Lots of crafty projects in process for the holidays ...

Karin's gorgeous fairly easy fairisle (it's orange in real life, not pink, sorry for the digi-stortion):

Julie's baby blue baby hat (adorable!) and lined tote:

Rachel's little angel--just WOW:

And some projects for the new year from other KG knitters ...

The evite for the KG holiday party is up! If you haven't RSVP'd yet, just head to:

http://www.evite.com/h-subs@craftylibrarian.com/kg

This story of earthquake survivors burning books to keep warm [via LISNews] reminds me of some of the librarian moments in The Day After Tomorrow (a truly miserable film), such as when the male librarian tucks himself in a chair clutching a copy of the Gutenberg Bible. He explains snootily that he will bodily protect it from being dumped into the book-fueled fire the (smart) main characters are burning so they won't freeze to death.

I also enjoyed the very buttoned-up woman in the cardigan sweater who sat the reference desk with her ankles primly crossed while the library filled first with cold and wet refugees, and then with freezing cold water. May I help you?

Priorities, people. Priorities.

I've been looking all over for a shopping guide to sites with hip baby gear. Not necessarily $1000 Hollywood strollers, but cool onesies and the like. Finally! Dutch's Holiday Shopping Guide for the Anti-Materialist* Indie Sonofabitch Parent. My hero. Many items handcrafted for your wee one.

I feel a bit out of the loop, but I just discovered Etsy, an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handmade. Etsy lets you shop by color, place, time and material. It's a few months old. Oodles of neat handcrafted stuff at great prices. For those of you getting hitched, they also have a big wedding section with lots of stuff you'd like to make yourself, but lack the time, skills, or supplies.

Am I the only person who thinks the postal rate increase for first class stamps is a huge freaking scam???

Yes, good little boys and girls, go buy your holiday postage stamps to send cards to all your beloved family and friends. But be sure to buy only the exact amount you need, because 14 days after Christmas the rates will be going up!

However, as if by a miracle, the online postal store finally added a section on additional postage, so you needn't actually visit your local PO to obtain 2 cent upgrades for your sad 37 centers during the holiday madness. Choose from Navajo Jewelry or a cute woodpecker.

Or just buy a roll of 3000 1 cent Tiffany lamps and prepare yourself for the next postal apocalypse. (Who buys 3000 stamps at a time? That aren't even self-adhesive?)

As a recent bride, I can attest to the ridiculously high prices of wedding bands. (Sorry, you want HOW much for a platinum band? Ok, let's see that white gold ....) Want a reasonably priced, ecologically friendly alternative to your local jeweler? Try greenKarat, which has artisans producing recycled gold and platinum rings. The platinum cost only $350. No kidding. [link via the TreeHugger Holiday Gift Guide, also a useful holiday tool, via notmartha]