Octopussy Dream: Silc Arts Review
I like the idea of strapping but in reality, I feel foolish wearing a plastic lady dick. As a bonafide bottom that probably surprises no one. I figured plowing someone with a girl cock was not for me... that is until I came across an Instagram post featuring a gigantic tentacle dildo. I can't quite explain the feeling, but I NEEDED it.
The intensity of my octopus craving surprised me but also somehow made perfect sense. Conventional dildos, even the cute pink ones, don't feel right for me. The more phallic, the less I find them personally appealing. But as a Good Lesbian™, I feel compelled to have my own dick, you know? When I first saw the tentacle IG post I immediately texted my pal “THIS IS THE DICK I’VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR!”
I began looking around at all the different models and eventually connected with Matt, who runs a small indie toy company called Silc Arts and makes beautiful fantasy dildos. I was immediately stoked when he agreed to send a tentacle dildo and doubly stoked when he mentioned he sold handles to make his toys more accessible and asked if I was interested in trying one out. Way to go Matt!
There's something special about getting the thing you most desire. My cephalopod cock arrived in a cute package with a handwritten note plus a drawing. As a fellow small business owner, I really appreciate these thoughtful details and the artistry that's clearly apparent in all of Matt's work. Inside the box, I found the perfect 7.5-inch squishy swirling blue and purple tentacle I’d been dreaming of for months. There was also a gorgeous orange Vac-U-lock unicorn horn dildo with a matching rigid plastic handle. I was immediately obsessed with both and Honey Bunch encouraged me to lean into my repressed top energy. Octopus play ensued.
Let's get to the things you need to know about shopping for fantasy dildos!
Store Options:
When buying fantasy toys, you can go for one of the larger brands like Bad Dragon or Primal Hardware. Unfortunately, they're often sold out, and receiving your order can be a slog. The (in my opinion better) alternative is to look is on Etsy, which hosts a bunch of small indie stores like Silc Arts.
Shapes:
Regardless of the store you choose, almost all of them pour per order and keep a relatively small inventory on hand. Silc Arts' Etsy shop is well stocked with a variety of different styles, that were all inspired by Matt's illustrations. I loved seeing where the molds originated, it feels like a peek inside his mind! I love the art turned into sex objects vibes. He creates dildos and butt plugs inspired by birds, florals, renaissance scrolls, octopuses, monsters, and unicorns. Basically, there are dildos inspired by everything you can imagine on market! Picking a shape is entirely up to you and what your fantasy craves.
As far as tentacles go, many on market have prominent suction ridges (like the Ika from Bad Dragon), which can create different sensations. The suctions were something Honey Bunch said she wasn't super comfortable with using. What I love about Silc Arts' design is the irregular twisting shape with subtler suctions which feels more functional for us as a penetrative toy. As someone who generally goes for smaller-sized dildos, I also appreciate the taper. The unicorn horn is overall more uniform with a spiraling texture. Again, the shape that works for you, comes down to personal preference.
Silc Arts Tentacle illustration
Firmness:
All of Silc Arts' toys are poured from medical-grade silicone, which means they're hypoallergenic and body-safe. It's really important to check when you're putting objects inside your body! You get to choose what firmness you want, soft/ medium/ or firm. This refers to the level of compression (or "squish") of the material. As a quick rule of thumb: small dildos and plugs generally hold up better with firm silicone, and larger ones do better with medium or soft silicone. Also, keep in mind that top-heavy dildos might not stand upright with a soft silicone. But ultimately it kinda boils down to preference. If you're not sure what you're looking for, Silc Arts offers a firmness sampler so you can try out the different textures before ordering. I wanted a nice squishy tentacle so opted for a soft silicone. It bends and wiggles which delights me! The one thing I will say is that the softer the silicone, the stickier it tends to be, so I have to really wash it well with hot water before using (you should do this regardless) cause it tends to collect Mommy's cat hairs 😪
Color:
This is where things get really exciting! You can choose pretty much any color combination your heart desires; as well as features like sparkles, glow-in-the-dark, UV reactive, pearlescence, marble, gradients, and more. I chose a blue and purple swirl for the tentacle. And went with a bright sparkly orange for the unicorn horn which gives it more of a fiery dragon dick vibe!
Handle vs. Strap:
I started this post with my discomfort wearing a strap... well Silc Arts' handle design changes everything! I'll first let Matt explain, he wrote me this note with the package he sent:
"I designed this handle to make toys accessible, I've been getting rave reviews from able-bodied folx too. It's just a better way to hold a toy. I'm working on a larger handle for larger bodies, loop handles, and heads for vibes & sleeves. I'm not making toys just for disabled folx, I'm making them for everybody. At least, that's the goal"
Cool! Essentially, Silc Arts offers two different models of toys, traditional ones with flanged bases that can be mounted on harnesses (like the tentacle), and toys with a Vac-U-Lock hole at the bottom, which mounts on a plastic U-shaped handle. I'll admit, I've never seen anything like it before! But after trying it out, I found the extended handle helps with positioning (way easier trying to fuck yourself on all fours when you don't have to reach so far behind!) and makes it more comfortable. I was a little clunky at first since I'd never used a toy in this way before. But quickly found that I resonated with everyone's experience too, it really is a better way to hold a toy! It also reduced my strap anxiety. The handles also come in a variety of different colors, and you can get a unicorn horn dildo or a teeth dildo to mount on it. You need to do a little pinching action to break the vacuum when you're trying to remove the dildo from the handle to wash them. Overall, I think it's an innovative and interesting addition to toys, I'll be curious to hear y'alls feedback too.
Toy Care:
There are a few important things you need to keep in mind when it comes to caring for your toys. First off, do NOT use silicone lube on silicone toys. Especially if they're soft, I would recommend staying away from hybrids too. Stick to water-based lube and you'll be fine. Caution #2 is do NOT store them touching each other. They have a tendency to melt into one another, and no one wants an accidental double dick. And similarly, do not compress them by piling a bunch of other shit on top. Store them with care and they will care for you in return. The last thing, as I've mentioned softer silicone tends to collect dust, cat hair, and other little things, so wash them with soap and water before and after use. Silicone is non-porous so you can also boil them if you're sharing them with multiple pals to kill bacteria and prevent the spread of STIs. That's pretty much all you need to know!
Matt:
I think it's worth mentioning that Silc Arts has glowing reviews on their Etsy store. Even if they're quite a small store, unanimously, we all seem to have had really good experiences with Matt. His work is detailed and thoughtful, and his communication is sweet and easy. Since I work with a lot of toy companies, I can say that is not always the case and it speaks volumes to have a good working/ customer experience. I give Silc Arts bonus points just for being run by someone who seems like a genuinely talented and decent person.
To summarize, I'm 100% sold on fantasy dildos and Silc Arts! I recommend y'all check them out and let me know what you think. I know for a fact I'm just getting started with octopus role-play!
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