Hello from frozen Chicago, IL

[Aperture_Platypus]

Yeah, it's freaking cold outside. My name's Aperture_Platypus, Aperture, or AP, or Matt, any are good. I'm a 26 year old insurance agent/burlesque photographer. I've already made one basic fabric tail for my wife a couple years ago. I had gotten her a monofin for her birthday a couple years prior and just simply wanted to see if I could do it.

Anyway, we're moving to a larger apartment, so I'll finally have a work space to make a silicone tail, something I've wanted to do for a while now. I joined here so I could do my research and learn as much as possible before I even order any materials, even trial size for proof of concept ideas.

So here I am, a pleasure to meet you, and I'm looking forward to getting back in the water once the $&#*@%# lake thaws.

[Nicoseamus]

Welcome! It's awesome that you make tails. I feel you, I can't wait for the winter to end either. Ugh it's been going on for far too long.

[malinghi]

Welcome!

[Kishiko]

My brother lives in Chicago too! Welcome to MerNetwork!

[teeth4u]

Welcome to the forum! I'm super close to Chicago so if you ever wanted to do photo shoots or swim together we could totally make that happen!

[Aperture_Platypus]

Awesome! Thank you all for the warm welcome!

[Jessica]

Welcome! There are tons of silicone tailmaking threads to help you out, and making your own tail is a lot of fun. It's a good idea to make a small project first, like a scale top, wristbands/bracelets...anything really! I wish I had started with something small so I could have tested the process fully....it would have saved me from making a few mistakes with my first silicone tail :) There's a tailmaking index around here somewhere that's full of links to the threads....

[Aperture_Platypus]

Actually I've got some ideas to make fabric tails with silicone parts as a bit of a transition. With the cost of silicone, I plan on doing this SLOWLY.

[Jessica]

You can get some really neat effects by using fabric with silicone! Pearlie Mae is using some gorgeous fabric in her extra fins on her silicone tail, and if I remember correctly, Brenda Stumph did hybrid tails as well.....she's a photographer and her work is incredible! You can check out her mermaid pics here : http://bstumpf.zenfolio.com/themermaidproject/h57F4A398#h57f4961a

And yes silicone is so expensive! It's really great to work with though and absolutely addictive once you get started :)
i can't wait to see what you make!

[Mermaid Adriel]

Welcome! :) Really glad to know someone who makes tails.