A new piece for the museum is finished!

Some days are just days of accomplishments.

This morning I decided it was time to finally do a much postponed project: the Feejee mermaid case.  I bought a couple of mermaid skeleton charms (just in case one of them got ruined), and asked dear husband to please paint one with his acrylic paints, like he does with his Warhammer skeletons.  "How do you want me to paint it? With shadows, or...?", he asked.  "Paint it however you think it will look best", I said.  And he did, and the results were fantastic!

So, my job was about to start.  Initially, I thought of making the case to showcase the mermaid skeleton with scrapbooking cardboard.  But it looked kind of bland to me, so I decided to use wood instead.  I purchased popsickle sticks, and cut 4 of them to measure to make the body of the case:

2 parts for the bottom, 1 part for each side

And two small pieces to complete the case

All glued up!

After that, it was time to stain and paint.  I wanted the inside to look old, and the outside to give some contrast.  So I stained the inside with Inktense Chestnut ink, and painted the outside with black paint:

Then, I cut a piece of tan velvet paper to cover the bottom of the inside, where the skeleton would lay, as to mimic the look of sand in a beach:

Then I glued the piece of paper and the skeleton, and vòila!

I even added a couple of pamphlets from Victorian exhibitions related to the Feejee mermaid, and a picture of a gentleman posing with one of the multiples Feejee mermaids that were so popular back in the day.

I absolutely love the final look!  It already has a place of honor in Kassandra's museum:

Is it hoax? Is it true? Who knows!

The musuem is coming along very nicely, but still a lot of work to be done!

Review: FinFun Mariana's Tidal Teal Mermaid Tail

Now that Summer is over, I can finally review my new tail skin: FinFun Mariana's Tidal Teal tail. 

Yeah, call me childish, but I have been reading the Mermaiden Tales that come up every once in a while at the Finfriends website.  I LOVED Scarlett's story and personality.  As a fan, I wanted to buy a Scarlet Red tail, but I did not really see myself in a red tail, even though it was gorgeous.  When her story took the turn it took, and she became Mariana, I wanted her new tail.

So this Summer I bought it as a gift to myself.  As always, buying at FinFun is easy.  I picked the Adult M size, chose the cheapest international shipping option, paid with Paypal and waited for it to arrive, as I was hoping I could take it with me for my holidays.  I think it took about a week, and it arrived in perfect conditions, in a sealed envelope, inside a plastic bag - no organza blue bag anymore - and with a Mermaidens sticker as gift.

The size is spot on, and let me tell you, it is GORGEOUS!  The tail itself has no front and back - same design on both sides - and it features the Mermaiden logo in the right fin tip (on both sides); I find it cool, it looks like a mermaid tatoo (!).  Now it has a smooth transition between the body of the tail and the fluke - no seam like in my Barracuda tail - and the colors are shades of blue, turquoise, and a bit of green and white.

Transition between tail and fluke - flawless!

Scales detail

As you can see it makes quite an statement!

The one thing that got my attention is the new reinforced tail tips.  I had seen a video on their website where they talk about this.  I was skeptical, until I saw my new tail had the new tips.  Mind you, none of my tails had ever had holes in their tips, but it is because I am totally paranoid over not scratching them anywhere.  That being said, I noticed the new tips are stronger, because they are covered in a kind of hard plastic (I don't really know what it is, but it feels like plastic to the touch).  Even though they stand out on land, they are invisible once in water.  With them, putting on and getting out the monofin is harder, but I would venture to say they really make the tips stronger.  The only bad thing I have to say about them is that they do not have drainage holes (like silicone tails use to have on their flukes), and so the water tends to accumulate in them when hung to dry.

See the white Mermaiden logo and the new reinforced tail tips

One of the good things about this tail is that it is longer, or has a new, different fluke pattern, than my Barracuda tail, and my Magictail monofin now is completely covered by the fabric - no white cover showing in the front or the back (yay!).

Regarding people's reactions, everybody said that it has a more vibrant color than my blue Magictail skin, and that the design is prettier.  It became everyone's favorite, and I find that it is competing hard with my blue Magictail in my heart - I am torn between the two.

Looking forward to using it next Summer!

A gift for Claudia

Today I found Kassandra very busy.  She told me she was preparing a gift for her goddaughter, Claudia, whose birthday is coming up very soon.  She told me that Claudia is very fond of mermaids, and she was getting ready a gift basket as a surprise.  And what a gift basket!

A couple of coloring books and several boxes of coloring pencils and crayons.  I am sure Claudia will be very happy with them.

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Fantasy apart,  I came up with the idea of the coloring book after finding by chance a printable in an Advent calendar with miniature tutorials for Christmas season (you can find the printable I am referring to behind door number 20).  I loved the idea, but I am not very fond of Christmas, so I decided to make my own.  For the coloring pages, I used the Mermaidens drawings offered by FinFunMermaid.  I made the cover using their own coloring book.  The crayon and pencil boxes come from PrintMini, and the gift box is my own creation.

On the next days I will be trying to learn how to make a bow-maker and how to use it to make tiny bows.  Hopefully the box will have a nice red bow!

Mermaid blanket... because Winter is Coming...

LOL, sorry for the pun!

I bought a mermaid blanket last Winter when I moved to my new home, but even though I wanted to post something about it I forgot.  Today I was filing some pictures and found the ones I took of the blanket when it arrived.

Even though it is still Summer, just in case you were considering buying one for yourself, here is one of the many available mermaid blankets on the market:

You can see my minion pillow  :)

This is the Fin Fun Adult Mermaid Blanket in Aquamarine.  It is incredibly cozy, warm, and when you get inside you may not want to get out.  The adult size is BIG.  I can cover up to my chest with it, and there is still room at the bottom.  You can get your feet inside the "fin" part, and there is no opening at the bottom - no more cold feet with this blanket.  You have to get in and out as you would with a sack.  No walking with this tail, and I would not recommend jumping while inside.  

The fabric is very very soft.  It is a double-sided minky fabric, and you won't get tired of petting it.  I mostly use it for snuggling up in the sofa and watch TV.  I have fallen asleep inside, and it was awesome.

Fin Fun has 2 new models they did not have last year with a whimsical scale pattern.  

Perfect for those cold days in which you still want to rock your mermaid side without having to get wet.  I highly recommend them, for adults or kids.

Mermaid home

A couple of weeks ago my husband bought for me some stuff suited for a mermaid home.

Every year Zara Home releases articles related to the sea, and I love to peruse them to see what I can add to my collection.  Here are some from this year's catalogue:

                                                                         Coral dishes

                                                                             Placemat

                                                                     Octopus pitcher

                                                                        Napkin rings

There's much more at their website or in their shops.  If you happen to live in Spain or are just passing by go take a look.  I am sure you will find something that you just need to have!

New printable book up for sale!

Remember that mermaid book that I mentioned it was in the makings?  Well, it's finished, and it has made its debut on my shop; "The Book of Mermaids":

It has the same measurements as the vampire book, but a lot of different covers to choose from, all of them with a lovely mermaid scale pattern.

Another printable for you to have fun!  If you want it as a kit or as an already made book it can be done too. Just contact me.

New Mermaid Academy in Spain

A new Mermaid Academy has opened its doors in Gran Canaria (Canary Islands):

Gran Canaria Mermaids Swimming Academy

If you try it out, let me know how it goes!

Mernation Scale Silicone Top Review

Being the incorregible person that I am, I wanted a new mermaid top that matched my Arielle Magictail.  Very few people make tops that fit WELL on models over a cup size B or C.  My Merbella top was bought knowing it would not fit me perfectly, and that it had been designed to fit up to a C cup after put on the bra.

I came upon Mernation by chance, after browsing on Etsy for "mermaid tops".  Their Silicone Scale Top got my attention immediately.  Not only they included D cups (mine), they also accepted customizations, even though the price could vary.  Their opening price, $160, seemed to me very reasonable, so I sent them an email, saying I was ready to buy one of their tops, and asking if it would be possible to have one that would not tie at the neck as a halter top.  My Merbella top is a halter, and after a while wearing it, the pain on my neck is substantial.  The first day of contact was October 21, 2014.

They replied very professionaly within a 24 hours period, saying that yes, it would be possible to leave the shoulder straps and cover them with fishing net.  They also stated it would be best if I were to buy a bra and ship it to them with the straps already set in their right place.  That way the fitting would be 100% accurate.  It was a perfect plan, and I gave them the OK to bill me with PayPal.  The final top cost was $180 for the custom design, and I was allowed two colors of my choice for the painting.  I sent them a picture of me on my Arielle tail, and asked if they had similar colors.  I wanted it to be blue with hints of green.  I was told they blended their own colors for each work they did, which I found amazing.  I was over the Moon.  I was sure this top was going to be wonderful.

I had some problems finding the bra I needed, but I bought a nude bra and shipped it to them on November 5.  It was sent urgent, but my tracking number was not working and I emailed them on November 19 to ask if it had arrived.  I was told they were out for the Thanksgiving holiday, and they contacted me again on December 3 to say they bra had arrived and they were going to start production. 

I was sent a picture on the same day!, to ask if I liked the colors:

I told them they were amazing and that I loved them.  The following day they sent me two more pics, to ask if I wanted some extra netting over the cups:

The answer was a yes.  That same day the top was finished, and on December 5 I was invoiced the shipping charge, which was $25.  I paid, and the top was shipped that same day.  It arrived to my house on December 16. My mom offered to pay for it, so the top ended up being a Christmas gift from her.

It came very well packaged on a cardboard box, covered with green tissue paper.  The package showed that the shipping was precisely what I had been charged, unlike my previous experience.  I was speechless when I took it out.  It was perfect.  Flawless.  I tried it on immediately and it fitted like a glove!

I love how the scales drape over the tummy!  It is so flattering!  I cannot wait to try it in the water. More pics soon to come!

I am very, very happy that I chose Mernation.  It has been a fabulous experience, and one that I would be ready to repeat.  I very much appreciated how they kept in contact with me throughout the whole process (thank you Lauren!!), and each reply was made within 24 hours.  I am not considering a silicone tail on the short run, but if I ever do, right now I would choose Mernation without a doubt.  It is fantastic that they really want to make the customer happy.  I cannot say enough, and I wholeheartedly recommend them.

UPDATE 21-01: Last Monday I went swimming with the Mernation top.  It is a dream!  It does not move at all while swimming.  In fact, it is like you were wearing nothing at all.  No fuss, no issues, no more pressure on my vertebrae due to halter ties, not even pressure on my shoulders!  My boobs stayed put all the time, they did not attempt to come out, and the silicone was very comfortable.  I had 3 different people commenting on it, saying how original and pretty was.  I think this top will be the first of two or three (with time...).  So so happy!!

Mermaid school opens in Spain

I just heard about it, thanks to a co-worker.  It is called Sirenas Mediterranean Academy, and here is a promo video:

If you live in Tarragona and you try it out let me know how it goes!

First underwater video!

We are back from our holidays in Peñíscola, and here is my first underwater video, shot with our new aquatic camera.

I hope you enjoy it!

Another H2O Just Add Water locket acquired

I had my eye on it for some time.  I was hoping I could save some extra money to buy it, as it cost about $60, but lucky for me, the seller, Beldiamo, had it on sale, and I finally made it mine.  Here are some pics:

Front. The jewel is a red cubic zirconia

Back

Inside

It is quite thinner and a little bit smaller than the one from Sterling Silver Art, so I'm guessing that's one of the reasons for the difference in price.  Also, the jewel on this locket is a man-made cubic zirconia, and the jewel on Blue Crockatt's lockets is a natural stone.  

The final price for this locket from Beldiamo was $35, which is very reasonable for a sterling silver locket, and came inside a red velveteen pouch.  It does not come with a chain.

I wanted a red stone because Rikki is my favorite of the 3 original mermaids: she is determined, does not take crap from anybody and knows how to get the best of life.  

I really like the three waves on the back of this locket.  They look very, very similar to the ones in the show.  It is also a nice alternative if you want a locket of better quality than the official one, but do not want to spend much money on it.

There is a new seller on eBay, GMP Silver and Leather Jewelry, that offers the same lockets as Beldiamo, with different natural stones instead on only cubic zirconias. His lockets are more expensive ($66-$90), but include stones such as garnet, aquamarine, white topaz, amethyst, and also man-made, such as emerald, ruby and sapphire.  Another alternative for H2O lovers out there.

And finally, here is a YouTube video of my two lockets, in a side-by-side comparison.  Enjoy!

Update on the Magictail Monofin

As I mentioned in the previous post, my Magictail monofin broke.  Here are some pics of the fracture line:

As you can see, the fracture is very small, but I guess it will get bigger if I still keep on using it.  I will, just to see what happens.

Here is a YouTube video, doing a comparison between the old one and the new one:

Merbella Seaweed Mermaid Top - Review

All right, so here is the promised review of the Merbella top.

PUTTING IT ON

I always put my bras by inserting my arms under the shoulder straps and then fastening the clasp reaching behind my back. It is VITAL to do this when fastening this bra; if you try to tie it on front and then turning it around the silicone WILL TEAR.  

The first time I put it on I could not reach behind my back because I had an injury in my right arm, and I tried to put it on fastening it on the front and then turning it.  What happened is that a bit of the seaweed decoration teared, and I freaked.  Thankfully, the damage is unnoticeable.  Upon later inspection, I discover that that precise point had been reglued with silicone before it was sent to me.

If you cannot put a bra by yourself the way I described it, ask for someone's help, or if there is not someone to help you, try to practice with a normal bra until you get the hang of it.

I fasten the net of the neck AFTER I have put on the bra.  That way I am sure the net is firm and just of the right lenght - when it gets wet, the knots SLIDE so be sure to fasten it up a bit more of what you normally do, or it will become very loose in the water (it happened to me too).

WEARING IT

I find that if you are going to a nearby pool, you can put the bra at home, where you can be relaxed and not rushing the process, and then a loose t-shirt over it, and no one will notice that you have something funny behind your clothes.  It is comfortable and holds the breasts quite well.

For a long term dry event, this bra would probably hurt my neck.  I read somewhere that people with a breast size larger than C should not wear halter tops due to the pression the breasts' weight put on the neck and spine.  I have experienced minor pain while going to the pool, so I know I would not be able to handle this top in a dry setting for long (I have a D cup).

IN THE WATER

The top is EXCELLENT on the water! It does not move, it adapts to my movements, it is comfortable for swimming.  The only bad thing that happens to me is that my breasts float quite well, and they try to "escape" of the bra cups.  I guess that is due to their size, and probably a person with a smaller cup would not have that problem. Also, the problem with the knots sliding when wet previously mentioned.

PEOPLE'S REACTIONS
People loved it.  They were astounded by the design, the materials, the general look - I had a complete stranger (thankfully it was a woman!) grabbing my breast to find out what it was made of.  It is definitely a conversation starter.

TAKING CARE OF IT

Since I did not received a sheet of how to take care of the top I improvised the following:

After finishing with it, I take a plastic bucket, fill it up with water and add a couple of spoonfulls of baking soda.  This will turn the water pH from neutral to alkaline, and this will help to neutralize the chlorine that may still remain on the fabrics of the bra.  I let it soak for 30 minutes, and then rinse it with lots of cold fresh water.  Then I hang it flat to dry.

The thing with the baking soda will work too for your fabric mermaid tail.  You have lots of info on how to deal with chlorine in this Mernetwork thread courtesy of Mermaid Iona.  As soon as I read about it I tried it with my new Magictail Arielle skin.  I have no way to know if it works, but I assure you that when the tail skin dried it smelled like new; no trace of chlorine odor.  So it must work...

Also, an update on the Magictail monofin: mine has a small fracture line that I am sure with time will get bigger.  I am not surprised, I had read that all Magictail monofins eventually break because of the material they are made of.  However, I will be buying another one, because one monofin every two years is a price I can afford, and I do not want to have to modify another monofin to fit my tails.  I will put pictures of the damage soon.

That is all I can think of.  If anyone has questions I would be happy to answer them.

The new Magictail in the pool, and new job!

Last week I went to my local swimming pool to use the Arielle Magictail for the first time.  I had a wondeful time; Mercedes, a swimming teacher, was there, and she took pictures and videos of me with the tail with her cell phone, and she was nice enough to share them with me:

You can see the seaweed top made by Raven of Merbella Studios

She was delighted when I showed her how to make bubble rings; she said she would like to teach their students how to do them:

I hate that they make swimmers use swim caps; the do not match well with my mermaid persona....  But later Mercedes and I took pictures of us together, and also the life saver, Ricardo, wanted to have one with me.  We have been having great weather these days in Spain, so it is a delight to go swimming.  Now I cannot do it as frequently as I would like, because I HAVE A JOB!!

I am working in the same hospital as hubby, even in the same floor, but with a reumatologist that is researching rheumatoid arthritis.  I started on March, and I am so happy with the job and with my co-workers.  It is wonderful to be back in the working force, although I miss a bit the free time I used to have.  Blog posts will begin to be less frequent, and the shop cannot have as many things as it had before, for the lack of time.  The great thing is the check that I get at the end of the month!

My next post will be a review of the seaweed top, and some notes about the Magictail monofin; also, some advice to take care of your Magictail skins.

See you soon, and happy Easter to all of you that observe the day; to the rest, have a wonderful Sunday!

New Magictail tail skin!

So, since I am using my Magictail so much I decided to order a new tail skin, as birthday gift to myself.  You do know you can order tail skins separately, right?  I wanted to order a new one to have as a replacement, since Magictails are made of swimsuit fabric, and eventually, all swimsuit fabric gets ruined by chlorine.

Well, since I was doubtful between the Marina and the Arielle the first time I ordered, I chose an Arielle skin this time.  I ordered it on January 27th, and it was already here on the 31st.  Here are some pictures of the two tails together:

Monofin on the blue one

Monofin on the green one

Fluke detail

Compare colors

Comparing sizes

The blue one has stretched a bit with the use

As you can see, there is a noticeable size difference between the two.  I contacted Kirsten Söller to check if there was a mistake with my order, although I did not think so.  Everything was marked very clearly with my chosen sizes; the monofin fits perfectly, and the tail fits me.  I was informed that there is a tag inside the tail skin with the size, and indeed, mine is size L.  So you can see that tails stretch quite a bit after some use.  I have had the Marina for almost 2 years, but I have used it a total time of maybe 2 months of daily use, about 3 or 4 hours per day.

Both tails are not similar in color.  The Marina is definitely a darkish blue with shades of black, and the Arielle, despite having shades of turquoise, it has a predominant soft green color.  I love them both, but the Marina is still my favorite.  I will probably buy more blue skins when mine has been completely worn out.

I will shoot a video comparing the two shortly.  Stay tuned!

*UPDATE*
Here is the promised video.  Enjoy!