The New CPSIA Law: Be Informed!!

I'm pasting this fabulous post Chichiboulie posted on Etsy. She says everything so perfectly, so please, everyone, read up and become aware and informed!!

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.

(All pictures are handmade items made by sellers on Etsy)

I'm so excited...I just went on Etsy, looking around for...well, whatever catches my eye, which I do on a regular basis, and guess what?? My Print "There is always Hope" made the front page! There it was, staring me in the eye!! Well, this has pretty much made my day! For those of you who aren't familiar with Etsy, the Front Page is the homepage, so it's something that everyone going to www.etsy.com sees. It's fabulous when something of yours makes the front page, because it gets such great exposure. I've only made the front page one other time, and I didn't even know about it at the time. So, this was pretty thrilling for me! "Hope" is one of my favorite prints, too, because I love finding and photographing random graffiti, and I was just wandering around Bath last year during my travels of the UK, and found this. Hope is one of my favorite words, too, which is probably what inspired me to take the picture.

Hope, to me, is the belief that something good is happening, that something good is coming right around the corner.. it's the belief that there IS going to be a good outcome, that things WILL turn out for the best. Hope means to me that there is a better tomorrow, that things will get better, and I can't wait to see that!!!

"You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety" Job 11:18

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord"

Psalm 31:24

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Hope is always available to us. When we feel defeated, we need only take a deep breath and say, "Yes," and hope will reappear. -- Monroe Forester

As we welcome our new president, in this time of economic and personal turmoil, hope is important to have and hold onto.

What does HOPE mean to you?

2009...New Year, new blog??

So it's 2009... Happy New Year, Everyone-- Wishes for a happy and healthy year!! With the beginning of the new year, maybe i'll make a resolution to try and keep up with this blog. lol...well, we'll see! This is my first January in Colorado, and I must admit, the weather is boggling. In a good way, of course, but just a lot different then I expected. Here, it will be 50-60 degrees for a week, snow one day, then back up to 65 degrees the next. It's pretty awesome!!
I've been getting the chance to get up to the mountains a lot, which is great.
I'll try to get some pictures up here soon...my laptop wasn't being cooperative earlier!