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CPSIA - Blog-In ::: Please help save Handmade Artisans

The following is an excellent blog entry written by Holly (Etsy user name Winklepots) and Gretchen (Etsy user name ChichiBoulie) about the CPSIA law about to take effect February 10th, 2009. Please read it and and write your representatives. Thank you, Andy.

“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.”

Memorial Day... What does it mean to you?

To me Memorial Day is the holiday set aside to thank those that fought for our freedoms, and we need to thank all of them. Those currently fighting and protecting us and those that fought in the past. Without their selfless acts we could be under a very different form of government. One that does not allow the freedom of speech or the freedom to blog. We may not agree on the decisions the officials of our government have made, but we do need to remember the individuals fighting may not agree with them either but they are still doing their job. So while we are all out enjoying the freedoms of spending time with our family and friends, let's all take a moment to remember those that are not here to spend time with their loved ones. God bless them all.

Andy

Crayons, Crayons Everywhere!!!

You got kids, you got crayons... there everywhere!

I grabbed another treasury on Etsy.com. Please take a look at all the great crayon items I placed into this treasury. There are some very talented people selling their handmade items on Etsy.com and the treasuries are a way to showcase the sellers and items we find interesting and unique. Their hard work and dedication to their craft really shows in the items they produce. So take a minute and have a look.

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=40101

Happy recycling,
Andy

Bulls and Recycling... what a wonderful fit.

Well one of the requirements of being a member of the Etsy Blogger Street Team is you have to blog... Well that makes perfect sense. Each week we are given a theme to blog about. I figured I would be able to work reducing, reusing or recycling into the blog theme that way I could stay true to my theme and the weekly theme of the blogging street team, especially with next Tuesday, April 22, being Earth Day.

This weeks theme is a difficult one. The theme is "bull", anything to do with bull. I could have gone for BS, but that would have been an easy out and that type of blog in The Crayon Squiggle doesn't fit. So I did some research and found that the Elmer glue company (Elmer is the name of the bull that is the mascot/logo for Elmer's Glue) launched a recycling program to recycle glue bottles and glue stick containers through a program called The Elmer's Glue Crew Recycling Program. This program works with students and teachers through a classroom-based glue bottle and glue stick recycling program with web-based support. Each year more than 40 million students use Elmer's brand school glue and glue sticks. This is a program that shows students how to recycle something they use in the classroom and at home. Another great opportunity to educate our youth about the importance of doing their part to help preserve our natural resources. For more information check it out at The Elmer's Glue Crew Recycling Program.

Not an easy tie-in "Bulls" and recycling but i think it works. Joe and Aleethea thank you for the challenge. It was a nice change of pace researching a "bull" and recycling connection.

Happy recycling,
Andy

Featured EBST Member - April

Each month as part of our membership in the Etsy Blogger Street Team. We will be featuring a team member and their work. For our first feature we have StormDesigns. She is a wonderful team supporter and does some amazing things with polymer clay. You can read her blog at: http://stormydesigns.blogspot.com
Check out her Etsy store:

Etsy Buy Handmade StormyDesigns

Happy recycling,
Andy

April showers bring new opportunities

It's hard to believe it's April already. For most that means the tax deadline is just a week away and it will probably rain more days then not. April at TheCrayonBin means setting up pickup appointments for schools recycling crayons with us. Yes the end of the school year is just around the corner. Spring also brings fresh flowers, lawn mowers, yard work and hopefully some fresh ideas.
We have spent the month of March familiarizing ourselves with the online Etsy.com market place and have started a new online community called The 3R's Syndicate. The 3 R's are reduce, reuse and recycle. We want to bring together artists, artisans and crafters that use the 3R's in the process of creating their products. Our second goal is education and information about what is possible when you use the 3R's. You can visit our network at: The 3R's Syndicate. Please let us know what you think. We look forward to your feedback.
For now enjoy the rebirth that April brings.