Painting may be back, groups, and Bert's gardening practice

Yesterday there was a question about getting into groups such as knitting groups, and getting through the first meeting. I think my best experiences have been with library-led public groups, less cliquey, and with someone whose job involves keeping the group congenial.

I've most often been an early adopter or founder, before there was a group anyway, and the early people have to be careful not to try to control events as the group grows and changes, as it will. That's where the group leader can shine.

My current knitting group has a great blend of several cultures and ages and loads of talent, but, partly because the library lady is adept, it's not competitive, but very interested in what each other is making.  The group has changed a lot over the years, people moving  in and out.

I think if you're hesitant, just go to one meeting. You don't have to commit, just see how it goes. Then, next time, decide if you want to go again. Just try the water. And let us know how it feels. Pro tip: if you can't do the craft in question, get lessons or a workshop before you join a group. The group participants are there to play and chat. They didn't sign on to be teachers!

Meanwhile, the Sock and Glove Ministry continues

I wonder if this will look anything like a pair, or like an artful mismatch, looking at the color changes coming up

I moved the coleus into its bigger home, and added in some offshoots I'd rooted in water. It can stay outside a while longer, before becoming a house plant, when the ficus comes indoors and fills the living room with foliage.

 Then lovely D.G. Strong of Modern Daily Knitting went and wrote this today

And modern daily knitting is offering this, watercolor  equipment to plan knitting designs, wildly out of my budget, but good luck to people who can go there. It did remind me it's time to bust out my watercolors again.

I love his approach, rapid studies from life, no dead on arrival laborious copies of photographs, just a quick fresh instant take, the real deal of watercolor.

Despite the prices of Case for Making's handmade custom watercolors -- you build your own palette and they're experts with questions -- I did sub to their newsletter

though I've produced some quite acceptable, some now in collections, paintings, with this pretty humble equipment. Also some duds, but that's not the fault of the equipment.

Unlike D.G.Strong, for me art doesn't start with shopping! But more power to those who shop and keep art suppliers in business. And more power to D.G. for funny and brilliant writing.

And while we're thinking plein air -- outdoor -- painting and flowers, remember Bert the gardener, and his credo

Nearer home, here's the latest flowers, from the faithful zinnias and marigolds. Here's a great watercolor subject if ever  there was one.

Happy day, everyone, enjoy your tea and activity and even shopping, if it comes to that!