MerMay 2023

For MerMay 2023, I decided to go with a Seven Seas theme, and dressed dolls from my collection in homemade traditional garb.

I did a few of the prompts, using the Seven Seas mermaids, photos from the previous year, and random dolls.  Below, FISH STORY:

Below, Mediterranean and Gulf of Mexico react to being called shallow.  I thought I was so clever using the smallest (thus, presumably, the shallowest) of the seven seas.  I think the prompt for this photo might have been HAGFISH.

Below, I re-used photos from MerMay 2022 for the prompt of SALTY.  I get almost all of my dolls from thrift stores, and when my collection gets too big, I re-donate some of the "supporting cast" dolls.  Thus Kiki the mermaid shipping out with the "Salvation Navy."  I crack myself up.

Below, Atlantic and Caribbean discuss their SEA-CRETS:

Thanks to posting the photo above on Instagram, I finally learned the origin of a little folk doll my great-uncle had brought back from Europe for me sometime in the nineteen seventies.  Because I was a little kid at the time, I forgot what country the doll came from.  I'd borrowed the doll's apron to dress Mediterranean Sea Mermaid.  An Instagram follower identified the style of embroidery as Hungarian, and I was able to find photos of similar Hungarian dolls from the same time period, that were made to sell to tourists.  

I included some photos of the backs of the Seven Seas dolls pictured above, to show that their quick costumes were mostly pinned together and not made to last.  They look just fine for taking photos!