Ice Princess Silky <3

Hello my darling little ponies. It's Silky! Lately some friends have been telling me about how they've been struggling with some personal things. I wonder, is there anything that any of you do that helps to improve your mood whenever you're feeling down or stuck or hopeless? Disclaimer: Only a mental health professional can offer you specific diagnosis or official advice tailored to your needs. So please keep in mind, I am merely posting things here that tend to help me. If it helps you, too, great! This is merely friendly advice to help along in our journey to being better. This is why I also encourage others to post here some small advice on what helps them, too! Here are some ideas of what I do whenever I am feeling such a way: 1. Keep a journal. Did you know that your life is a story? It is! Since the day that you were born, you carry a story that absolutely nobody else can take away from you. It is absolutely yours and only you can tell it. So why not write things down that you feel might be able to anchor you or keep you grounded and focused on who you are, where you've come from and where would you like to be? Baby steps take you a long way so long as you are consistent and you'd be surprising yourself with how far that goes. Some tips on keeping a journal: Just keep writing. Maybe keep a principle of writing ONE whole page a day. In two weeks, you'll look back and be amazed at what you've left there! What if I don't have anything to write? I just stare at the blank page and write nothing? That's ok! Just keep writing over and over again "I have nothing to write, I have nothing to write, I have nothing to write. I have nothing to write." Repeatedly... until other feelings begin to start bubbling in, like "I feel so lonely, why do I feel so unmotivated? I plan to do laundry in a few moments," etc etc. So long as you’re writing something daily, I find keeping track of your days can prove super helpful and it can be like a muscle to get yourself used to having some private time to write when you're only just starting out. Just understand, each of your days are unique. You are unique. You will always be. So keeping track of these things are important, lest you forget and drift away in emotions without having a grip on what exactly those emotions are. 2. Listen to music. Sure, listening to music that helps you VENT and let out your frustrations can definitely help. But for me, there's a fine line between venting to let it all out and venting to the point where you begin to spiral due to immersing yourself way too well into those sensations. Because of this, while music can be used to release negativity... why not counter balance the negative with something positive and inspiring? Something that can spark your interest to paint, draw, read, anything that makes you come to life with creative energy rather than destructive ones? 3. Learn a new hobby! Hobbies are fun because they're all about you! Have a lot of energy? Look for dance classes, fencing, acting, social groups, biking, gym workouts! Slower energy? Find something peaceful and soothing like doing art, organising, podcast creation, blogging, writing, whatever it is that calls to you can be your new hobby! Find ways to learn more about yourself while exploring who you are as a person and discovering what you can show the world makes you... well.. you! I think the key is to not allow yourself to fall into an uninspiring pattern or rut. Even the word "depression" means "hole," because this is often what we feel we are stuck in whenever we get this way. Again, depression should be handled seriously with a health care professional, but for those seeking babysteps for self improvement, these are merely some ideas to share. Best wishes on your self improvement journey and enjoy the tea with me. /)

I see some lovely new people joining almost daily! I thought I would make a welcoming thread for each and every one of you! Firstly @Hugs SilkALot - Thank you for inspiring this idea. I love that we can get together and discuss many topics. Hopefully we can spread to this section, sometime soon! @Astralshy You ARE the Fluttershy of the forums <3 It's always so lovely to have you near! @Hadrien It's so hard to believe you've just joined us when you're such a darling! Cheeky, playful, mischievous -- but wholesome. You fit right in! @Felis Amafeles You have NO idea how happy it makes me to see you've finally decided to join us <3 There are so many friends I'd love to introduce you to. But for now, make yourself at home. Get cozy. @Props Valroa Thanks for being such a darling to everyone on the forums. You're a good friend. @Clawdeen You are SO cool. A mixture of soft and sweet yet you know when you ROCK OUT and have fun! @robbie . I look forward to seeing more of you ! owo @ChrysalisM Yay! So lovely to see you!! @Skylight Scintillate I'm happy to have you among us, Skylight! @Silly Druid Always a pleasure to have the local Druid with us <3 You're always very easy-going and kind! With that said, thanks for being here! I know it's a bit easy going but life has just had me VERY busy <3 Any casual topics or friendly discussion ideas -- just feel free to ask <3

I am absolutely in love with this adorable piece <3 By @Ariida-chi

Hello, lovelies! There's a rampant amount of art scammers reaching out to people and I just wanted to make you all aware of this so that you know that 1. you're not alone, 2. please do not feel bad either reporting or removing these people from your messages. With the new digital age of AI - a lot of incredible things can be observed from these advanced forms of technology. Sadly, as above, so below... in this context meaning, with the good there is also a wiggle room for the bad. So, scammers are getting "creative" with using A.I to try to rob users of their money. I repeatedly get random messages from strangers. Some of them have a sob story that makes you want to rush to assist them. Others simply seem like really chill people you wish to get to know or support as an artist. But they all tend to have something in common. Apart from the weird moments of calling you "dear" without knowing who you are, the consistent patterns tend to be: 1. They do not have their own steady artist portfolio online. No DeviantArt, no consistency. The reason being that their art would be reported as either AI or stolen if they did show you a consistent portfolio. 2. They tend to reach out to you because they noticed you have an OC. Scammers are aware of how sentimental we can be about our own OCs and they try to play on that. 3. It's always a random message from a stranger who has EXTRA confidence in offering their artistic services and that you will be pleased. This is not how clients work. Even the most amazingly talented artists are aware that not everyone is going to like their style, even if they have a confident raving review of the majority. Either way, I decided to test one of these many random people and the results were... oddly hilarious. (posted screenshots in spoiler below). While I am usually very protective of private conversations with users, friends, etc, in this case, it is simply a scammer and I have no qualm with revealing these to inform anyone who needs to know: That image is literally an old art that I myself made of my own OC and he simply put a black and white filter over it - claiming it was a "sketch." lol I was literally speechless... this is what he was asking $50 for. I guess it's time for me to pay someone else for art that I made. But in all seriousness, I just wanted to raise awareness. Regardless of any messaging platform that you use, any artist insisting to draw your OC for a "cheap and reasonable price" (without a set portfolio that a real community can backup and confirm is legit) is to be seen as a potential red flag or suspicion. Don't feel guilty or shy about removing them or asserting your firm boundaries. Stay lovely

Silky was making her way over to the silver lake - the water would glisten with a hidden light of its own, teeming with magical power. She would dip one of her clinking vials into it and collect a vessel of it. Looking behind her, she would offer it to this unicorn nearby. The unicorn would appear to be quite shocked by the gesture! Silky would blink once. "Of course, it is why you are here, correct? You need special vials to collect the magical properties of this water or you might get hurt. I noticed you didn't have one." Her voice was soft as she smiled and then suddenly, with alarm she would step back from what the mysterious unicorn would do next. Not knowing exactly what to say, Silky would giggle. "Marry you? But I don't even know you." With a curious tilt of her head. Silky would giggle as she'd take the levitated rose into her hooves and place it in her hair. "Fair enough. A symbol of our friendship. What is your name, lovely? My name is Silky. I am the local beautician who gathers magic in any form that I can to help those around me."

*FLOWERS FOR FLUTTERSHY* (click the art for art source) <3 Hello, beautiful lovelies A friend of mine who would very much be a fond companion of Fluttershy due to their courtesy, kindness and thoughtfulness, has sent me a bundle of flowery images from Ireland. So, I've had the idea to post them here to start a thread based on beautiful scenes and flowers from all around the world. <3 I plan to post some lovely ones I've discovered around here, from New York -- YES -- we have flowers! They do exist <3 And maybe we can share some flowers from around the world <3 *Optional instructions* 1. Add a picture of a flower 2. Put the location of where the flower is from (if you wish to) Let the flower ring begin! This one's called Bridewort <3 Photos by @Tom Gallagher /) *boop* Sometimes, his lovely GF wears flowers in her hair.

Hello there, lovely ponies! Sometimes, we're not happy with our mane color or our style. Maybe you made a mistake with potions and shifted your color a hue that no longer pleases you. You're invited to relax and sit on the chair, review a magazine of the styles you'd like to have as we work on self care and re-designing the new you! (This is for those who don't have a pony OC and would like to have one! OR people with old pony OCs who desperately want advice on a re-design. Feel free to reply below to express what you'd like, art references, aesthetics, etc. Pony types Earth Ponies - no wings, no horn, very creative way for finding ways to make these things happen regardless! Think of Pinkie Pie! Pegasus - Capable of flight. Sitting on clouds but that is also optional. Some personalities might not even like that despite being Pegasi Unicorn - Capable of magic -- or perhaps struggling with it. Regardless of whatever kind of pony you have -- remember that personality is what makes the pony and not vice verse. We tend to be more than just our physical bodies, so if this is your first time creating an OC -- I would recommend thinking of the personality first and then considering how her (or his) design might reflect this in their expressive ways! But that's not obligated. My own OC was created with me just mixing all of my favorite colors into one giant splat of a mix and going "yep, this is fine." Hahaha but she's come along over the time. So I guess my point is, there's no WRONG way to do this. Just mainly guidelines and suggestions. In the end, it's all about you and what you feel properly expresses you! So feel free to step into Silky's Beauty Spa for a new OC or a new re-design. Cutie Marks -- my absolute FAVORITE thing for discussion and art concepts. Hair Designs - Feel free to post any references or ideas from ponies/people you're inspired by. Literally, anything that sparks your creativity is encouraged to add here for discussion of your new lovely 'sona or casual RP pony. This thread was in the making for quite a while but I kept postponing due to real life matters. But that's not excuse to keep you waiting! So, I'm making the thread so long as you're patient and understand I may not be as active as I'd like to be but I will get back to it as soon as I can <3 Please be patient with me. This thread will be RP based as well as OOC for social interaction to inspire art as well as creativity.

Hello, every pony! Are you crazy enough to join me on this challenge? With permission from a mod, I've decided to place a challenge on here just for fun! I'm not sure if I'll be able to stick to it but I will certainly try. The goal is to improve my art. I'd love to have someone else join me. Even if it's just a stick figure. Simply posting every day for the sake of keeping track of our progress seems like a lot of fun! Either way! Here's the chart to follow! Credit to the artist down below c: So! What are you waiting for? Let's have fun nwn

Draw my OC and I will draw yours. The more expressive, the better! And I'll add equal effort to your OC as well. <3 My OC: .