Merbellas Thread

[Arella]

This makes me uber excited for my photo shoot

[AniaR]

K folks I post ravens updates here but I'm not her secretary. I can't make her read or do things any faster and often when you dont get replies neither do I. She will sometimes just hop on and tell me a blanket update for mernet.

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[Arella]

Has anyone done a photoshoot with Raven before? I'm wondering what I should bring besides my top (she has my tail atm) like make up or anything like that?

[Mermaid Lorelei]

@Arella - I just had a photoshoot with her last month. I suggest you take makeup (or apply it beforehand) as well as tights or leggings, a change of clothes, a couple of towels, and whatever jewelry, tops, etc you want to wear. She will provide some jewelry and tops at the time, but she is more than happy to let you wear your own stuff. Also, take a snack and lots of water!!

[Mermaidmechanic]

indeed.
It's a shame there will be only one like it.
She should totally make more looking similar, it's too good a design to be one of a kind.

Especially as so many people liked it, and it went to someone who already had another silicone tail.

The fact that I have a tail already doesn't matter. There is no "only one tail" or "only one tail-maker" rule. I won it at auction and anyone willing and capable of paying had a fair chance.

OMG Riiarin, I loved that quote "The sea dragon has awoken" Lol! XD

[Sephina]

Mermaidmechanic I think she just meant that Raven will never make that same design (the belly scales, and extra fins) again, making the tail one of a kind. Not that people should only have one tail. Though I don't remember hearing that Raven would never make another sea dragon tail again, I'm sure if someone paid the money she'd re-use the molds, but paint it differently.

[Mermaidmechanic]

Well no. That's not correct at all. I mean there were tones of interested parties who had to back out because it didn't fit them and it's not as if everyone has a spare 6/7 grand lying around to spend on mermaid tails. So that 'had a fair chance' statement is entirely inaccurate.

Also I thought when she first posted a picture of the tail she said 'here's a sneak peak from my new "Sea Dragon" line coming soon" (directly quoted from the first picture of the tail she posted) which leads me to believe she would be making more like it... Of course not the same, because Raven doesn't do that, she encourages everyone to make their designs unique to them. To the general public (those not on the forum and didn't read Raina's post about her saying it's one of a kind) they will all be expecting to be able to order tails like this.

1) Anyone who it didn't fit, that's a situation that could have applied to anyone. If it hadn't fit me, I wouldn't have pursued it and I wouldn't think it was unfair if someone else ended up with it. I would accept that perhaps it just wasn't meant to be.
2) SPARE 6/7 grand? Absolutely not. That is money I've worked hard for and deemed that I desired the tail enough to spend that money on it.
3) If someone pays for a complete custom tail, she allows them to make the decision about whether or not they want that design available to others. Raven decided to make it exclusive to encourage people to bid on it rather than simply commissioning her to make one similar. There isn't much reason to spend so much if it isn't unique and one of a kind, its a sound business practice.
4) I love my new tail, it suits me perfectly and Raven deserves every penny I payed for it. Hell, if anyone wants to pay her the same amount of money I payed for it then go ahead and duplicate it. I refuse to feel "bad" about winning my tail. I'm going to rock it in happy mermaid bliss because after a day of toiling away at a demanding job that ranges from political panic to excruciating physical labor, I deserve to enjoy the things I have.

[AniaR]

Raven told me there will not be another sea dragon tail. It was one of a kind, and there will be future one of a kind mermaid tails. The line typically refers to the type/style of top and accessories (like the Atlantis line) We can't resent people for buying a tail when they've already got one. I mean, I've got two tails from two different makers, 3 if you count my mermaidfx, and 4 if you count the mertailor one I used to have that I gave to mimi. Just be happy someone won it. it really doesnt matter that she already had a tail. There's no rule that tails have to be presented to the community in a fair way. I respect you all, but those comments just kinda come off jealous to me :/ and I'd rather not see the thread dissolve into bantering back and forth over someone winning a tail. I feel like this wouldnt be an issue if it was any other tail maker. In fact, a lot of things that come up here dont' seem to EVER come up with other tail makers. Kinda feels like Raven is held to a different standard that she didn't set for herself IMO.

[AniaR]

Personally, I would have been in a bidding war for the tail had it been posted a few weeks later. I outright told Raven I selfishly wanted to buy it because I was worried someone would buy it who never had a silicone tail before and wouldn't know how to treat it. I'm glad mechanic has had silicone experience as I find many first time (not all) silicone tail buyers don't seem to have accurate expectations of what they can put their tail through and the wear and tear. People seem to think just because it cost 3k it's invincible. So I'm happy it's going to someone who will love it and preserve it, it's a work of art I'd hate to see ruined. And I'm not suggesting any of the other bidders would have ruined it (I dont know who the others were) just that it was a concern.

[shimmygoddess]

It is a beautiful tail and you look absolutely fabulous ....awesome photos!!

1) Anyone who it didn't fit, that's a situation that could have applied to anyone. If it hadn't fit me, I wouldn't have pursued it and I wouldn't think it was unfair if someone else ended up with it. I would accept that perhaps it just wasn't meant to be.
2) SPARE 6/7 grand? Absolutely not. That is money I've worked hard for and deemed that I desired the tail enough to spend that money on it.
3) If someone pays for a complete custom tail, she allows them to make the decision about whether or not they want that design available to others. Raven decided to make it exclusive to encourage people to bid on it rather than simply commissioning her to make one similar. There isn't much reason to spend so much if it isn't unique and one of a kind, its a sound business practice.
4) I love my new tail, it suits me perfectly and Raven deserves every penny I payed for it. Hell, if anyone wants to pay her the same amount of money I payed for it then go ahead and duplicate it. I refuse to feel "bad" about winning my tail. I'm going to rock it in happy mermaid bliss because after a day of toiling away at a demanding job that ranges from political panic to excruciating physical labor, I deserve to enjoy the things I have.

[AniaR]

I'm also planning on buying THREE merbellas tails in the next 6 months for my company. I hope I don't get comments like that because I happen to already own tails and people think I've got money lying around, because it's been a huge all encompassing piece of work to get to this point and planning with Raven for 2 years. I'm sure you girls didn't mean it as it came off, I'm gathering people just want a chance at a similar tail. but yeah. :/ those two points just sorta rubbed me the wrong way.

And just to point out, she said anyone capable of paying had a fair chance, not that everyone had a fair chance as with ANY auction for anything, it's anyone capable of paying.

[Arella]

@Arella - I just had a photoshoot with her last month. I suggest you take makeup (or apply it beforehand) as well as tights or leggings, a change of clothes, a couple of towels, and whatever jewelry, tops, etc you want to wear. She will provide some jewelry and tops at the time, but she is more than happy to let you wear your own stuff. Also, take a snack and lots of water!!

So what sort of makeup did you bring? I don't currently really have any kind of water-proof sealer so did you bring/use anything like that? And ya the clothes and towel and my tops and etc. I was planning So what kind of tights? I've used a couple different types but I'm curious if you found any sort were better for photographs? Thanks so much : )

[MermaidHyli]

The fact that I have a tail already doesn't matter. There is no "only one tail" or "only one tail-maker" rule. I won it at auction and anyone willing and capable of paying had a fair chance.

THANK YOU for saying that! I get messages whenever I show interest in a used tail...I backed out on one of Raven's old tails because I was told that I should leave it for someone else's dreams to come true. While I want everyone to have a tail and be happy, I don't agree that just because we already have a nice tail we can't have another. But also if one plans on pursuing a business like aspect and hiring other mermaids you would need optional tails. I am truly happy for Mechanic and if any one can pull of how BA it is, she can! one shouldn't pull out assumptions or call unfair statements based upon emotions.

[AniaR]

Yeah good point Hyli I am realizing its impossible to work as much as I do without a back up tail. I live in constant fear of my tail breaking mid gig

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[Elle]

I'm also planning on buying THREE merbellas tails in the next 6 months for my company.

I can't wait to see that!

[Winged Mermaid]

The fact that I have a tail already doesn't matter. There is no "only one tail" or "only one tail-maker" rule.

I refuse to feel "bad" about winning my tail. I'm going to rock it in happy mermaid bliss because after a day of toiling away at a demanding job that ranges from political panic to excruciating physical labor, I deserve to enjoy the things I have.

Well said!

Your photos are amazing! I hope you'll be taking video of you rocking the sea dragon look sometime

[Merley]

I think Ashley is a pretty name

Thanks, Arion. I've never been a fan of my name. Too common. It gets annoying. Also congrats on the Finfolk Tail. I'm excited for you. I've been in love with them since they made Syrena's.

[Merman Arion]

Thanks, Arion. I've never been a fan of my name. Too common. It gets annoying. Also congrats on the Finfolk Tail. I'm excited for you. I've been in love with them since they made Syrena's.

Alexis is a common French name as well but I don't complain much about it because I know there are worse French names out there like Eugene, Hubert, Adolphe, Alfred, and so many others. Fortunately, my parents like classic names but not too old so I got this one. At least, I didn't get bullied because of a name

As for Ashley, I love it and the sounding isn't annoying to me. I hope you will appreciate it more in the future because it's really a beautiful name.

Thank you for your support, I'm very excited as well. The girls behind Finfolk Productions are super sweet.

[Echidna]

I respect you all, but those comments just kinda come off jealous to me :/

Just FYI, I've never been jealous/envious of anything or anyone in my life.

I feel sorry for the mers though who would have loved this particular tail, but didn't have enough money to win the auction.

Because of the big interest, I'd like to see more tails with a similar design.
To me, a pod of sea-serpent or sea-dragon mers is so much more awesome than just a single one being a special snowflake.

I don't expect you to understand this point of view.
That's alright. It's a cultural difference.

I rather see nice things shared and spread instead of being exclusive to only one or a few people.
That's all.

[shimmygoddess]

THANK YOU for saying that! I get messages whenever I show interest in a used tail...I backed out on one of Raven's old tails because I was told that I should leave it for someone else's dreams to come true. While I want everyone to have a tail and be happy, I don't agree that just because we already have a nice tail we can't have another. But also if one plans on pursuing a business like aspect and hiring other mermaids you would need optional tails. I am truly happy for Mechanic and if any one can pull of how BA it is, she can! one shouldn't pull out assumptions or call unfair statements based upon emotions.

I have experienced that as well. Over the years I have spent thousands on professional Bellydance costumes. My favorite designer is "Bella" located in Turkey. For any dancer to have a Bella is a dream. I have bought all of mine used on a forum similar to this and I have received negative comments at times because of it and b/c the number of costumes I own. I worked hard saving my own money and if I want to spend it on costumes, or tails, or photography gear that is what I chose to spend it on. Even if I already have costumes, camera gear, ect. it is my choice. If I want a costume and it is my size then I will buy it. If someone else really wants it too then, it is first come, first serve. LOL. I can also understand the point of the others, and it is hard to get past your emotions sometimes. When I found that forum, in my beginning performer days, I have felt the same way. I have wanted a costume and lost out b/c someone else got it first, and they already had a ton. I would be mad, feeling like I missed out. I have learned though that if its meant to be, then it will come to me. Otherwise, I just learn patience and eventually I find the perfect one. Hang in there ladies!