Twisted Mermaids

They live in coral castles and sing deep in the ocean. But even deeper is their inner emotional world. They are endlessly entangled and
communicating wordlessly. They have an
intricate language that is known only to them.
The mermaids have a very secret life.

One summer night I heard voices from the lake mimicking and teasing me. I was at Echo Lake in The Indian Head Wilderness in the Catskills Mountains. Once in awhile I heard a small splash and saw blue moonlight reflecting on ripples. The mermaid muses would call back to me, and later they would sing to each other. There are many mermaid tales from the Native Americans. One of sisters that went in the water and could never leave. They are still there if you listen
during a full moon.

Even deadlier than her voice is the enticing perfume she creates. So strong it lures the sailors to the edge of the decks. It only takes seconds for them to become stunned–long enough for her to reach from the swirling foam and grasp an arm or a leg. Down she goes, fleeing while giggling only to find that her sweet lovers can’t survive in her depths. The pearly shells and coral caves silently witness her grieving until the next ship comes by and she tries again.

Lilith of Labrador
From Newfoundland to Nantucket, she is the icy sea of Labrador and all of its currents. Like any fish, and like some people, where she lives depends on the season. In winter months, she swims south from the arctic, bringing with her a tremendous wave of cold. Yet her sister’s northerly currents mean she will never make it further south than the small fishing village of Monhegan, Maine. You can see her in winter sitting on the southern rocks, watching as the waves block her off from the world.

Renaissance
Mermaid

Inspired by the Botticelli painting, The Birth of Venus, this sensuous maiden rises from the depths of the sea enveloped in her long lustrous hair. She holds her heart in her hand – perhaps to lure some shy lover? Her tail shimmers in shades of greens and blues, strands of crystals dance in the underwater currents and all is complemented by a regal halo of pearls. Create your own masterpiece with this stunning new pattern from one of America’s most enchanting designers.

Somewhere at the bottom of the Azure sea, a fairylike creature is born from a shell. Her hypnotic songs call to the sailors to follow her to the depths. Her beauty is dangerous and her love is not to be taken lightly.

These queens of the underworld rule the ocean depths and the creatures within.
They recklessly drown their lovers and protect the seas treasures.

Entangled and entwined they are symbols of seduction and transformation.

Undine, the water nymph, glides effortlessly through the depths with her favorite conch shell, prying open oysters for their glistening pearls lodged within. But the ultimate object of her quest is the talisman that a gust of wind seized from a sailor’s hands as his ship passed. With one look at this dark, handsome stranger, Undine knew in her heart that he was the mortal man destined to give her a remarkable gift.
If she can entice him to ask for her hand in
marriage, she will be rewarded with immortality.
And so she spends her days and nights searching the ocean floor, knowing that the luminescent pearls in her hair and the haunting melodies she sings will lure the man of her dreams near. If she can present him with his precious treasure, his kiss of gratitude
will bind them forever.

Susan Redington Bobby

A Bohemian vagabond who collects
trinkets and treasures from sunken ships.
She is the pirate of the sea.

All that remains of the ship is the ballroom’s glittering chandelier. She longingly hums the ballads she’s heard echo through the glistening waters. Her iridescent tail shimmers as she returns to the luminous depths with her crystal treasure.

I love Mill Hill Crystal Treasures and beads nestled
between silky stitches on cross-stitch handwork.
It seems to me that they could have been harvested by mermaids in deep sea gardens and then sold to
merchants traveling the abyss.
Nora