenomenal ! What beautiful work you have done !

[PearlieMae]

That illustration is so handy! And could have saved a lot of headaches in another discussion :D

But I think I'm going to call my fins Moe, Larry, and Curly. :lol:

[MarkF]

Did you do Moe, Larry, and Curly with caulking silicone?

[PearlieMae]

no, everything is Dragon Skin!

[Mermaid Galene]

Fun with ichthyology: Because the adipose fin is not rayed and appears as an unsupported finlet, one early hypothesis was that the fin stored fat, or adipose tissue. Studies have generally confirmed that the fin does not hold adipose, yet the name stuck.

[Lostariel Telrunya]

And now for another episode of... "SCIENCE WITH MERMAIDS!"

[PearlieMae]

I am a grown-ass woman, swimming around in a home-made rubber fish suit.

Ask me how many fucks I give what the fins are called. :neener:

[Mermaid Galene]

:lol: Well said, Pearlie, well said.

[PearlieMae]

With the exception of alone time with my beau, that swim was the most awesome two hours ever! I swam the length of the lake, about a mile and a half, and decided to just swim all the way up onto the main beach. It was the end of the day, last day of the season, and not too many people were left. I swam up as far as I could, turned over and sat in the sand.

Soon, I was swarmed by about ten little girls! Some were older, ten or eleven, and they said "you aren't really a mermaid" and I said "no, but some of these little friends don't know that, so don't say anything, ok?" And I gave them a big wink, and they went along with it.

At one point, the lifeguard saw me and shouted "hey! No mermaids on the beach!" I said "really?" He smiled and said "naw, it's okay"

One lady came over and took a photo with me surrounded by all the girls, we said goodbye, and I swam away.


It was an awesome day!

[Echidna]

sounds great!
living near a lake or beach is the best!

I wish I could afford it.
(been looking for a lakehome for years now, apparently only millionaires are supposed to live near water :p )

Regarding the wrongly named fin; yea, that's science for you.
No clue about anything, misnaming stuff, and then keeping it all as it is and pretend to know everything.
Good thing I quit and took up mermaiding instead!

[PearlieMae]

You are too funny! :D

I totally lucked into this house, it's an old vacation house and the thing that keeps it less than desirable is that it's at the bottom of a rock cliff, 65 steps down. An inverted five floor walk up!

I'm living like a Kennedy, but without the money!

[Echidna]

still totally worth it.
Especially if it keeps you from having too many noisy neighbours firing up smelly chimneys every day! :p

I imagine there's a lot more space where you live though.
Germany's overcrowded, the houses are built like termite hills all on top of one another.

[PearlieMae]

I'm actually in the NYC metro area, but I do have some space. Five miles over the mountain, in the next town over, it's about as crowded as Tokyo! I'm so glad I don't have to commute into Manhattan anymore! My current job is about the same distance, but I work in a quiet suburban neighborhood, now. I do have some annoying neighbors and one guy's terrible singing echos across the water and he never shuts up!

I guess no place is perfect!

[PearlieMae]

Before:
23900

After: (cleaned and draining)
23901

[Echidna]

beautiful!
looks much lighter, almost white/mother-of-pearl, in the upper picture.
Guess it depends on the light?

The dress-style is fantastic, at any rate.
Separate tops can look out of place.

[PearlieMae]

The top and belly and fronts of the thighs are white/mother of pearl, the rest is pretty dark...deep purples and greens. The fluke is lighter purples and iridescent green.


And so much glitter! I can't wait to get some sunlit photos!

:bed now:

[Mermaid Wesley]

Wow. It's beautiful. Art.


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[Fifi Tigg]

Gorgeous! :swoon:

[MermaidMichelle]

This fish this FISH! It's criminal.... ;) :mermaid kiss:

*Hopes someone got the 1998 pop song reference*

[AniaR]

man this is just so awesome I am so proud of you :) it looks stunning. Glad you had fun

[PearlieMae]

Thanks!
:D

(And now I have that song stuck in my head! :O_o: )

[MermaidMichelle]

Sorry.... :hug: If it makes you feel any better, every time I see Raina's siggy I get the chorus of "New American Girl" stuck in my head....

"She's my NNNNNNEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWW W American girl [even though she's from Halifax]...
She's so bad she's good for me...."

[PearlieMae]

Well, it's better than the Bangles song I had stuck last week. :gah:

[Lostariel Telrunya]

Just another Manic Monday....:dance:

[PearlieMae]

Nope...even worse...

Eternal Flame. :doh:

[Lostariel Telrunya]

Ooooohhh..... That is worse.

[MermaidMichelle]

My favourite: "Close your eyes. Give me your hand. Do you feel my heart beating? Do you understand? Do you feel the same? Am I only dreaming, or is it burning (burning); an ETERNAL FLAME!

Perhaps I should explain my sometimes-morbid, never-pyromaniacal concern with fire. Here it is in comic-book style:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWfaHOxT_F4
ENJOY!​!

[PearlieMae]

I'll have to watch it at home, I can't have the sound on at work...

And Lostariel, you are so right. I'm going to have to go listen to some Napalm Death to dislodge it.

[PearlieMae]

Four hundred ninety eight 'likes' on Facebook.


THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME!

https://www.facebook.com/MermaidPearlieMae c'mon...you know you want to!

[MarkF]

Make that 499

[JessieMermaid]

507

[PearlieMae]

Awesome! Thanks! :) I was up to 557, last I looked!

My daughter came up with the best response to kids who say "you're not a real mermaid"...

"Well, go have fun sitting with the adults, you little snot!"

:lol:

[Raayvhen]

Your daughter sounds like a wise one.

[Echidna]

that's a good one, will come in handy at some point *scribbles note*

[Anahita]

Your daughter sounds like a wise one.

Well, she does have Pearlie for a momma! ;)

[Raayvhen]

Well, she does have Pearlie for a momma! ;)
This is very true.

[PearlieMae]

Yes, I posted these in the photoshoot thread, but I thought they would be fitting here in the thread that lead up to them...

23964

23965

23966

[Seraphina Suds]

You look fantastic! That's a great location too! It has a magical vibe

[PearlieMae]

Thanks! It's the Skylands Manor in Ringwood! I've shot so many weddings up there, I knew the setting would be perfect...unfortunately, these days, by the time I get out of work and up there, the sun is already setting :( and on the weekends, it's packed with wedding parties!

[Mermaid Wesley]

I'm so happy to see this thing completed. It was such a wonderful process and with a stunning result <3


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[MarkF]

You look stunning!
Hey on the weekend the weddings would have a mermaid in the background, sounds good to me.

[PearlieMae]

Hahaha! In the dark shot with the long pond, we were going to shoot there, first, but a couple of guys asked if we could hold off because there was a surprise engagement about to take place there! We went up to the round pool and soon, the newly engaged couple came up and took a couple of snaps with me!

[MarkF]

That's our MerGirl, you'll have made there photo's special. I believe that.
:)

[Lostariel Telrunya]

I absolutely adore those hip fins! And, you should have asked the couple if they needed entertainment at their wedding :)

[AniaR]

love <3

[Echidna]

It's hard to say because there are so many beautiful tails, but I think it's one of the best I've seen, right on the top with the prettiest Merbellas and Mertailor performance ones.
And in the eyes of someone who loves purple, this is no doubt THE most beautiful tail of all.

Congratulations, you must be so happy with the result of all your hard work :)

[PearlieMae]

:jawdrop: Thanks! Wow!

I'm thrilled with it! Two more tweaks and it's done - moving the heel fin up a little and modifying the top so it doesnt scoop water. I would like to rework the entire top, but I may just hang back on that for a while. It's kind of a hodge podge of colors and I kind of want something a bit more cohesive. But I'm making accoutrements, so I may not need to!

I taught myself how to tie fishnet! I have some beautiful nylon cording in a rainbow of colors!

[MermaidMichelle]

That is a very professional top-of-the-line tail on a very pretty mermomma on a very long fountain! :mermaid kiss:

The pectoral fins are lovely too, and while I also noticed that the dorsal/heel fin was a bit low, I think changes at this point are entirely optional or even unnecessary! You have met with tremendous success and perhaps should consider performing in a wedding environment!

[PearlieMae]

Thank you, Michelle! I am very happy with it!

I put the fin over my heels to hide/distract from them, but I found that when I flexed my ankles, it made the fin lay down. I'll be moving it up mid-calf. This way, I won't put pressure on it if I have to stand on it.

:)

[PearlieMae]

Just a little teaser...Pearlie Mae's Beautiful Nonsense is gearing up for production of some new items! Tee shirts and tote bags! A whole array of designs! Samples will be posted here, on facebook and on the Etsy link in my signature!

Soooooooooooon...
24034

[Seraphina Suds]

Screen printing? :3

[MermaidMichelle]

Just a little teaser...Pearlie Mae's Beautiful Nonsense is gearing up for production of some new items! Tee shirts and tote bags! A whole array of designs! Samples will be posted here, on facebook and on the Etsy link in my signature!

Soooooooooooon...
24034

If Beautiful Nonsense be something you wish,
Then drop on the deck and flop like a fish!

This looks exciting! :mermaid kiss:

[PearlieMae]

Yes! I needed some staff shirts for the Maker Faire, so I just burned all my screens!

Michelle, I love that! :mermaid kiss:

[Seraphina Suds]

Nice! Can't wait to see all the designs~

[Mermaid Galene]

Pearlie, your nonsense is of the very best quality! <3 My t-shirt loving torso is intrigued!

[PearlieMae]

small setback with one of the screens...will be making a new one this weekend - didn't like how the scale pattern background screen was printing. The attachment seems to have crapped out on me, here, too!

[PearlieMae]

Quick question...which scale pattern do you like best? (For the backgrounds of mer t-shirts, contrasting color text will overlay the scale pattern)

24083

[Anahita]

C is my favorite, but I think A or D is better for the application you're planning to use them in

[Cetus_The_Sapphire_Merman]

Your tail and design is absolutely gorgeous.

[Imogen Finnly]

D and E

formerly jayy

[MerEmma]

C or D. :)

[Aziara]

I think D looks the most fish-like of all of them.

[Mermaid Galene]

E by itself is the most attractive to me, but D would work better with text.

[Fifi Tigg]

I like E

[MarkF]

You missed an important variation - Pearlie Shells

24085

[PearlieMae]

ooooooh! I LIKE IT!

I had something like that, but I didn't care for it. Yours is superior to what I did!

[MarkF]

I might still have it as a .pub file.

[MermaidMichelle]

I also would cast my vote for D...or Pearlie Shells! :mermaid kiss:

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I like the last one on the bottom row.

[PearlieMae]

Thanks, everyone! C and D were the clear favorites here and on facebook. I went ahead and made the art for all of them and will burn the screens tonight and have samples to show tomorrow!

But for now, I'm off to see Guardians of the Galaxy! :)

[Mermaid Neri Elvina]

Have fun PearlieMae!

[Seraphina Suds]

Pearlie! I know you've mentioned you're thinking of eventually selling tails. Do you have a time frame in mind for when that might happen? I'd love to be one of your first customers. :p

[Mermaid Fenicia]

A and D are my favorites ;)

[SummerRogue]

*sighs* Your tail is sooo beautiful, I luuurve it.

[PearlieMae]

Thank you, Summer!

Seraphina, I plan on taking orders around October! Getting all the logistics together now! :)

[Seraphina Suds]

Oh wow, so soon! @-@ gotta start saving!

[Imogen Finnly]

Oh man can't wait. I'd buy a tail from you in a heart beat

formerly jayy

[PearlieMae]

Well, it is still a work in progress, but I got the bones of my website up! Let me know what you think!

http://www.pearliemae.net/

[Drake]

looking good, Pearlie Mae... cant wait until its completely done :)

[MermaidMichelle]

"Become the Legend"...Very poetic! :mermaid kiss: Your site looks nice and professional, and you look so cute on the fountain!

[Kishiko]

I know this was answered before but since there's like 13758392983 posts in this thread I can't find it but......
how much are your tails going to be?

and.... DUDE YOUR TAIL IS FREAKING AMAZING LIKE THAT FLUKES IS LIFE.

[PearlieMae]

"Become the Legend"...Very poetic! :mermaid kiss: Your site looks nice and professional, and you look so cute on the fountain!

Thank you! :hug:

[PearlieMae]

I know this was answered before but since there's like 13758392983 posts in this thread I can't find it but......
how much are your tails going to be?

and.... DUDE YOUR TAIL IS FREAKING AMAZING LIKE THAT FLUKES IS LIFE.

Actually, I haven't really priced them yet.

They will be expensive...and worth it! :mermaid kiss:

[Seraphina Suds]

The website looks great! Not too much or too little.

Any chance you'd accept some kind of payment plan? :p I think Finfolk are the only ones who do that, but I may be wrong.

[PearlieMae]

I am actually in talks right now figuring that out! Good thing The Beau is a Virgo...he's so good at that.

There will be a structured payment plan available for a Pearlie Mae tail... :yay:

[Kishiko]

Would you accept payment over a longish period of time? :thinks: like let's say you want a tail and need $3000 (just an example), could you pay $250 a month and after one year begin the creation process?

Oh, oh, could you also have it built without the full body tail + top?

[Seraphina Suds]

I feel all the questions coming on lol. Will there be custom fluke options? Or are you sticking with your wing inspired fluke for everything?

If a customer lives near by, would they be able to come for fittings and live consultantions? *hint hint* Would they be able to help in the creative process?!! ;D

[PearlieMae]

Would you accept payment over a longish period of time? :thinks: like let's say you want a tail and need $3000 (just an example), could you pay $250 a month and after one year begin the creation process?

Oh, oh, could you also have it built without the full body tail + top?

I will let everyone know the financial details soon...it will be a very fair and flexible plan. Believe me, I know what it's like to be broke!

To answer your second question, ABSOLUTELY! :D

[Mermaid Wesley]

On a side note: I MIGHT CAVE IN AND BUY A LITTLE SILICONE MERMY TAIL FROM YOUR ETSY BECAUSE I LIKE TO SQUISH SILICONE AT ALL TIMES.


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[Kishiko]

Okay next onslaught of questions (SORRY, I'm curious): Will all the scales be individually colored, or will you have the option of a full scale paint once assembled?

Also, will all the scales be don be secured together, or will customers have the option of lifting scales?

what about custom scale shapes?

okay I'm done. For now. :lol:

[Kishiko]

On a side note: I MIGHT CAVE IN AND BUY A LITTLE SILICONE MERMY TAIL FROM YOUR ETSY BECAUSE I LIKE TO SQUISH SILICONE AT ALL TIMES.


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OMG RIGHT ITS ADDICTIVE

[Mermaid Wesley]

OMG RIGHT ITS ADDICTIVE

I was squishing it at the smoothon supplier near my house and was like "AHHHHHHHHHHHH THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER*


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[Kishiko]

I was squishing it at the smoothon supplier near my house and was like "AHHHHHHHHHHHH THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER*


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When I had my meetup on Sunday, Mermaid Heather had her new merbella basic tail and it was my first time squishing dragonskin and I was just like "LET ME KEEP SQUISHING YOUR SCALES"

[Mermaid Wesley]

The thing is: I have a gallon of dragonskin in my bedroom. WHY DONT I JUST MAKE MYSELF A THING TO SQUISH?? Oh yeah bc I'm addicted to buying things on etsy.


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[Kishiko]

HEY I KNOW: make me a squishy!!!!! :swoon:

Haha ha were such hijackers

[PearlieMae]

Okay next onslaught of questions (SORRY, I'm curious): Will all the scales be individually colored, or will you have the option of a full scale paint once assembled?

Also, will all the scales be don be secured together, or will customers have the option of lifting scales?

what about custom scale shapes?


okay I'm done. For now. :lol:


1. Scales will be individually pigmented and assembled. I'm not painting! What would be the point of painting over individually assembled scales? Might as well make a scale sheet!

2. The scales will be sealed down to each other like a fish body. It's my opinion that lifting scales will be problematic... in drag through the water, cleaning the tail, and I think lifting scales might make for a delicate tail, likely to rip. But that's my opinion. That's not a Pearlie Mae tail. I don't know of any fish whose scales lift (while they are alive).

3. Custom scales, fins and flukes will likely be offered at a reduced rate initially, while I build a library of styles. Unique/exclusive scales, fins, and flukes may be offered at a premium, but it's likely to be very expensive because it's a lot of work for one tail.

[PearlieMae]

I feel all the questions coming on lol. Will there be custom fluke options? Or are you sticking with your wing inspired fluke for everything?

If a customer lives near by, would they be able to come for fittings and live consultantions? *hint hint* Would they be able to help in the creative process?!! ;D

New fluke/fin designs are addressed above :)

And if a client lives nearby, (hint taken ;) ) I would expect you to come to be custom fitted! And yes, creative consultations, too! Especially if you bring coffee and nommy noms!

[Seraphina Suds]

I work for Starbucks! I'll bring you a whole gift basket. ;p

Oh man, this is so exciting. I've been waiting for a tail maker to pop up in the New York area~ How long do you reckon orders will take from completed payment to shipping? I'm going to Mexico in March and although I doubt I'll have enough money by then, it's nice to dream lol.

[PearlieMae]

I LOVES TEH SQUISHY!

But remember, my mini tails aren't only squishy, they are also wiggly and flippy floppy...and oh! Teh SPARKLY! :dance:

[PearlieMae]

Seraphina, I'm not sure how long construction will take, I'm estimating three months, but right in the beginning, I can't be held to that, yet. Might be sooner, might be later. I'm going to work on all my logistics and conditions and release that info in a couple of weeks. Right now, I don't plan on working on more than one tail at a time...that may change once I get underway, but I don't know just yet.

All will be revealed! :D

[Mermaid Wesley]

you know how to be a saleswoman don't you O.O


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[Seraphina Suds]

You're amazing! Can't wait to see the whole plan come together for you!

[PearlieMae]

So...I don't know if it's appropriate to continue using this thread as my personal Pearlie Mae area, now that the tail is 99.99999% done, so let me know if I should go and blog on my own site. But I did want to share my some of my weekend at the World Maker Faire in New York!

First, some press: http://makezine.com/2014/09/21/pearlie-maes-custom-mermaid-tail/

[Kishiko]

No this is like a legendary thread! It's like the incarnation of perlie MaeMae

[Seraphina Suds]

It's your tail journey, so I think it can go on for quite a while! Next leg of it is making tails for others and branching out your designs. Lots more journey to be had!

[MarkF]

I need my daily episode of -
"What is PearlieMae doing today" :)

[Echidna]

She is posting updates regularly on her pages/FB ;)

[Mermaid Wesley]

update: I'm a weakling i bought a mini tail.

[MermaidMichelle]

I don't think you're too weak to squish silicone!:hug: lol

[PearlieMae]

Whaddya mean, "weakling"? You mean AWESOME!




and in other news...
Aside from the wall of dancing robot penises, I was one of

The 5 Strangest DIY Things at New York’s Maker Faire (http://www.vocativ.com/culture/art-culture/maker-faire-nyc/)

http://www.vocativ.com/culture/art-culture/maker-faire-nyc/

[Mermaid Wesley]

Whoo hoo! Strangeness!!


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[MarkF]

You are definitely not Merhopeful anymore.
More like Mermadeit.

[Mermaid Wesley]

Awwww that's sweet


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[PearlieMae]

Awwwww! I don't think you ever had to be hopeful, you were born to be mer!