Wont you tell me what you want ?What you really really want? SOS :D

[SirenaEma]

Hi fishy friends ^-^,This is my trust fall to the MerCommunity , Will you catch me?

Im working on opening a tail making business (SOS) and spend alot of my time thinking about what the mer community needs,wants,means and how my work can contribute to pesciety.
I just picked up a copy of the Art of asking, a book by the great Amanda Palmer that id been dying to get my hands on since i knew of its conception(its amazing, id highly recommend it to anyone searching to deepen interpersonal relationships, navigate the interwebs as a freelance artist or just take a peek at some serious wisdom) and within the first few pages it hit me; JUST ASK!

What's on your mind? What do you want? What do you need from a new tail maker?What are your likes, dislikes and innermost desires ?

Feel free to discus anything from ;preferred techniques ,to shipping ,to waiting times ,to pricing on different items and the sourcing of materials. Nothing is off limits.This site has shaped me to be the Mer I am today,and this is your( yes you, I see you :) chance to actively shape new tail maker and the future tails swimming beside you.

as a thank you id like to share a peek of the SirenOfStitches logo :
https://plus.google.com/u/0/112739865506337269615/posts/GDTGFbbwhBg?pid=6085424669140398498&oid=112739865506337269615

I want to journey through this with you and create tails that my fellow Mers will flip their fins over.These are uncharted waters ,Whats bubbling under the sea?
-Seamstress Ema:D

[Mermaid Aika]

Do you know what kind of tails you'll be doing? It looks like fabric, but I'm really curious.

[Meronica]

Amanda Palmer is a genius and definitely one of my favorite people. You're the only other person I've ever heard referencing her book! Go out and read it, people!

I think what the commonfish is looking for are shorter waiting times (relative to Finfolk or Merbellas, although I'm sure we all respect how much time and effort they put into each tail), and prices between $1000-2000 for a full silicone tail. One thing I like about Mertailor is his wide range of fluke options that I think other tailmakers should work on designing and displaying more openly so we can use them as ideas while designing our tail sketches.

But really, the most important factor to many of us is having an open line of communication between tailmaker and client. (:

[Maethor]

Affordable and realistic sequined neoprene tails would be fantastic! I also second the shorter waiting times and cheaper silicone tails!

[SeaMansa]

More male oriented accesories perhaps.... Not that seashell bras arent all the rage these days :3 I may not have a tail yet, so idk if I am exactly qualified to answer the question but I lurk the forums and always see the awesome accessories made and created by the wonderfully talented mers here but most of those are for women sooo... Yeah.

[SirenaEma]

I would be making silicone tails (i have my fist experimental tail for sale in the classifieds here on mernetwork already) and silicone tops & accessories but am open to anything .

I definitely agree SeaMage108 , and i dont get why there is such scarcity in MerMen accessories. The possibilities are endless; at the moment im considering things like scaled cuffs,shoulder pieces with sea themed engravings, breastplates,and a kind of coral mesh piece that would appear to grow on the body. If any of these sound viable let me know and ill upload some pics of the designs.

Maethor, i love the look of sequin tails as well but i don't think purchasing them is the best option, it was something i looked into extensively while deciding on my first tail when i was twelve XD .Making them is a tedious and repetitive process ,i think sequin tails are best when self made because each scale can be placed and sourced to individual tastes and within a persons given time frame. the cost of the raw material is just not proportional to the manual work put into them and unless you where thrilled with the artists aesthetic, paying more for the work than the cost isn't something alot of people consider fair.

Meronica, I defenatley feel that the price of the tail should reflect the materials and work that go into it, i wouldn't want to have a set price for the silicone tails but i could estimate they would range from 1400-2700 .The cost would be discussed with each person but i would have at least three estimates (differing on type of scale,fluke size and amount of silicone used). Its just not realistic to charge the same amount of a 50inch fluke as i would a twenty inch fluke, there is a major difference in cost of materials. As far as communication, i understand the need for clarity and timeliness ; people have places to be and deadlines to meet , i dont think i would be making many tails at a time, never more than five i am sure. This a business id like to grow slowly and surely, im a college student working towards a music composition batchlorate and a opera directing masters, i just wont have time to take on many tails all at once and do them justice. Proving my interpersonal communicative skills will take time, i have to earn that good reputation, but that's why im here :)and thank you for being so thorough, you gave me alot to think about ^-^
Could you please clarify what you meant by "designing and displaying more openly" ? i think many tail makers do give the general public insight into their work and the creative process, thats how they advertise(posting designs on Facebook and videos on YouTube) .Maybe i misunderstand, id like to know how you would like to see the work, how could designs be more accessible for inspiration? (there is actually a plagiarism thread on mer tails active right now, its pretty interesting)

thank you all for being so quick come to my aid , i truly appreciate it. Keep it comin :D

[Meronica]

It sounds like you're well on your way to becoming a successful tailmaker. (: I meant that they should make a chart of their different "stock" fluke shapes. The only tailmaker I know who does that currently is Mertailor. (Mernation is pretty clear about it as well, but they only have two!)

I think that's more on the topic of website design though.

[SirenaEma]

A few ideas;
-what do you guys think about different designs for front/back flukes? One tail with two fluke designs o.o

I want to delve into the extremes of fantasy and realism with my tails and express the duality of the mermaid as a mythology. In my culture the mermaid is considered beautiful and kind but the siren (sirena) is evil, she sinks ships and drowns sailors. Im seriously considering this front/back fluke design as a way to express this and offer more variety in the process.

-mer tail suspenders(built in)? something like a mesh along the body or faded scales or a contoured suspender (if anyone knows Leeloo Dallas )to keep the tail at a closer fit for fluctuating weight and performance tails.

Straight silicone tails are much designing and displaying more openly to slip off in water so i don't foresee a major safety risk .Something connecting the torso to the tail could be very convenient for long term swimmers and could add another dimension to the overall look of the tail. (optional of course)

- two words: Mermaid Corset......... ill let that sit with you for a minute.............
okay, i know it sounds crazy if you have a stable understanding of what makes a corset (if you don't please look up lucy's corsetry on youtube ) however this would not be a steel boned corset, having so much of the body bound could be a serious risk and if not perfectly fitted could affect breathing. This would be for the more tummy conscious mer and would hold in our blubber while allowing mobility. The aesthetic of the corset is popular in the MerComunity and i have been trained by bespoke seamstresses, id love to experiment with this kind of item. Latex corsets are a thing and silicone is much less of an allergen for people, its theoretically viable.

I ultimately wan to blurr the line between tail and extension of the merson. If you're paying a thousand plus dollars for something it had better be an extension of you, a couture piece. A fish person is a surrealist concept in itself, i want to make living works of art that mers can wear in and out of the water and redefine Mer fashions past the beloved but generic sea shell bra.

Whadda think?

[Meronica]

The two-sided fluke sounds AWESOME. (: That would definitely make you stand out.

As for the other two ideas, I'm a skinny mer that hasn't changed in size in the past 5 years or so, so I don't think they really apply to me. I know a lot of the curvier gals here love corsets though! (:

[SirenaEma]

gotcha Meronica, and thanks:) .I hadn't noticed that some tailmakers lacked clear layouts for designs and will be sure to take that into account immediately. You just helped me dodge a bullet as my website is currently under construction ^-^''

[AniaR]

well I really really really wanna...

http://i.perezhilton.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/spice-girlszigazigahgif.gif

(couldn't resist)

[Sherielle]

I have an idea for a fluke like a fantail goldfish. I LOVE the idea of more fantastical flukes and fins. My dreamtail would be, in a word, flowy.

[SirenaEma]

Thank you AniaR, i was waiting for that XD

[PearlieMae]

I have an idea for a fluke like a fantail goldfish. I LOVE the idea of more fantastical flukes and fins. My dreamtail would be, in a word, flowy.


I'm toying with the design of that very thing, Sherielle!

[Sherielle]

I'm toying with the design of that very thing, Sherielle!lol. We need to talk then.

[SirenaEma]

Definitely ^-^, the fan tail is adorable, i had one growing up (RIP general shiny sides). The sculpt on flowing flukes isn't as difficult as finding the right material for the molds,thin and long ends are especially delicate to move and at a large scale its difficult to distribute the weight to keep a stable mold ,thats why ive sold my first tail, to make the molds out of silicone .A flexible mold would just be more practical for me and they last like crazy.Ive been talking though it with my local smooth on distributors but worry not! we have a plan!! ^-^

[SirenaEma]

Question:
- what do guys think about sending a mock up(by which i mean;pattern of a simple material) instead of just measurements?
It could be as simple as wrapping your legs with some plastic wrap and tape, cutting a slit down the front to get out and sending me the "pattern". This could ensure a more exact fit as i would like to work in scale patches rather than sheets. Its a common thing to do when working with a seamstress on a custom item(corset wedding dresses,jackets).I could post videos to help walk MerPeople through the process but there are plenty of examples already. when ive done this in dress making it only added about a week to the process and always ensured a great fit.

[PearlieMae]

Several tailmakers, myself included, already require this for making a custom fit tail. :D

[SirenaEma]

Thats great ^_^
if i may ask; How has it affected your time frame PearlieMae? Are there any other pros and cons you notice with this?

[PearlieMae]

Well, with the "Pearlie Mae Method" (I have a method! :yay: ), I can begin production of scales and fluke/fin sculpting while I wait for the mannequin to arrive. So far, all pro, no cons. But then again, ensuring a perfect fit is only part of what justifies the high cost of a Pearlie Mae tail. They are highly detailed, labor intensive, and very time consuming. I'm not looking to go into mass production. I feel I am working on very personalized pieces of art and want my clients to feel they truly are getting the tail of their dreams.

[SirenaEma]

Congratulations Pearlie ^-^, ive loved following your progress in the mer community and i agree that these are highly personal artworks.
I think there is enough of a force out there for generic tails.
I will also be sculpting/mold making while waiting on the mock up but now i am working on my basic scale patterns,lexan polycarbonate mono fin shapes and molds for a few flukes. Ill be taking a handful of tails at a time to ensure all of my clients get exactly what they want and more.I think its important that tail makers (especially those of us who focus on highly detailed and personalized tails)take time to experiment with new ideas and designs in between tails to better the overall quality of our products. Its the same principle as with couture pieces. Its a labor of love for both the client and tail maker .

[Miyu]

I agree, I'm totally in the market for "flowy flukes and fins" down the line! I attempt to incorporate it into my fabric tails, after being inspired by Stella the Siren (yeah, I talk about her a lot, but she has been probably my biggest inspiration as a mer). Ive been envisioning something like fabric secured into silicone, similar to the Sheroes photoshoots where the tail was mostly silicone or latex, and had flowing fabric fluke and fins... though I'd like more of the fluke and fins to be made of silicone (vs. mostly fabric).

I am totally 100% for sending in a duct-tape cast to ensure proper fitting! It's one of my pet peeves as I make fabric tails, that it's so hard to get it to fit properly without actually trying it on the person frequently! If I'm going to shell out (LOL) for a silicone tail, I'd be more than happy to take the extra time and effort to make/send in the "cast".

I love the idea of different patterns on front/back of fluke - some people already do different patterns on the two sides of the tail body, why not the fluke - especially if it's not a translucent fluke! Don't some cetaceans have different patterns on the two fluke sides? It would make sense for an aquatic creature to have two different patterns, so as to blend in OR stand out, both from above and below (where the lighting situations are totally different)

[Mermaid Jaffa]

A fin hood like my fish hood.
http://www.scubadiving.com.au/aropec-nemo-3mm-hood

Instead of a fish, its a row of stiff fish spines 9 cm - 3 cm in height. High spines that cut through the water so that one can move faster. Optional, matching fin ears or fin cups over the ears.

[SirenaEma]

:O mind blown Mermaid Jaffa , i loooooooooove headpieces. (picks up sketchbook)

[SirenaEma]

its very common for sea creatures to have lighter bellies than backs, just look at sharks, it helps them blend into the sea. looking from above, a dark back would blend in with darker depths and light bellies when looked at from bellow would blend with the lighter shades of the surface.

[SirenaEma]

I don't think i would make ear accessories any time soon, im just not at all familiar with things like cos play elf ears or anything similar but i am definitely looking into some more stylized webbed fingered gloves.

-How would you guys want webbed gloves? latex or silicone? long, short,detailed with scales? im thinking about offering one long(opera length) style of webbed glove and a short finger glove.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Additionally, made of neoprene or some other warmth holding material, so my head doesn't get cold on chilly days.

[SirenaEma]

Id like to give you guys some more insight into what im currently doing:
-3 scale patterns (nine molds)
-deciding on 2 initial top designs
-designing accessories
-setting up Facebook,Etsy,(kind of an ebay page) and a site for S.O.S
(i have fluke designs and paper drafts but want to leave the initial five sculpts up to my first five full tail costumers,for each sculpt i will make an opposite of the same dimension dimension and shape with a completely polar sculpt *Duality is a big part of what i want for SOS*)
...................


i want to cast 3 items(6 actually,as one of each would be of a more masculine and one would be of a more feminine aesthetic) other than tails by new years: should they be?......

2 tops?(and one breastplate and shoulder piece)
2 styles of webbed gloves?
A headpiece (which i just found out about thanks to mermaid Jaffa but am in love with)
latex prosthetic gills?( to be applied with spirit gum and such things)
....... and one more thing . Please dont fish-slap me XD :Narwhal horns (in circlet form or as a necklace)........ just saying....lol.

its up to you guys ^-^

[SirenaEma]

yeah, neoprene would definitely be the material of choice for a swim friendly head piece.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Yes. I love my fish hood!

[Sherielle]

I would love somehow to be able to have a dorsal fin on my back.

[East coast mermaid]

Webbed gloves sound amazing! I keep looking for some that look like scales growing from your hands but no luck so far. But I would think silicone would be the best of the two just because I would imagine it's more durable. And long and detailed sounds the best to me!

[PearlieMae]

You have to be careful working with both latex and silicone, latex will inhibit your silicone from curing.

[SirenaEma]

I understand what can inhibit silicone rather well; a ton of stuff can ,even in small doses, if you can so much as smell something that wont mix with platinum cure silicone on a mold it can ruin your project. Thats why we use sulfur free clay's on sculpts(even if you seal the sculpt it may not be enough), even (tin cure )silicone can inhibit (platinum cure) silicone!Its a fickle but amazing thing. Thanks Pearlie,but don't worry, ive done my homework on most Mer-related materials ^-^

but you make me wonder.........is there a thread that discuses these things? the info is out there, i just haven't seen a "what not to do" tail-making thread as of yet, it could certainly be helpful for new tailmakers.

[SirenaEma]

And yes east coast mermaid, i would be making the gloves purely in silicone.
id be avoiding latex as much as possible, im a bit sensitive to it.

[PearlieMae]

Just trying to help.

[SirenaEma]

We know Pearlie , you're one of the kindest and most active forces in this community. Thanks ^-^

[SirenaEma]

Does anyone know if you can add a poll into a thread? im not very tech savvy

[East coast mermaid]

I can't wait to see your future work :)

[SirenaEma]

Thanks east coast mermaid , it wont be long now ^-^

i think ive decided on one top,long gloves and a headpiece as the first three(six) items

[SeaGlass Siren]

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT I WANT WHAT I REALLY REALLY WANT!
(SO TELL ME WHAT YA WANT WHAT YA REALLY REALLY WANT)
I WANNA - I WANNA- I WANNA - I WANNA
I REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY WANNA ZIGAZAG AHH!

...sorry i couldnt help it. moving on.

[SirenaEma]

HI guys ^-^
having multiple scale patterns is important to me, i want to start with three ; one will be made of hundreds of different shells ive collected by hand over the years, one will be the original scale (the one i used in my first tail) and the third id like to leave up to you:
What do you guys think of sharks teeth inspired scales? or gator like scales? (id like to have at least one predator inspired option)is there anything else you'd like to see available for mermaid scales?

[Sherielle]

So......would you be able to do a dorsal fin on a person's back? Maybe somehow integrated with the top?

[SirenaEma]

I was thinking more along the lines of connecting it to a hood but connecting it to a top would be totally doable

[SirenaEma]

its really common within dragon convention costuming, just a minute i think i may have a picture...

[SirenaEma]

Something like this?
https://plus.google.com/u/0/112739865506337269615/posts/AnGP6tgt67z?pid=6087956655492182274&oid=112739865506337269615

[SirenaEma]

Sorry Sherielle I dont know how to directly add the pic ,Please let me know if the link works.