We're making progress, little by little. As I posted below, enforcement on the CPSIA has been delayed for a year. However, this is not the final step nor is it really a victory. The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) has made it clear that they cannot do much to correct CPSIA. A bill (actually a Technical Ammendment to CPSIA) is being introduced to the Senate to allow the CPSC the authority to correct the law. This is where things either fall apart as folks lose steam or we maintain our momentum and move forward. So, what can you do? Check every step below! (and to give due credit these are copied from an email from The Handmade Toy Alliance)
Call your Senator (switchboard: 202-224-3121).
Identify yourself as a constituent and ask to speak with the Senator or the staff assistant who follows Commerce issues.
Ask him/her to co-sponsor the CPSIA Regulatory Relief Legislation, and tell them if they have questions about the legislation they can contact Tom Jones in Senator DeMint’s DC office at 202-224-6121. Tom’s email address is tom_jones@commerce.senate.gov
Ask them to vote for the CPSIA Regulatory Relief legislation when it comes to the Senate floor, possibly as an amendment to the stimulus package as has been rumored.
Get five friends to do steps 1-4.
OK, I realize I'm posting this at 9:45 pm. But do this tomorrow. Or Monday since tomorrow's Friday and there's probably no one on the Hill tomorrow ;) But do it!
It looks like the CPSIA law has been delayed for a year. But I'm not a lawyer and frankly find the wording to be nebulous at best. So I guess this is good news. It's certainly not bad news anyway.
This morning my dear husband received a call from Senator Kit Bond's office in regards to the letters we sent a couple weeks back about the CPSIA law about to go into effect (see the "Save Handmade" button on the sidebar). I missed the call and haven't called back yet, but I am very encouraged that the office is in fact taking this seriously and is apparently working on the side of our nation's small businesses. I'll report back after I've spoken with the aid!
I've been meaning to re-learn knitting for several years now. It's gotten to the point where it's kind of embarrassing to admit that I can't knit very well. But, over the years I've learned that I really only enjoy things that are pleasing to touch and metal knitting needles and cheap yarn do not fall under those categories. I also like more instant gratification than knitting tends to provide but having kids is making me (more) patient. It also makes it almost impossible to sew with any regularity. All this to say, I picked up knitting again. And to honor the new hobby (and facilitate the take-it-with-you nature of the craft) I made myself a knitting bag.
I copied this bag from a friend's bag. She got hers from Africa (not sure where on that vast continent...) and I fell in love with it the first time I saw it. Which meant that I took it off her shoulder and measured it and took notes on it and plotted out how to sew it. Then I stuck the notes in my sewing cupboard and forgot about it. When I realized I needed a dedicated knitting bag it was the perfect excuse to try this pattern out. It was super easy and went together in 45 minutes (with me trying to figure it out as I went and nursing the baby, etc). I figure next time will take maybe a half hour. The fabric is a lovely but awkwardly sized scrap I got in a bag from freecycle. The button was in a grab bag of single buttons I got as a birthday gift. (sorry the picture's kinda dark... I lost my light)
And after all that talk about knitting, I've got a crocheted hat to share :) This is for Mr Man who was not too happy with his "itchy hat" (that was my childhood hat). It's just a basic blue & black beanie. He's asked for mittens and a scarf, too but we'll see since he's presently refusing to actually wear the hat. Maybe I'll knit him a scarf so I can learn how to switch yarns while knitting. The yarns are from my stash and from the store. Almost free :)
I found this blog a while back and thought it would be fun to jump in. So I pledged for 6 months of no purchasing of new clothes (barring socks & undies) til June :) It should be fun. I need to overhaul my closet anyway so it holds only clothes that fit and flatter me!
And as long promised, I'm sharing the Christmas clothes I made for the kids. Mr Man got this Christmasy green shirt and spiffy slim pants. The patterns were from the Spring 2008 issue of Ottobre magazine. The material for the shirt was a stash buster using scraps from a sling made a couple years ago for a friend. The pants are reconstructed men's wool slacks. I felted them a bit first to cover up a couple moth holes and make them a little tougher- they looked super cute and I think felting the wool made them soft enough for 3 year old sensitive skin!
And what Christmas Eve would be complete without Christmas jammies? Both the kidlets got jammies out of this soft purple star flannel. The Mr Man picked out ladybug buttons for them both (big ones for him and little ones for the Little Bits). The material is another stash buster... I don't know why I had like 4 yards of this stuff, but it's fun and warm! Little Bits only got a shirt (not shown) since we EC at night and pants kinda interfere.
Little Bits outfit coordinated with Mr Man's with a nice cranberry...I couldn't resist! And actually, Mr Man collar is underlined with material from her shirt and her pinafore is faced with material from his shirt. The patterns for the pinafore and pants were also from the Spring 08 issue of Ottobre. The material for the pinafore is taken from a skirt from a vintage store's bag sale. This skirt had a waist band that fit my upper thigh (and I'm only a size 12... not that big, mmkay?). I've never met anyone who might have actually fit into this thing which is probably why it was in the bag sale pile! The shirt used to be a table runner and the velveteen for the pants was a stash buster scrap.
OK, I never thought of myself as an activist but recently I have felt the need to do something, ANYTHING about some government policies. This one, I'm hoping many of you will feel the need to take some action in too. This one makes my blood boil (or as my 7th & 8th grade reading teacher used to say) it "boils my broccolli!"
Starting on February 10, 2009 a law (the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) will go into effect requiring all products for children under 12 to be tested for lead and pthalate levels, effectively rendering all used and handmade children's items illegal. Unless, of course, they have submitted to hundreds or thousands of dollars in third party testing. Which is impossible for most thrift stores and small manufacturers/producers. This law, good in it's intentions, will have such a far reaching and crippling effect it's hard to get one's brain around it. Because it won't just affect the small & tiny work-at-home enterprises or thrifts but also the giant mega-companies who brought this down on us to begin with.
The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, put into place after the scares of the past year with imported goods and through the roof lead levels, has the potential to push this country completely over the edge into a financial depression. Let's look at this from the mega-company stand point. Even if they can afford the cost of the testing ($200-$4, 000 per item) and continue to produce goods the cost of those goods will be increased. And most companies will have to drop employees as well. The small and tiny enterprises will most likey close their doors and go out of business, losing all of their economic impact and creating more of a drain on the system. More people out of work, less purchasing being done throughout the chain of production. And, when all these folks who no longer have a source of income need to buy something for their kid, they are forced to buy it new, off the rack at an increased price. And that's just one trajectory of impact.
I find this law so unbelievably frustrating that I have a hard time being articulate about it. All I want to do is rant and rave about big government. But, there are a few things we can do. Firstly, spread the word. The more people know about this, the more people can take action and the mroe likely it is for changes to be made. Second, write to your congress person and your Senator. Send a letter for every voting member of your household. If you're really upset about this, then call them, too. This is a democracy, no matter how cynical I may feel, so let's make our voices heard.
For further information check out these links LA Times article Handmade Toy Alliance (they have a petition in their sidebar and some sample letters to send) An overview of the law from a few months ago National Bankruptcy Day more info on many aspects of how & who this will affect Do a google search on the CPSIA law and see what you find!
dependent on Almighty Grace. wife. mama. insufferable know-it-all. smartass. sometime artist. attempting frugality. will never wean, don't ya know ;0) pretending to garden. attempting to organize. snoring through my housekeeping. but not snoring too much elsewise.
And after all that talk about knitting, I've got a crocheted hat to share :) This is for Mr Man who was not too happy with his "itchy hat" (that was my childhood hat). It's just a basic blue & black beanie. He's asked for mittens and a scarf, too but we'll see since he's presently refusing to actually wear the hat. Maybe I'll knit him a scarf so I can learn how to switch yarns while knitting. The yarns are from my stash and from the store. Almost free :)
And as long promised, I'm sharing the Christmas clothes I made for the kids. Mr Man got this Christmasy green shirt and spiffy slim pants. The patterns were from the Spring 2008 issue of Ottobre magazine. The material for the shirt was a stash buster using scraps from a sling made a couple years ago for a friend. The pants are reconstructed men's wool slacks. I felted them a bit first to cover up a couple moth holes and make them a little tougher- they looked super cute and I think felting the wool made them soft enough for 3 year old sensitive skin!
And what Christmas Eve would be complete without Christmas jammies? Both the kidlets got jammies out of this soft purple star flannel. The Mr Man picked out ladybug buttons for them both (big ones for him and little ones for the Little Bits). The material is another stash buster... I don't know why I had like 4 yards of this stuff, but it's fun and warm! Little Bits only got a shirt (not shown) since we EC at night and pants kinda interfere.
Little Bits outfit coordinated with Mr Man's with a nice cranberry...I couldn't resist! And actually, Mr Man collar is underlined with material from her shirt and her pinafore is faced with material from his shirt. The patterns for the pinafore and pants were also from the Spring 08 issue of Ottobre. The material for the pinafore is taken from a skirt from a vintage store's bag sale. This skirt had a waist band that fit my upper thigh (and I'm only a size 12... not that big, mmkay?). I've never met anyone who might have actually fit into this thing which is probably why it was in the bag sale pile! The shirt used to be a table runner and the velveteen for the pants was a stash buster scrap.
