Yulia's free silicone tail by MerDivas

[Mermaid Oshun]

I painted the scale sheet and worked on the bra today. It will be photographed this week. Stay tuned to see the reveal of Yulia's free silicone tail!

[Mermaid Oshun]

Sharing with the mer community and the disadvantaged is the goal of MerDiva's. At least one mermaid/man tail will be given away each year. Also since I am studying psychology, I plan to do art therapy work with the disabled, senior citizens and autistic children to help them with their emotional development. There is a lot of hatred, racism, bigotry, animosity and unfair preferential treatment in our community and in the world at large. I aspire to a day when we favor our peers not by the color of our skin, by attractiveness or by insincere cajolery but rather by the content of one's character, skill and other tangible, just qualities. I wish to create an escape from this hatred and negativity by making a safe haven in art. I created MerDivas to make the world a better place by sharing the magic of art both through mermaid tails and through art therapy so that all might grow and evolve into the more enlightened entities they should aspire to be,

[MermaidNadia]

That's wonderful. You are brave, motivated and optimistic, and that's all you need for this endeavor.

[Mermaid Oshun]

Thank you. I have also been a sculptor and artist for 20 years. That helps too :D
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My version of Venus with an Apple here is one of my favorite creations.

[Echidna]

It's heartening to see there's still people around having such faith :)

I hope you will not run into financial trouble giving away tails, silicone being so expensive.
I adore your idea of sharing with the disadvantaged though.

[Yulia]

I painted the scale sheet and worked on the bra today. It will be photographed this week. Stay tuned to see the reveal of Yulia's free silicone tail!

Wooooh!! \o/

[Mermaid Oshun]

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Sneak preview of Yulia's scale sheet. Much more work to be done on it though.

[jazz2453]

Neat! Still LOVE that glaze. And I'm so happy that so many new tailmakers are trying to make a different for people out there! What you're doing is great!

[Mermaid Oshun]

Thank you Jazz. This is a side view btw. So it is fading to gold at the waist band.

[Jessica]

Love all the sparkles! It's so pretty! :) I can't wait to see pictures of yulia in her tail!

[Blondie]

It's sooo sparkly! I can't wait to see pictures/videos of that tail in the sun. It'll glow!

[Mermaid Oshun]

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GLOW IN THE DARK TAIL!
The silicone in the front of Yulia's tail is infused with phosphorescent particles. After charging with sunlight or a strong lamp, her tail glows in the dark

[Echidna]

*jawdrop*
reminds me of the Northern Lights tail someone was talking about (not sure if they made one).

Will be quite an eye-catcher at any rate, especially outdoors in a dark lake.
(might be too cold though that far up North)

[mermaidgirl7]

16025
GLOW IN THE DARK TAIL!
The silicone in the front of Yulia's tail is infused with phosphorescent particles. After charging with sunlight or a strong lamp, her tail glows in the dark

OH wow that is SO COOL!:jawdrop:
i want a glow in the dark tail lol. :)

[Yulia]

*jawdrop*
reminds me of the Northern Lights tail someone was talking about (not sure if they made one).

Will be quite an eye-catcher at any rate, especially outdoors in a dark lake.
(might be too cold though that far up North)
In the summer I might try it out in the ocean at night, the water stays warm after sunset. :D

[Mermaid Oshun]

I can't wait to see pictures/videos of that tail in the sun. It'll glow!
how psychic of you! ;) It will actually

[Jessica]

I've been dying to try the glow in the dark pigments! I'm particularly fascinated by deep sea creatures that "glow"... I can't remember what they're called... Anyway, please take pictures of the whole tail glowing! :)

beautiful work! :)

[Mermaid Melanie]

I think they are called Angler fish ! beautiful tail ! xxx

[Echidna]

Actually, most deepsea creatures have some form of bioluminescence, not just anglerfish
(those have just a small "lantern" for attracting prey).

Deepsea jellyfish, plankton and colossal squid make the most amazing lightshows though!

[Jessica]

All the deep sea creatures are amazing. bioluminescence was what I was thinking of! I love the jelly fish....I've seen video of some that look like led lights. :) angler fish are really neat too

[Yulia]

I haven't heard from Mermaid Oshun since March 12th, and now she isn't answering my messages.
I have no idea how this tail is going.

[ShyMer]

Uh oh... It sounded like she was having trouble with the materials last time she talked about it. I hope she hasn't given up :(

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[Yulia]

When I last heard from her, she said she was going to start painting it.

[Merman Arion]

Something is definitely fishy... On her Merdivas Studios page, the last update was from 14th of March and nothing since that day.

Did she quit? She has been quiet a lot since the drama about her not taking responsability for her mistakes with Chris's tail at Merfest.

I hope you will get your tail, Yulia. It would be a huge disappointment otherwise.

[Yulia]

Got a message from her now, so all is well. <:

[AniaR]

I think she took a much needed break :)

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[ShyMer]

Good for her, that can be hard to do. I'm looking forward to seeing your tail finished! It's going to glow in the dark, right?

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[PearlieMae]

Looks like she's not going to make any more tails...that is, unless they are private orders.

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[Merman Arion]

Looks like she's not going to make any more tails...that is, unless they are private orders.

I'm not surprised. Like not at all.


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[Echidna]

that's sad, we could use more talented tailmakers, and the Merdivas stuff looked truly special.

[Anahita]

I think she must have just gotten in over her head....

She was so eager to make a name for herself it seemed that she didn't really take into account what this stuff entails. Her posts sounded like she actually felt like there was some sort of competition because she complained a lot about a lack of likes compared to another tailmaker that started about the time she did, even though she had not yet produced a full tail at the time (which would, you know, constitute that). Add to it that was constantly reminding - and it seems is still reminding - everyone that she was giving Yulia the free tail and what a sacrifice that was to her, it makes me really think she approached tailmaking as a popularity contest. Which, man, that would burn anyone out. How can you enjoy making art if you're doing it for those reasons? :(

[Mermaid Momo]

And she ha never made a tail before Yulia's or the one she made for Chris if I remember correctly. She didn't really know how much work it would entail to be a professional tail maker and how much of her time would have to be dedicated to it.( i remember where there was a a bit of a rant about how much time an work she was putting into making tails and how she advised people not to make silicone tails because they're a pain in the butt. Or something g along those lines)I also think she wasn't ready for the critique that comes with being a professional tail maker.
I hope that in her time off she won't stop making tails for herself and getting better and eventually trying again at being a pro tail maker with a plan of attack and a thicker skin.


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[Winged Mermaid]

I'm pretty sure she was comparing herself to Finfolk, because Finfolk had just recently launched their FB page. Also she said the company she was comparing to had a certian number of likes, and I checked and the number on Finfolk's page at the time and it matched the number in her comment. But Finfolk was doing testing and producing tails at least a year if not two before they launched their business. Comparing yourself to others is a bad enough thing to do to yourself, but she was comparing herself to one of the now top tailmakers. :/

[Winged Mermaid]

Also yeah, you can't be a tailmaker if you can't take constructive criticism :/ That's just the way that industry is. Making tails means getting feedback from clients and adjusting and improving constantly. Otherwise you'll be left in the dust. Yeah it really sucks to hear that something you worked really hard on didn't come out right, but that's just part of life.
Plus, the pins she left in that tail physically hurt people (and it could have been a LOT worse) and she turned around and said it was Chris' fault for rushing her. Huge red flag that you're not ready to take it to a professional level. It would be great if she kept up wit hit, as she had a lot of potential. But she got so resentful about making tails. Being resentful about any job only leads to bad things.

[Mermaid Kelda]

It's such a shame. I really, really liked the look of her tails, and if she had kept going with it I was going to order one. I hope she doesn't quit! I love seeing people's styles evolve<3

[AniaR]

I think one of the big things I saw at ncmerfest with many tails was that paint jobs often hid badly made tails. In person and photos soooo diff for many.

I feel bad for how this all turned out. I just felt like at the time of the associated drama that several people were getting flack from merdivas that seemed to me ( and others at merfest) to be misdirected anger and resentment.

I don't expect a first try to be perfect I just wish our community as a whole wasn't so easy to jump on a band wagon.

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[BayouMermaid]

I was under the impression that Yulia's free tail was partially so that Merdivas could get experience making tails before selling them. Sure, it is taking a while, but so do most learning experiences.

[AniaR]

Yup that is the case but she did make another for sale and did take orders ( now cancelled) before it.

I think it is good she is taking a break and I don't think we should kick her when she's down.

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[Yulia]

http://puu.sh/8crbz.png

So project on hold once again.

[PearlieMae]

:crying:

I'm so sorry.

[Yulia]

Will probably not get it in time for summer. >:

[PearlieMae]

:(

[Echidna]

Will probably not get it in time for summer. >:

that must be quite a disappoinment.

however, instead of sitting on forums/FB and bemoaning fate, you could, for example, make a fabric tail in the meanwhile.

Making your own tails is much more rewarding anyway.

[Kishiko]

There's no need to be rude. Maybe she can't make one for some reason.

[AniaR]

I dont think she's being rude. I mean it sucks Yulia wont have the tail but it's a free tail. They don't just fall from the sky and you gotta be weary when people offer free tails. Shouldn't bank on it.

[Echidna]

^^pretty much this.

and to get over a disappointment faster, I can only recommend working on a tail, you might discover you like it :)

[Kishiko]

I just mean maybe she has some financial problems or something that she can't make one. Or maybe doesn't have the skills necessary and that's why she wanted the free tail from someone else.

[AniaR]

doesnt that just describe pretty much all of us who havent made a tail though? we're all either there, or were there at some point.

[Kishiko]

Hahaha that's xactly my point! Maybe she's there right now and that's why she's waiting on this one

[Merley]

You get what you pay for...But really, who can complain about something as labor intensive and requiring of true skill as a silicone tail...for free? Everyone who is having a tail made or making their own has to endure the painful process of waiting and although the waiting sucks, it's FREE. Just find other ways to occupy your time. That's what I'm doing. I'm not even counting the days until my tail is done. It will just make the wait seem longer, imo. I rather be happily surprised one day when I get the email my tail is nearly finished. But that's just me.

[Yulia]

I have put money in to this, yes, ofcourse, not as much as Mermaid Oshun has, not as much as other have into buying tails, no. I'm not trying to complain.

I have been really humble about this thing, tried to be positive with every setback, but when people ask you "how's your tail going by the way?"
and all you can answer is that you don't know, it feels a bit sad.

I don't have money to invest into making a fabric tail, I must save them for the shipping. (which I have no idea how much it will cost me yet)

I know there are mers out there waiting to even order a tail, but Mermaid Oshun has one tail to work on, and when it continues to get more and more postponed for all new kinds of reasons which I get to know first of from her facebook page, not in personal, wouldn't you also feel a tiny bit worried sometimes?
This project has been going on since the end of September.
I'm really positive for some of the changes that had to be made though, like switching to a harder silicone (for free) and I'm very grateful for that.

Please don't take me as selfish or ungrateful, that's the last thing I want to come out as, I'm not ungrateful for this opportunity.

[Yulia]

Sorry for my absence on the forum, I just feel a bit embarrassed by my whole situation.
So hasn't heard anything new from Mermaid Oshun.
Last message I got was on 18th of april.
Wrote to her the second of this month, and no answer yet.

Yes, I know it's a whole free tail, and that she puts a lot of money and work (and time!) into this, but I am getting more and more worried.

[Merman Arion]

Sorry for my absence on the forum, I just feel a bit embarrassed by my whole situation.
So hasn't heard anything new from Mermaid Oshun.
Last message I got was on 18th of april.
Wrote to her the second of this month, and no answer yet.

Yes, I know it's a whole free tail, and that she puts a lot of money and work (and time!) into this, but I am getting more and more worried.

You wrote her this month?

That's interesting because now, she seems to have deleted all the posts concerning your tail in her Merdivas Studios page.

The last thing currently posted is from 13th of March. Yet, I'm sure her last post was something more recent than that and it was about putting the project on hold because she had to put the fluke in the trash and she couldn't afford to buy silicone to start all over again. Am I mistaken?

Edit : DO NOT FEEL EMBARRASSED :no-no:

[Yulia]

You wrote her this month?

That's interesting because now, she seems to have deleted all the posts concerning your tail in her Merdivas Studios page.

The last thing currently posted is from 13th of March. Yet, I'm sure her last post was something more recent than that and it was about putting the project on hold because she had to put the fluke in the trash and she couldn't afford to buy silicone to start all over again. Am I mistaken?

Edit : DO NOT FEEL EMBARRASSED :no-no:

You're not mistaken, there was an update about it, that was the most recent info I got from her too in private too.
I wrote to her the second of june.

[Echidna]

If I were you, I wouldn't count on ever seeing this tail.

My guess is Oshun has loads of problems on her own, probably including financial trouble.
She might still work on this tail, because it was promised, but it might take longer than you're willing to wait due to said problems.

Since she also never posted here again, I'd rather invest in a fabric tail (they are really cheap, especially when selfmade) than wait for an undefined span of time.

[AniaR]

Sometimes people just can't do it. Dr seaweed was gonna make me a tail before I got any of mine but he went radio silent and was never heard from again. I'm cool not getting a free tail but I miss the guy

[Echidna]

ye, it's especially sensitive people that rather disappear than confronting you to say "hey, sorry but I just can't make it" to avoid disappointing you.

actually, that's quite an Asian thing.
Westerners who visit Asia often ask something and then wait, and wait, while the staff pretends to search and finally disappears because they plain don't know and can't help you, but instead of saying it, they do it that way.
(yep, off-topic, but I just remembered how often I had to tell western people how it's done in Asia back when I lived there xD )

[Mermaid Momo]

I'm sorry to say it, but I think you need to let this tail go. By her silence, I can tell that you will never see this tail. It's best to put your money towards a fabric tail instead of putting your hope into this.

[Mermaid Julz]

This is where I am gonna Chime in. I have spoken to Yulia a few times about this problem. Today after talking to her again, I told her I cannot give her a free tail, but I would be willing to make her a basic tail at cost of my supplies.I just don't find it right that this has happened to her and she is not going to get a tail . I know I don't have to do this, but I felt it was worth doing to try to help out a friend that I have made here. I already have one free tail going out for my merfest entry, and I am finishing up another at cost tail. I know its not a silicone tail, but a high quality grade RD-407 Latex tail. From our talk she knows the cost and the possible shipping costs to her. I can't guarantee the shipping cost till the tail is done.

For me, this helps both of us. she gets herself a tail, I get another tail out there for people to see how they are .

[Yulia]

Well that's 67$ down the drain......
>:

[Mermaid Lily_Pad]

That is really, really nice of you Mermaid Julz. Good luck on the tail making! I look forward to seeing pics!

Yulia, being a designer of anything is very hard. I owned an online store where I made digital clothing for an online game. I had many people ask me to make things for them and I would go into it full of enthusiasm, but it takes hours upon hours of work...and being a perfectionist I beat myself up constantly over the quality of my work. It gets absolutely exhausting. Even more so when you get that poke from people who are still looking for their free goods. You just burn out. Plain and simple, and the idea of going back to the work can make your stomach turn. It is incredibly stressful and it gets to the point where it is simply not worth it. I imagine that may be what has happened here and while it really, really stinks that you had the hopes of actually getting a silicon tail and it simply doesn't look like it will happen, you have to known when to just walk away as well. You may have lost a bit of money...an investors fee...so to speak, but thats the gamble you take sometimes. I think you need to start looking elsewhere for a tail. Good luck!

[Yulia]

I completely understand that things can take time, or that you don't have the energy to do things like these, but it would have been so much better if I got informed.

I don't blame Mermaid Oshun for not working on my tail, but then maybe she atleast could've said that to me.

[Echidna]

I owned an online store where I made digital clothing for an online game.

SL, by any chance?
I did that too for a while, but quickly burned out.
People want to compensate in game currency, which translates to a few cents for many hours of work :p

[Mermaid Lily_Pad]

LOL yup! Secondlife. I started to make mesh items, but everything was developing so fast that by the time I got one piece done the technology had changed and I had to start all over. Once they got into Lolas mesh body parts and attachments to add clothing to the Lolas I gave up. I still have a store open on the marketplace but I closed down the one in game.

[PearlieMae]

I know Golden Pearl/Mermaid Oshun was anxious to get a tail business going, but I think she bit off more than she could chew...trying to do too much too fast....

Yulia, I'm sorry you aren't getting a tail from her...Julz's offer sounds pretty good and she's making great strides in her tailmaking...something to consider. :D

[Morticia Mermaid]

Hey Yulia, if you message me, would love to talk to you about a tail :)

[Yulia]

Hey Yulia, if you message me, would love to talk to you about a tail :)
I wrote to you on your facebook page, hope that's okay!