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I had a Spirograph. Then I grew up.

Started by Devlyn, July 02, 2026, 02:39:29 PM

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Devlyn ✅

July 02, 2026, 02:39:29 PM
I got a Spirograph one Christmas back in the 1960s. Back then they came with the pins for holding the paper, rings, and gears to the paper. I guess too many dumb kids ate a handful of pins and had a bad day. The next day, specifically. 😂 They come with paper putty (White tack for the Brits) nowadays. I know this because I bought a Deluxe set a couple of years ago and have been practicing with it off and on. If you had one as a kid you probably struggled and became frustrated in fairly short order.

So today I got my first two sets of Wild Gears in the mail. They're Spirograph on steroids. One YouTuber said "Spirograph is a toy, Wild Gears are tools." I agree with that. They are laser cut from a single thick piece of acrylic. They can make standard Spirograph drawings as well as much more complicated patterns. After I get it all unpacked and do a bit of practice I'll try to get some pictures posted.

Also, keep your eyes open for updates on this post, there's more to come. 😉

Hugs, Devlyn

PS: I'm lying. I never grew up.

Maid Marion

#1
July 02, 2026, 04:07:27 PM
I never grew up either!

Sarah B ✅

#2
July 02, 2026, 04:43:06 PM
Hi Everyone

My name is Sarah and I was a Spirograph addict growing up.  I could never get enough of it.  Then all of a sudden it disappeared from my life and I was sober until recently.

Today I'm having impure thoughts.  Recently I updated my screensaver and started seeing Spirograph like patterns bouncing around on my monitor.  Then I started thinking about creating a Spirograph screensaver of my own, one that randomly generates multicoloured Spirograph patterns.

Please help me overcome these impure thoughts.  Thank you.

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@Devlyn
Be who you want to be.
Sarah's Story
Feb 1989 Living my life as Sarah.
Feb 1989 Legally changed my name.
Mar 1989 Started hormones.
May 1990 Three surgery letters.
Feb 1991 Surgery.

Sarah B ✅

#3
July 02, 2026, 05:12:58 PM
Hi Everyone

Holy cow, Batman! Those Wild Gears are on another plane of existence.  Comparing them to a Spirograph set is like comparing an eagle soaring through the clouds to a turkey flapping around the farmyard.

Me, drooling like Homer Simpson.
🤤

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
PS Nice post Devlyn
@Devlyn
Be who you want to be.
Sarah's Story
Feb 1989 Living my life as Sarah.
Feb 1989 Legally changed my name.
Mar 1989 Started hormones.
May 1990 Three surgery letters.
Feb 1991 Surgery.
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Sarah B ✅

#4
July 02, 2026, 06:03:14 PM
Hi Everyone

Okay, just one more for the road
Sarah:
"I must control my impulsive behaviour. I must control my thoughts. I must control my impulsive behaviour..."
I wonder if I could write a Wild Gears screensaver...
Sarah:
"No."
Just thinking out loud...  Well it wouldn't actually be that difficult...
Sarah:
"Don't."

# Wild Gears Screensaver
main()

detect monitor width and height
open full screen window
set centre point of screen
choose random gear values
calculate scale so pattern fits monitor
start animation loop

while running:
    calculate next x,y point
    draw line from previous point to current point
    change colour slowly
    advance time value

    if pattern complete:
        choose new random gear values
        clear or fade screen

    if keyboard or mouse input:
        exit program

Sarah:
"...You actually started writing it."
I've already thought of three improvements.
Sarah:
"We don't even own Wild Gears yet!"
Details.
Sarah:
"I'm doomed..."
No... we're doomed.
🤤😂

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator

Be who you want to be.
Sarah's Story
Feb 1989 Living my life as Sarah.
Feb 1989 Legally changed my name.
Mar 1989 Started hormones.
May 1990 Three surgery letters.
Feb 1991 Surgery.
  •  
    The following users thanked this post: tgirlamg

tgirlamg

#5
July 02, 2026, 06:49:03 PM
I loved my Spirograph back in the day but, I never ate the little pins... I guess I missed out on the full Spirograph experience!... Alas 😅

I look forward to seeing some Wild Gears art!

Onward!

A💕
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment" ... Ralph Waldo Emerson 🌸

"The individual has always had to struggle from being overwhelmed by the tribe... But, no price is too high for the privilege of owning yourself" ... Rudyard Kipling 🌸

Let go of the things that no longer serve you... Let go of the pretense of the false persona, it is not you... Let go of the armor that you have worn for a lifetime, to serve the expectations of others and, to protect the woman inside... She needs protection no longer.... She is tired of hiding and more courageous than you know... Let her prove that to you....Let her step out of the dark and feel the light upon her face.... amg🌸

Ashley's Corner: https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,247549.0.html 🌻

Devlyn ✅

#6
Yesterday at 04:13:06 AM
For anyone wondering "What's the big deal with these Wild Gears?" I offer the following: the Enormous Hoops* set. This is 40cm by 40cm. Their biggest set is 80cm by 80cm.



*Devlyn included for scale. 😀

Jessica_Rose ✅

#7
Yesterday at 07:58:36 AM
What, the small ones are not frustrating enough for you?

I loved playing with my spirograph as a child, but it was really frustrating when the gear slipped out on the next to last loop!

Love always -- Jessica Rose
Journal thread - Jessica's Rose Garden
National Coming Out Day video - Coming Out
GCS - GCS and BA w/Dr. Ley
GCS II - GCS II and FFS w/Dr. Ley
FFS II - Jaw and chin surgery w/Dr. Ley
Hair - Hair Restoration
23Mar2017 - HRT / 16Feb2018 - Full Time! / 21Feb2019 - GCS / 26July2019 - GCS II / 13Oct2020 - FFS II
"It is never too late to be what you might have been." - George Eliot

Devlyn ✅

#8
Yesterday at 08:09:25 AM
Quote from: Jessica_Rose on Yesterday at 07:58:36 AMWhat, the small ones are not frustrating enough for you?

I loved playing with my spirograph as a child, but it was really frustrating when the gear slipped out on the next to last loop!

Love always -- Jessica Rose

I'm a glutton for punishment! 🤣

Tig58072

#9
Today at 06:33:32 AM
I used to have one. Forgot about it until now. It was fun
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ChrissyRyan

#10
Today at 07:14:22 AM
Etch a sketch for me!
Always stay cheerful, be polite, kind, and understanding. Accepting yourself as the woman you are is very liberating.  Never underestimate the appreciation and respect of authenticity.  Help connect a person to someone that may be able to help that person.  Be brave, be strong.  A TRUE friend is a treasure.  Relationships are very important, people are important, and the sooner we all realize that the better off the world will be.  Try a little kindness.  Be generous with your time, energy, wisdom, and resources.   Inconvenience yourself to help someone.   I am a brown eyed, brown haired woman. 
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    The following users thanked this post: Devlyn

ChrissyRyan

#11
Today at 07:16:49 AM
Wait, is not Spiro a medicine?

Always stay cheerful, be polite, kind, and understanding. Accepting yourself as the woman you are is very liberating.  Never underestimate the appreciation and respect of authenticity.  Help connect a person to someone that may be able to help that person.  Be brave, be strong.  A TRUE friend is a treasure.  Relationships are very important, people are important, and the sooner we all realize that the better off the world will be.  Try a little kindness.  Be generous with your time, energy, wisdom, and resources.   Inconvenience yourself to help someone.   I am a brown eyed, brown haired woman. 
  •  

ChrissyRyan

#12
Today at 07:17:09 AM
Is not Spyro a dragon in a video game?

Always stay cheerful, be polite, kind, and understanding. Accepting yourself as the woman you are is very liberating.  Never underestimate the appreciation and respect of authenticity.  Help connect a person to someone that may be able to help that person.  Be brave, be strong.  A TRUE friend is a treasure.  Relationships are very important, people are important, and the sooner we all realize that the better off the world will be.  Try a little kindness.  Be generous with your time, energy, wisdom, and resources.   Inconvenience yourself to help someone.   I am a brown eyed, brown haired woman. 
  •  

Devlyn ✅

#13
Today at 07:20:05 AM
Quote from: ChrissyRyan on Today at 07:14:22 AMEtch a sketch for me!

I had one of those too. 🙂 I never could get the hang of it. There are people who draw really nice art with them, then drill a hole in the back and empty the powder out so it can't be erased.
  •  

ChrissyRyan

#14
Today at 07:28:05 AM
In that picture, did you start off with a black sheet of paper or was some of it already printed on the sheet?
Always stay cheerful, be polite, kind, and understanding. Accepting yourself as the woman you are is very liberating.  Never underestimate the appreciation and respect of authenticity.  Help connect a person to someone that may be able to help that person.  Be brave, be strong.  A TRUE friend is a treasure.  Relationships are very important, people are important, and the sooner we all realize that the better off the world will be.  Try a little kindness.  Be generous with your time, energy, wisdom, and resources.   Inconvenience yourself to help someone.   I am a brown eyed, brown haired woman. 
  •  

Devlyn ✅

#15
Today at 08:12:05 AM
Quote from: ChrissyRyan on Today at 07:28:05 AMIn that picture, did you start off with a black sheet of paper or was some of it already printed on the sheet?

That's the whole gear set still in its translucent backing sheet and shipping tape. I haven't removed it yet because that will be part of an unboxing video.

  •  

ChrissyRyan

#16
Today at 08:14:52 AM
Quote from: Devlyn on Today at 08:12:05 AMThat's the whole gear set still in its translucent backing sheet and shipping tape. I haven't removed it yet because that will be part of an unboxing video.




Oh. 
Always stay cheerful, be polite, kind, and understanding. Accepting yourself as the woman you are is very liberating.  Never underestimate the appreciation and respect of authenticity.  Help connect a person to someone that may be able to help that person.  Be brave, be strong.  A TRUE friend is a treasure.  Relationships are very important, people are important, and the sooner we all realize that the better off the world will be.  Try a little kindness.  Be generous with your time, energy, wisdom, and resources.   Inconvenience yourself to help someone.   I am a brown eyed, brown haired woman. 
  •  

ChrissyRyan

#17
Today at 08:16:42 AM
Devlyn,


Speaking of gears and such, watch this!



🔗
Always stay cheerful, be polite, kind, and understanding. Accepting yourself as the woman you are is very liberating.  Never underestimate the appreciation and respect of authenticity.  Help connect a person to someone that may be able to help that person.  Be brave, be strong.  A TRUE friend is a treasure.  Relationships are very important, people are important, and the sooner we all realize that the better off the world will be.  Try a little kindness.  Be generous with your time, energy, wisdom, and resources.   Inconvenience yourself to help someone.   I am a brown eyed, brown haired woman. 
  •  

Devlyn ✅

#18
Today at 09:05:45 AM
Here I was, cursing you for posting an AI video in my topic...and OMG!... that's actually real? 😲
  •  

ChrissyRyan

#19
Today at 12:32:04 PM
Quote from: Devlyn on Today at 09:05:45 AMHere I was, cursing you for posting an AI video in my topic...and OMG!... that's actually real? 😲


Yes, that Honda cog video is real and has been around for quite a while.

Parts of Honda Accords are actually used in that video.

Always stay cheerful, be polite, kind, and understanding. Accepting yourself as the woman you are is very liberating.  Never underestimate the appreciation and respect of authenticity.  Help connect a person to someone that may be able to help that person.  Be brave, be strong.  A TRUE friend is a treasure.  Relationships are very important, people are important, and the sooner we all realize that the better off the world will be.  Try a little kindness.  Be generous with your time, energy, wisdom, and resources.   Inconvenience yourself to help someone.   I am a brown eyed, brown haired woman. 
  •  
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