Will There Be More?

I've just started working on a couple of new custom teddy bears. I can't help but think how the new CPSIA law will change what I do, though. Many of the bears I make are intended for children under 12, though, so they're included in the items the new law addresses. Most of the bears I make are made from fabric scraps I've cut from discarded clothing...blue jeans, t-shirts, even children's clothing. One would assume such things wouldn't be dangerous to children. But according to what I've read about this law, I would be required to perform a test for each product I sell (since each one is unique) and those tests would generally cost about $400 each.

Granted, I'm not a lawyer, so maybe I'm missing something here. You can read a previous posting in this blog and find links to articles that spell out the details more clearly than I can. But I know enough to know that many crafters who are like me...moms who need to make money selling what they make...will have to shut down their businesses or be in violation of this law if it goes into effect without significant revisions.

I don't pretend to know what the perfect solution will be. Nobody wants children to be at risk from dangerous contaminants. But a law that is hastily written without taking into account unintended consequences doesn't seem to be an acceptable solution either.

MLK & Me

When I was very young, I would often go with my family to Love Field airport in Dallas to drop off or pick up visiting relatives. My father seemed to have a knack for spotting old friends or famous people in the crowds and sometimes we'd have an opportunity to meet someone special.

I remember once we were introduced to a very nice black man. I guess it stuck in my mind (I think I was 3 years old) because we didn't encounter many black people in my white neighborhood in Dallas, Texas. But I remember how my father spoke with such respect as he introduced us. Clearly, this man was somebody special and I was told I would remember meeting him. And I did.

I was much older before all the blanks in my child-like memory were filled in and I realized that that man was Martin Luther King, Jr. He was on his way to a meeting of the Atlanta Pastor's Conference, and my parents told him about my grandfather who would also be there. We later heard that my grandfather did meet him there and when Dr. King heard his name he said, "Oh, I just met your three beautiful grandchildren in Dallas!"

I remembered Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and he remembered me.



*Author's note -- please take a moment to read the comment left by "TheVaryIdea". That's my dad, telling the rest of the story.

CPSIA

Recalls of toys and products for children because of dangerous lead content has resulted in the CPSIA, a law that could wipe out handmade toy makers. Since I've been making my handstitched teddy bears and puzzle balls for children, that means me, too, and thousands like me who sell their products at crafts fairs and on Etsy.com and other online sites.

You can read quite a bit about this new law and the impact it will have in these articles in Etsy's blog, The Storque. This article on CNN.com outlines what's at stake, too. For more information and the opportunity to join in discussions go to CPSIA Central.

And if you want to let everyone know what you think of the new law, you can get these buttons in my shop on Etsy. The design is by MamasLittleMonkeys. Take a look at her shop on Etsy or you can find other products with this design in her CafePress shop. She has You can buy one or buy 10 and if you need more, just leave a comment here or a convo on Etsy and I'll be glad to fix you up.

I've Been Tagged...again....

Somehow I keep getting tagged by other bloggers! I know these questions can be fun, but I have a tendency to procrastinate and forget to do them (I think I still owe a couple of Blog Awards...I have note I wrote myself about them somewhere around here...). So this time I decided I'd better take care of this right now, before I forget.

This time I'm supposed to name five addictions, then name five more people to tag, so here goes:

1. I'm addicted to "All My Children". I've been watching it since the first year it came on the air, with breaks for school and jobs in the days before vcr's, of course. It's a nice break from reality in the middle of my day and it's turned into a nice way to make new friends online, too. By the way, you can find some of the actors from "All My Children" in a new web series called "Imaginary Bitches". It's written by Andrew Miller and starring Eden Riegel, Elizabeth Hendrickson and some other familiar faces from TV. It's gotten some great attention from the press, including raves from People Magazine and TV Guide. Better yet, go to their YouTube channel and watch all the webisodes for yourself and if you enjoy it as much as I do, subscribe and share it with your friends.

2. Apparently, I'm addicted to staying up late. We moved to Maryland almost ten years ago but I think my body is still on Texas time.

3. I think I'm addicted to Sprite. I used to be addicted to Dr. Pepper but I kicked that during my last pregnancy. But a couple of years ago I started drinking Sprite and it's become a habit.

4. I guess I'm addicted to the internet, too, because I sure do feel disconnected when our broadband connection goes down.

5. I'm addicted to TV, too. I keep it on all day, though it's usually just background noise while I'm making things for my Etsy Shop.


Now, here are the lucky people I'm tagging this time:

Star Walker Boutique

CrazySocks830

Magnifique

Ms Angie's Place

Skyline Candle Company