The Oliviary: There are good things in this email.
This month has been years long. The cruelest ones are setting the world on fire, and sometimes when surrounded by flames all we can do is find beauty in the sparks. Please do one thing nice for yourself today, and then do one thing nice for someone else, and just hold on and stay strong. Make a phone call to your reps, or send money to someone who needs it, or make a meal for a friend, or donate to a cause, then stand outside in nature and remind yourself you are alive and you deserve to be here.
And never forget: there are more of us than there are of them.
Linkery
- In case you’re also obsessed with old-time train boards, I present Fluttering Code: a cultural and aesthetic history of the [split-flap display](https://icd.wordsinspace.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/MoC5-SMattern.pdf).
- In “obviously I’m going to click that”: A [Muppet History](https://sharpweb.org/sharpnews/2024/12/20/a-muppet-history-of-the-book/) of the Book
- This [piece](https://www.printmag.com/designer-profiles/miniature-knitter-julie-steiner/) on miniature knitting artist Julie Steiner is just full of gems.
Crafty
Speaking of knitting — I’m back on my knitting bullshit! It’s been over a year and I knew I missed it but hadn’t realized how much until I was able to pick it up again. Current project is a big squooshy brioche color monster, where I found a sweater pattern whose colorwork stitch count perfectly matched a brioche cable pattern I’ve been eyeing for years. I’ve just cast on the second panel and I’m so excited about how it’s turning out! We’ll see what truths the block reveals.
Reading recs
This month’s column features a cheesemaking historical romance (with murder! And trans characters!), a sweet low-key comics serial newly translated, and a dating-your-roommate situationship with bonus union organizing! Truly the definition of idiots in love, with a trans classical scholar and the butch electrician she’s living with and pining for.
Less than two months until Murder by Memory comes out! It’s the most escapist thing I’ve written, and that’s saying something. Pre-order your copy today, or recommend it to your local library!
Until next month, Olivia