diff --git a/deno.lock b/deno.lock
index 0559670..9c3df80 100644
--- a/deno.lock
+++ b/deno.lock
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
     "npm:@atcute/jetstream@^1.1.2": "1.1.2",
     "npm:@atcute/lex-cli@^2.3.1": "2.3.1",
     "npm:@atcute/lexicons@^1.2.2": "1.2.2",
+    "npm:@atcute/tid@^1.0.3": "1.0.3",
     "npm:@atproto/lexicon@~0.5.1": "0.5.1"
   },
   "jsr": {
@@ -116,6 +117,9 @@
         "esm-env"
       ]
     },
+    "@atcute/tid@1.0.3": {
+      "integrity": "sha512-wfMJx1IMdnu0CZgWl0uR4JO2s6PGT1YPhpytD4ZHzEYKKQVuqV6Eb/7vieaVo1eYNMp2FrY67FZObeR7utRl2w=="
+    },
     "@atproto/common-web@0.4.3": {
       "integrity": "sha512-nRDINmSe4VycJzPo6fP/hEltBcULFxt9Kw7fQk6405FyAWZiTluYHlXOnU7GkQfeUK44OENG1qFTBcmCJ7e8pg==",
       "dependencies": [
@@ -236,7 +240,8 @@
         "dependencies": [
           "npm:@atcute/atproto@^3.1.9",
           "npm:@atcute/client@^4.0.5",
-          "npm:@atcute/lexicons@^1.2.2"
+          "npm:@atcute/lexicons@^1.2.2",
+          "npm:@atcute/tid@^1.0.3"
         ]
       },
       "packages/shared": {
diff --git a/packages/producer/deno.jsonc b/packages/producer/deno.jsonc
index 270de51..9ce47da 100644
--- a/packages/producer/deno.jsonc
+++ b/packages/producer/deno.jsonc
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
   "imports": {
     "@atcute/atproto": "npm:@atcute/atproto@^3.1.9",
     "@atcute/client": "npm:@atcute/client@^4.0.5",
-    "@atcute/lexicons": "npm:@atcute/lexicons@^1.2.2"
+    "@atcute/lexicons": "npm:@atcute/lexicons@^1.2.2",
+    "@atcute/tid": "npm:@atcute/tid@^1.0.3"
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/producer/mod.ts b/packages/producer/mod.ts
index 721d95c..f31ff26 100644
--- a/packages/producer/mod.ts
+++ b/packages/producer/mod.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { produceRequirements } from "@cistern/shared";
+import { encryptText } from "@cistern/crypto";
 import type {
   LocalPublicKey,
   ProducerOptions,
@@ -6,7 +7,9 @@ import type {
 } from "./types.ts";
 import { type Did, parse, type ResourceUri } from "@atcute/lexicons";
 import type { Client, CredentialManager } from "@atcute/client";
+import { now } from "@atcute/tid";
 import {
+  type AppCisternLexiconItem,
   AppCisternLexiconPubkey,
 } from "@cistern/lexicon";
 
@@ -60,11 +63,46 @@ export class Producer {
 
   /**
    * Creates an item and saves it as a record in the user's PDS
-   * @todo Error if there is no selected public key
-   * @todo Construct valid item
-   * @todo Save item to PDS
    */
-  async createItem() {}
+  async createItem(text: string): Promise<ResourceUri> {
+    if (!this.publicKey) {
+      throw new Error(
+        "no public key set; select a public key before creating an item",
+      );
+    }
+
+    const payload = encryptText(
+      Uint8Array.fromBase64(this.publicKey.record.content),
+      text,
+    );
+    const record: AppCisternLexiconItem.Main = {
+      $type: "app.cistern.lexicon.item",
+      tid: now(),
+      algorithm: "x_wing-xchacha20_poly1305-sha3_512",
+      ciphertext: payload.cipherText,
+      contentHash: payload.hash,
+      contentLength: payload.length,
+      nonce: payload.nonce,
+      payload: payload.content,
+      pubkey: this.publicKey.uri,
+    };
+
+    const res = await this.rpc.post("com.atproto.repo.createRecord", {
+      input: {
+        collection: "app.cistern.lexicon.item",
+        repo: this.did,
+        record,
+      },
+    });
+
+    if (!res.ok) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `failed to create new item: ${res.status} ${res.data.error}`,
+      );
+    }
+
+    return res.data.uri;
+  }
 
   /**
    * Lists public keys registered in the user's PDS