Laura H
@ninewitchknots.bsky.social
Professional 18th cent historian; woodworker; long time fiber artist (knitting, sewing, handspinning, etc); chronic reader and occasional writer
Going through my knits stash to do some handwashing (a previous moth infestation has made me eternally paranoid about keeping things clean) and it's always nice to see how my work has changed over the course of almost 15 years of knitting. Definitely a lace girlie, but thinking I need more cables.
February 14, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Going through my knits stash to do some handwashing (a previous moth infestation has made me eternally paranoid about keeping things clean) and it's always nice to see how my work has changed over the course of almost 15 years of knitting. Definitely a lace girlie, but thinking I need more cables.
Reposted by Laura H
If Bad Bunny can cover the history of Puerto Rico, colonialism, transatlantic slavery, hemispheric consciousness, as well as contemporary life and politics in under 14 minutes, you can do your 15- or 20-minute conference presentation with time to spare.
February 9, 2026 at 11:56 PM
If Bad Bunny can cover the history of Puerto Rico, colonialism, transatlantic slavery, hemispheric consciousness, as well as contemporary life and politics in under 14 minutes, you can do your 15- or 20-minute conference presentation with time to spare.
My toes are so cold and I think when one's toes are this cold for this long, one should be allowed to go home and climb into bed with a heating pad.
February 9, 2026 at 7:19 PM
My toes are so cold and I think when one's toes are this cold for this long, one should be allowed to go home and climb into bed with a heating pad.
Feeling some strong workplace anxiety and imposter syndrome today. Would much rather be at home watching the Olympics.
February 9, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Feeling some strong workplace anxiety and imposter syndrome today. Would much rather be at home watching the Olympics.
My library hold came in! Excited to do some reading on the Anglo side of the Anglo-American Atlantic world again.
Really glad there's been some fascinating books in the last few years focusing on women's active roles shaping the landscapes of the elite.
#WomensHistory
Really glad there's been some fascinating books in the last few years focusing on women's active roles shaping the landscapes of the elite.
#WomensHistory
January 29, 2026 at 8:24 PM
My library hold came in! Excited to do some reading on the Anglo side of the Anglo-American Atlantic world again.
Really glad there's been some fascinating books in the last few years focusing on women's active roles shaping the landscapes of the elite.
#WomensHistory
Really glad there's been some fascinating books in the last few years focusing on women's active roles shaping the landscapes of the elite.
#WomensHistory
Reposted by Laura H
I keep thinking about what DHS is asking of Minneapolis and all of us. Stay quietly in your homes while we break down your neighbor’s door and drag her out crying. Walk away when you see us chasing a child down the street. Say nothing, look away.
What an evil thing to ask for.
What an evil thing to ask for.
January 25, 2026 at 1:01 AM
I keep thinking about what DHS is asking of Minneapolis and all of us. Stay quietly in your homes while we break down your neighbor’s door and drag her out crying. Walk away when you see us chasing a child down the street. Say nothing, look away.
What an evil thing to ask for.
What an evil thing to ask for.
Watching the weather forecast predict a foot or more of snow on the weekend of the conference I've been prepping for for the last 3 months is Not Great.
January 20, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Watching the weather forecast predict a foot or more of snow on the weekend of the conference I've been prepping for for the last 3 months is Not Great.
I've sent off what I hope is a kindly enough worded email and am crossing my fingers that corrections are made, or an errata issued.
I hate having to tell people they've made an error, but also it's kinda really important to me and I dont think I'm overreacting by wanting to be fairly represented.
I hate having to tell people they've made an error, but also it's kinda really important to me and I dont think I'm overreacting by wanting to be fairly represented.
January 13, 2026 at 2:10 PM
I've sent off what I hope is a kindly enough worded email and am crossing my fingers that corrections are made, or an errata issued.
I hate having to tell people they've made an error, but also it's kinda really important to me and I dont think I'm overreacting by wanting to be fairly represented.
I hate having to tell people they've made an error, but also it's kinda really important to me and I dont think I'm overreacting by wanting to be fairly represented.
When pre-conference material is sent out and not only is my speaker portrait wrong, all of my photos and diagrams for the pamphlet is missing 🫠
January 13, 2026 at 3:28 AM
When pre-conference material is sent out and not only is my speaker portrait wrong, all of my photos and diagrams for the pamphlet is missing 🫠
Just found I have a few yards of white muslin in my stash, so I should be able to start working on one of my petticoats sooner than expected! I might make another one in linen later, but my first petti was in cotton before and it had a really good body to it, so no need to reinvent the wheel.
January 9, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Just found I have a few yards of white muslin in my stash, so I should be able to start working on one of my petticoats sooner than expected! I might make another one in linen later, but my first petti was in cotton before and it had a really good body to it, so no need to reinvent the wheel.
Things suck so I am making an effort to post about creative endeavors I'm undertaking. Not ignoring things going on, but I do think I need to make space to record some positive stuff or I will simply run mad.
January 9, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Things suck so I am making an effort to post about creative endeavors I'm undertaking. Not ignoring things going on, but I do think I need to make space to record some positive stuff or I will simply run mad.
Reposted by Laura H
Weird to be commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Am Rev while living under a government that has a) sent armed troops to occupy cities perceived to be too rebellious, b) rendered largely irrelevant the representative branch of government, and c) claimed imperial right to rule other countries.
January 9, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Weird to be commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Am Rev while living under a government that has a) sent armed troops to occupy cities perceived to be too rebellious, b) rendered largely irrelevant the representative branch of government, and c) claimed imperial right to rule other countries.
It feels really hard to work in public history, especially when museum leadership wants us to focus 2026 on celebrating the 250th, when it feels absurd to celebrate anything about the state of our country right now.
January 9, 2026 at 8:39 PM
It feels really hard to work in public history, especially when museum leadership wants us to focus 2026 on celebrating the 250th, when it feels absurd to celebrate anything about the state of our country right now.
I'm a big nerd for historic jewelry (either repro or closely inspired by) and this is a really cool piece, gifted from my husband and made by a friend from work.
It's a Kissing Otters pendant, which has its roots in the North American colonial fur trade between Native Americans and Europeans.
It's a Kissing Otters pendant, which has its roots in the North American colonial fur trade between Native Americans and Europeans.
December 26, 2025 at 3:24 PM
I'm a big nerd for historic jewelry (either repro or closely inspired by) and this is a really cool piece, gifted from my husband and made by a friend from work.
It's a Kissing Otters pendant, which has its roots in the North American colonial fur trade between Native Americans and Europeans.
It's a Kissing Otters pendant, which has its roots in the North American colonial fur trade between Native Americans and Europeans.
Reposted by Laura H
Reposted by Laura H
i had to drop what i was doing to make this
December 23, 2025 at 3:59 PM
i had to drop what i was doing to make this
Reposted by Laura H
On the first night of winter, St. Nautilus flies through the air, pelting good children with candy and dousing the naughty ones in ink.
December 21, 2025 at 9:30 PM
On the first night of winter, St. Nautilus flies through the air, pelting good children with candy and dousing the naughty ones in ink.
Reposted by Laura H
Having a bereavement policy that only includes "immediate family", unless you obtain special permission otherwise, feels kinda shitty. Are my aunts, uncles, cousins are not considered to be "close enough" to warrant inclusion in the "I'm going to a funeral and need time off" list?
December 17, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Having a bereavement policy that only includes "immediate family", unless you obtain special permission otherwise, feels kinda shitty. Are my aunts, uncles, cousins are not considered to be "close enough" to warrant inclusion in the "I'm going to a funeral and need time off" list?
A little light reading for this morning at work.
(Boss indicated I might be able to do my capstone project on paint, and I have to make an oil paint that I've never done before soooooooo time to read up).
(Boss indicated I might be able to do my capstone project on paint, and I have to make an oil paint that I've never done before soooooooo time to read up).
December 13, 2025 at 2:34 PM
A little light reading for this morning at work.
(Boss indicated I might be able to do my capstone project on paint, and I have to make an oil paint that I've never done before soooooooo time to read up).
(Boss indicated I might be able to do my capstone project on paint, and I have to make an oil paint that I've never done before soooooooo time to read up).
Usually I just have fruit and shavings on the fresh green wreaths for the holidays. This year we upgraded to not only add floral, but also one single potato that was inexplicably in the bag of lemons.
Naturally it became a cute little embellishment.
Naturally it became a cute little embellishment.
December 2, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Usually I just have fruit and shavings on the fresh green wreaths for the holidays. This year we upgraded to not only add floral, but also one single potato that was inexplicably in the bag of lemons.
Naturally it became a cute little embellishment.
Naturally it became a cute little embellishment.
Every time someone asks me if nails existed in the 18th cent, I lose an hour off my life.
Every time someone INSISTS that nails didnt exist in the 18c, I lose 2 years.
Why do so many people think that nail making is some insane modern marvel?
Every time someone INSISTS that nails didnt exist in the 18c, I lose 2 years.
Why do so many people think that nail making is some insane modern marvel?
November 29, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Every time someone asks me if nails existed in the 18th cent, I lose an hour off my life.
Every time someone INSISTS that nails didnt exist in the 18c, I lose 2 years.
Why do so many people think that nail making is some insane modern marvel?
Every time someone INSISTS that nails didnt exist in the 18c, I lose 2 years.
Why do so many people think that nail making is some insane modern marvel?
Finally catching up on the new Ken Burns and starting one of my most ambitious spinning projects
November 27, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Finally catching up on the new Ken Burns and starting one of my most ambitious spinning projects
If you're traveling this holiday season and visiting museums, please remember to be kind and respectful to staff! These are often the busiest times of the year and staff are trying their best to help everyone have a educational and meaningful time. Practice patience with fellow guests as well.
November 26, 2025 at 3:10 PM
If you're traveling this holiday season and visiting museums, please remember to be kind and respectful to staff! These are often the busiest times of the year and staff are trying their best to help everyone have a educational and meaningful time. Practice patience with fellow guests as well.