Isabel “Izzy” Black (Joely)
@autisticalchemyst.bsky.social
I study the anthropology of magic, objects, and people. Moomins. Writing a book about making magical objects in Roman Egypt. I also write fantasy fiction and building a model of the Moomin House. Autistic.
joelyblack.substack.com.
joelyblack.substack.com.
We had a cat and four rats at one point. When she first encountered them, Rufus was still a baby. He nipped her on the nose and it definitely set the tone. Rafe meanwhile thought she was a big fluffy bed to sleep in.
June 10, 2025 at 12:14 PM
We had a cat and four rats at one point. When she first encountered them, Rufus was still a baby. He nipped her on the nose and it definitely set the tone. Rafe meanwhile thought she was a big fluffy bed to sleep in.
@arkhorton.bsky.social posted this to Threads and so I’m putting it here too.
April 4, 2025 at 4:47 PM
@arkhorton.bsky.social posted this to Threads and so I’m putting it here too.
Teaching for term done for three weeks.
If anybody wants me I will be marking essays on restraint in Victorian asylums and preparing a fellowship application. #AcademicSky #HigherEd
If anybody wants me I will be marking essays on restraint in Victorian asylums and preparing a fellowship application. #AcademicSky #HigherEd
April 2, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Teaching for term done for three weeks.
If anybody wants me I will be marking essays on restraint in Victorian asylums and preparing a fellowship application. #AcademicSky #HigherEd
If anybody wants me I will be marking essays on restraint in Victorian asylums and preparing a fellowship application. #AcademicSky #HigherEd
Moominmamma welcomes you to the Moomin House today.
The door is always open.
The door is always open.
March 28, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Moominmamma welcomes you to the Moomin House today.
The door is always open.
The door is always open.
Grading papers is made all the more bearable when you have an emotional support soft flurry belly. #Cats #AcademicCats #CatSky
March 27, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Grading papers is made all the more bearable when you have an emotional support soft flurry belly. #Cats #AcademicCats #CatSky
March 15, 2025 at 4:24 PM
On the other hand, according to Google AI, hippos are able to handle complex procedures and might be your people if you really want to do "childbirth by wild animal".
March 10, 2025 at 7:35 PM
On the other hand, according to Google AI, hippos are able to handle complex procedures and might be your people if you really want to do "childbirth by wild animal".
The lovely @moudhy.bsky.social sent a copy of her new book and it arrived today.
I am a sucker for a beautiful cover but what I’ve sneakily read so far is fantastic.
Also yes, I did prop it on the Moomin House and that’s my book proposal nearly done too. #AcademicSky
I am a sucker for a beautiful cover but what I’ve sneakily read so far is fantastic.
Also yes, I did prop it on the Moomin House and that’s my book proposal nearly done too. #AcademicSky
March 10, 2025 at 1:24 PM
The lovely @moudhy.bsky.social sent a copy of her new book and it arrived today.
I am a sucker for a beautiful cover but what I’ve sneakily read so far is fantastic.
Also yes, I did prop it on the Moomin House and that’s my book proposal nearly done too. #AcademicSky
I am a sucker for a beautiful cover but what I’ve sneakily read so far is fantastic.
Also yes, I did prop it on the Moomin House and that’s my book proposal nearly done too. #AcademicSky
Footage of some of the Moomin House work today.
The frame needed work before I could insert the door but we are making progress.
The frame needed work before I could insert the door but we are making progress.
March 9, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Footage of some of the Moomin House work today.
The frame needed work before I could insert the door but we are making progress.
The frame needed work before I could insert the door but we are making progress.
More progress on the book and book proposal!
Nearly got the second sample chapter done.
Despite this, a cat, insisting that she had to sit in my lap the entire time.
#SkyWriters #AcademicSky #AcWri
Nearly got the second sample chapter done.
Despite this, a cat, insisting that she had to sit in my lap the entire time.
#SkyWriters #AcademicSky #AcWri
March 6, 2025 at 7:06 PM
More progress on the book and book proposal!
Nearly got the second sample chapter done.
Despite this, a cat, insisting that she had to sit in my lap the entire time.
#SkyWriters #AcademicSky #AcWri
Nearly got the second sample chapter done.
Despite this, a cat, insisting that she had to sit in my lap the entire time.
#SkyWriters #AcademicSky #AcWri
Do you need a break from the general hellscape?
Then here is good news. A hedgehog has moved into mum’s hedgehog house.
#hedgehogs
Then here is good news. A hedgehog has moved into mum’s hedgehog house.
#hedgehogs
March 1, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Do you need a break from the general hellscape?
Then here is good news. A hedgehog has moved into mum’s hedgehog house.
#hedgehogs
Then here is good news. A hedgehog has moved into mum’s hedgehog house.
#hedgehogs
I’m very tired today. Autistic brain has had a bit of wild ride this week.
So I went to get more coffee and SOMEBODY stole my nice warm spot.
#CatSky #CatsofBlueSky
So I went to get more coffee and SOMEBODY stole my nice warm spot.
#CatSky #CatsofBlueSky
February 27, 2025 at 8:54 AM
I’m very tired today. Autistic brain has had a bit of wild ride this week.
So I went to get more coffee and SOMEBODY stole my nice warm spot.
#CatSky #CatsofBlueSky
So I went to get more coffee and SOMEBODY stole my nice warm spot.
#CatSky #CatsofBlueSky
I found this on @lettersofnote.com and I’ve never felt a person’s vibe more intently.
Go off, Charles, sod the barnacles.
Go off, Charles, sod the barnacles.
February 23, 2025 at 10:03 PM
I found this on @lettersofnote.com and I’ve never felt a person’s vibe more intently.
Go off, Charles, sod the barnacles.
Go off, Charles, sod the barnacles.
Indi:
1. Screamed with great determination.
2. Chewed many non-edible substances.
3. Slept.
4. First breakfast.
5. Second breakfast.
1. Screamed with great determination.
2. Chewed many non-edible substances.
3. Slept.
4. First breakfast.
5. Second breakfast.
February 23, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Indi:
1. Screamed with great determination.
2. Chewed many non-edible substances.
3. Slept.
4. First breakfast.
5. Second breakfast.
1. Screamed with great determination.
2. Chewed many non-edible substances.
3. Slept.
4. First breakfast.
5. Second breakfast.
When I get to the THEORY bit I feel mildly unhinged, like:
February 23, 2025 at 6:34 PM
When I get to the THEORY bit I feel mildly unhinged, like:
I’m making a fragile link in bids for fellowships that this is all about how people deal with horrible circumstances.
Such as this discovery in the library on Tuesday. It includes binding spells against Trump and how to hex Hitler.
Such as this discovery in the library on Tuesday. It includes binding spells against Trump and how to hex Hitler.
February 20, 2025 at 10:55 AM
I’m making a fragile link in bids for fellowships that this is all about how people deal with horrible circumstances.
Such as this discovery in the library on Tuesday. It includes binding spells against Trump and how to hex Hitler.
Such as this discovery in the library on Tuesday. It includes binding spells against Trump and how to hex Hitler.
A fellow GTA let me know about another writing award yesterday.
It made me wonder if I could apply, proposing to write about my little terracotta women from Roman Egypt.
Title: ‘Material Girls: The invisible women of Roman Egypt and the Figurines they Left Behind’ #AcademicSky #Skystorians
It made me wonder if I could apply, proposing to write about my little terracotta women from Roman Egypt.
Title: ‘Material Girls: The invisible women of Roman Egypt and the Figurines they Left Behind’ #AcademicSky #Skystorians
February 18, 2025 at 7:52 AM
A fellow GTA let me know about another writing award yesterday.
It made me wonder if I could apply, proposing to write about my little terracotta women from Roman Egypt.
Title: ‘Material Girls: The invisible women of Roman Egypt and the Figurines they Left Behind’ #AcademicSky #Skystorians
It made me wonder if I could apply, proposing to write about my little terracotta women from Roman Egypt.
Title: ‘Material Girls: The invisible women of Roman Egypt and the Figurines they Left Behind’ #AcademicSky #Skystorians
Figuring out how to write about where magic experts got their materials from.
I like mapping things out so this book will be full of diagrams of how rituals work, based on objects. #AncientHistory #AcademicSky #RomanEgypt #Magic
I like mapping things out so this book will be full of diagrams of how rituals work, based on objects. #AncientHistory #AcademicSky #RomanEgypt #Magic
February 15, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Figuring out how to write about where magic experts got their materials from.
I like mapping things out so this book will be full of diagrams of how rituals work, based on objects. #AncientHistory #AcademicSky #RomanEgypt #Magic
I like mapping things out so this book will be full of diagrams of how rituals work, based on objects. #AncientHistory #AcademicSky #RomanEgypt #Magic
The days of running the beginning of The Two Towers lives in my head rent free.
As a runner, that is.
As a runner, that is.
January 21, 2025 at 8:56 PM
The days of running the beginning of The Two Towers lives in my head rent free.
As a runner, that is.
As a runner, that is.
This is how my cat protests my daring insistence on working despite her need for a human bed to sleep on.
It’s the deep gravitational chin press.
She is inching her way onto the keyboard.
It’s the deep gravitational chin press.
She is inching her way onto the keyboard.
January 15, 2025 at 1:29 PM
This is how my cat protests my daring insistence on working despite her need for a human bed to sleep on.
It’s the deep gravitational chin press.
She is inching her way onto the keyboard.
It’s the deep gravitational chin press.
She is inching her way onto the keyboard.
Does your cat have a judging stool?
Ours does.
She sits and she judges.
Ours does.
She sits and she judges.
January 12, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Does your cat have a judging stool?
Ours does.
She sits and she judges.
Ours does.
She sits and she judges.
Cat said NOPE
January 10, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Cat said NOPE
Our cat cannot even with this weather right now.
Snow that stays on the ground is a horrifying cold wet monstrosity.
She has so far spent 95% of today screaming to be let outside, then realising to her absolute disgust just how dire it is out there and abruptly changing her mind.
#CatSky #Cats
Snow that stays on the ground is a horrifying cold wet monstrosity.
She has so far spent 95% of today screaming to be let outside, then realising to her absolute disgust just how dire it is out there and abruptly changing her mind.
#CatSky #Cats
January 9, 2025 at 9:51 PM
This is the face of a cat who has discovered that there’s a hot water bottle under the green blanket. #cat #catsofBlueSky #CatSky
January 7, 2025 at 6:13 PM
This is the face of a cat who has discovered that there’s a hot water bottle under the green blanket. #cat #catsofBlueSky #CatSky
Forget astrology in 2025.
It’s all about what your birth medieval war machine is.
I’m a trebuchet. Or as I like to think of it, a Yeetener. For yeeting things.
It’s all about what your birth medieval war machine is.
I’m a trebuchet. Or as I like to think of it, a Yeetener. For yeeting things.
January 4, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Forget astrology in 2025.
It’s all about what your birth medieval war machine is.
I’m a trebuchet. Or as I like to think of it, a Yeetener. For yeeting things.
It’s all about what your birth medieval war machine is.
I’m a trebuchet. Or as I like to think of it, a Yeetener. For yeeting things.