30 January 2009

Lilly Pulitzer on Facebook...Why am I the last one to know these things?

Yep, she sure is on there...and apparently I'm the last preppy girl to know:(
Lilly Pulitzer on Facebook

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*BREAKING NEWS* the CSPIA takes action!

source: one year stay granted

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.


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28 January 2009

My pathetic attempt at CSPIA political satire...

Don't worry...hopefully, I won't have to make any more of these!
I'm really trying to *keep my day job*...:)

Stand up for common sense testing!

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Mama's Magic: The CPSIA Will Affect YOU!!! (And NOT In A Good Way!)

Mama's Magic: The CPSIA Will Affect YOU!!! (And NOT In A Good Way!)

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It's a blog in!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Copy, Paste, and Blog It.... from the Copper Cauldron

It is a Blog-in. Help pass it a long.

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A Cozy Life: CPSIA

A Cozy Life: CPSIA
Check it out!

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Support Component Level Testing for CPSIA

Please take 3 minutes of your time...read and fill out the information on the link!

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LazyTcrochet - Knit, Crochet, Fashion, Food, and Fun: Bloggers Unite Over CPSIA

LazyTcrochet - Knit, Crochet, Fashion, Food, and Fun: Bloggers Unite Over CPSIA

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Blog In: CSPIA

Mommatudes: Blog In: CSPIA

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Sit in? Heck no, that was so 70's...Today is the CSPIA BLOG IN!

Do you know about the CPSIA?

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.

Source: http://goldtonedesigns.blogspot.com/

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Plush Art, Softies, Plush Toys, and Beyond - TheNeedle.org

Plush Art, Softies, Plush Toys, and Beyond - TheNeedle.org

Reason 547 that Congress should *never* be allowed to move quickly before knowing the results of their sweeping actions!

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27 January 2009

Inspirational Quote of the Day....

so, today's inspirational quote...

Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.

~Mark Twain

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heather knitz patterns: Coming Soon...The Knit Kit!

heather knitz patterns: Coming Soon...The Knit Kit!

It's the first snow day of the year!

It's a snowy day here in Cincinnati with 4 inches of snow so far and up to 10 inches predicted by tomorrow at noon! *yippee* says the kids. *yeah* says the mom:) School is out today, of course and tomorrow is a possibility! I would assume my children will be going out soon...they can only exercise restraint for so long....

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heather knitz patterns: New on Ravelry: Fabric Knitting and Crochet!

heather knitz patterns: New on Ravelry: Fabric Knitting and Crochet!

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heather knitz patterns: New on Ravelry: Fabric Knitting and Crochet!

heather knitz patterns: New on Ravelry: Fabric Knitting and Crochet!

23 January 2009

My So Called Junky Life: Lollishops Valentine's Day Love

My So Called Junky Life: Lollishops Valentine's Day Love

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Michelles Charm World: How To Shop Lollishops!

Michelles Charm World: How To Shop Lollishops!
A great *how to* from Michelle's Charm World with great screen shots to follow!

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lollishops giveaways: Featured Giveaway: Meet Annie Design...



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Holy vintage Pink and Green Cuteness: A friday find like no other!


Okay, those of you who *know me* know that I have pink and green blood...*literally*! So, I was working on my lollishops site this morning when all of the sudden, the clouds parted, the sun came out and shined down on these vintage beauties...I mean, have you *ever* seen such pink and green cuteness...I just happened to be online when Donna was uploading some brand new vintage chic furniture to her store! My heart is still racing about finding these things...

circa 1950-60's. mixed pink fabrics, vintage (new) apple green brush fringe trim, turn all the cusions over for a completly different look. fantastic caning on arms in excellent condition $1,350.00 ottoman $375. new pink zebra fabric with vintage (new) pink brush fringe and 2 tone pom pom trim




Please check out Donna's new online shop at Vintage Chic Furniture!

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21 January 2009

Share this on your Blog Postings....

Will make it SO much easier on your readers! Here is what it looks like:

When the reader *hovers* over the share button, all of these options pop up!

So, how do you add it, you ask...

  1. Go to http://www.addthis.com/

2. Click on the type of button you want, plug in the type of blog you have and then click on "get your button code"...

3. Then, follow the instructions for blog post button!

Your readers will thank you:) !

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lollishops giveaways: Lollishops Seller Feature: Meet Vintage Snaps & Scraps


A New President...some reflections on the day

Embedded video from CNN Video

It was a good day.

My favorite part of the inauguration was the quartet, "Air and Simple Gifts".

I was really struck by a conversation that I had with my children late yesterday afternoon...Both of them had been really engaged in the entire year of primaries, contests, the conventions and then the final election. My 9 year old son, stayed up to watch both conventions. They had a sense of the grandier of the day, but it became clear to me, they truly did not understand why yesterday was so monumental. I heard probing questions like "Why are so many people there?...Why is this inauguration different?" and then it dawned on me that they did not truly understand...

I had my daughter grab her social studies book...inside the front cover are the tiny oval pictures of each of the presidents. We talked about *almost* all of them, the differences, what was going on in the world and how they all were intertwined. We talked about the point at which women and black Americans could vote...and then it really began to sink in how important it is...

It makes me wonder what it will be like the day a woman will be President.

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19 January 2009

timothy adam designs: Google Analytics + Etsy Update

timothy adam designs: Google Analytics + Etsy Update

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Heatherknitz Patterns: I just started a new blog!

The focus of my new blog will be on my knitting and crochet projects and everything related! I hope that you enjoy it!

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lollishops giveaways: Lollishops Giveaways: 13 sellers offer up special Valentine's Day Giveaways!



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lollishops giveaways: Blog Giveaway: Meet Annie on Lollishops.com!

lollishops giveaways: Blog Giveaway: Meet Annie on Lollishops.com!

You must check these crocheted flowers! You could *win*!

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TinyBear: Lollishops Blog Giveaway Party

TinyBear: Lollishops Blog Giveaway Party

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TinyBear: Lollishops Blog Giveaway Party

TinyBear: Lollishops Blog Giveaway Party

I love this handmade heart! Check it out and you could win it!


Current Valentine Giveaways end 2.6.09! Good Luck!

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