A bit of a concession...

There is a bit of encouragement from the CPSC. According to the most recent announcement, CPSC will allow consignment and second hand stores to sell items that they have in inventory IF those items do not exceed lead law requirements and have not been recalled. Items will not have to have certificates proving lead levels but will be held responsible for selling items that have high lead content... so they will need to be careful about the items they take in and sell.

This means if Goodwill (or you if you are having a yard sale) has a child's outfit they will be able to sell it... if they have a painted piece of furniture they may want to test the item or choose not to sell it.

Check out this article on Etsy regarding this new development:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/cpsia-exemption-announcement-resources-action-items-3188/

The Dealth of Unique Handcrafted Products....

By now, some of you would have heard about the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) which is to be fully implemented on February 10th. This law was a reaction to the imported products that were sold to US consumers for children which had very high lead content... do you remember the Thomas Train issues? Like most parents, I don't want lead in my children's toys. I do think it should be mandatory that imports are tested. But the law doesn't stop there.

According to the law, all products that could be used by children 12 and under must have third party testing of the final product. (Testing of components is NOT compliance).

I began creating unique hand made toys and quilts for children because I don't like most of the cheap mass produced plastic toys that currently line the toy shelves of retailers. When I first began making toys, I contacted the manufacturer of the fleece that I use and have now twice received written confirmation that the fleece used in my toys are lead and toxin free. So, I am making a safe toy alternative. Or am I... according the new CPSIA I am creating hazardous waste.

Unfortunately, certification that my materials are lead free does not make me compliant to the law. Because I can not test EACH variation of my blocks (each is unique) they can not be considered for sale once the law goes into affect. A spokesperson has stated that items that are true one-of-a-kind items will be exempt from testing but the law has not been revised to reflect that statement.

Here are a few link which provide additional information:

Link to the government website: http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Link to A Daily Rate which contains an article on this topic: http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

I encourage everyone to look at this legislation and act. Call someone, write your legislator, sign a petition....

Almost October...

Well, I haven't done so well on my resolution to keep this blog current. But, I have gotten some new inspiration from a fellow Etsian and friend Kay Zoretic. Check out her Etsy Shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=54302 as she is a fabulous silversmith and has some really wonderful jewelry. This is one of my favorite items... simple but elegant.

Fresh Start

Okay, today I am going to make a fresh start. I am going to try to keep this blog current but I have to admit it is a bit of a struggle. The decision of whether to spend time on the computer or time on the sewing machine is hard... but I almost always choose the sewing machine :-).



So... what is new here? On the personal front, I am developing my lesson plans for school. We will begin classwork on Monday and I have a lot to finish up.



What is new at Poppy Patch Quiltery? Well, the production of Christmas items have taken the top spot on my to-do list. I plan to have much of my inventory completed before the hectic holiday season starts. In addition to my fabulous (if I do say so myself) 6 and 7 foot Christmas Tree Skirts, I am planning to début my Jesse Tree ornament sets this year. These should be listed on my site (http://poppypatch.etsy.com/) by mid October.



Coming soon, I am creating beginner level sewing kits for children and youth. Look for listings in my Etsy shop (http://poppypatch.etsy.com/) .

Okay - off to sew now....

Kites in Flight!

Well, I finished a bedding set which turned out really nice.

Here are photo's taken of the twin size Kites in Flight Quilt (shown on a Queen size bed), Pillow Sham, and double sided Kite Toss Pillow.

This was custom ordered for a little boy who was turning 3. I think his room will turn out great. What do you think?

Still Here... just busy!

Well, it has been a month since I last posted... I figured I better add a note.

We have officially started school in our home for the year... but do homeschool families ever really stop schooling? With a Kindergartner and 1st Grader this year, I am multi-tasking a lot more than last year. DD2 isn't as willing to sit still as DD1 was at her age and requires A LOT of focused attention.

Our school room will need to be rearranging again this year - we keep accumulating teaching tools and need to find places to put them. The local school district is having another auction on Thursday and my DH is threatening to hid the checkbook. At the last school auction, I bought an entire school room (desk, tables, bookshelves, etc) for $15.00. To get anything in the room, you had to take the WHOLE room. The problem is... what do you do with all the things that won't fit into your house? Thankfully, in that instance, I found someone at the auction who was trying to stock a new church school who was willing to take everything I didn't want.

Off to teach... We will see what happens on Thursday!

Off to the Craft Shows....

I have been frantically sewing (and not sleeping enough) in preparation for my first Craft Shows of the season. I finished the "must complete" works in progress last night at 3:00 a.m. (yawn).

I am exhibiting at a private event on 7/18, but if you are going to be in the Bowling Green, KY area, please come and see me at either the Car Show - Sloan Convention Center on 7/19 & 20 or in the Pavilion at the SOKY fair 7/22-7/28.