diff --git a/gpfile.py b/gpfile.py
index 598e984..b2cda09 100644
--- a/gpfile.py
+++ b/gpfile.py
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ def __init__(self, filename):
                 try:
                     self.graph = model.Graph(datastore, head_ptr)
                     # after this, should be all loaded
-                except model.Error:
-                    print 'failed to open gp file'
+                except model.Error as e:
+                    print 'failed to open gp file:', e
                     raise ValueError
 
     def load_default_config(self):
diff --git a/graphpaper.py b/graphpaper.py
index 55dc8df..84bbbe1 100755
--- a/graphpaper.py
+++ b/graphpaper.py
@@ -46,11 +46,27 @@ def __init__(self, master, gpfile):
         self.canvas.bind("<B1-Motion>", self.mousemove)
         self.canvas.bind("<Configure>", self.resize)
         # load cards
-        self.cards = [ViewportCard(self, self.gpfile, card) for card in self.data.get_cards()]
+        cards_by_id = {}
+        self.cards = []
+        for card in self.data.get_cards():
+            new = ViewportCard(self, self.gpfile, card)
+            self.cards.append(new)
+            cards_by_id[card.obj.oid] = new
         self.reset_scroll_region()
+        # load edges
+        self.edges = []
+        for edge in self.data.get_edges():
+            new = ViewportEdge(
+                self,
+                self.gpfile,
+                edge,
+                cards_by_id[edge.orig.obj.oid],
+                cards_by_id[edge.dest.obj.oid]
+            )
+            self.edges.append(new)
         # test edges
-        edge = model.Edge(self.data, orig=self.data.get_cards()[0], dest=self.data.get_cards()[1])
-        self.edge = ViewportEdge(self, self.gpfile, edge, self.cards[0], self.cards[1])
+#        edge = model.Edge(self.data, orig=self.data.get_cards()[0], dest=self.data.get_cards()[1])
+#        self.edge = ViewportEdge(self, self.gpfile, edge, self.cards[0], self.cards[1])
         # set up scrolling
         self.yscroll["command"] = self.canvas.yview
         self.xscroll["command"] = self.canvas.xview
diff --git a/model.py b/model.py
index c9b0fdb..41ba81f 100644
--- a/model.py
+++ b/model.py
@@ -65,6 +65,10 @@ def get_cards(self):
         '''
         return self.cards
 
+    def get_edges(self):
+        "as get_cards()"
+        return self.edges
+
     def new_card(self, x=0, y=0, w=MIN_CARD_SIZE, h=MIN_CARD_SIZE):
         c = Card(self, None)
         c.x = x
diff --git a/viewportcard.py b/viewportcard.py
index 72e5ab4..1b2dcb0 100644
--- a/viewportcard.py
+++ b/viewportcard.py
@@ -5,11 +5,27 @@
 from tkex import ResizableCanvasFrame
 from slot import Slot
 
+from viewportedge import ViewportEdge
+
 class ViewportCard(object):
     '''
     Manages the graphical representation of a card in a
     Tkinter canvas. Creates and destroys items as necessary, facilitates
     editing, and so on and so forth.
+
+    Members:
+    * card: model.Card
+    * viewport: GPViewport
+    * gpfile: gpfile.GraphPaperFile, contains model.graph()
+    * canvas: TKinter canvas we get drawn on
+    * editing: bool, text is being edited
+    * moving: bool, being dragged
+    * moving_edgescroll_id: callback id to scroll periodicall when hovering
+      near edge of screen
+    * resize_state: {}
+    * resize_edgescroll_id: as moving_edgescroll_id
+    * slot: calls callbacks whenever geometry changes
+    * new_edge: if an edge is being dragged out from a handle, this is it.
     '''
     def __init__(self, viewport, gpfile, card):
         self.card = card
@@ -25,6 +41,7 @@ def __init__(self, viewport, gpfile, card):
         # slot triggered when geometry (pos/size) changes
         # fn args: (self, x, y, w, h)
         self.slot = Slot()
+        self.new_edge = None
 
     def draw(self):
         self.frame_thickness = 5
@@ -78,9 +95,9 @@ def move(event):
             def dblclick(event):
                 print 'item double-click'
                 return 'break'
-            self.canvas.tag_bind(new, '<Button-1>', foo)
-            self.canvas.tag_bind(new, '<B1-Motion>', move)
-            self.canvas.tag_bind(new, '<Double-Button-1>', dblclick)
+            self.canvas.tag_bind(new, '<Button-1>', self.handle_click)
+            self.canvas.tag_bind(new, '<B1-Motion>', self.handle_mousemove)
+            self.canvas.tag_bind(new, '<ButtonRelease-1>', self.handle_mouseup)
             return new
         x, y = self.window.canvas_coords()
         w, h = self.window.winfo_width(), self.window.winfo_height()
@@ -182,6 +199,28 @@ def mouseup(self, event):
             self.cancel_moving_edgescroll_callback()
             self.geometry_callback()
 
+    # next several functions are bound to the circular edge handles
+    def handle_click(self, event):
+        # create new edge
+        self.new_edge = ViewportEdge(
+            self.viewport,
+            self.gpfile,
+            None,
+            self,
+            None
+        )
+        self.new_edge.mousemove(event) # give it a real start pos
+
+    def handle_mousemove(self, event):
+        if self.new_edge:
+            self.new_edge.mousemove(event)
+
+    def handle_mouseup(self, event):
+        if self.new_edge:
+            self.new_edge.mouseup(event)
+            self.new_edge = None
+        
+
     def configure(self, event):
         print 'configure'
         self.redraw_edge_handles()
diff --git a/viewportedge.py b/viewportedge.py
index aa29e7f..1549c1d 100644
--- a/viewportedge.py
+++ b/viewportedge.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 '''
 
 from math import sqrt
+import model
 
 class ViewportEdge(object):
     '''
@@ -26,20 +27,49 @@ class ViewportEdge(object):
     '''
     def __init__(self, viewport, gpfile, edge, orig, dest):
         '''
+        Either load an edge from the datastore, or start creating
+        a new one. If edge is None, we're creating a new edge and
+        one of orig or dest should be None. Otherwise, edge should be a
+        model.Edge and orig and dest should both be ViewportCards
+        corresponding to the cards in edge.
+        
         Arguments:
         * viewport: GPViewport this edge lives in
         * gpfile: GPFile, needed for committing
-        * edge: model.Edge that we will be managing.
+        * edge: model.Edge that we will be managing, or None if creating a new edge.
+        * orig: ViewportCard or None, if dragging a new edge
+        * dest: as above, but more likely.
         '''
         # store all the arguments
         self.edge = edge
         self.viewport = viewport
         self.canvas = viewport.canvas
         self.gpfile = gpfile
+        # store nodes
+        self.orig_callback = self.dest_callback = None # callback attrs needed before setting nodes
+        self.orig = orig
+        self.dest = dest
+        # we basically need to decide whether to start off dragging
+        if edge:
+            # member vars are all good, theoretically.
+            # just need to self self.coords
+            self.reset_coords()
+            # not dragging.
+            self.dragging_end = None # or 0 or 1
+        else:
+            # we start off dragging
+            if self.orig:
+                self.dragging_end = 1
+                nondrag = self.orig
+            elif self.dest:
+                self.dragging_end = 0
+                nondrag = self.dest
+            # use fake initial pos
+            initpos = nondrag.canvas_coords()
+            self.coords = [initpos, (initpos[0] + 10, initpos[1] + 10)]
+        self._highlighted_card = None
         # draw self
-        self.reset_coords()
         self.itemid = self.canvas.create_line(
-            #0, 0, 100, 0, 100, 100, 200, 100,
             # have to unpack self.get_coords as first args, not last
             *(self.get_coords()),
             arrow='last',
@@ -51,13 +81,6 @@ def __init__(self, viewport, gpfile, edge, orig, dest):
         self.canvas.tag_bind(self.itemid, "<Button-1>", self.click)
         self.canvas.tag_bind(self.itemid, "<B1-Motion>", self.mousemove)
         self.canvas.tag_bind(self.itemid, "<ButtonRelease-1>", self.mouseup)
-        # set up state
-        self.orig_callback = self.dest_callback = None
-        self.orig = orig
-        self.dest = dest
-        # drag state
-        self.dragging_end = None # or 0 or 1
-        self._highlighted_card = None
 
     def refresh(self):
         self.canvas.coords(self.itemid, *self.get_coords())
@@ -65,11 +88,7 @@ def refresh(self):
     def reset_coords(self):
         '''
         Set self.coords based on current cards. Only call when orig and
-        dest are valid.
-
-        Calculates from the position of self.edge.orig/dest,
-        and at some point from the mouse position I guess.
-        Straight line between the centers of orig and dest.
+        dest are valid. Straight line between the centers of orig and dest.
         '''
         # watch out for loss of sync between viewport cards and model card
         # also, this will have to be rewritten at some point so any
@@ -163,11 +182,18 @@ def mouseup(self, event):
                     self.orig = card
                 else:
                     self.dest = card
+            # create edge if needed (if this is first time edge is finished)
+            if self.edge is None:
+                self.edge = self.gpfile.graph.new_edge(
+                    orig = self.orig.card,
+                    dest = self.dest.card
+                )
             # update graphics
             self.reset_coords()
             self.refresh()
             self.dragging_end = None
             self.highlighted_card = None
+            self.gpfile.commit()
 
     def get_highlighted_card(self):
         return self._highlighted_card
@@ -189,7 +215,8 @@ def set_orig(self, orig):
         self._orig = orig
         if orig:
             self.orig_callback = orig.add_signal(self.geometry_callback)
-            self.edge.orig = orig.card
+            if self.edge:
+                self.edge.orig = orig.card
     orig = property(get_orig, set_orig)
 
     def get_dest(self):
@@ -200,9 +227,17 @@ def set_dest(self, dest):
         self._dest = dest
         if dest:
             self.dest_callback = dest.add_signal(self.geometry_callback)
-            self.edge.dest = dest.card
+            if self.edge:
+                self.edge.dest = dest.card
     dest = property(get_dest, set_dest)
 
+    @property
+    def non_dragging_end(self):
+        if self.dragging_end is not None:
+            # assume correct value of 0 or 1
+            return int(not self.dragging_end)
+        return None
+
 def adjust_point(p1, box, p2):
     '''
     Moves p1 along the line p1<->p2 to be on an edge of box