topic SOME ENCOURAGING THREADS TO CHECK OUT in Welcome and orientation

I used to write a lot when I was younger to help with difficult emotions. Now as I work through my depression I am finding writing is helping me again. It's a good way to gather my thoughts and the WK post was a way to try and have some fun. A nice break from the more complex thoughts I have going on.

I am also enjoying being part of this community. I struggle to talk with people in person at the moment and having a way to write to people who are also in similar situations or who have experience to share is really helping. I don't feel so alone in this experience.

Cheers,

Lost Girl

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Doolhof — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 21:21:21 GMT

Hi Lost Girl,

I agree with you, sometimes it is easier to write to people than it is to chat face to face. I am so very pleased that you are finding it beneficial and comforting to be part of the community here.

Have you had a look at the BB Café? I drop a few lines there now and then. It helps me to feel a part of the community in a very fun and whimsical way. I recommend you take a look and add a message to say "HI". You will be most welcome and the people there will show you around so to speak.

If you feel like you would like to share more about how you are feeling, you are certainly welcome to do so here. I am not always on the computer every day, but will get back to you and anyone else who has something they would like to share.

I'm going to try and find time to get out pen and paper and work on a funny poem to add to WK's thread. I too find writing very helpful

Yesterday at my psychologist appointment, the psych gave me a colouring in book for therapy. Apparently she has a friend in a newsagent who gave her some colouring books to give to clients, because the books had expired their shelf life! Are they serious! Since when do colouring in books have used by dates! That was just too weird for me. Either way, I scored a colouring in book and look forward to starting one of the pictures.

It has been lovely having a chat with you Lost Girl and all who are reading.

Cheers for now from Mrs. Dools

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Starwolf — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 00:29:51 GMT

Thanks for your useful suggestion re colouring books.

I have recently found out that some colouring books for adults are also available at some news-agencies. I was put onto those by a couple of people suffering from anxiety, panic attacks and depression. They both said it helped them cope with all of the above.

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Lost_Girl — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 01:43:53 GMT

Hi Mrs.Dools,

I will drop by the BB Cafe, thanks for letting me know. I am all up for whimsical.

I got a good laugh about the colour in book expiry. Stunned. Hahaha. Have they started making them with paper that won't last? Crazy. Great score for you though!

I am normally quite arty and I actually asked for one for my Birthday this year. Hubby got me one with animals and a friend bought me a beautiful Alice in Wonderland one that has the story so once you colour it in it can be used as a story book for kids. That one has very fine and delicate pictures so I am practicing on the other one first. I have only just been able to start colouring in as the first type of antidepressant I tried had me shaking really badly. I am on new ones now so it has settled and I can start doing a bit again. I have chronic neck and back pain so just do a little at a time. I am colouring in a wolf face now in purple green and blues.

I started with an elephant using pencils but have swapped to gel pens now and highly recommend them. It's easier for me as I don't have to press so hard but it gives a lovely effect too - nice and bright.

Let me know what picture you start with.

Warm regards,

Lost Girl

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Lost_Girl — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 01:47:54 GMT

Hi Starwolf,

You can also get the colouring in books at the chain stores like K-mart, Big W etc, as well as book shops and arts and craft stores. They even have them in Coles and Woolies.

Gel pens are great for colouring in too.

If you get one and start I'd love to hear what type of picture you pick to start with. I am currently working on a wolf. I do find it helps with my anxiety and depression too. My mind seems more restful when I am colouring.

Warm regards,

Lost Girl

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Doolhof — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 20:37:05 GMT

Hi Lost Girl and Starwolf,

The funny thing with this colouring in books is that I have always had some in the cupboard since I was a kid. Many years ago I found some lovely ones with English countryside pictures to colour. I would get lost in the pictures as I was colouring them, imagining what it would be like to visit a place like that.

The book my psychologist gave me is a bit "weird" to me. It has very artistic pictures of animals in the centre of the page, most look quite ferocious actually and rather fierce. They are mainly creatures like dragons, tigers, dinosaurs and so on but with a dark side to them (I think).

These creatures are surrounded by flowers! I'm wondering if the designer was on something when he or she drew the original pictures. Ha. Ha.

I'm starting with a tiger using blues, greens and purples with a splash of yellow and orange. I am going to do the flowers in "mild tones" and see how that looks. Like I mentioned, these pictures are a bit out there! This tiger head is surrounded by what could be flames, feathers or who knows what they are!

I will be interested myself to see how it ends up!

Happy colouring in everyone!

Cheers from Mrs. Dools

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Doolhof — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 20:45:36 GMT

Hi Everyone,

Here are some more threads you might like to check out. They are all under the COMMUNITY BOARD section of this site. You will find White Knight's funny poems and stories here as well, plus another poetry thread.

Check these out sometime:

The Poetry Corner

Favourite bands or singers

Worst Joke Wednesday

Movies

5 Letter Game

Follow that word

Quotes

Dreams

What do you like to read

If you have some ideas for feel good threads you would like to start, by all means do so!

Cheers all from Mrs. Dools

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Lost_Girl — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 23:03:28 GMT

Well Mrs. Dools,

Your colouring in book has me intrigued and amused. First an expiry date and now a strange contradiction of fierce creatures with flowers! Perhaps something magical will happen when you have coloured them in. At least maybe that's what the designer may have thought in the state they were in?

Happy colouring and I hope to hear your thoughts on the finished product.

Take care,

Lost Girl

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White_Rose — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 01:04:43 GMT

Hello Lost Girl

I have a couple of colouring books. The first one I bought myself to see what all the fuss was about. Unfortunately for me I bought a book of shapes which did not really appeal when I started colouring so I abandoned the idea. Then my grandchildren gave me a book for Christmas. It was all flowers and plants with a few animals and fish. Not really my style. I think I would like a complete picture colour, much like those Mrs Dools describes but I can't find any.

I agree with you about the gel pens. They are great to work with. I am OK with coloured pencils though because I can still get a shaded effect when I need it. There are some craft pens that are made to blend but I think they are about $10 each. I will stick to pencils. If you can tell me where to get a book like the one you had from your husband I will be most grateful.

I do agree with you and Mrs Dools about writing instead of speaking at times. It's very good to write 'stuff' down to take to your psychologist as you (or perhaps I) can guarantee I will forget half the things I want to say. It's also useful when you need to tell someone something and want to make sure you have collected your thoughts, put them in the right order and expressed yourself in a suitable manner.

Great chatting with you Lost Girl. I hope you will soon be able to change your name to Found.

Mary

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Lost_Girl — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 01:23:45 GMT

Hi White Rose,

Such a beautiful profile picture.

I found the best range of adult colouring in books in proper bookshops. Riot Art and Craft also have an extensive range. They even have post cards that you can colour in! I try to avoid art shops though because I always leave with a mountain of art supplies haha.

I had a look on some web sites. If you google Angus and Robertson Adult Colouring and go to their website, you will be able to see some of the range they have there.

I hope this helps.

Nice chatting to too White Rose,

Take care?

Lost Girl

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Moonstruck — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 01:32:21 GMT

Well - this talk about adult colouring in books has reminded me I must give it a go myself. Was going to give one as an Xmas present, to discover the person was already getting a couple from other people....so have kept it myself (somewhere, in a cupboard, hope I can find it!) I went and bought some pens (hope they're the right kind) and must start...soon!

It's on India....with all its strange and exotic formations and gorgeous dress...I was drawn to this one naturally, as I resonate with anything Indian since being there many years ago......"what's it like?"......India is Not Like Anywhere! - there is no easy way to describe the essence of that place...I adore all movies set in India, people from India (we have many Indian Drs in our city - including mine).......I will let you know how the colouring goes (if I can find the book)....

It's good to meet you Lost Girl....you will like it here......Namaste!

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Starwolf — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 06:20:49 GMT

Hi everybody,

I guess I live in too remote an area, I had never come across adult colouring books before ...It seems they're popular and so they should be.

I usually paint and draw whenever I can find time. I miss it when I stop. Being a conservationist at heart, my specialty is plants and animals. I'm the type who always carry both a notepad and a sketch pad on my wanderings. There is also a notepad, pen and torch by my bed. I have trained myself to wake up and record dreams. Usually, by morning, even those we remember have been filtered by the conscious mind...often beyond recognition. Reading them out in their raw state can be a real mind opener.

Moonstruck, I have lived in South India for almost a decade. Definitely not for everybody but in many ways, it felt like home to me. A big chunk of my heart is still there.

Namaste to you all and thanks for sharing all the useful info.

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Lost_Girl — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 07:09:55 GMT

Hi Moonstruck,

Nice to meet you. Your colouring in book sounds lovely. I work in a global role in an IT company and am fortunate to work with some indian colleagues.

I also have a very good friend here who originally came from India. I met her through her children as she has kids the same age and gender as my eldest 2 and they are all best friends. I have been very blessed where she has been on trips back to India and has spoilt me with some very beautiful gifts. There are some very clever artisans there for sure. You are lucky to have been able to visit.

I'd love you to describe which picture you choose when you start.

Warm regards,

Lost Girl

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Doolhof — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 08:22:37 GMT

Hi Everyone,

The colouring in book I have is actually called Beauty and the Beast! I had not looked at the title previously. It is by "The Harmony of Colour Series."

The title certainly fits the book very nicely!

Years ago I used to print free colouring pictures off the internet, at least that way you could chose your own design.

Do any of you remember those books for children where you had a picture on a page, you wet a paintbrush and ran it over the picture to reveal the colours? I bought one for a 60 year old friend and she loved it!

I mainly use pencils or textas. Do the gel pens bleed the outlines of pictures like textas tend to do at times?

Happy colouring! I need to go out tonight to a meeting so will not have time to continue with my colouring! Maybe tomorrow I will find the time!

Cheers all from Dools

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Lost_Girl — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 10:19:06 GMT

Hey Mrs.Dools,

I used to love those water paint books! You brought back some nice memories there.

No the gel pends don't bleed like textas but like a texta if you go over the same spot too much it will weaken the paper.

I will take a photo of one I did and make it my profile so you can see tomorrow. There was too much shadow tonight to get a good photo of it. I find the pastel gel colours best as they as still quite dark but I bought a few different types for a range of colours from office works but i saw them in woolies etc too.

Hope you get some colouring time tomorrow.

Cheers,

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Doolhof — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 01:28:57 GMT

Hi All,

I'm hoping to find some time to colour in later today. I have decided I am going to get a few jobs completed, do something nice, then try and do a little more work about the place.

At least I have tomorrow as well. I have three letters to answer from penfriends overseas. I have been writing to them for about 30 years now. They are from Finland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

A few years ago my husband and I had a holiday in the North of India. I loved it. The colours and sights were amazing! One of my favourite memories was riding a camel.

A man had a beautifully colourfully decorated camel. I asked if I could stand next tot he camel and have my photo taken. He invited me onto his camel and then took me for a ride down the road. He told me I looked like a maharani ( a princess!) the guy and his camel made my day!

I like to draw and paint as well, I just don't make the time to do enough of the things that I enjoy! Winter is on it's way, I will be inside more then. Ha. Ha.

Cheerio all, from Mrs. Dools

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Guest_1055 — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 02:54:04 GMT

Hello everyone

I too have one of those colouring books, mine has mainly floral designs in it. I have only coloured a little in it. The gel pens, sound like a good idea. I am just using coloured pencils.

Hey Mrs Dools, I haven't been to India. But I have ridden a camel. Did you actually like riding on that camel? The camel I rode on, was at the Easter Show in Sydney. I think it sort of smelled well......unusual.

There is another thread you and other members may want to check out, I don't think it is on your list there...It is called "The Killer Thread". It is a bit competitive, as the aim of the game is to try and make your post the last posted . Then by doing so you are actually winning.

With love to all

Shelley xx