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Fingers crossed this posts, sans delay, this time.

Embroidery is easy - I started when I was 5 or 6. At first, you'll notice your stitches aren't as clean/regular as the examples you've seen. You get there, by practice - and learning the art of patient, meditative attention. These days, I don't find that kind of "attention" relaxing (like with needlepoint; don't do much of that either); it's more of a challenge and I have to take a lot of breaks.
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by Dirty Hippy on August 09, 2026, 02:15:50 PM »

Embroidery seems to be making a come back. I don't do it it's just I guess it can be a small portable project so people are into that. I got a small little wood embroidery packet free at a yardsale I just haven't practiced all the stitches.

Once had a sewing machine but it turned out to have a defect which I found out by searching online and a lot of people were all reporting a tension issue with it. Oh well. I do wish I had craft space. Shrug.

Well I better drink water and get going.
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by Dirty Hippy on August 09, 2026, 02:08:38 PM »
Yeah, I like the historical sewing challenges! But I do bags, and tactical stuff for B, too. In the past, I did 7 bridesmaids dresses for step-D's wedding. Hol's 1930s style wedding dress (deep crimson satin - LOL) Lots of kids PJs, soft toys to add to kid entertainment boxes for the post-Katrina recovery. Mike's mom supported her kids, after their Dad died, with her sewing. She made a lot pageant dresses and tailored suits.

It's a whole world of it's own - and it's encouraging to see a lot of younger seamstresses on YT. I do branch out a bit, and get into midieval garments... which were actually practical, and weren't designed to "express oneself". I watch a couple costume designers - everything from ren faire, cosplay stuff to people doing pretty artsy garments.

Do you have any public gardens or arboretums near you? They might be safe to explore on your own - and possibly meet some people with common interests that might be easy to socialize with. It kinda sounds to me, like you've been told you NEED to get out more and be with people like it's some kind of absolute checkbox to achieve "for your own good". New widows get that advice a lot! And I was adamant, that I just wanted to be alone. Absolute solitude was very beneficial for me. Then, organically, unintentionally, I shifted out of that and now occasionally "hang out" with Hol and some of her friends. Not on any regular basis - just according to my mood and whatever their agenda for the visit is.

I often wonder why it is, that there is this idea that it's NOT OK, to not like some people; as if it's a requirement of virtue to like and get along with everyone. Life just isn't like that - and in fact, that idea can be dangerous when one runs across the socio-/psycho- personalities in the world.

PS - I'm trying to just let this post while I do something else in a new tab. Sometimes that works; sometimes it doesn't. It just times out.

Wow, I didn't know you did so much sewing Skeptikal. That is a lot of dresses to sew holy cow.

No- this thing of me getting out is SELF-imposed. Nobody told me to do it.

Getting out is related to
- me needing agency
- me needing to not get into a depressive slump worse than what I already am dealing with
- me needing to shake off stagnant vibe stress
- me needing privacy
- me needing friends
- trying to slowly face the social anxiety issue it's a real problem and the path of least resistance is be depressed alone and give up on living period
- literally just movement one needs it
- me mourning not having a car and not getting to the places I want to go so I do more intensive local exploring
- just a weird unexpected chapter of my life
- seasonal pressure in the pacific northwest is also a real thing we become indoorsy due to all the rain so there is a sense of fleeting carpe diem - seize the season. Carpe aestatem?

Yeah I go to horticulture events but I don't really meet people there it's like much older ladies in their own bubbles or home owners or something I find that these events tend to be self-absorbed and people aren't trying to meet other people. Oh well I do like them as part of enjoying the fleeting season get out look at dragonflies and hummingbirds and flowers why not.
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by Dirty Hippy on August 09, 2026, 01:53:08 PM »
AI is better therapy than my therapist was. Quit doing the video calls with her a while ago. It just felt like I was talking to an empty room and I don't see what is the point in that. And I told her about stuff I struggle with and she was like "make a plan" and I thought yeah I have a hard time making certain plans - it was one of the things I told her at the start.

Frankly it seems like they do all the school so they can get the $900.00+ the insurance pays out. I wish the system would just pay me instead lol. Only did a handful of sessions and I think that was the cost of it just under $1,000. But I'm the same person. Northing new under the sun no more extra agency. I think most of my insights are just from me self reflecting and obsessively reading about personality disorder topics.

Talking to a therapist made the world seem larger which is good I suppose because sometimes it feels like life is shrinking down and down.

Well I am going to charge my phone and maybe call a friend that moved to East Coast.
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by sKePTiKal on August 09, 2026, 12:18:46 PM »
Yeah, I like the historical sewing challenges! But I do bags, and tactical stuff for B, too. In the past, I did 7 bridesmaids dresses for step-D's wedding. Hol's 1930s style wedding dress (deep crimson satin - LOL) Lots of kids PJs, soft toys to add to kid entertainment boxes for the post-Katrina recovery. Mike's mom supported her kids, after their Dad died, with her sewing. She made a lot pageant dresses and tailored suits.

It's a whole world of it's own - and it's encouraging to see a lot of younger seamstresses on YT. I do branch out a bit, and get into midieval garments... which were actually practical, and weren't designed to "express oneself". I watch a couple costume designers - everything from ren faire, cosplay stuff to people doing pretty artsy garments.

Do you have any public gardens or arboretums near you? They might be safe to explore on your own - and possibly meet some people with common interests that might be easy to socialize with. It kinda sounds to me, like you've been told you NEED to get out more and be with people like it's some kind of absolute checkbox to achieve "for your own good". New widows get that advice a lot! And I was adamant, that I just wanted to be alone. Absolute solitude was very beneficial for me. Then, organically, unintentionally, I shifted out of that and now occasionally "hang out" with Hol and some of her friends. Not on any regular basis - just according to my mood and whatever their agenda for the visit is.

I often wonder why it is, that there is this idea that it's NOT OK, to not like some people; as if it's a requirement of virtue to like and get along with everyone. Life just isn't like that - and in fact, that idea can be dangerous when one runs across the socio-/psycho- personalities in the world.

PS - I'm trying to just let this post while I do something else in a new tab. Sometimes that works; sometimes it doesn't. It just times out.
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by Dirty Hippy on August 08, 2026, 07:52:45 PM »

I've got a little pocket book type thing I got in a free book shelf. It's about shame. I might read it in a while. Yay me.

Did the dishes. Sun sets at 8:30 pm.

Maybe I will do a micro nap.

Micro everything.
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by Dirty Hippy on August 08, 2026, 07:50:41 PM »

Having post meal tired slump.

Microwaved some cold plain pasta. Dumped some can tuna next to it and some coleslaw stuff. So mostly a no cook meal. It's hot out. OMG why am I so tired. This coffee is doing nothing for me.

Oh. So my hiking girlfriend has kinda flaked too many times. I am okay with it in the sense that people are busy. It's just part of being an adult. But I took her out of my phone so I don't text her out of boredom which kinda feels like the right thing to do because I am finding that I don't want to participate in friendships that kinda drag out as a text. I'm also not entirely sure what her deal was she seemed a little love-bomby when I first met her.

Went to a horticulture lecture today and it was nice. Not as good as having a garden but i suppose it's still stimulating somehow.

Tomorrow I am going to ditch morning church I think and go to a farmers market. Can't let the cult suck me in too much.

So I was invited to go over the a church ladies house for some lunch meeting and it sounds really nice. It would be a pain for me to get there on the bus.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am NOT good and making friends. And not exciting or interesting enough to keep them. Or I don't select them well. I sort of let people select me which is likely part of the problem.

I've spent this entire summer attempting to socialize. I am not a social butterfly.

Do I have more thoughts about it meh very much too sleepy to think more. Maybe I am moving beyond worry and struggle with it and I just need to get on with my day. Take a nap. Clean. Do something productive.
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by Dirty Hippy on August 08, 2026, 06:56:23 PM »
Sorry I didn't post before now! We've been running all over god's creation trying to solve problems and when I had a chance to check in - couldn't post.

Sewing = mostly mending. When that pile's done I have a 19th century chemise to start and a carrying bag for B to haul his blackpowder bipod in, to design/make.

DMV is notorious! People's complaints are justified, based on some of my old experiences. But we've lucked out in WV; even though it IS a challenging 45 min drive away - the people there have all been competent, friendly and it's not a bad experience at all.

Oh that sounds like dress-up clothes project for reenactment. Somehow I didn't realize you were into doing that.

I only come here periodically & lots of times I too can not get the posts to go through.
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by Dirty Hippy on August 08, 2026, 06:52:03 PM »
I'd say enough emotionally stabilizing micro-wins tip into the macro-win category, or model it for your synapses, which eventually upgrade their programming.

Bravo, Hippy!

My wins lately are that dear new BF is off to watch the eclipse in Spain from a boat and despite lurving him, I'm happy to have a break so I can return to blissful solo navel gazing for a while. He'll be gone most of the rest of the month.

So I'm watching British detective shows on Acorn and finding it very relaxing. The sweetest one is called The Last Detective and a dated but engrossing one is A Touch of Frost.

I've skipped PT for a week and don't care. I was going in near-shredded old Tshirts and three new ones just arrived so I won't feel as awkward. Nice colors, fairly rough cotton but they were cheap and should laaaaast.

hugs
Hops

Watching the moon in Spain sounds nice. I miss my old not-city neighborhood it was nice all the time like that.

Solo time is wonderful it really is because privacy and sinking into the room without eyes watching is a basic necessity I swear. Hum I watched the "Call The Midwife" series and the other one about the veterinarian.

I got to pet a dog today. Yay me.
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Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board / Re: Anything again
« Last post by sKePTiKal on August 07, 2026, 02:48:08 PM »
Sorry I didn't post before now! We've been running all over god's creation trying to solve problems and when I had a chance to check in - couldn't post.

Sewing = mostly mending. When that pile's done I have a 19th century chemise to start and a carrying bag for B to haul his blackpowder bipod in, to design/make.

DMV is notorious! People's complaints are justified, based on some of my old experiences. But we've lucked out in WV; even though it IS a challenging 45 min drive away - the people there have all been competent, friendly and it's not a bad experience at all.
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