Friday, September 11, 2009

Natural = Safe?

Natural = Safe?

I don’t like to rant on this blog.

It’s unprofessional.

So I won’t do that here.

But….

I need to get something off my chest.

There are a lot of products on Etsy that contain essential oils. Many different products by many different sellers -- balms, salves, lotions, sprays, soap, etc… People are leaning towards more natural ways of doing things these days. Our skin is our largest organ, and anything we put on our skin is absorbed directly into the blood stream. So the less synthetic and dangerous chemicals we put on our skin, the better.

Most of the shops selling these products really know their stuff. They’ve read books, or conducting research. They’ve questioned experts. They have a background in herbalism or aromatherapy. The products are labeled properly and carry instructions for proper use, as well as possible dangers and whom should or should not use the product.

But.

Lately I’ve noticed some shops that don’t look like they’ve done their research. In these shops, essential oils are used freely and without warnings/guidelines about use on babies or young children. There are also no warnings about pregnancy, hypertension, sun sensitivity, epilepsy and medication interactions, just to name a few. The people making the products have no reference anywhere in their shop regarding their experience or qualifications in Aromatherapy.

Some of these products contain essential oils that are contraindicated if a person has any of the above-mentioned health issues. Some of these products contain essential oils that are on the Do Not Use list compiled by the International Federation of Aromatherapists. Some of these products can be downright dangerous if used by the wrong person.

Just because essential oils are “natural”, that does not mean that they are all safe and can be used without thought of the consequences.

Many of the body or room sprays are created by simply adding some essential oil to plain (or distilled) water. There are a few problems with that. For one, essential oils are not soluble in water. They will never properly mix. When the product is sprayed (even if it is shaken first), there may be a few minuscule droplets of EO here and there, or a large drop here and a small drop there, or there may be none at all.

Furthermore, water (even if it is distilled) is a breeding ground for bacteria. Unless the sprays are stored in the fridge, these products will be teeming with nasties and start to smell “off” in a few months. Essential oil sprays that are made with water require a solubilsor and a full-spectrum preservative.

Repeat after me: Any hydrous (aka – contains water) bath & beauty product must have a preservative! And Grapefruit seed, rosemary extract and vitamin E are NOT preservatives.

Yes, adding a synthetic preservative such as Germall Plus will make the product ‘unnatural’, but it will also keep it safe. E.Coli is also natural, but I don’t think any of us want to spray that around our bathrooms, or onto our children’s pillow cases.

Please, Buyers: Beware! If you have any questions about the safety of a product that contains essential oils, ask the shop owner. If he or she does not seem knowledgeable about the oils or the ingredients they use in their products, move on to another shop. I am always only an e-mail or Etsy convo away, so please do not hesitate to ask me any questions you have about any essential oil.

My offer to provide information about essential oils extends to sellers as well. My main priority as a professional Aromatherapist is promoting the healthy and safe use of essential oils, even if it means helping out my so-called “competition”.

Smell safely, everyone!

~H

Reprinted with permission.

I agree with Heather in this article. We need to beware and learn all we can, especially where our children are concerned.

♥ Carolyn

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Warning: Swine Flu Shot Linked to Killer Nerve Disease

Educate Yourself

Are You Willing to Let Them Experiment on Your Child?

This video was originally aired on August 12, 2009, featuring CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton and NVIC's Barbara Loe Fisher. Here they discuss the possible dangers of the swine flu versus the H1N1 vaccine. Both provide sensible information and guidelines on this issue.


Watch CBS Videos Online

Complete article HERE

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Crafts for Kids

Kids Crafts at Joann.com


Since I don't carry craft supplies and I know many of you have older children...I thought you might like a place online to get craft ideas and supplies.

So much stuff to make...so little time.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Vaccine Truth actual history

Here's a great read about vaccine induced epidemics:
It was written by an acquaintance of mine.
I don't know who said this (the first part is from the Bible), but it is a favorite quote of mine...
."..And the truth shall set you free...but first, it will piss you off!" CW

Please go to site for entire article and research:
http://www.rense.com/general87/indu.htm

Vaccine-Induced Disease Epidemic Outbreaks
The Engineering of 'Pandemics' By A. True Ott, PhD, ND

The year was 1921. America was entering a decade of robust prosperity. Later called "The Roaring Twenties", it was a time of unparalleled economic expansion. Debt money from Wall Street banks was plentiful and easy to obtain. The "Great War" was over.

America was flexing her industrial muscles. Factories were being built and expanded in every major city. Automobiles began rolling off Detroit assembly lines in record numbers. The stock market began making millionaires. People were HEALTHY and HAPPY ­ largely because the dreaded "world mystery disease" (which decades later became known as the "1918 Flu Pandemic") had disappeared. Two entire years had passed with no dreaded "mystery deaths" being reported. America had cause to celebrate, and celebrate they did!

As a matter of fact, the American Public in general was so optimistic and HAPPY in 1921, that relatively few people were unhealthy as well. For the first time in decades, hospital beds were em pty. The fledgling American Medical Association, formed by John D. Rockefeller just a few years earlier, was worried. Business was sagging. Profits from vaccines and drugs were spiraling. Something had to be done, and done immediately. False, faux epidemics of smallpox were created to solve the problem, and keep the Medical Mafia's cash registers ringing.

We know this dastardly plan actually happened, thanks to a citizen's WATCHDOG GROUP in Kansas City, Missouri named "The Advertiser's Protective Bureau", who filed, and successfully prosecuted criminal charges against the Missouri state chapter of the AMA ­ the Jackson Medical Society. The 'Protective Bureau's" official report of this cold-blooded plot reads as follows:

"In the Fall of 1921, the health of the city was unusually good, but slow for the doctors. So the Jackson Medical Society met and resolved to make an epidemic in the city. According to the minutes of this meeting: 'MOTION WAS MADE AND SECONDED, THAT A RECOMMENDATION BE MADE BY THE COMMITTEE, TO THE BOARD OF HEALTH, THAT AN EPIDEMIC OF SMALLPOX BE DECLARED IN THE CITY. (Investigation later revealed that there was NO SIGN OF AN EPIDEMIC at the time, in the city, or anywhere in the state or region!)

'It was moved and seconded that a day be set aside, termed VACCINATION DAY, on which physicians would be stationed at ALL SCHOOLS, clinics, public buildings and hospitals to vaccinate "free of charge". (Vaccinations are never "free". The taxpayers are always forced to pay for every one of the "free" vaccines.)

"IT IS FURTHER RECOMMENDED THAT WIDE PUBLICITY BE GIVEN, STATING THAT VACCINATION IS A PREVENTIVE OF SMALLPOX, AND URGING THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF VACCINATION FOR EVERY MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD IN THE CITY."

The Protective Bureau proved in court that there WAS NO EPIDEMIC before the vaccinations!! The court records show that the Medical Society manufactured vast amounts of posters, fliers, newspaper stories and ads featuring horrific and lurid pictures of diseased children covered with massive smallpox sores and open wounds. Some pictures actually showed children's corpses covered with the same ugly sores. The PANIC-DRIVEN message was clear --- VACCINATE EVERYONE, or face a deadly public disease. There was a "sweeping epidemic" in the city; the disease was "highly contagious" and would "strike anyone who was not vaccinated" was the bill of goods sold! (Does this sound at all familiar today ­ 88 years later??)

The Medical Mafia's propaganda blitz was successful, and over a million previously healthy and happy American citizens were hypnotized and terrorized into placing the vaccine toxins into their bloodstreams. All public school children in the region were vaccinated while at school! Parents who dared question the vaccination of their children were ostracized and publicly vilified.

THE COURT RECORD ON THIS CASE IS VERY CLEAR. In the weeks and months following the "mass vaccinations" ­ the area's hospital beds were filled to over-flowing with VACCINE-INDUCED SMALLPOX CASES!

Tens of thousands of people became ill, and many hundreds of innocents died, and many more were permanently crippled! Of course, THE NEWSPAPERS THEN TRUMPETED HOW WISE THE MEDICAL ESTABLISHMENT WAS TO PROMOTE THE VACCINES ­ stating how much worse the death toll would have been without the vaccination campaign!! Untold MILLIONS OF DOLLARS of profit was generated by this massive "medical" fraud.

Thanks to the ADVERTISER'S PROTECTIVE BUREAU, however; the massive fraud was exposed and criminally prosecuted to a successful conviction. During the trial, three amazing facts were proven beyond any "reasonable doubt".

Fact 1: The poster and advertising pictures showing the diseased and dying children used so successfully by the "doctors", WERE NOT EVEN CASES OF LOCAL SMALLPOX CASES AS THEY WERE BILLED TO BE! The Protective Bureau documented that they were pictures of ENGLISH CHILDREN who were victims of "court-proven" cases of SMALLPOX VACCINE POISONING!! One of the pictures was of a 5-week-old baby named Mona Stevenson, of Humphrey Street, Burnley, England. A previously healthy and happy baby, Little Mona had been vaccinated for smallpox at 5 weeks of age. Four weeks later, her pox-ridden little body was placed in a tiny coffin and buried. The horrific photos of Little Mona and others in England had previously been published in British newspapers where details of the resulting CRIMINAL TRIALS were also given. The full details of the trials, as well as the pictures, were also included=2 0in a comprehensively large medical boot titled "THE HISTORY AND PATHOLOGY OF VACCINATION" by Edgar M Crookshank, MD ­ professor of Bacteriology at the ultra-elite Kings College, London England.

Fact 2: Vaccines containing LIVE VIRUSES, weakened (i.e. attenuated) or otherwise universally causes more diseases than the vaccine ever could prevent.

Fact 3: Vaccine-Induced-Disease (VID) is an extremely effective socio-economic tool. It has the potential to generate BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF WINDFALL PROFITS, while permanently changing the social structures of large groups of people.

While the Protective Bureau won the criminal court case ­ the American People lost. The case should have made front-page headlines around the nation, showing the Modus Operandi of certain corrupt "medical practitioners". How, by means of fraud, treachery, and trickery, they made millions of dollars in windfall profits while thousands of innocent, trusting, and naïve Americans suffered and died. The entire sordid affair, with all its damning details, was kept out of the American Press. John D. Rockefeller's AMA, with its millions of dollars of influence ­ made sure of that!

Amazingly, even though thousands of people had died or become crippled by this managed manslaughter, the doctors involved were only given a light penalty in the form of a token fine. The medical establishment as a whole was not upset in the least by the exposure ­ and has continued on unabated perpetuating the same crimes against humanity & shy; creating vaccine-induced-diseases while fleecing the people continually until this present day.

It is a proven (albeit little-known) fact, EPIDEMIC/PANDEMIC MANUFACTURING IS STANDARD PRACTICE with the world-wide "Medical Mafia" circles. In order to maximize profits and re-shape geographical regions, they often manufacture a false-flag "emergency". If there is an outbreak of mild seasonal virus, they call it an influenza pandemic, give it a fancy new name, and then actually CREATE THE PANDEMIC by means of mass vaccinations using ATTENUATED, or LIVE VIRUSES!! Remember the shocking words of the AMA's Dr. Simon Louis Katzoff who said: " DOCTORS LIVE BY DISEASE, SO THE PUBLIC CAN EXPECT THE SUPPLY OF DISEASE TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION."

OTHER DOCUMENTED CASES OF V.I.D.E.O.s (Vaccine Induced Disease Epidemic Outbreaks.)

Case 1: Following the lead of their colleagues in Kansas City, the exact same events occurred in Pittsburgh, PA under the direction of Pittsburgh's "Health Director", Dr. C.J. Voux in the autumn of 1924. As in Kansas City, a group of public watchdogs brought suit against Voux and his vaccine-promoters. As in Kansas City, the vaccine promoters were found guilty. The case documented that over 1,000,000 vaccine shots were "sold" to the residents of Pennsylvania, even though there had been ZERO documented cases of smallpox in the region. It was successfully proven that ONLY AFTER the million shots had been given, that a smallpox epidemic began. This vaccine-induced, manmade "epi demic" resulted in 330 deaths and at least 1,680 cases of severe smallpox that caused permanent, crippling damage to the survivors. Moreover, it cost the city a total monetary loss of $3,069,616; although Dr. Voux and his accomplices had collected more than $10 million in hospital and related care revenues ­ they were not forced to pay for damages or reparations. As in the Kansas City trial, a small, insignificant fine was levied, and the case was not widely publicized.

Case 2: The initial batches of Dr. Jonas Salk's polio vaccine produced thousands of cases of poliomyelitis in vaccinated individuals. (One such case was Franklin D. Roosevelt ­ who was stricken weeks after receiving a vaccine.) This was due to an unsafe amount of LIVE VIRUSES in the vaccine itself. Dr. Sabin then introduced his "improved" vaccine with "attenuated" or "weakened' live viruses in 1958, and the following year his vaccine was made to be compulsory (mandatory) in all school-age children in a number of states. As a result, polio increased a whopping 300% in these states. For example, Tennessee reported 119 polio cases in 1958, after "vaccination" this total increased to 386 cases in 1959, Ohio ­ 17 cases in 1958, 52 cases in 1959, Connecticut ­ 45 cases in 1958, 123 cases in 1959, and North Carolina: 78 cases in 1958 compared to 312 cases in 1959 AFTER forcing compulsory shots in school children. The modern record is equally damning. The ONLY cases of recorded polio in the modern era is immediately following20vaccinations. Poliomyelitis, you see, is a water-borne virus and is caused by drinking contaminated water.

During the early 60's, water-treatment facilities became standardized across America ­ small amounts of CHLORINATION effectively wiped out polio viruses. The conquering of polio had NOTHING TO DO with the vaccine needles and swallowing sugar cubes. In fact, as author Ed Haslem documents so well in his book, "http://doctormarysmonkey.com/" Dr. Mary's Monkey, the Sabin vaccines were actually contaminated with mutated GREEN MONKEY VIRUSES (SV-40 viruses to be specific) which has caused untold millions of SOFT-TISSUE CANCERS and deaths worldwide. (The cancer "industry" has reaped BILLIONS of dollars from this "contamination" over the years, of course.) HYPERLINK "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edikv0zbAlU" Dr. Maurice Hilleman has actually confessed as being a part of this very activity.

Case 3: Knowingly added to "hepatitis" vaccines, HIV viruses were inoculated into thousands of homosexual men and intravenous drug users in America's inner cities resulting in the "AIDS epidemic" in the 80's. Purposefully placed in SMALLPOX VACCINE SYRINGES, HIV was also introduced into African nations as a tool of ethnic cleansing and GENOCIDE. The covert development and weaponization of the HIV/AIDS virus and its monkey-virus origins, along with the amazing story of how the scientists involved are tied to President Kennedy's assassination is well documented in "http://doctormarysmonkey.com/" Dr. Mary's Monkey. The covert biological experimentation labs resp onsible for this mayhem are today consolidated into the NIH, the NAIDS, the National Cancer Institute, and Ft. Detrick, Maryland. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta became the centralized hub of pandemic and epidemic creations and propagation.

Case 4: The 1976 "Swine Flu" Fiasco and Fraud is perpetrated. A solitary soldier at Ft. Dix collapses and dies following a reaction to an "experimental" vaccine while completing an intense physical "forced march" exercise at Ft. Dix. Immediately, the CDC swings into action, declaring a nationwide SWINE FLU PANDEMIC is pending. Providentially, of course, the CDC just happens to have 200+MILLION DOSES of Swine Flu vaccine already stockpiled, prepared with ATTENUATED (live, yet weakened) viruses and experimental ADJUVANTS.

President Gerald Ford, (with proven ties to Big Pharma and Nixon's covert viral weapons labs ­ also a key member of the "Warren Commission's" obfuscation of the JFK murder) rolls up his sleeves on national TV and dutifully takes the vaccine. 40 million vaccines are given to naïve American human guinea pigs. A rash of auto-immune disorders (Guillan-Barre Syndrome GBS, and lupus) as well as a large number of deaths is immediately attributed to the vaccine, and the mass vaccination campaign is halted. (What happened to the other 140 million vaccines, one may ask?) In 1979, the television news magazine 60 Minutes did a documentary investigation on this travesty-for-money scandal. Against all odds and the threats of Big Pharma, the OBJECTIVELY=2 0FAIR 60 Minutes program aired ONE TIME. There was no follow-up story, No criminal indictments were ever issued. There was no MASS- MURDER-FOR-HIRE trial. As a result, America has largely forgotten the 1976 SWINE FLU SCANDAL! Click here for HYPERLINK "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lcJt4jX1Vo" Part I of the 60 Minutes story; and "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4c9Is1T3z4"

__________________
--It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system,for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning.......Henry Ford--
"The most powerful force in the universe is compound interest"..Albert Einstein--
"Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world"...Benjamin Franklin
________________________________

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

New Baby Bootie Naming Contest

I am in the process of making a new baby bootie pattern.

Come join me on Facebook and post your idea for a name for this new bootie.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lil-Baby-Thangs/66454923297

Every name you submit will be voted on and the winning name will be used on the pattern.

Enter as many names as you'd like.

The person who submits the winning name will receive "The First, Official Pattern", with autograph and a custom handmade pair of booties.


Pictured are booties made from Minky.
I made these for my grand-babies when they were born. They are twins, 1 boy and 1 girl, so I made a pink pair and a blue pair.
It will be a few weeks until the pattern is completed and ready for sale.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Baby and Children's Shoe Size Chart


There are no "standard" sizing charts for baby's or children's footwear, at least in the US.

It seems that every company has their own and lengths can vary up to 1 inch per size.

You wouldn't believe how many hours I have spent researching this. I have collected about 100 charts. Some are close, but most vary quite a bit.

Out of necessity, I too have created my own size chart.

This chart will help you with my bootie patterns and for any custom baby booties you have me make for you.

Even though I included an "Approximate Age" column, you as well as I know, babies are not born the same weight and length, with the same size feet. They also grow at different rates.

The most accurate way to determine what size you need is by measuring and comparing the length of your baby's or child's feet to the finished length of the bootie and allow for wiggle room and growth.

Both of these measurements are included on this chart.

All of my bootie patterns follow this chart, except the Airplane Bootie has it's own...for now.

Clicking on the chart should take you to a larger picture. If it does not and you'd like the full page version of it, or if you have any questions, please contact me.


Friday, August 21, 2009

SALE, BABY MONKEYS AND BANANAS on Pink, Cotton Baby Rib Knit Fabric - by the Yard

This fabric is regularly $8.50 per yard and is on Sale for $6.50 per yard.
It is 100% cotton 1x1 baby rib knit.

It has cute Brown Baby Monkeys with White, Orange and Pink details, Yellow Bananas and Blue Stars on a Pink background.

The Monkeys measure 5/8" X 3/4". (1 3/4cm X 2 cm)
Click on the picture or the title to go to my Etsy Shop for more information.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Baby Bootie Patterns and Fabric on ArtFire

I opened a store front on ArtFire. It is a great place for artisans to promote their "Crafts".
I carry my baby bootie sewing patterns here and some "Hard to Find" cotton knit fabric.


ArtFire - Buy Handmade - Sell Handmade

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Why I have been absent from my Blog

Instead of jumping right back in with my normal information on sewing baby bootie patterns and hard to find cotton knit fabric...I thought I'd up date you on my crazy (for lack of a better term) life over the past month.

First, just prior to that, I thought I'd change the format on the blog and make it nicer. Well that didn't work and I made a mess of it. I messed up the background and the posts. I still haven't been able to fix most of it and some posts are missing. So I am leaving it alone for now.

OK, now about my absense...

My son Henry, who is 19, will be starting college the end of August at the University of Montana (UM) in Missoula, about 140 miles from here. I took him to orientation, which was scheduled to last for 3 days. We left early in the morning of the first day and got there in time to find where we were supposed to be before it started.

Everything went well and it was about 10 pm when we got to my friend's house to spend the night. We planned to stay there 4 nights before coming home.

We got up in the morning, had breakfast and headed back to the UM. You can't get a cell signal at my friend's house, so I was going to check my phone as soon as we got to the UM.

There was road construction along the way and we were delayed, so we were late when we arrived. I dropped Henry off and went to find a parking space. I kept thinking I needed to check my phone, but once I got parked I spaced it until I got into my class, late. Then my phone started vibrating. I waited about 15 minuted until the class was over and hurried out to check my messages.

There was a panicked, incoherent message from my husband Jerry, I couldn't comprehend. He handed the phone off to our 12 year old son Leif, who told me the paramedics were there and working on our 16 year old son Harrison, who had had a seizure and they were taking him to the hospital. The message was from 7:30 am. Then the next message said they were in the hospital and they might have to keep him there for a few days.

OK, by this time I am a wreak. I am shaking, crying and totally panicking, but manage to call Jerry. It is 9:30 am. Jerry said the Dr. had just left and Harrison was responding, but had memory loss and that they were going to release him to go home in about an hour anyway. I have got to get home.

Now Jerry hadn't told anyone that he is legally blind and can't drive. They put Harrison in a wheel chair for Jerry to wheel him out...they assume to his car.

So Jerry just kept a pushing the wheel chair all the way home, 3/4 of a mile, uphill.

In the meantime...I am trying to figure out what to do. Henry is in his class, which was separate from the parent classes and I don't know where he is. So I call my son Peter (21) who lives there and wake him up because he worked late. I ask him how fast he can get up and dressed and meet me, take over for me and tell Henry what happened, when he finds him and take care of him until I can come back to get him.

Twenty minutes later Peter was there. I handed him my schedule, lunch ticket and parking permit, moved my car so he could take my spot, hugged and kissed him, told him I loved him, thanked him and left.

I was home in an hour and a half, about half an hour after Jerry and Harrison.

We are still going the rounds with Dr's. So far no one knows anything. We have more appointments ahead. Harrison has regained almost all of his memory, but only knows what he has been told about what happened. He only remembers waking up in the hospital. There have been a couple odd things going on with him, that have made him realize that there is really a problem.

I have him on a short leash (figuratively). I am afraid to let him out of my sight in case something else happens. I told him if I had my way, he'd wear a life jacket to take a bath. I make sure someone is with him at all times. It was Leif who realized something was wrong in the first place and went and woke up Jerry.

The consensus of opinion is; that because Harrison is an avid skateboarder, he probably smacked his head a few too many times, which may have caused his seizure. The CAT scan and tox screen were both negative and the EEG "normal", so we really know nothing. We continue to hang in limbo with Harrison, who is being a good sport about not skateboarding and me being over protective.

And...FYI...I have 6 boys, aged 12 - 30 and 2 girls, 32 and 34.
The picture is of Harrison a week later telling me "I'm OK Mom".

I hope you are having a great summer or winter...depending where you are.

Carolyn

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Fabric of the Day, Helena Montana

For Today's Featured Fabric, I have several "Hard to find" 100% Cotton Knit cuts, in various lengths. They are also at reduced prices.
PURPLE PUPPY DOGS and Hot Pink Flowers, 100% Cotton Baby Rib Knit Fabric - 1.1/8 yards


HOT PINK HIPPOS, 100% Cotton Interlock knit fabric, 1 yard 2 inches


LIZARDS and FROGS Cotton Rib Knit Fabric, 1.1/2 yards


All of these are great fabrics and will make really cute baby booties from any of my patterns.

This link will take you to my Etsy Shop section for these fabrics and more.
Clicking on each picture above, will take you to the detail page of each one and show more pictures, including the size of print with a ruler.

While you are in my Etsy Shop looking at this fabric, check out all my other goodies.

For Free Shipping, write BLOG in the comments during check-out or "convo" me,

Don't Pay yet. I'll send you a revised invoice to pay me from.


Saturday, June 6, 2009

Hello Hello and Dubli

DUBLI on HelloHello.Net

Hello Hello ...

At DUBLI, you'll discover something new every day. Tell your friends, colleagues and family and invite them now!

Registration is, of course, free of charge and commitments.

For the first $8 credit purchase made by EACH new member, we would like to thank you with free bids worth $3.50.

INVITE as many as you like.
Invite friends via the TELL A FRIEND link you will find in your back office after you have registered.

IF you have NOT registered for free yet, use the Link here:
http://us.dubli.com/tus46218


Let´s have a FUN Weekend !!

Eric Mortensen, Lars "Thunderstorm", Founders - HelloHello.Net
And Carolyn West

PS: If you are NOT a member of http://www.hellohello.net/ Yet, here is the Link
It´s Free: http://www.hellohello.net/signup.php?ref=hhcarolyn

Friday, May 1, 2009

Fabric of the Day, from Helena Montana

Today's Featured Fabric is a "Hard to find" 100% Cotton Interlock Knit.

FIRETRUCKS AND DOGS


It is available by the yard, Here for $12.50
This fabric will make really cute baby booties from any of my patterns.
The above link will take you to my Etsy Shop listing for this fabric. It will also give you more details and more pictures of this fabric, including size of print ruler.
While you are in my Etsy Shop looking at this fabric, check out all my other goodies.

For $2.00 off per yard, write BLOG in the comments during check-out, before paying. I'll send you a revised invoice to pay me from.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Fabric of the Day

Today's Featured Fabric is a "Hard to find" 100% Cotton Interlock Knit.



MAGIC MUSHROOMS AND FAIRY DUST


It is available by the yard, Here for $12.50

This fabric will make really cute baby booties from any of my patterns.

These link above will take you to my Etsy Shop listing for this fabric. It will also give you more details and more pictures of this fabric.

While you are in my Etsy Shop looking at this fabric, check out all my other goodies.

For $2.00 off per yard, write BLOG in the comments during check-out, before paying. I'll send you a revised invoice to pay me from.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Are we poisoning our children and ourselves?

Natural born killer

Our cover story this month exposes the shocking revelation that high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a ubiquitous sweetener used in everything from cola to ‘healthy’ snacks, is heavily laced with mercury that has inadvertently been added during its manufacturing process.

So widespread is HFCS, and so contaminated by mercury in the manufacturing process, that most of us—even those consuming so-called ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ processed foods and snacks—could be ingesting some 28.5 mcg of mercury every day. Indeed, the average American is eating more than 42 lb (19 kg) of it every year.

What’s more, new evidence suggests that the use of HFCS may be behind the rise in obesity in Western countries such as the US and UK.

Naturally, the corn industry, which was more or less saved from extinction by the discovery in the 1970s of an enzyme that could convert the glucose in corn syrup to fructose, counters that HFCS is ‘natural’—derived entirely from natural substances with no artificial additives or ingredients.

But that begs the question of what exactly we mean by ‘natural’. Of the two types of high fructose corn syrup being widely used, HFCS-55 is 55-per-cent fructose and HFCS-42 is 42- per-cent fructose. The remainder percentages of each sweetener is largely made up of glucose plus approximately 6 per cent of higher saccharides.

The manufacture of HFCS is an involved process. The first step is to extract the corn starch from corn, which is then treated with the enzyme alpha-amylase, a natural enzyme present in human saliva and pancreatic fluids but, in this instance, produced commercially from bacteria. The resulting polysaccharides produced from the chemical interaction of corn starch and this enzyme are treated with yet another enzyme called ‘glucomylase’—harvested through a process that uses fungi from the Aspergillus family.

The third step in this process involves passing the mixture over a third enzyme called glucose isomerase. This enzyme is entirely synthetic, and this is what is responsible for doing most of the work—that is, converting part of the corn glucose into fructose so that the resultant HFCS is 42 per cent fructose, 6 per cent other saccharides and 52 per cent glucose.To produce HFCS-55, the HFCS-42 is put through liquid chromatography, which helps manufacturers to separate out only the fructose, resulting in a liquid that is 90-per-cent fructose. Then the HFCS-42 and HFCS-90 are blended together and the result is HFCS-55, with a higher concentration of sweetness and the sweetener of choice for most soft drinks.Some 90 per cent of the soft drinks produced in the US are made with HFCS-55.

In a number of plants (all of the HFCS plants in the UK and one-third of those in the US), the manufacturing process exposes this ‘entirely natural’ product to caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), which requires the use of mercury in the process.

This means that this all-singing, all-dancing, ‘natural’ substance is produced through a three-stage enzyme-conversion process, including one totally synthetic enzyme and, in the manufacturing process at some plants, exposed to a good deal of mercury, which mysteriously ‘disappears’.

All this mixing, dividing and refining may be why there is increasing evidence that this sugar derivative could be causing massive weight gain. As with most food that is manipulated in any major way, the body simply doesn’t recognize it or, indeed, know what to do with it.

I don’t know about your dictionary but, to my mind, HFCS is to natural sugar what a saline implant is to female breasts—a weird approximation that can never be called an equivalent to the real thing.

You can read the full report in the March issue of 'What Doctors Don't Tell You'. To begin your subscription, please follow this link:
http://www.wddtyhealthshop.com/products.asp?recnumber=246

Published 24 March 2009 10:09 by Bryan Hubbard
Filed under: high fructose corn syrup, sugar, HFCS, sweetener

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

We did it. 263 Sales in my first year on Etsy

A big thank you to everyone who has purchased my baby bootie sewing patterns and cotton knit fabric during my first year on Etsy.

After eBay changed their policies and forced me out, I didn't know what I was going to do. I let my customers know I would be closing my store there because of the changes.

At the time I was only selling my patterns. Most of my sales were digital downloads with free shipping, so I able to email them all over the world.

The new policy put a stop to digital downloads. And put an end to the instant delivery people wanted.

To make a long story short...One of my eBay customers told me about Etsy, bless her heart.
It was free to set up a shop and only .20 to list. Wow! A great place to make a new start!

Etsy has a little more of a learning curve, but I love it there.

I highly recommend Etsy to anyone who does handmade and is looking for a place to showcase their work. Go here if you'd like to open a shop of your own.

Thank you again, for making my 1st year on Etsy a fabulous one!

Carolyn
Lil Baby Thangs Etsy Shop


Thursday, March 26, 2009

Save Handmade! Important CPSIA Rally & Briefing Updates

Many of you are aware of the upcoming CPSIA event in Washington DC April 1st. Volunteers are working feverishly to prepare to make this event have the most impact possible. Here is some important information:

If you are planning to attend:-Please register at www.amendthecpsia.com to let us know you will be there AND subscribe to email updates.-Let us know if you are available to attend meetings with Congressmen & Senators. Work with planners to arrange meetings with your own Representatives too.-Give yourself plenty of time and arrive at least 60-90 minutes before the event starts at 10AM sharp. (more details on official site)

If you cannot make it:-The proceedings will be streamed LIVE at www.amendthecpsia.com (10 AM April 1).-Many attendees will be "twittering" during the Briefing and during meetings. Follow "amendcpsia" and follow the overall conversation by searching "cpsia".

What EVERYONE can do to maximize the impact. There is a great blog post by Joli in the "Behind The Scenes" section. Here are a couple points I picked out:

-Call your Representatives & Senator's offices and invite them and their Legislative Aides to attend (details are on the site and the homepage of cpsia-central).
-Contact your local media (newspapers, radio, etc) and ask that their Washington Bureau cover the story. Or tell them of your story of trekking to DC.
-Want to have your voice heard? Submit your testimony to congress via the AmendTheCPSIA.com website. We will include it in the packet to be given to Congress.
-Blog about it, send e-newsletters to your customers, announce it as part of your email signature.

Be sure to check the website www.amendthecpsia.com often, and subscribe to updates.
We are looking forward to an action-packed day.

Thanks for all your support.
Rob Wilson

Visit cpsia-central at: http://cpsia-central.ning.com

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Come Celebrate My Etsy 1 Year Anniversary

My Etsy Anniversary is March 30th. I would like to hit it in style by getting 250 sales or more. I am at 221.

To help me achieve this goal, I am offering $1.00 off each item in my Etsy Shop from today through the 30th. I mean every item. So lets say you want 3 yards of fabric, you'd get $3.00 off.

In my Shop I have everything you would need to make my baby bootie patterns, or any other baby related pattern, such as;

My designer baby bootie patterns,
Hard to find Cotton knit fabric,
Woven cotton fabric,
Polyester knit fabric,
Ribbing,
Cording,
Ribbon,
Elastic.

I also do custom orders.

Now, the fine print...♥
To get this special sale discount, go to my Etsy Shop, pick out what you want by adding it to your cart. Then BEFORE you pay me, send me a convo (contact seller) and put "ANNIVERSARY COUPON" in the subject line. I'll then send you an updated invoice from PayPal or Revolution Money Exchange (let me know your preference). Pay me from the invoice and I'll send you your items the following day (M-F).

Thats it!
Come Shop!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Happy St. Patty's Day



Thursday, March 12, 2009

Todays Fabric of the Day

I love to make people happy.
I know how hard it has been to find cotton knit fabric anywhere.
So, I searched and searched, for many years mind you, but I did manage to find some really cute baby and children's prints in Interlock, Rib and Jersey knits. I have been posting them in my Etsy Shop where you can find them too.
Now I have been made aware of another problem.
It is getting hard to find Ribbing too!
What is this world coming to?
It is a good thing I have been buying it when I find it.
Today I added these Luscious Flavors of Ribbing to my Etsy Shop, in the Rib Knit Section

They are 95% Cotton and 5% Lycra, so they retain their shape.
I have 2 kinds. The 9 on the left are 2x2 rib knit and the 4 on the right are a 1x1 rib knit.
The 1x1 is lighter weight and has a smoother surface.
2 of my patterns call for ribbing, Baby Bootie Patterns 2 and 5.
Till next time, Happy Sewing!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

The Fabric of the Day, is Dedicated to Dr. Seuss

Theodor Seuss Geisel was born March 2, 1904. He was most widely known for his children's books, written under his pen name, Dr. Seuss.

Since Elementary Schools across the country are celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday this month, I thought would too.

I have always loved his books, especially his characters. So today, straight out of "The Cat in the Hat" we have "Thing 1 and Thing 2" fabric for you to enjoy.

This fabric is a soft 100% combed cotton interlock knit in a medium weight.
It is perfect for making any of my baby bootie patterns or baby and children's clothing.
This fabric is available by the yard in my Etsy Shop, HERE.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Baby Bootie Pattern 1 and The Featured Fabric of the Day

Today I am Featuring Baby Bootie Pattern 1 and Bunny A-Go-Go Fabric.

This bootie pattern is easy to make. It is self-lining and has only 3 pattern pieces. (This pair is 4 inches long)

Bunny A-Go-Go, is a 100% cotton interlock knit fabric in a baby print. Interlock is a very easy type of knit to cut out and sew.


Both items are available in my Etsy Shop.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Fabric of the Day, Pre-empted

I tracked down and got a new shipment of "Hard to find" 100% Cotton Interlock Knits in Baby and Children's Prints.








So...Todays Featured Fabric is a sampling of 3 of those super cute Baby Knits.
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Click on a picture to go see the details.
It will take you to my Etsy Shop Listing for each Knit.
(Hopefully! If it doesn't, click the blue link above, then on the right side, in Sections in this shop, click cotton interlock fabric or any other section to see what I have by type.)

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Fabric of the Day

Today's Featured Fabric is a "Hard to find" 100% Cotton Interlock Knit.

BLUE OOGA BOOGA's
on a white background.

It is available by the yard, Here for $12.50

This fabric will make really cute baby booties from any of my patterns.

These link above will take you to my Etsy Shop listing for this fabric. It will also give you more details and more pictures of this fabric.

While you are in my Etsy Shop looking at this fabric, check out all my other goodies.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Fabric of the Day

Today's Featured Fabric is a 100% Cotton Rib Knit.
LIZARDS and FROGS
on a white background with a brown bark pattern.

It is available by the yard, Here for $8.50

This fabric will make really cute baby booties from any of my patterns.

These link above will take you to my
Etsy Shop listing for this fabric. It will also give you more details and more pictures of this fabric.

While you are in my Etsy Shop looking at this fabric, check out all my other goodies.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Fabric of the Day

Today's Featured Fabric is a 100% Cotton Interlock Knit.

Lil Jungle Safari Print on Light Green.

It is available as a Fat Quarter 18 X 29 inches, Here for $3.50
or by the yard, Here for $12.50
This fabric will make really cute baby booties from any of my patterns.
The links above will take you to my Etsy Shop listing for this fabric. It will also give you more details and more pictures of this fabric.
While you are in my Etsy Shop looking at this fabric, check out all my other goodies.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

The Ultimate Baby Shower Gift

If you are looking for something to give to the Mom-To-Be, that is Unique, Practical and Made to order...Then look no further.

Angie, The Diaper Baker has just what you need....A DIAPER CAKE!!!
What are diaper cakes, you may ask? Our diaper cakes are an individually hand-crafted tiered creation made up of premium diapers as the foundation and is filled with all of the essentials a newborn baby would need.

EVERYTHING IS USABLE! It is uniquely designed especially for you...a solid guarantee to be one-of-a-kind! No two diaper cakes are identical. Diaper cakes have become the latest trend among expecting parents!

Diaper cakes are such hip and trendy baby shower gifts that they have been featured on The View, Good Morning America, Oprah Winfrey Show, InStyle Magazine, American Baby Magazine, and a multitude of baby magazines and publications, not to mention the hottest celebrity gift.

Be sure to view Angie's photo gallery for a portfolio of her current selections. To find out more...Visit her website http://www.thediaperbaker.com/

Friday, January 30, 2009

Possible Stay of Execution from CPSIA

Breaking News: The CPSIA Mandatory Testing & Certification Proposed 1 Year Suspension

We are so excited to announce that the Commission has voted for a "Stay of Enforcement of Certain Testing and Certification Requirements of CPSIA" — which means that they are proposing a 1 year suspension of the burden of lead testing and certification while they take more time to review the rules and plan enforcement!

All of your hard work is paying off (for the time being at least!). You wouldn't have to pay to do the certification and testing, though you are still liable if your products are found to have lead.

We are so pleased that artisans and vintage sellers got their voices heard. Your hard work is not over; we must continue to play a role in advocating for small business people throughout the coming year.

"The action taken today provides breathing space to get in place some of the rules needed for implementation, but it should not be viewed as a full solution to the many problems that have been raised." —U.S. Consumer product Safety Commission

You'll find the press release below:

CPSC Grants One Year Stay of Testing and Certification Requirements for Certain Products
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously (2-0) to issue a one year stay of enforcement for certain testing and certification requirements for manufacturers and importers of regulated products, including products intended for children 12 years old and younger.

These requirements are part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which added certification and testing requirements for all products subject to CPSC standards or bans.

Significant to makers of children’s products, the vote by the Commission provides limited relief from the testing and certification requirements which go into effect on February 10, 2009 for new total lead content limits (600 ppm), phthalates limits for certain products (1000 ppm), and mandatory toy standards, among other things. Manufacturers and importers – large and small – of children’s products will not need to test or certify to these new requirements, but will need to meet the lead and phthalates limits, mandatory toy standards and other requirements.

The decision by the Commission gives the staff more time to finalize four proposed rules which could relieve certain materials and products from lead testing and to issue more guidance on when testing is required and how it is to be conducted.

The stay will remain in effect until February 10, 2010, at which time a Commission vote will be taken to terminate the stay.

The stay does not apply to:

Four requirements for third-party testing and certification of certain children’s products subject to:
The ban on lead in paint and other surface coatings effective for products made after December 21, 2008;

The standards for full-size and non full-size cribs and pacifiers effective for products made after January 20, 2009;

The ban on small parts effective for products made after February 15, 2009; and
The limits on lead content of metal components of children’s jewelry effective for products made after March 23, 2009.

Certification requirements applicable to ATV’s manufactured after April 13, 2009.
Pre-CPSIA testing and certification requirements, including for: automatic residential garage door openers, bike helmets, candles with metal core wicks, lawnmowers, lighters, mattresses, and swimming pool slides; and Pool drain cover requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act.

The stay of enforcement provides some temporary, limited relief to the crafters, children’s garment manufacturers and toy makers who had been subject to the testing and certification required under the CPSIA.

These businesses will not need to issue certificates based on testing of their products until additional decisions are issued by the Commission.

However, all businesses, including, but not limited to, handmade toy and apparel makers, crafters and home-based small businesses, must still be sure that their products conform to all safety standards and similar requirements, including the lead and phthalates provisions of the CPSIA.

Handmade garment makers are cautioned to know whether the zippers, buttons and other fasteners they are using contain lead.

Likewise, handmade toy manufacturers need to know whether their products, if using plastic or soft flexible vinyl, contain phthalates.

The stay of enforcement on testing and certification does not address thrift and second hand stores and small retailers because they are not required to test and certify products under the CPSIA.

The products they sell, including those in inventory on February 10, 2009, must not contain more than 600 ppm lead in any accessible part.

The Commission is aware that it is difficult to know whether a product meets the lead standard without testing and has issued guidance for these companies that can be found on our Web site.

The Commission trusts that State Attorneys General will respect the Commission's judgment that it is necessary to stay certain testing and certification requirements and will focus their own enforcement efforts on other provisions of the law, e.g. the sale of recalled products.

Please visit the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html for more information on all of the efforts being made to successfully implement the CPSIA.

Story by matt, Vanessa Published on January 30, 2009 in Craftivism
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Letter Campaign to the CSPC

Dear Friends,

I just sent a letter to Nancy Nord at the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) asking her to clarify new child products rules to protect safe handmade clothes and toys.

The manufacture and sale of natural, toxic-free, handmade children’s products is a cherished part of our economy, and I want to make sure we protect and empower this largely mom-driven industry as we move forward with improving safety standards for all children’s products.

You can send a letter, too, by clicking here: http://www.momsrisingaction.org/o/1768/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26508

The Consumer Product Safety Information Act is a landmark law that will protect our children from dangerous chemicals.

As the Consumer Products Safety Commission considers the specific details for implementing this important law, we need to use commonsense and ensure that children’s products handmade with only natural, toxic-free materials can comply with the law through using certified safe materials as opposed to only through expensive testing.

Thanks!
Carolyn

Last Chance to Urge Changes on CPSIA

Today is the last day to submit comments to the CPSIA regarding component testing and the ability to use certified components in products to avoid the duplication of final product testing.

See Request Here

If you haven't sent in a letter yet, please go to the site. Pre-written letter, just fill in your info.
Here

Thank you,
Carolyn
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Thursday, January 29, 2009

Freedom and Independence from the CPSIA

This is a video from a fellow independant childrens' clothing crafter, Caroline of Little Journeys Baby World http://www.littlejourneysbabyworld.com

Monday, January 19, 2009

Reform CPSIA HR4040

Reform CPSIA HR4040


1788 Signatures
Published by Dawn Michelle LaPolla on Jan 07, 2009


Category: Law Reform
Region: United States of America
Target: Reform of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act
Web site: http://www.reformcpsia.org/

Description/History:


The August 14, 2008 legislation included a new ban on lead in children's products (no more than 600 parts per million (ppm) by weight of any part of the product). According to the CPSIA, the new lead requirements take effect beginning February 10, 2009. However, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has determined that this new requirement will apply to goods in inventory, as well as goods made on or after that effective date. This ruling effectively makes this new lead requirement retroactive.



This means that product that produced several months ago, & which is safe & legally compliant today, will not be able to be sold on February 10. This seems unfair, as it means we are being held responsible for a standard that didn't even exist when those goods were made. Moreover, it will be extremely difficult - & in some cases impossible - to retroactively certify that individual goods already in the warehouses & on the store shelves meet the new lead standard. In short, the ruling puts at risk millions of dollars of inventory.



Based on 2002 U.S. Census data, which is the most current available for the apparel manufacturing industry, the Cut & Sew Apparel Manufacturing industry, which includes most categories of small manufacturers of infant’s & children’s apparel, is comprised of more than 40,000 companies. Of these, almost 28,000, or 68%, are sole proprietors contributing a total of $900 million to our nation’s economy. Thus, while our businesses are small, they comprise well more than the majority of the apparel manufacturing businesses currently operating in this country.



We urge the CPSC to issue guidance that makes clear that textiles & apparel are only subject to the lead & lead in paint requirements to the extent that a component presents a risk that it contains lead.



I respectfully request that the CPSC institute rulemaking to clearly define the scope and applicability of the new lead regulations and testing requirements for apparel and footwear products. I also urge that CPSC announce and implement an orderly enforcement schedule that focuses initial phases on education of these new requirements. Finally, I believe the decision by the CPSC to apply the lead ban retroactively needs to be reconsidered as soon as possible since the practical impact of this decision, in today's economic environment, will have an adverse effect at a time the government is spending billions to stimulate the economy.



Disclaimer: I am not the original author of this petition. This petition was authored by concerned men and woman whom this Act will dramatically affect. I am grateful to them for their contribution to this effort.


Petition:


Reformation of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) HR4040



We, the undersigned, believe that HR4040 unfairly targets small businesses that manufacture or sell products for children by implementing regulations that require redundant testing. Such requirements are excessive and cost prohibitive, retroactively impacting billions of dollars of current inventory. The current Act has circumvented the public discourse necessary to truly ascertain the CPSIA’s impact on small business.



We request that Congress institute rulemaking to clearly define the scope and applicability of the new lead regulations and testing requirements for children’s products as well as require the CPSC to announce and implement an orderly enforcement schedule that focuses initial phases on education of these new requirements as well as identifying exemptions for products that are inherently lead free.



We believe the decision by the CPSC to apply the lead ban retroactively should be reconsidered since the practical impact of this decision will have an adverse effect on small businesses and the economy at a time when the government is spending billions to stimulate the economy. Therefore, we, the undersigned, hereby petition Congress to reform the Law, adhering to the Administrative Procedure Act & the Regulatory Flexibility Act as well as request the courts application thereof now and in the interim to make a moratorium on the present Act.


Sign the petition


The Reform CPSIA HR4040 petition to Reform of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act was written by Dawn Michelle LaPolla and is hosted free of charge at GoPetition.

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Thursday, January 8, 2009

Congressman Dent takes up the cause! Re: CPSIA

The following article was written by BuggaLove on Etsy Forum.
The title (above) links to the article and this is the link to her Etsy Shop.

Congressman Dent takes up the cause! Re: CPSIA

For those who do not know, I have been communicating frequently with Congressman Charlie Dent’s office. His office has been extremely helpful in assisting me gather accurate information regarding the CPSIA. My meeting with Congressman Dent himself is scheduled for January 16, 2009.

I’ve received word today that Congressman Dent is taking up our cause. And he is gathering the support of other Congressmen. So far, Congressman Jim Gerlach and Congressman Tim Holden have joined him to support the effort. Others are reviewing and likely more will join the effort in the next few days. Congressman Dent is sending a letter to the Committee on Energy and Commerce requesting a hearing. This is VERY good news. THIS is how things get changed.

It is the new chairman of the Committee who has the ability to call for hearings on this matter and advance critical legislation to resolve some of the issues. The best way to convince him of the need for a hearing to amend the CPSIA is to WRITE LETTERS to the four Energy and Commerce Committee leaders explaining our concerns and issues with the law as it is written and how it will affect us. Even if you have written to these people before, I urge you to send another letter.

Here are the names and addresses of the four Committee leaders:

The Hon. Henry A. Waxman
Chairman
Committee on Energy and Commerce
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Hon. Joe Barton
Ranking Member
Committee on Energy and Commerce
2322-A Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Hon. Bobby Rush
Chairman
Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection
2125 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Hon. Ed Whitfield
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Commerce, Tradeand Consumer Protection
2322-A Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
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New child product safety law turns millions of US homecrafters into criminals

Kiki Fluhr, who runs the All the Numbers Handmade homecraft business from her Quincy, Massachusetts home, warns that the new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which becomes effective from February 10 next year, will turn micro-businesses like hers into illegal manufacturers of "hazardous substances' overnight.

We will all become criminals
This law includes hand-knitted, quilted and hand-sewn clothes, wooden toys and the myriad of other products for children which traditionally have been sold by arts-and-crafts shops countrywide for decades. These are usually produced by cash-strapped people at home. She says that even granny's home-made quilts sold in the local arts-and-crafts shop won't be exempt from this new law. Also disastrous is the fact that thousands of tons of these often exquisitely-handcrafted products in the pre-existing stock of shops also will have to be dumped as contraband which under this law will be deemed to contain 'banned, hazardous substances' after February 10 -- because the Act is retroactive. Each product will have be tested at huge cost and produce a certificate of compliance before it can be sold. Handcrafters say they can't afford this huge price-tag of $4,000 for each test.

National Bankruptcy Act
Thousands of American microshops like Kiki's will be forced to go out of business because of this Act. She calls it the National Bankruptcy Act which is turning every home-crafter into a felon overnight: every manufacturer, reseller and retailer will need to prove compliance or risk being charged with a felony. A conviction carries tens of thousands of dollars in fines and potentially even jail time.

Read page 7 of the act - with reference to the required testing of children's products on page 7. Lodge complaints against this act before January 20 2009.


Fluhr says that she has spent the last six months growing her business, 'working incredibly hard to create a great product. '

The Act was drawn up after last year's massive recalls, when dozens of dangerous, lead-tainted Chinese toys and children's products were recalled.

"In August 2008, in response to that disaster, the Consumer Product Safety Commission passed this legislation.

She says while it's laudable that the new law bans lead and phthalates (a chemical used in some vinyl products) from all children’s toys, apparel, decor, and accessories, it's a disaster for micro-businesses like hers. She works with organic materials -- and traditional handcrafters like her are very conscious of the safety of their products. However they can't afford to have each product tested at the cost of $4,000 per item to get their certificates of compliance. So they will not only be forced out of business, but their pre-existing stock will be outlawed.

Manufacturers -- all these microbusinesses included -- will have to obtain a certificate of compliance: anyone who makes clothing, toys etc regardless of volume, needs to have each and every component tested by a CPSC-accredited laboratory at huge cost for each individual product.

"This includes not just toys, but clothing, jewelry, blankets, sheets, books, bibs, strollers, carriers, and anything else that a child younger than 12 might come in contact with," she said.

"These tests have to be done at a CSPC accredited lab, and cost as much as $4,000 with an average of around $500. So for me, I offer three different types of dresses. Each dress contains two different fabrics, as well as buttons, and thread (each of which needs to be tested), so that’s potentially $2,000 to test one dress. But I have three styles, so that’s $6,000.

And when I get a new bolt of fabric, I need to start all over again. I can only make 15 dresses from one bolt, so there is no way I could make the testing financially feasible".

She agrees wholeheartedly that the children must be protected from harmfull chemicals. "However this law, as it is currently written, will affect handmade toy and apparel makers - the very people many of us turn to for safe toys, clothing and decor for our children."

"At present, there are no exemptions for small businesses and “micro” manufacturers like myself and most handcraft artisans."

Even lead-free and phthalates-free products must still be tested...
The law as it stands now, makes no exception for quantities made, where the garments/products are made or anything else. Nor is there an exception for unadorned fabric components, unfinished wood components, materials which, by their nature, are free of lead and phthalates.

Guilty until proven innocent...
Also, the law takes a “guilty until proven innocent” approach, which would treat a handmade, unfinished wooden toy that doesn’t meet the certification deadline as a “banned hazardous substance” which would be illegal to distribute in this country, she said.

This legislation is also retroactive for any pre-existing inventory as of Feb. 10, 2009. This means that everything on the shelves in those big (or small) stores will also be “banned, hazardous substances” – contraband.

"Larger corporations that can afford testing will incur thousands, maybe millions of dollars in fees, and this expense will be handed down to the consumer, probably making the prices for children’s products go through the roof."

No more selling old things on eBay or Craigslist...
"This also means that after that date, even selling your kids old things on eBay or Craigslist will be illegal. Charities will not be able to accept donations without a certificate of compliance either.

"February 10, 2009 is being dubbed “National Bankruptcy Day” by many people in the apparel and toy industry. If this legislation is not amended, it will affect everyone from port workers to parents looking for legal products.

"Billions of dollars worth of children’s products will have to be destroyed because they can’t be legally sold, and this will cause major environmental problems," she said.

Fluhr says that she's all for higher safety standards and keeping the kids safe -- however this law is overreacting. "It will put thousands of manufacturers of children’s products out of business -hurting our economy and causing even more loan defaults. Though this legislation was well-intentioned, it cannot be allowed to stand."

"This law affects every stay at home mom trying to help put food on the table and every grandmother knitting blankets for the local craft fair. It makes the thousands of us who have found a niche in the burgeoning handmade market have to make a tough decision – continue to produce items illegally and possible incur a $100,000 fine, or close up shop and maybe not be able to pay the mortgage this month...."

How to object to this Act

She urged home-crafters and micro-business owners to lodge their objections no later than January 30 2009 to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Office of the Secretary, email Sec102ComponentPawrtsTesting@cpsc.gov . They can be faxed to (USA) 301 504-0127

Snailmail: The Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 502, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 US. Comments should be captioned: Section 102 Mandatory Third-Party Testing of Component Parts'
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Millions of homecrafters face bankruptcy after January 20 2009 from new law

I will continue to post information as I find it...Please spread the word. Carolyn

by Adriana Stuijt.
The January 20 2009 deadline for millions of American homecrafters to object to a new law requiring expensive testing of their products, is approaching fast. Child-products without certificates proving they have no lead content, will have to be scrapped.
Buy an ad on DigitalJournal.com
The new Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act – passed hastily to bar poisonous foreign products – also will require millions of American homecrafters to have each of their products tested at huge cost, ranging from $500 to $4000 per product – including their old stock which was manufactured before this law had even been thought up. See law here

Formal complaints against this act must be lodged before January 20 2009 Comments must be labeled: Section 102 Mandatory Third-Party Testing of Component Parts'. Lodge complaints here

Without the CPSI certificate of compliance, millions of homecrafters selling their products on EBay, at fairs, in home-shops and at charity shops face conviction under this Act, which goes into effect on February 10 this year. Conviction carries tens of thousands of dollars in fines and potentially even jail time.

No more selling old things on eBay or Craigslist...
And all the products sold on eBay or Craigslist will also require such certificates of compliance or they will be breaking the law. Also affected: millions of charities, which will no longer be able to accept donations without a certificate of compliance. And this certificate can only be obtained through expensive testing by an SCPC-accredited laboratory." Without such certificates, billions of dollars worth of uncertified children’s products will have to be destroyed because they can’t be legally sold without an CPSI-certificate of compliance, and this will cause major environmental problems," said Massachusetts campaigner Kiki Fluhr.

The handmade toys alliance is also up in arms.
They warn: 'The CPSIA simply forgot to exclude the class of children's goods that have earned and kept the public's trust: Toys, clothes, and accessories made in the US, Canada, and Europe. The result, unless the law is modified, is that handmade children's products will no longer be legal in the US.
"And if this law had been applied to the food industry, every farmers market in the country would be forced to close while Kraft and Dole prospered...'See

The Act was drawn up after last year's massive recalls of dozens of dangerous, lead-tainted Chinese toys and children's products containing lethal phthalates.

This law however also includes all the products made in the USA, including homecrafters’ hand-knitted, quilted and hand-sewn clothes, wooden toys and the myriad of other products for children which traditionally have been sold by arts-and-crafts shops countrywide for decades. These are usually produced by cash-strapped people at home. Read page 7 of the act - with reference to the required testing of children's products here

Little time to object:
Homecrafters say there has been very little opportunity to campaign to get this aspect of the law changed before the deadline. The presidential elections and the holiday season have greatly hampered these efforts. The law was passed in August without much fanfare nor much publicity – -- and it was passed very hastily, with very little input from the country’s millions of homecrafters, they complain.

The homecrafters’ campaign to have the law changed before the objection deadline of January 20 this year was kicked off by one Massachusetts homecrafter, Kiki Fluhr, a young mom who runs the All the Numbers Handmade shop from her home. She refers to the law as the National Bankruptcy Act and predicts that tons of beautiful homecrafted stock will have to be thrown away.

She agrees wholeheartedly that the children must be protected from harmful chemicals. "However this law, as it is currently written, will affect millions of makers of handmade toys and apparel for children - the very people who many of us now turn to for safe toys, clothing and decor for our children. At present, there are no exemptions for small businesses and “micro” manufacturers like myself and most handcraft artisans."

See our previous story: here

Kuhr says all the homecrafters of the US 'will become criminals from February 10 if they continue to sell their homemade stock without the required certificate of compliance to prove that it had been tested for dangerous contents such as lead'.

Homecrafters now have to make a tough decision: whether to sell their stock without the certificate and face massive fines and even imprisonment under this new law, or scrapping all their old stock and going out of business.

She says the new law will turn micro-businesses like hers into illegal manufacturers of "hazardous substances' overnight. Kuhr says that ‘even granny's home-made quilts sold in the local arts-and-crafts shop won't be exempt from this new law’. And the pre-existing stock from homecraft-shops also will have to be dumped as ‘contraband', she said, because the Act is retroactive, and without the required certificate of compliance, all such products will be deemed to contain 'banned, hazardous substances' after February 10.

Fluhr says that she has spent the last six months growing her business, 'working incredibly hard to create a great product. ' And while it's laudable that the new law bans lead and phthalates (a chemical used in some vinyl products) from all children’s toys, apparel, decor, and accessories, it's a disaster for micro-businesses like hers.

She works with organic materials -- and traditional handcrafters like her are very conscious of the safety of their products. However they can't afford to have each product tested at the cost of $4,000 per item to get their certificates of compliance. So they will not only be forced out of business, but their pre-existing stock will be outlawed.

Manufacturers -- all these micro-businesses included -- will have to obtain a certificate of compliance: anyone who makes clothing, toys etc regardless of volume, needs to have each and every component tested by a CPSC-accredited laboratory at huge cost for each individual product. "This includes not just toys, but clothing, jewelry, blankets, sheets, books, bibs, strollers, carriers, and anything else that a child younger than 12 might come in contact with," she said.

"These tests have to be done at a CSPC accredited lab, and cost as much as $4,000 with an average of around $500. So for me, I offer three different types of dresses. Each dress contains two different fabrics, as well as buttons, and thread (each of which needs to be tested), so that’s potentially $2,000 to test one dress. But I have three styles, so that’s $6,000. And when I get a new bolt of fabric, I need to start all over again. I can only make 15 dresses from one bolt, so there is no way I could make the testing financially feasible".

Even known lead-free and phthalates-free products must still be tested...
The law as it stands now, makes no exception for quantities made, where the garments/products are made or anything else. Nor is there an exception for unadorned fabric components, unfinished wood components, materials which, by their nature, are free of lead and phthalates.

Guilty until proven innocent...
Also, the law takes a “guilty until proven innocent” approach, which would treat a handmade, unfinished wooden toy that doesn’t meet the certification deadline as a “banned hazardous substance” which would be illegal to distribute in this country, she said.

"Larger corporations that can afford testing will incur thousands, maybe millions of dollars in fees, and this expense will be handed down to the consumer, probably making the prices for children’s products go through the roof." Fluhr: "This law will put thousands of manufacturers of children’s products out of business -hurting our economy and causing even more loan defaults. Though this legislation was well-intentioned, it cannot be allowed to stand."

"This law affects every stay at home mom trying to help put food on the table and every grandmother knitting blankets for the local craft fair. It makes the thousands of us who have found a niche in the burgeoning handmade market have to make a tough decision – continue to produce items illegally and possible incur a $100,000 fine, or close up shop and maybe not be able to pay the mortgage this month...."

How to object to this Act
She urged home-crafters and micro-business owners to lodge their objections no later than January 20 2009 to the Consumer Product Safety Commission's Office of the Secretary, email

Sec102ComponentPawrtsTesting@cpsc.gov . They can be faxed to (USA) 301 504-0127

Snailmail:
The Office of the Secretary,
Consumer Product Safety Commission,
Room 502, 4330 East-West Highway,
Bethesda, Maryland 20814 US.

Comments should be captioned: Section 102 Mandatory Third-Party Testing of Component Parts'
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