live so deep

© Sybille Sterk

Do not copy or publish this in any way, shape or form without my written permission.

More Vintage magic… a combination of bought and (found) public domain resources, combined as always in Photoshop. I know I’ve been a mermaid once, a long time ago… this is how it felt. I couldn’t find out who coined the quote, if you know, please send me a message.

On Society6:

Mermaid

MCN: CCCN9-4NE7G-B2DEU

Model: the beautiful Francesca again. :-)

From my very first photoshoot.

I've always loved Andersen fairy tales, although, most of them are very sad much more so than most of the other ones you find from this time. The Mermaid is one of the most tragic ones. The mermaid is so brave to leave her world behind for love and it makes it so much more tragic when she's then betrayed by her love and returns to the sea. I am not sure what the message is... I think it depends on your experiences what you take away from it. I tried to show the dual nature of the mermaid as a woman and her nature as a fantastical being, her sadness and her 'other'-ness.

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Wonderland II: Dream

 

 

 Part II in my mini series to accompany my poem Wonderland

Credits

Model

• Stock Photo - Diss 57 by dead-stock

Stock

• 232 by kartoffel-stock
• Goldfish 02 by ashy-stock
• Goldfish 04 by ashy-stock

Textures

• Odds & Ends II by Shadowhouse
• Another Mixed Bag by Shadowhouse

Brushes

• Hair brush set by para-vine
• Space Water Brushes by Kikariz
• My own Cloud brush by MagpieMagic

All other images/textures etc my own.

MCN: C2RQ1-G3R5S-HBVUS

Come and Play

 

 

For my dearest friend Autumnwind who has had a rough time recently but still managed to be shoulder to cry on. I hope this will cheer you up a little. :-) ♥♥♥
I love mermaids - this is a modern interpretation. :-)

Credits

Model 1

• Flapper 18 by DandyStock

Stock

• goldfish stock 12 by EmzazasStock
• Stock 185 - Shoes by pink-stock

Backgrounds and Textures

• 6 Faves Texture Sets 2 by Shadowhouse
• Aged Photo Effect by Shadowhouse

Brushes

• Hair brush set by para-vine
• Water II Photoshop Brushes by redheadstock

Actions

• Freebie Actions (Veruca Salt) by Apples & Sisters
• kalifbanane - cross coloring by KalifBanane

All other images/textures/stock/brushes my own.

Note: I am waiting for print permission from the model. Hopefully it should be available as a print very soon.

MCN: C81KC-LGYNM-84FLF

Mermaid

 The whole mermaid thing was inspired by t-fourlee's poem Ocean Peace

I've always loved the sea and water and this is my take on a mermaid. I wanted to do something dreamy that showed the yearning for the sea and living in the sea rather than something cute and twee.

This is the poem to accompany the image, Mermaid

Featured on Redbubble:

Credits
 Stock:

• Mermaid - vintage lady 11
• Orange Ghiribaldi Fish
• Yellow Tang Fish Aquarium
• Frog stock 143
• Dragonfly Stock 7
• Shell 12 - Coral
• Shell stock 53
• Shell stock 54
• Shell stock 55
• Coral - 2
• Fish Scales - for Mermaid Stock

Textures:

• Texture 111
• Bubbles 1
• Bubbles 2
• Free background by moonchild-ljilja
• Mossy Wall
• Green under water
• Grunge Texture 03

Brushes:

• Spanish Moss Brushes  

 

MCN: CKSN3-E66A2-QQYLP

Mermaid Shawl - Progress Report - Part 2

A day and a half have brought me to this:


It is slow going but utterly satisfying. The funny thing is, it looks jolly complicated, but it isn't, really. I use it to try out new patterns - some I make up, others I get from the net or from my stitch library. The good thing about this is that I get to try a pattern I like the look of but don't need to do too much of it if I then find it's too fussy or I just can't remember the stitches... It does happen quite a lot with lace patterns. Some just don't seem to have a 'rhythm' that works with mine.
I am particulalry pleased with this fish tail. I hadn't intended to make a fish tail, but when I tried out that 'little scallop' pattern I thought it looked like scales... so one thing led to another and here's my pretty fish tail. I think I'll embroider it with some sequins at some point.

On the topic of embroidery, it took me all morning to embroider these beads and finish off all the loose threads (which is why it looks a little tidier now). Embroidery or sewing isn't really my thing which is why I try to pick up stitches or crochet on existing edges rather than have to sew on bits...

Here's a little ruffly coral that was knitted separately and incorporated with the rest of the shawl with a bit of creative crochet. :-)



And here's a limpet:


All in all there IS progress, but it will take time...

... mind you, I just ordered some specialist yarns (glitters, snarls, metallics and other fun stuff) in reds and pinks for the next one... this could become an addiction....

Sneak Preview - Mermaid Shawl

I've been labouring on the patio in the shade on my mermaid shawl. Here's a quick preview of what I've done so far.


There are still loads of unfinished threads and many more rows of knitting, crochet, many more stitches to embroider, a lot more assembling, and general agonising over what to do next....

However, here are some of the details:

Seaweed fringe at the bottom

Webbing


Little Shell


Spiral Disk Sequins

Shell Sequins


Snail


Anemone


I've used a whole range of yarns in a myriad of shades- from a silvery white to dark blue to every shade of turquoise and teal. The textures range from fluffy kid silk mohair to feathery to silky to glittery to sparkly. Some of the shapes are done separately and then attached to the shawl, others are knitted or crocheted onto the main body of the shawl. Some parts have been embroidered, to others I have added sequins. There are pearls and beads yet to come.

At the moment the shawl is only about a fifth of it's final length... so a lot more to go.

Life Returning to Normal and Mermaid Yarn

The computer is ALMOST back to normal. Got most of the programs installed but it took much longer than anticipated.... but thanks to the master of all arts black and mysterious I am getting there.

Sigh. That'll teach me not to rely on my hardware. I am really frustrated, because the hard drive was only just over a year old and I'd expected it to last longer.

Never mind. I am back and here are my latest creations.




This is the Sirdar Juicy yarn in various colours before I dipped it in the dye. The colours are lovely but very pale and I am not a pastel person....



.... so I made a little bath for the yarn and because the original colours of the yarn were different I got various shades of jade green. Reminds me of a mermaid. Not quite sure what I'll make with it. I am playing with the idea of making it into a freeform shawl - freeform is a mix of shapes knitted, crocheted and various other fibre arts mixed in to create a garment or piece of art that is not restricted by a pattern. The other option is a top.... Hmmm. I have almost 300g (nearly 600m ) of the lovely yarn and I am sure it will turn into something lovely.

I quite enjoy the whole yarn dying process. It's amazing how different various yarns react to the dyes and the depth of colour that can be achieved. I particularly like the fact that the colour is often not quite uniform which adds more interest to the yarn.

I got myself a couple more batches, this time of undyed yarn, which I'll dye hopefully next week.

My lovely boho-Chanel top is almost finished, one good thing about not having the computer to play with. Maybe. ;-)

Have a lovely weekend everyone and thanks for all the commiserations. :-)