Dreams and Designs E-Book Now Available!

I told you about this wonderful e-book in this post, but I wanted you to be aware that the title of the book has changed. The new title is "Dreams and Designs: Homemade Supplies to Compliment Your Homeschool" by Donna Campos. It is now available at The Old Schoolhouse store. Just click on this link to find the e-book for only $12.45!

Big Dreams Creative Designs E-Book (Review)

I have had the chance to review another e-book for The Old Schoolhouse magazine. It is called, "Big Dreams Creative Designs" and it is written by Donna Campos. This new e-book offers many ideas for creative learning opportunities, even if you're on a tight budget.

In this 54-page e-book, Donna shares with you some of the ways she's used inexpensive items to transform her homeschool. The first section of the book gives you several ways to use something as simple as a three-sided science fair display board! From just this one item, you can make an adaptable calendar, a puppet theater, a scrolling story board, personal partitions (for those of you who are homeschooling more than one child), and activity center partitions! Donna doesn't just show you how to make each of those things, she also shows you how each one can be used in different ways with pictures and detailed directions.

The next section of the "Big Dreams Creative Designs" e-book deals with organization - specifically, how to keep your school supplies/books/posters/etc. organized for daily use. Donna converted an old computer desk into a multi-use educational center that can be wheeled around in your house so you can take your "school" with you! I love this idea and would love to incorporate it into my home at some point. If you don't have room for such a large piece, Donna tells you how to recycle items you might not have thought about using for school storage.

After reading this book, I started to think about organizing my own school area. This afternoon, I did some rearranging with great results. I found an old crate that had been in the garage for quite some time that I dusted off and am now using as a shelf to hold my daughter's collection of coloring books on her desk. Her desk had been quite cluttered with all of her art supplies, so I found creative ways to store those as well. This e-book was just the nudge I needed to get myself in gear!

If you buy this wonderful e-book, you will also learn how to use file folders to create timelines that don't take up a whole wall and index cards to design a variety of activities for use in your homeschool. Donna Campos is very creative and invites you to think outside the box (literally!), while providing you plenty of help and direction along the way. This new e-book will be available very soon at The Old Schoolhouse store. I will post again when it has been released!

Cool Giveaway at Make and Takes!

I have just discovered this wonderful blog and am so excited about the giveaway going on for it's 2nd anniversary! Find out how to enter by clicking the button below! You have to enter by midnight on Thursday, Feb. 19, so hurry on over there!

Confused about CPSIA? Let's clear it up for you...

Well, folks, the day has come...National Bankruptcy Day, that is. If you don't know what I'm talking about, go to my posts on the CPSIA to find out. For the most recent update, click this link and you're sure to know exactly what items are now considered banned, hazardous children's items by the CPSIA:

http://cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/smbus/cpsiasbguide.html

Hmmm....clear as mud, huh?

I'm coming back a little later to post a few of my favorite things I'll miss because of the CPSIA, but until then, feel free to chew on this blogger's post about books for a while:

http://heartkeepercommonroom.blogspot.com/2009/02/these-are-few-of-my-favorite-things.html

Update from Handmade Toy Alliance

Here's the latest on the CPSIA from an email I received from the Handmade Toy Alliance:

Thank you for your continued support to Save Small Business from the CPSIA. It has been an active week. A stay of enforcement was issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Friday, January 30th. Although it has stayed enforcement of many provisions of the law, the CPSC has made it clear that they lack authority to fully correct the CPSIA. Urge Congress to provide the CPSC with guidance that will protect toymakers, thrift resellers, publishers, and clothing manufacturers from the unintended consequences of the CPSIA. A technical amendment, the CPSIA Regulatory Relief Bill, will be introduced on the Senate floor soon. It is important that we gain Senate support for this necessary legislation. Here's what you can do:

1. Call your Senator (switchboard: 202-224-3121).
2. Identify yourself as a constituent and ask to speak with the Senator or the staff assistant who follows Commerce issues.
3. Ask him/her to co-sponsor the CPSIA Regulatory Relief Legislation, and tell them if they have questions about the legislation they can contact Tom Jones in Senator DeMint’s DC office at 202-224-6121. Tom’s email address is tom_jones@commerce.senate.gov.
4. Ask them to vote for the CPSIA Regulatory Relief legislation when it comes to the Senate floor, possibly as an amendment to the stimulus package as has been rumored.

Get five friends to do steps 1-4. We need to show strong support of this amendment in order to get the Senate to pass it. To read the specifics of the amendment, go to: http://demint.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=JimsJournal.Detail&Blog_ID=295d58b2-b6fe-c446-1432-24b6199424ed

We have also made strides in our intiative at change.org. We are in the final stages of teaming with a non profit agency and going forward with our national campaign to save small businesses. There is a new petition that you can sign and send a letter to Congress. To see the petition, go to: http://www.change.org/ideas/4203/view_action/tell_congress_to_save_small_business. Our blog posts have also begun. View these at: http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia .Thank you again for your support. Our grassroots campaign would never have gotten as far as it has without the support of people like you.
http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/

This blog has a lot of helpful links about some of the recent events: http://overlawyered.com/2009/02/cpsia-chronicles-february-5/.

The CPSIA will affect you...please read!

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

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. (These clips are from my shop: Ella Bella Bowtique.)

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.” Wall Street Journal article.

To the American Economy:

Already struggling under an economy that has not 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 are 3 recent articles from Forbes:
Scrap the CPSIA Part I
Scrap the CPSIA Part II
Scrap the CPSIA Part III

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, read the
The New Law for yourselves.

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please find out how to best REACT!
Cool Mom Picks: Save Handmade

***I'm adding this link with LOTS of helpful information: http://www.etsy.com/storque/media/bunker/2009/01/CPSIA-Etsy-Resources.pdf

More about the CPSIA!

It is so sad that this law slipped right past all of us and I don't know what can really be done to fix it. There have been some exclusions made for natural fabrics and natural gems, but where does that leave those of us who use fabric that have been dyed? The paints I'm using are certified NON-TOXIC, but this stupid law says I have to test every clip I make using the paint to certify that each clip is non-toxic. Does that make any sense at all?? Yes, I believe we need to make things safe for kids, but this law is OVERKILL! So, I want you to go over to sign a petition to repeal it. Let's just end the law before it even goes into effect! http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/RepealCPSIA/.

I want you to fully understand the far-reaching scope of this law. It FEDERALLY BANS all products intended for children under 12 that have not been certified as having less than a certain level of lead in them. The certification only comes after you have tested each component of the item and each component has less than 600 ppm (parts per million) by weight. The regulations become more stringent in August, so something I can sell right now might feasibly be illegal come August.

So, we are talking about books, CDs, clothing (i.e. those adorable outfits from little boutiques), diapers, children's furniture (i.e. that one-of-a-kind hand-painted stool in your son's bathroom), jewelry (i.e. that fantastic beaded necklace you found for your daughter at a farmer's market), bedding (i.e. that cute little quilt your mom made your daughter or the crocheted blanket you bought from a craft fair), toys (i.e. that beautifully hand-sewn bear your son sleeps with every night)....the list goes on. After Feb. 10, you will find less and less of these specialty items because those cute little boutiques will have to shut down - the testing simply isn't cost effective enough for them to stay in business.

And, if you think it only affects those selling handmade items, think again. This law will eventually trickle down to affect YOUR pocketbook. All of the above items you've bought for your children at Target or Toys R Us are going to cost more because companies are going to have to pass the cost of testing along to you, the consumer. Besides having a lot less options, you are going to have to spend more of the money you don't have right now on clothes for your children.

And, if you think you'll be able to get children's products at 2nd hand stores, think again! Yes, the CPSC did make a clarification to the law regarding reselling, but you must read the wording very carefully. Though it says that resellers (including Good Will, folks) will not have to have certification on the items they sell, they will face consequence (read: huge fines or jail time) if they are caught selling something that does not meet the CPSC's requirements for lead. Well, I think that means that they will either have to test or just HOPE that they aren't selling something that is against the law.

Oh, and one more thing...lest you think you can craft something for your friend's child or your grandson, this law stops you from doing that, too! You cannot even give away something you've made for a child unless it has been tested and certified!!

Do you see how this trickles down and affects ALL of you? Please do something! The petition above is a good place to start. If you think I'm crazy, here are just a few of the news stories that are starting to run (finally it's getting some media attention!). If you go to You Tube and search CPSC or CPSIA, you will find many more.

Save Ella Bella Bowtique from the CPSIA!!!

I will be writing more on this subject as I find out more, but for now, please do me the big favor of clicking on the widget on my sidebar and voting. This is intended to get Obama's attention on the issue of the CPSIA's upcoming deadline (Feb. 10) for which all items sold to children under 12 will face required testing of lead and phthalates. If items do not meet the requirements, they will be deemed BANNED, hazardous substances. The big issue is that the testing is very costly. I sell my hair clips at a low price and only really make pennies when it's all said and done. If I were to get this testing done, there would be no point and I would just shut the business down. Of course, if I don't get the testing done, and keep selling my products, I'm sure I will face consequences as well. Now, in the grand scheme of things, my business is not all that important and since I don't derive any great income from it, it will not "hurt" me to shut it down (though, I do really love doing it as a hobby!!). But, the legislation will be devastating for many, many small businesses in America. Those businesses have become people's livelihood, especially in hard economic times when there are no jobs to be found.

I really can't beg you enough to try to do something about this before it's too late! It has already been passed, but if there is enough public outcry, we may be able to persuade them to add exemptions for those who sell products that are made from materials that meet the requirements (I mean, I'm not buying contraband ribbon and lead-infested buttons, here people!!).

More is coming, but until then, please do your research (the CPSC website is a good place to start). You can also contact your senators & representatives using this handy device HERE.

**Here are a few more links:
http://www.ipetitions.com/missing-petition.html
http://www.fashion-incubator.com/ (you have to dig around here, but the forums are very informative!)
http://cpsia-central.ning.com/
http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/
http://www.challengeandfun.typepad.com/
http://www.apparelandfootwear.org/

Feelin Crafty!

I started and completed a dress for Ella this week! She kept bugging me to finish it, but every time I started sewing again, she'd get upset I wasn't playing with her. Oh, to find that magic balance! I was finally able to get it done today and she was so exicted! She had to put it on right away and made plans to wear it for jammies tonight (though it's not a jammie dress, I reminded her). We checked it out in the big mirror in the bathroom and she turned around and gave me a big hug. Sweet success! :) Then, of course, we had to have a photo shoot. Now, she came up with every single pose on her own - I don't want you thinking I'm coaching her to be the next Paris Hilton! Here are a few of the best shots:








This is the bracelet she made to go with it. She came into my sewing room and started cutting up the scraps (or, "material", she would say) into little strips. She then found this piece of ladybug fabric I'd sewn up as a strap for something else. She cut a bit of it and went to get the stapler so she could put it all together. Pretty clever, eh? The cutest part was saying things like, "I think I need to cut it an inch. What do you think, Mommy? Don't talk to me while I'm working. I can't think if you're making noise, Mom." (Hmmm...where did she get that??)


Yes, I still intend to write about The Shack, but I just had to come by to post my newest creation. :)

I love a good challenge

Like I need to add anything else to my plate, but being that I love to challenge myself (apparently), I'm signing up for Creative Everyday 2008. Maybe some of you will join me in this quest to do something creative every single day this year. I already do this on a regular basis, but some days I just need a bit of motivation to get the juices flowing. Thankfully, there are so many ways to be creative! So, even though I just found out about this challenge, I have something to post about today. This afternoon, Ella was wanting to play and I was just not feeling it (don't hate me if I admit that this is how I feel most days), so we decided to make something instead. She knows I'm a sucker for that kind of thing. I had been wanting to make a homemade doll house with her for a while, so we took this opportunity to drag a bunch of supplies such as old shoeboxes, wrapping paper, pipe cleaners, stickers, construction paper, packing materials (Styrofoam, cardboard inserts, etc.), and finally begin this great project. We only finished one room, but we had so much fun! I love seeing how her mind works and watching her problem-solve. She came up with the lighting fixture all on her own. I'll have to take a picture of the room tomorrow so you can see what we created.

I probably won't post about my creative pursuits every day, but I will keep up with them and try to post what I've done at least weekly.