CPSIA-Save Handmade Toys

For those of you that haven't heard about the CPSIA(consumer product safety improvement act), it is very flawed law intended to help protect our children. It increases regulation and testing requirements for basically all items manufactured for children. However, there are unintended consequences...such as the cost of testing (which is required on every batch and each component, so if you applique a fabric initial on a onesie, you have to test the fabric and the snaps) is going to put many, many small business owners, crafters and thrift shops (the law is retroactive) out of business. It is also going to increase the cost of goods coming from manufacturers that can afford the testing but who won't eat the cost of it. Not to mention all the adaptive equipment and toys for children with special needs which is already very expensive since most of it is custom made for each child.
I believe the intentions of this law were good; as a parent I was appalled at the lack of regulation that was made evident with all the import recalls last year. But, I also think it was written and passed by lawmakers without any consideration or knowledge of what it says or how it will affect things. Please support our economy and our kids by voicing your opinion and making it clear that many amendments need to be made to make this law effective and not detrimental. The following link is a starting point. You can sign on and "vote" for this topic to get addressed by members of the new administration's transition team. You can also write your congressmen & women and ask them to take a look at the situation.
Here is a link to the Consumer Product Safety Commission as well as to the CPSIA.
If nothing is done, handmade children's items will disappear, commercial children's items will skyrocket in price and organizations like Good Will will no longer be able to sell children's items to help those in need.

Change.org

CPSIA FAQs and explanations

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Busy, Busy

It's that time of year.  Running, running, running.  It seem's like it never will end and in a storm of ripping paper it's over and done.  Well, this week has been about the running.  I completed an apron that I started a while ago, I made a blanket for a friend's son, I made part of my nephew's Christmas gift (the cute little Bear's pants and hat, I have some fabric left I think I will try some matching mittens), what else......I have a custom order coming up for a shopping cart cover.  I will post that as soon as it is done.  Still waiting on the fabric for mounting that 90 year old dress, but I will post pictures as soon as it is completed.  

I'm trying to get in the Holiday spirit...I lit the tree, although, it remains free of ornaments because I am anxious about what my one year old will do to them and there is no gating him out of that room.  We will have my daughter's preschool Christmas program next week.  I can't wait she has been working so hard and is looking forward to her roll as one of the "dancing ladies".  A wedding this weekend will keep us fully occupied and then on to another week!  Happy December everyone!