Friday, January 30, 2009

Love Vintage Pillowcases?

If you do, then you'll have to check out Lark Books Craft Challenge - Dozens of Ways to Repurpose a Pillowcase . Why? Well, because you love vintage pillowcases, but also because I have a project featured in this book! I'm so excited to see it in print myself. My contribution is an apron made from vintage pillowcases. I would show you all a picture, but since my computer was stolen - my pictures went with it. So, it'll just have to wait.
The book is due out March, 2009. I'll be sure to let you all know when I get my first copy. I am excited myself to see all of the other projects in this book. I love vintage linens and am always looking for ways to use them.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

CPSIA Alert - Bloggers Unite! Save Handmade

As a fellow "handmade artisan", buyer of second hand children's clothing, and seller of children's second hand clothing, I am joining the many bloggers today who are voicing their concerns over the CPSIA new set of laws coming into effect on February 10, 2009. Please read this statement below from chichiboulie.etsy.com, .....

"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=1322To 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 Forbeshttp://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.htmlAnd for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Lawhttp://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.htmlDid you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react."

Monday, January 26, 2009

Crocheted Valentine's Day Hearts

As much as I hate to stray from my pictures from my night Dancing with the Stars (did I mention that I got to meet Derek Hough and Mark Ballas!?!?!?!) - I felt I should get this blog back to this sort of stuff.......

I found this great little pattern for Sweet Crocheted Hearts on Bella Dia's blog -http://belladia.typepad.com/bella_dia/2008/02/sweet-heart-cro.html and thought I'd give it a try myself since I really don't have that many cute Valentine's Day decorations.
Give it a try if you want - it's super simple and you can add any sort of details that you want. I'm planning to add more vintage buttons to mine and then probably string them into a garland to hang somewhere in the house.

I'm also planning to try this Valentine's Day Craft from Heather Bullard - Vintage Inspired Living.
Her blog is so beautiful - it's sure to inspired you! I just found the $1 wooden hearts she mentions at Joann's on Saturday in their dollar section. I'll have to let you know how they turn out!

Check out my Etsy shop soon - here are some pictures of items I am trying to get listed today. My girl is due home from school in about 20 minutes and the boy is stirring from his nap - so that may or may not happen, but we'll see!

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

More Pictures of Ballas and Hough Band - Dallas, TX

Here are a few more pictures from our evening at the House of Blues in Dallas. I can't tell you how genuinely nice these guys seemed to be. Their energy and enthusiasm was so contagious - and, I am genuinely looking forward to hearing more of their music as well as seeing them dance.

This is Sam. We had such fun watching this kid play guitar. I hardly ever saw him with out a smile on his face...

The girl in this picture is Emily Grace. She plays keyboard. Seemed like a really sweet girl. I think the band had just as much fun as the audience that night.
Thanks again Ballas and Hough Band for such a fun evening my mom and I will have fun talking about for a long time!



Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Dancing with the Stars - Ballas and Hough Band - OMG!!!!! The BEST time!!!

Do you SEE who we are with??!!!!! I'm telling you this was the best time! Mom and I went to the Dancing with the Stars tour show in Dallas - then, hiked a few blocks down to the House of Blues to watch the Ballas and Hough Band. We love Derek and Mark as dancers and know we're definately fans of their music.
We hadn't planned to go to the concert afterwards, that was a fluke. I really didn't think we'd be able to get in - but we lucked out.
I can't tell you how nice these guys are - they spent time with each and every person that wanted a picture or autograph and seemed to be having such a great time with everyone.

I also got pictures of Cody, Cheryl, Lance Bass, and Maurice Green - they all came to House of Blues too. My sweet husband gave Mom and I a night at the Adolphus hotel in Dallas that night - and it was spectacular! Such a treat -

I'll tell you all more about it later - but couldn't wait to post these few pictures!!!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year, At Last!

Hi All -
Just wanted to reach out and say hello. I'm still here, just still basically out of commission regarding computer and camera, etc.
I am soooooooo glad that it's 2009!!! I'm ready for a clean slate, a new year, a new start. This will be a better year I'm certain. Of course I'm counting my many blessings from 2008, but there were several happenings during the past year that I would rather erase.
We had a fun Christmas despite the knots in my stomach over the break in. We were able to capture memories via family members cameras and video cameras. But, my husband made the comment that we have never gone through a bottle of vodka in our 10 years of marriage as quickly as we have during the last few weeks.
I realized this past weekend that the videos of my son crawling for the first time as well as his first steps may have been taken. I'm so heartbroken over this I can't bring myself to see exactly what I have and what I don't have. I don't care about any of the "stuff", I just want those video tapes back. The jerks that got into our house also managed to take several other items of value that had sentimental value. Why they couldn't have taken other things instead I don't know. I'm just praying everyday that who ever did this to us gets caught and that by some miracle we may get some items of significance returned.
I still pray that they get whatever help they need, because they are in a worse place in life than me I know.
Happy New Year to all our family and friends!!
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