Everything Handmade
However, when our technilogical advances cause the extinction of handmade quality, pride of craftsmanship, preservation of heritage, and those moments between mother and daughter, father and son, where a skill is passed on to a new generation... well, let me just say I learned a lot more than how to crochet from my Grandmother as a result of our time together as she patiently showed me how to hold the yarn and weave a tiny 'granny square.'
There are several ways that YOU can support and preserve the handmade industry. This lens will explore a few of them.
* Buy Handmade
* Promote Handmade
* Educate Handmade
* Network Handmade
Note: To review archives (Handmade Product Safety Links and Information - Scroll down To the "Change.Org Archive" section)
Supporting The Handmade Industry
There are several ways that YOU can support and preserve the handmade industry. This lens will explore a few of them.
* Buy Handmade
* Promote Handmade
* Educate Handmade
* Network Handmade
Educate Handmade
Change.Org Archive
The following sections are an archive of news related to the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act
Crafters Unite to Save Handmade Industry
ARCHIVE
Updated January 5, 2009 SECOND ROUND of VOTING BEGINS JAN 5th and ENDS Jan 10th (SEE BELOW for DETAILS) & PASS This ON. UPDATED DECEMBER 31, 2008Added CHANGE.ORG Links and information about the timeline for Voting on Change.Org SAVE HANDMADE is Number ONE in Catagory - GET THE WORD out! Please Keep it at Number One (everyone vote), then follow up in next round of voting (everyone vote again) ... think of this first round as a nomination and the last nominations will be accepted until Midnight December 31, 2008 (not sure of time zone so VOTE EARLY)... THEN the next round starts Jan 5th (see below for more UPDATES).
I just heard about this consumer products safety improvement act today and am not sure what to do other than clarify the meaning of it all and get the word out to as many people as possible.
From what I can gather so far... The Bill has Passed, and the Implementation of Fines and other law enforcement will begin on February 10th 2009, and this could mean the cost of the regulation (required testing of every product-more details follow) driving 1000's of handmade workers out of business.
Source Cool Mom Picks
The link takes you to Cool Mom Picks .com with information about the new Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act
Many more links are cited on this Lens including Change.Org, handmadetoyalliance.org , Facebook Group for saving Handmade, Twitter.com, abcNews, ZRecommends, and more.
The primary concern is for anyone who makes hand made goods for children. As far as I can tell so far, this is 'any' product that a child will use or that will be used in the care of a child.
I , of course, believe that products should be safe. For everyone. But, to require the extent of the testing that this is inplying would cost a fortune and most anyone who is making these products one piece at a time isn't going to have the way or means to comply with the regulation.
While I was creating the Etsy Directory, I discovered that there are countless people who work from home in just that platform, who are making their livings creating products for families and children.
This lens is going to be the place to find (and Contribute) PR letters and a 'plan of action' for crafters to become united.
Letter From Change.Org - January 5, 2009 - Next Round of Voting
Posted January 5, 2009 RE: Next Round Of Voting Jan. 5-15 , 2009
Hello Deborah,
We're happy to let you know that the final round of voting for the Ideas for Change in America competition begins today, and 2 of the ideas you voted for have qualified for the final round!
Voting has been reset to zero for the final round, so each of these ideas needs your vote again. You may vote for a total of 10 ideas.
Here are the ideas you voted for that qualified for the final round and need your support:
Save Handmade Toys From the CPSIA
You can further help support each idea by forwarding this email to friends, or posting links to your favorite ideas on your blog, Twitter account, or Facebook profile if you have one.
The final round of voting ends on January 15, and the following day we are co-hosting an event at the National Press Club with the Case Foundation to announce the top 10 rated ideas and present them to the Obama administration. We will then launch a national campaign in coordination with our nonprofit partners to ensure that each idea gets the full consideration of the administration and 111th Congress.
To select your "Top 10 Ideas for America," go to Change Org Ideas today.
We look forward to seeing you on the site!
- The Change.org Team
First Step - Update - Change.Org
Register and VOTE on Change.Org
Save Handmade on Change.Org
The Save Handmade issue is currently #1 in the Economy Catagory.
We need EVERYONE to Register, Vote and follow the timetable to ensure that the issue remains in the TOP of the list.
First Round Ends December 31, 2008 at Midnight.
How Voting Works
The "Top 10 Ideas for America" will be determined through two rounds of voting.
In the first round, ideas will compete against other ideas in the same issue category. The first round will end on December 31, 2008, and the top 3 rated ideas from each category will make it into the second round.
The second round of voting will begin on Monday, January 5, and each qualifying idea will compete against the qualifying ideas from all other categories. Second round voting will end on Thursday, January 15. ~Change.Org
"I will open the doors of government and ask you to be involved in your own democracy again." ~ President Elect Barack Obama
Second - Update - JOIN the FACEBOOK GROUP
4,295 Members Strong!
Join the FACEBOOK Group and receive updates from the Creator Cecilia Leibovitz Help Save Handmade Toys from the CPSIA on Facebook.
"Midnight, this Wed. December 31 is the deadline for the first round of voting on the change.org site. If you haven\'t voted, please do, and pass the word on. Let\'s remain in the number one spot! Here\'s the link:
http://tinyurl.com/6cj92v or
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia
January 5 Deadline for Comments to the CPSC
The CPSC has asked for comments regarding component testing and natural materials exemptions!
This is our chance to speak directly to the CPSC and push them to include these important additions in the CPSIA/provide your personal feedback on anything that hasn\'t been touched on.
Here are the links to the CPSC forms-
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/ComponentPartsComments.pdf,
http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foia09/brief/leadlimits.pdf
Let\'s keep the great momentum we have going!
Here\'s to a Happy and busy New Year!
Cecilia" Facebook Group Creator
Five Things You Can Do Now ~ Jeremiah ZRecommends
Zrecommends
Five Steps
You Can Take To Save Natural And Handmade Companies
On December 11, 2008
The word is out: The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act has
cast such a wide net that many small businesses and natural toy
companies are threatened with financial ruin by testing
requirements that need to be overhauled if they are to be applied
to them at all. Livelihoods, work-at-home arrangements, and the
availability of handmade and natural products for our children
are at stake. Here are five things you can do today to help force
Congress to address the mess they've made before the law goes
into effect on February 10, 2009. ~by
Jeremiah Zrecommends
Safe &
Sane! Change.Org _Save Handmade Toys From the CPSIA : A Proposal
from the HandMadeToyAlliance.Org http://tinyurl.com/6cj92v
834
members on FACEBOOK Group "Help Save Handmade Toys from the
CPSIA" http://tinyurl.com/6mcbl7
www.handmadetoyalliance.org
OPEN A Copy of the
House Bill can be
retrieved on pdf from (checked link December 14, 2008)
http://www.rules.house.gov/110/text/110_hr4040cr.pdf
As
I investigate and research the background and intention of this
act, it is clear that there was no harm intended by it. However,
harm is evident so Who Is Going To make it Right?
Vote on Change.Org & Join The Facebook Group
Safe &
Sane! Change.Org _Save Handmade Toys From the CPSIA : A Proposal
from the HandMadeToyAlliance.Org http://tinyurl.com/6cj92v
834
members on FACEBOOK Group "Help Save Handmade Toys from the
CPSIA" http://tinyurl.com/6mcbl7
www.handmadetoyalliance.org
Videos About CPSIA, Intentions, Results, and More
It is clear that the results of the call for product safety was expected, in reply to the lack of safety (seriously endangering children), yet, the side effect is a disaster that will devastate 1000's of small firms and home workers.
More Videos
HANDCRAFTER ALERT- Will CPSIA 2008 FORCE Wood TOYMAKER OUT OF BUSINESS? 0 points
Tell Us ... Chime In ... Speak out HERE
Please include your response to the regulation as it stands now. Yes or No. And please include why.
This is the place for you to say how you feel about this, what you would suggest is and isn't part of the regulation.
How would you rewrite it ?
Would you leave it as is?
You can answer anonymously, leave links to information, link to discussions, post your blog or website that is discussing this.
This is an OPEN FORUM
Please be courteous as you share your perspective.
No retaliation...
Just share and allow others to share as well.
Yes or No to the regulation and why?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byYes.
No.
AliciaMae says:
It can't be implemented as it is. The government needs to learn how to discern between big business, small business, and one-(wo)man shows. Solving one problem by creating another isn't going to help anybody. There's more to the economy and market than the corporate structure and mass produced goods. Legislation needs to represent all classes or be specifically aimed (and written for) one.
Posted December 29, 2008
GypsyOwl says:
This regulation needs rewritten. While the purpose is noble the results are a double edged sword. We need to present this issue to those who have worked so hard to get this passed. Kudos for their Intentions! Now...let's fix what isn't working in the plan.
Posted December 14, 2008
Matt B says:
This sounds like rules for the sake of rules.
Posted December 14, 2008
CCGAL says:
Keeping unsafe products from other countries out is a good thing. Destroying Cottage Industry through poorly worded or ill thought out legislation is not a good thing. We all want to keep our children safe, but where do we draw the line? Not in such a way as to harm our own hand made industries. Yikes! I gotta get involved on this one!
Posted December 13, 2008
GypsyOwl says:
It is a regulation written to keep unsafe products away from out children and that is a Good thing. The problem is the way the Regulation is Presented...and this will lead to the bankruptcy of every careing handmade creation and designer person everywhere.
The regulation needs revised so that the responsibility is there (of course if any product is unsafe it shouldn't be sold), but, the ways and means of 'testing' are left up to the creator.
Posted December 13, 2008
The Purpose of The ACT
December 14, 2008 ~ Deborah Bryan
U.S.PIRG
Product Safety News: Signed Sealed Delivered: Safer Toys, Safer
Kids
On
August 14, 2008
President Bush
signed a law that overhauls the Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC)> The bi-partisan Consumer Product Safety
Improvement Act of 2008 will make consumer products safer by
requiring that toys and infant products are tested before they
are sold...
abcNEWS
New Toy Safety Standards
Become Law: Cribs and Toys Among Products That Will Adhere to New
Regulations
On
August 14, 2008
From lunch-boxes and backpacks to baby cribs and toy figurines, a
lengthy effort to make children's products safer has finally
cleared the final hurdles. Mandatory
federal standards will soon dictate how many children's products
are made before they can be sold in stores. ~
Kate Barrett abcNews
Copy
of the House Bill can be retrieved on pdf from (checked link
December 14, 2008)
http://www.rules.house.gov/110/text/110_hr4040cr.pdf
As
I investigate and research the background and intention of this
act, it is clear that there was no harm intended by it. However,
harm is evident so Who Is Going To make it Right?
Replys to this welcome: See below (on this lens) in the Guestbook
What Can You Do?
Cory Doctorow says "The law takes effect on February 10th and the toymakers and small clothing designers are getting very worried indeed.:
It appears that the regulation was initially intended to keep unsafe toys and children's products from being imported from China.
The 'unintentional' result is that anyone who makes children's products will be responsible to live up to the regulation.
Where is the 'loophole' for domestic products that have been created for people who want handmade products? Or, for the manufacturing of products that are not only safe, but, are also wholesome?
The line between protection of consumers and down to earth practices is very grey.
Safety
It is true that we want our safety to be ensured...
It is also true that sometimes the procedures to ensure our safety also takes away our rights.
So, What should we do?
Continue the discussion, create awareness, encourage interaction and initiate positive progress and change that helps.
Social Media Reports & Discussions
GypsyOwl: @newmediajim Good Morning Jim, I'm wondering if you have any connections to help in awareness to 'Save Handmade' http://tinyurl.com/6bxdhw newmediajim: @GypsyOwl this is a HUGE issue for people who craft for a living http://tinyurl.com/6bxdhw thank you for the link. newmediajim: @GypsyOwl I plan on writing something about that here http://craftynation.com 
epodcaster: Crafters Beware: RT from @newmediajim @GypsyOwl this is a HUGE issue for people who craft for a living http://tinyurl.com/6bxdhw GypsyOwl: @newmediajim Thank You Jim! I'll add your link to my resource page as well. OTA VERY COOL meeting Google Guru! :D Want to hear more bout it newmediajim: @GypsyOwl the problem for handmade crafters is there large lobbying forces working to craft the act http://is.gd/bCRs http://is.gd/bCT0See More of the conversation on Twitter.Com @NewMediaJimand Twitter.Com @GypsyOwl
Press, related posts and late-breaking news
Patriot Ledger Editorial: "New law to put thousands of out work"
Boing Boing: "Consumer safety rule could drive crafters out of business"
Mothering.com: "Good intentions lead to catastrophic results for the natural toy industry"
Wall Street Journal: "Vendors urge relaxed lead safety rule" (despite the misleading headline)
DaddyTypes: "Is CPSC's new lead regulation going to wipe out the baby non-industrial complex next February?"
Eco Child's Play: "New consumer safety laws will make handmade, natural toys illegal"
Mom-101: "In support of work-at-home moms and other reasons to defeat the CPSIA act"
Visit Cool Mom Picks Save Handmade HQ for more information about these and most recent News!
Searched Twitter for 'Save Handmade' and discovered a tag code #CPSIA These were the discussions
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byDo you Buy Handmade?
Do You Make Handmade items to sell?
Can you help with letters or PR to get the word out about this?
If Yes... Please go back up to "Tell us...Chime In...Speak out here" and tell us how (if you havn't already).
Consumer Reports Top 100 Products
Consumer Reports, November 2008 Issue
Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 07/06/2009)
Guestbook - Would you like to say hello?
Say hello and continue the conversation.
Bring more information into the discussion.
Once again, this can be anonymous but keep your replies about your perspective and allow others to share their perspectives as well.
Walts wrote...
Hi Beborah:
Thank you very much for the nice complement and for lensrolling my lens to your save handmade lens, I really appreciate it. This is a excellent lens you hace here.
Walt
Posted January 09, 2009
kathyrclark wrote...
Safety is important. But Government Rules aren't the answer.
Posted December 31, 2008
GypsyOwl wrote...
Thank you Alicia, I appreciate you taking the time to leave a message and also for your comment in the polls. I have lensrolled your lens Buying Handmade to several of my lenses. Great Resource! [in reply to AliciaMae]
Posted December 31, 2008
AliciaMae wrote...
Great topic to get out there. Welcome to the handmade group!
Posted December 29, 2008
OrganicGiftsByDiana wrote...
WOW !
Like you, I understand that some saftey measures are vital, but they are going to kill small business like mine.
I think the labeling needs to be better to let parents know what they are getting.
I have been educating folks (on Squidoo and on my website and in my online store...) about all natural products and what to look for in that area as this is what I am most knowledgable about.
Let these committees give out lists of what to avoid and the common and legal names for all of the ingredients/fabrics/paints... that are used.
It is a scary thing when our choices are taken away.
If this keeps up, we will have no choices except for big businesses who can afford to hire lawyers to skirt the laws anyway. How safe is that ?
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Organically Yours,
Diana
Posted December 15, 2008
GypsyOwl wrote...
I found the facebook group, Change.org Voteing site, and a Five Steps you can do now to help. Added to lens. (see above).
Posted December 14, 2008
GypsyOwl wrote...
You Can Quote Me ...
"This regulation needs rewritten. While the purpose is noble the results are a double edged sword. We need to present this issue to those who have worked so hard to get this passed. Kudos for their Intentions! Now...let's fix what isn't working in the plan." ~Deborah Bryan (aka GypsyOwl)
Posted December 14, 2008
by GypsyOwl
listening to @Natalie_Brown
New CD "Random Thoughts" Do Not Miss Who
Is Natalie Brown"
Broadcast: Enter in July and Au...
(more)
