Saturday, January 31

Thank You...... EntreCard Top Droppers & Readers


Dropper # of drops
The Junk Drawer 31
BeadedTail 31
Computer Aid 31
Mr Soleh’s Outburst 31
Robin's Nest:  Scrap out loud 31
On The Bricks 30
Lofty Matters 30
Septagon Studios Inc News Blog 30
LadyCoder.com 30
Kitchen Retro 30

......I want to thank all my blog readers and droppers:

♥ EntreCarders who drop on my blog each day & purchase ads,
♥ Fantastic Bloggers who read my blog & leave comments
♥ Loving Bloggers who have left me awards (...I am so very behind at the moment from passing some awards on..hubby has been dropping EC's for me lately so I can find time to create more).

...You really are the greatest!

Friday, January 30

CPSC Grants One Year Stay....

CPSC Grants One Year Stay of Testing and Certification Requirements for Certain Products
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.

Read the rest of the press release here:
Etsy Storque Article 
CPSC website

Monday, January 26

Bloggers UNITE! --- Wednesday 28 Jan. - - - CPSIA BLOG-IN

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: Heather Knitz Designs

Friday, January 16

New Front page on Artfire

Artfire has added more new listing images on the new front page. They have great customer service (they are quick to respond). It is still in beta and will suffer growing pains. The accounts have been selling fast in the last two months... down to 3,096 verified accounts today.

Friday, January 9

Featured: SassaLynne

Textile Art Postcard Summer Jewels

Artfire Referral sign up

Artfire Update:
Some of the referrals are not being credited when the person writes the shop name into the form and we are to contact admin. with our referrals- (I will reserve my comment on this..). If you have signed up using GypsyGoods as a referral...Please, contact me with your Artfire Shop name (so, I can contact Artfire admin....I have 0 showing right now) Please use my direct link to sign up:

I am still working on the thank you goodies-maybe, some cupwraps-buttons (It will be more than worth your while).....I might just offer shop gift certificates. Hey, PIF-(bribes) are fun (but, you will thank me for getting you to sign up on Artfire).

If you have not taken advantage of the $7.00 unlimited verified Artfire, please do. They have extended the offer until the rest of the accounts are sold out (today at 3,323 left) and the price goes up to $20. It is really growing into a wonderful art community with guilds and so many more extras to come. If you were on Etsy back before V2...you remember how great it was when the community was smaller than it is today.

Friday, January 2

Tribbles

Who doesn't love Tribbles......
Should I admit that I have the box set with a talking tribble on the movie shelf....(he still makes his cute little sound, too).
TOS, TNG, Q collection....yea, NERD ALERT!