Show and Tell and Save Handmade!
Christmas was pretty damn awesome around here – yes, we atheists celebrate Christmas; no way are we cheating ourselves out of the fun of Santa. We’ve even got Nativity scene ornaments on our tree, handed down from my parents who don’t really believe either.
Even though I told Kyle explicitly NOT to get anything for me, he did anyway. They were practical gifts though – a small bookshelf for the kitchen so that I can stop piling all of my samples and USB cables on the kitchen counter, and a bedside table so that I can stop leaving my glasses and books and DS Lite on the floor.
Oh, and some rat bastard gave me mastitis for Boxing Day. Lovely.
We did give each other some great big-box gifts (like Rock Band 2 for Kyle – we’re Skeptical Barfbags, and you should hear us on So Whatcha Want – and a VTech camera for CJ, which lets you put bunny ears or devil horns on the subject of your photo), but I loved finding gifts that were just as perfect at small online shops.
CJ received a super hero cape from Ellie Bellie Kids, and Tacy got a Peas/Peace tee shirt from Starlooks Boutique. Both girls found holiday Smencils from Stubby Pencil Studio in their stockings, and they’ve been happily defacing My Very Own House (also from Starlooks Boutique) since Christmas morning.
These items are sure to become prized possessions of my kids, like so many others they’ve received and I’ve admired from independent/emerging designers and mom-owned businesses – far too many to adequately summarize here. But if the CPSIA takes effect, these Christmas gifts of 2008 will almost certainly be the last of their kind.
We’ve been spreading the word already; let’s spread it some more, with the help of a meme that lets you show off the holiday gifts you gave – the ones that the well-intentioned but poorly-executed CPSIA would make illegal:
- Write a post about those super-cool gifts that you could hardly wait to watch your kids open (or your nieces and nephews, or your best friend’s kids, or whoever the lucky recipients were);
- Post pics or give link love to the product web pages (optional, but why not?);
- Invite a few other people to do the same.
I’m going to start with a few people whose own businesses would be affected by the CPSIA – Mom O Matic (find her funky vintage-inspired jewelry on Etsy), Mommy Needs a Cocktail (find her cute onesies and tees at Baby Brewing), and i-obsess (find her at Did You Buy That New? – and harass her about re-opening Fadiddle). Plus Kristen, who’s not only co-founder and editor of Cool Mom Picks, but has her own Etsy shop as well.
Everyone else is also welcome – encouraged even! – to get this party started on their own blogs. As of posting time, we’ve got 43 days to save handmade. Sign the petitions, email the CPSC, and contact your congressional representatives!
December 28th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Please do all that you can. I closed my own WAHM web-business yesterday, in anticipation of not being able to afford the testing required by the CPSIA. Woopsiebaby.com supported my family while my husband was a medical resident, and without we would not have eaten. As a former teacher, going to work outside the home was not an option after we had children: daycare costs exceeded my salary. I HAD to find a way to contribute while caring for our children. Woopsie Baby fit the bill perfectly. I can’t imagine what this would have done to us if the CPSIA had passed while he was still in training. Luckily, he’s finished and woopsiebaby.com provided our “fun” money. But if we were still in the throes of residency, we’d be bankrupt. For sure. I can’t imagine what it will be like for the other families like mine.
December 28th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Mastitis? SO UNFAIR. I’m sorry.
Love your meme idea. My children each received a hat handknit by my sister and they are stunning.
mayberrys last blog post..I played Santa today
December 28th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
My heart sank to read Karen’s “Please do all that you can.” I have nothing but sympathy for the people who got into this sort of work to do well by doing good, only now to hear the voice of officialdom say “we don’t want you” and to have to hope and plead for a reprieve.
As happens so often these days, I recall the trial scene in “A Man For All Seasons” where Sir Thomas More, found guilty of high treason, gives his final statement: “I am the King’s true subject, and I pray for him and all the realm. I do none harm. I say none harm. I think none harm. And if this be not enough to keep a man alive, then in good faith, I long not to live.”
Ask yourself how we got to the state where someone selling something to a willing buyer, something that’s never been shown to be harmful in any way, is up for a vote.
December 28th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I stumbled your post and I’m sure we will address this over at Craftastrophe (we’ll likely point visitors here since you summarized it so well!) Great post Julie!
December 28th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
I’d put my handmade glass bottle and vintage photograph snowmen(and women) on Etsy if I thought they’d sell. Or if I could make enough of them.
apathy lounges last blog post..It was great, but I’m glad it’s over
December 28th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
I finally got my post about it all up. I can’t imagine childhood without all of the wonderful hand made things available for kids. Next I’ve got to contact my senator (while we work on figuring out who the other one actually is) and congressman.
Here is hoping that the little guy wins this one.
Amelia Sprouts last blog post..Christmas Redux
December 28th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
I’ll do it right now. I love all the handmade things I bought my daughter off etsy for Christmas.
ashleys last blog post..My Girl.
December 28th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
*ducking*
I choose protecting children over handmade gifts any day.
Sorry to hear about the businesses failing, but I would be even more sorry to hear of an ill child.
December 29th, 2008 at 5:54 am
Oh Tracy, I think you’re missing the point.
Priority 1: Children’s safety
Priority 2: Protecting the items, artisans, and industries that never caused any harm in the first place.
It’s not about different safety standards, it’s about different accountability measures.
mom101s last blog post..You pick the tree Thalia. Any one you want. Aaaaaany tree at all.
December 29th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Tracy, check out the Handmade Toy Alliance site and their link to the National Association of Manufacturers’ Petition to the CPSC: http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/Home/our-proposal-to-modify-the-cpsia
The problem is not with the objectives of the law, but the means of demonstrating compliance. These organizations have outlined detailed alternatives to demonstrate compliance – ones that won’t force them out of business.
December 29th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I think I’m ok as long as I don’t make anymore children’s items. It’s just too risky.
But it’s a damn shame for people that are making natural wood products. Hoping they can find some way to modify it to help handmade artisans stay in business. Perhaps requiring a materials used declaration in lieu of the expensive testing?
Either way – if you are selling handmade children’s toys get thee an LLC. Otherwise, if you are sued they can take your home and personal asset’s versus the LLC’s.
Lottas last blog post..Red Velvet Cake Button Ring
December 30th, 2008 at 3:09 am
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