Getting pieces together for my tail

[JessieMermaid]

So I bought my monofin I have it now. But I wanted to start my thread for my own tail making as I design and put together my tail. So first is my monofin. Its a Fin is Wave.


I also bought a ton of shells at this shell shop I found in Savannah GA on the riverwalk. I'll try to post pictures.

[Carolina Mermaid]

Look forward to seeing it!

[JessieMermaid]

My Finis Wave monofin
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My sea shells!!
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2 types of shell bras
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Hair pins/headbands, etc.
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Pendents
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Earrings and other things...
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Hopefully soon I'll have sketches and inspiration pics up as well..... Let me know what you think!

[MermanZen]

Good luck!!!:D

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Cool! The only seashells I've found so far, are leftovers from someone's dinner! And yech! Not having those!

[Mermiah]

I'm swooning over here :D those shells girl!!!

haha I'm so thrifty I would so clean out food shells and really good and then use them on my OWN tail (but I would never sell something like that :P)

[Mermaid Adriel]

Awesome! Can't wait to see your progress :)

[JessieMermaid]

Thanks for all the support Mers!! I went shopping again today for more stuff and swatches of potential fabric for my tail and hit mertreasure at my local Joanns! Will post pics when I get home.

Mermiah, I felt the same when I walked into that store. I felt that I was in merheaven!!!!!!!

Ireneho, I totally agree!

[JessieMermaid]

ok so here's the pics I promised.

Here's the loot!
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And my treasure chest:
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Now I do have a question: The tiny starfishes and the tiny sand dollars are gonna be earrings and I need a way to seal them.
Would this work:
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And here are 2 potential fabric tail options:
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Let me know what you Mers think!!!!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

The pink looks much nicer than the green. Or maybe that's just the lighting? But I love the pink, more eye catching!

[JessieMermaid]

Ireneho, I like the pink too. Its funny, though, because pink is at the very bottom of my "colors that I tolerate" list. I prefer blues and greens. So when I was drawn to the pink one, it threw me for a loop, and was unsure if I should use it. After sleeping on it, I think I may use the pink if it passes the chlorine test.......

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Haha! I don't wear bright colors either, but I do love looking at them especially, if its someone else that's wearing it!

[JessieMermaid]

Lol

[JessieMermaid]

So bought a dremmal the other day and last night I played with it a bit. Got some cheep shells from Wal-Mart and some sea glass (the bags of filler stuff in the home decor dept) . Made a heart in one of the shells and cut a piece of sea glass to fit inside the heart....it came out kinda cute.

[PearlieMae]

Clear poly might not be enough to seal the stars and dollars...they don't do well in water, ironically. Once they are dead and dried, that is.

Where a mask when drilling or using a Dremel on shells! The dust is very dangerous to inhale!

Also, http://jewelrymakingjournal.com/drilling-beach-glass/

[JessieMermaid]

Ok so the poly is out. What do you suggest to seal them? Or should I cast a mold of them and create a resin copy?

I have been using a mask... my hubby/merhandler makes sure I don't injure my dumb bunny merself! Lol.

Thanks for the link. I would have never thought to do the sponge/water technique, but I will from now on.

[PearlieMae]

Cast them...they are far too fragile! :D

[JessieMermaid]

Ok Mers. I went swimming in my monofin today (and it was an indoor saltwater pool!!!) and boy are my fins and abs tired. Did have a few issues though; the straps that go on the back of my heels keep slipping off and I discovered my big mer-butt likes to swim to the left when I want to go straight. :gah: Any tips would be wonderful!

[Alcyone]

the only tip that I have it's to keep the shoulders at the same level, this will help for the general posture..by the way, that pink is so bright!! I agree, it looks better than the green one, but I suggest you to do the chlorine test, I remember a pink swim costume fading after few trips to the pool..

[JessieMermaid]

Thanks Alcyone! I'll have to try that. Yeah the pink is bright so I will be doing chlorine tests to see if it'll fade....

[Alcyone]

finger crossed then!

[JessieMermaid]

Yep! :biting nails:

[JessieMermaid]

So I'm drawing out my patern for my tail. Let me know what you guys think.

Im thinking about getting some thick vinyl to put in the fluke to make it keep it's shape better.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/04/u6yjamev.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/04/u4a2a9ug.jpg

[JessieMermaid]

Btw PearlieMae I've casted my sand dollars. Working on my starfish. I'll post a pic when they are done. If people like them I'll make more and sell them.

[Mermaid Saphira]

I am so jealous of those shells! :D And I prefer the second design!

[JessieMermaid]

Saphira if you are ever in the Savannah GA area go to the river walk. That's were I found them

This place:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/04/a6ehy6un.jpg

[PearlieMae]

Btw PearlieMae I've casted my sand dollars. Working on my starfish. I'll post a pic when they are done. If people like them I'll make more and sell them.

Excellent! You are making wonderful progress!

[JessieMermaid]

Thanks, PearlieMae!

[BayouMermaid]

Ok Mers. I went swimming in my monofin today (and it was an indoor saltwater pool!!!) and boy are my fins and abs tired. Did have a few issues though; the straps that go on the back of my heels keep slipping off and I discovered my big mer-butt likes to swim to the left when I want to go straight. :gah: Any tips would be wonderful!


Neoprene booties help my fin stay on better. Also, once it is in the tail, the tail helps keep it on.

[JessieMermaid]

I have these from Finis but in black. Ihttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/05/bupabure.jpg

[JessieMermaid]

Ok, like Pearlie on her tail thread I've been a lazy mer too. But I did get a few earrings, necklaces, pendants and a berrette done. Will take pics when I get home.

[JessieMermaid]

I know it's late but I am on call this week for work so I've been on the phone since I got home. Anyways here's the pics!

Not quite done with this one, but wanted to show it off:
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/16/a7ahy7eh.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/16/amerera4.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/16/runetagu.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/16/avunabyr.jpg

These are the resin starfish and sand dollars. What do you mers think?
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/16/8a9adege.jpg

[Mermaidmechanic]

Awesome! I really like that coral piece!

[JessieMermaid]

Thank you!

[JessieMermaid]

Quick pic of my elephant behind

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/18/qanuneva.jpg

[PearlieMae]

I've been staring at the back of my lower body mannequin for months now, and I still can't believe how big my ass is!

[JessieMermaid]

I used sasha's video on YouTube, but I think I'm gonna cheat and just trace my fat ass

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Be careful with tracing... I traced my big butt and ended up with a tail skin that was 3 sizes too big at the waist!

Then again, maybe I was moving too much, its just me here and I had no one to help me with the tracing.

What I did for the second tail was, I outlined one side of me, with my legs placed on the monofin, drew a line between the legs. Then cut out the side with the outline, fold it over and line it up with the marks on the other side and cut.

[JessieMermaid]

The hubby said he would help trace me. It is nice to have him around.....when he's not engrossed with ESO, Diablo, or any of his other games...

[JessieMermaid]

So tail patern redraw:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/21/hytehaqe.jpg

[PearlieMae]

That looks really good!

[JessieMermaid]

Yeah it looks a lot better. No more elephant butt. Though I think ill keep it just incase I make one that is a single seam.

[JessieMermaid]

Painted side fins:http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/21/u9avu3ap.jpg

[JessieMermaid]

Yay lineing is cut out!
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/21/py6e7yda.jpg

[Mermaid Wesley]

Nice progress and fluke shape!


Sent from my shellphone using Tapatalk

[JessieMermaid]

Thanks!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Cool! Finished and swum in it yet?

[JessieMermaid]

No not yet. Got the lining done, but because of work I had to go out if town. So no work on it until Friday or Saturday...

[JessieMermaid]

Here's a rendering of what my tail should look like:

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[JessieMermaid]

The inner lineing is done!

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/28/4y2e2egy.jpg

[PearlieMae]

Nice!

[JessieMermaid]

OK So this is 2 ideas that I'm thinking of to stiffen my fluke. Let me know what you guys think. FYI this is my first video and if well received I will be posting more. Yes I know I sound like a kid but I'm 27, promise....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-EB7GRAN3Q

[JessieMermaid]

Thanks Pearlie!!

[PearlieMae]

Testing such a small sample is kind of misleading. Once you get it into water on a full sized scale, you will be suprised at how flowy even the stiffer one is going to be. My home made lexan monofin - stiff as a board out of the water, but bends like crazy under the force of the water. Water puts a LOT of pressure on your fluke. So even with the lining, vinyl, and tail top, it's going to move and flow like crazy.

[JessieMermaid]

So going with the double layer will work? It won't look weird?

[Mermaid Wesley]

I would go as stiff as possible. Think of how bendy the wave/rapid is underwater. On land it's pretty stiff.


Sent from my shellphone using Tapatalk

[JessieMermaid]

I wanted something to hide the monofin when out of the water and not be hindering while in the water. I have a Wave and when I did the test I thought maybe it would be to stiff in the water. Hence the concern. I already know that the vinyl will hide the raised thingys on the fin.

[Mermaid Wesley]

Oh ok I see. I would go with the double layer, personally


Sent from my shellphone using Tapatalk

[JessieMermaid]

Ok thanks MerHopefully! BTW Love the signature. Something tells me that it happens at the dinner table one night....lol

[Mermaid Wesley]

Lol thanks!


Sent from my shellphone using Tapatalk

[JessieMermaid]

So I got the plastic stuff attached to my tail. One more step closer to taildom!!!!!http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/30/a5ujenyb.jpg


Yes I'm wearing it....

[Mermaid Wesley]

hooray!

[JessieMermaid]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/01/yjebe3u6.jpg

Ok on to the main peice. Shall I just tease you mers from now on? Or should I stop posting on my progress all together, then *surprise* final product awesomeness?

[Mermaid Wesley]

I personally love seeing progress pics, but is up to you! It's looking good.

[JessieMermaid]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/04/usy3edaz.jpg

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Ooo! Love the color! Even your shirt matches!

[Mermaid Adriel]

a pink tail! super cute <3

[JessieMermaid]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/05/vubamuze.jpghttp://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/05/emejemag.jpg


Just need elastic and paint!

[Mermaid Cascada]

Woah! It looks great! The fins are super pretty! Great job! :D

[JessieMermaid]

Thanks ireneho, Claudia, and cascada!

[JessieMermaid]

Ok. I FINISHED SEWING THE TAIL!!!!!!!!!!!! ......and then went swimming in it before taking pictures and/or video of my first swim because I was too excited that it was finished and I wanted to swim in it soooooo bad after all that work..... But yeah totally kicked my merwrangler off of his ESO and stuffed him in his swim trunks and dragged him to the pool.

[PearlieMae]

Awesome! How does she swim? Comfy cozy?

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Are you going to sew some spines on the fluke?

[JessieMermaid]

....spines?.... please explain ireneho. Yes Pearlie, comfy cozy! Lol I made her almost 2 sizes smaller because I didnt want her to fall off and the fabric is 4-way stretch anyway. Also there is some elastic at the top for extra holding-in-placeness, even with all that she fits like a glove in the water. Almost 0 drag!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Um... You know those things on the fluke that fan out from the end of the scales...

I added them to my Aloha Tail so the fabric don't flap open when I'm swimming. I don't know what else to call them other than spines!

[JessieMermaid]

Ahhh I see now......What did you make them with ireneho?

[JessieMermaid]

So I've started painting. I finished one side of the fluke last night. I'm not gonna show you the whole thing but you will get a sample. ....http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/10/agu7asah.jpg

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I just sewed the sides together with the sewing machine. Left a small hole that my Wave can go into.

[JessieMermaid]

Ok

[JessieMermaid]

ok everything is done and I've swam in it a few times. I did a mer meet with BayouMermaid and a few others a couple weeks back. Those pictures are in the album. I lso finished a Seashell top. Planing on a dry shoot Saturday with both tail and top and I will post pictures on this thread and in my album.