Saturday, January 31, 2009

CPSIA Testing Postponed until 2010

Good news for crafters and re-sellers! Our voices have been heard! CPSIA testing has been postponed until February 2010.

Read all the details at Greco Woodcrafting Blog and Etsy Storque.

Let's keep our eyes peeled and make sure this one year research period goes well.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

More CPSIA Concerns - It hurts more than just handmade shops!

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too.

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples:

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Association http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America.

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake.

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses.

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

Thanks for reading,
~Melissa~

PS - there is still time to enter for a chance to win a sampler set of my washcloths, dish cloths and facial scrubbies - click here to enter!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Monday, January 26, 2009

New Blanket - Pretty Pastel Stripes

I finally listed a new blanket in my shop. I've been working on this blanket for a while and been thinking about making it for even longer than that! I started it in early December, but then put it aside to make Christmas gifts (that included 3 necklaces, 6 bracelets, 6 pairs of earrings and two scarves) and finally went back to it after the holidays were over.



I used my new favorite pattern and some soft light weight baby yarn from my stash. Including this blanket, I have made six blankets from this type of yarn and I love it! I made one for my son before he was born and made it big enough that he'll be able to use it for a very long time. It washes quite well, it even survived a few trips through the dryer (which I don't recommend, even though you can get away with it).

This blanket has stripes of varying thickness (its hard for this engineer to step away from structured patterns) using pale pink, mint green, light blue, lavendar and pale yellow. I simply LOVE the way it turned out and debated keeping it for myself, but we currently have five handmade blankets in my house and we are only three people!



So, now that you are in love with this blanket, mosy on over to my Etsy shop and check out the listing. And remember, I am accepting custom orders for blankets (price will vary depending on the size you'd like and the type of yarn you prefer).

Happy Shopping!
~Melissa~

PS - there is still time to enter for a chance to win a sampler set of my washcloths, dish cloths and facial scrubbies - click here to enter!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

One World One Heart Giveaway

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED - WINNERS WILL BE POSTED SHORTLY!! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED.



I discovered the One World One Heart Giveaway thanks to a fellow EtsyNJ member and decided it would be fun to participate. Its a way for bloggers around the world to connect and to possibly win some cool stuff along the way.

I am offering a sampler pack of my reuseable cotton crocheted cloths - it will include one washcloth, one dishcloth and two make-up removal pads. These are a great way to reduce the use of paper towels, sponges and cotton balls - saving you money and eliminating waste. Depending on the number of entries, I may give away two or three sampler sets.

The images below are not the actual items you'll receive (because I haven't made them yet) but they are fairly close to what you will get.


All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this blog post and give me some way to contact you if you win (either your blog address, your email address, your website, Etsy shop, something). The winner (or winners) will be announced on Thursday, February 12 and will be contacted directly.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the other participants here - One Worls One Heart 2009 .

Friday, January 16, 2009

Stitch's 30 Days


Stitch's 30 Days
Originally uploaded by madebymelissa

I finished my first 30 day photo challenge! It went so fast! Stitch was a really fun subject to use. I am off to raid my son's toys to find another willing subject!

Made By Melissa Featured at Kaedan Krafts

My snowflake bracelet is featured on Kaedan Kraft's blog! Check it out: http://kaedankrafts.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-jersey-snow-etsy-fab-finds-friday.html

Monday, January 12, 2009

If I had $100 to spend on Etsy...

Oh the things I could buy on Etsy!! I was reading a blog post by Kitty's Heart of Nature and thought, what a great idea! What would I buy on Etsy if I had $100 in my PayPal account right now? I was able to narrow it down to four totally cool things.

First off, I need a good snack, I can never seem to find anything appealing to me in the supermarket. So, I totally need a batch of Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti from JustBakin. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!


Secondly, I really need a good pair of warm gloves, but I have small hands, so I searched Etsy for a pair that would fit my short fingers and came across these custom made gloves by BugEater. I'm picturing my pair in chocolate brown!


I've been pining over sarahkincheloe's crochet hook organizers for a very long time now. So long that she's sold 3 or 4 and I've had to go back into her shop and heart another one. I REALLY want one of these, my hooks are all over the place.


Lastly, I would purchase this custom VOILA BUSINESS CARD HOLDER from yinsouciant. I love custom things and I'd love to have a handy little pouch to store my business cards in, you know, for those times when jewelry or crocheting comes up in conversation and I mention my shop and wish I could quickly whip out my card before the conversation turns to something else...yeah, that happens a lot to me.


All that and $2 to spare! Perhaps I could pick up a few PIF's! So, if anyone out there would like to make my window shopping dreams come true, please feel free to check out my Etsy shop - Made By Melissa and put a few bucks into my PayPal account!

What would YOU buy with $100 to spend on Etsy???

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

EtsyBlogger Featured Member - Rose Works Jewelry

The EtsyBlogger's street team has many extremely talented artists and its time to feature another one of them. This month's featured member is Ruthiee from Rose Works Jewelry. Ruthiee has a lot of very pretty jewelry in her shop, but this one bracelet just really tickled me. I know a lot of people who would love to sport this on their wrists:



Yes, that's right, its Link! I can't imagine the time and patience that went into making a bracelet like this and it was all worthwhile.

Please visit Ruthiee's blog - http://roseworksjewelry.blogspot.com/ and her newly opened second shop - http://kstreasures.etsy.com/.

Happy Shopping!
~Melissa~