craft

I’ve been hearing a lot within the indie design community lately about the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) that was recently passed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) this past August.  This new law came about because of concerns over child safety. (Remember all that lead and other hazardous chemicals found in toys made in China?)  This law aims to protect children under 12 from harmful substances that can be found in toys, furniture and clothing.

Unfortunately the law was written in a way that will make it very hard to continue to buy or sell handmade, as well as vintage or recycled, children’s items within the U.S.  It will basically force every manufacturer (including crafters making things at home to sell) to do expensive testing on every single component of each children’s item they sell.  And the law goes for not only newly made items, but anything made before the law goes into effect (thus impacting vintage & recycled goods).

Connie over at Sweet Figments wrote a really great post on the subject, and she explains a lot of the possible implications this law could have on small business owners and handmade items.  The day this new law will go into effect, February 10th, 2009, has been dubbed “National Bankruptcy Day” by many manufacturers and retailers in the industry both in the U.S. and around the world.

I think it’s important to at the very least educate yourself about how you may be affected by this law.  I think everyone agrees that we need to have laws and standards in place to protect the safety of both our children and ourselves.  It just seems like the lawmakers were very short-sighted in this case and didn’t pause to think about artisan goods for children or the environmental impacts of having to trash all of the pre-existing children’s items that don’t comply with the new regulations.

I feel like there are a lot of problems in general with the way we test for health and safety in this country to begin with and this is just another example.  (Another example would be how bottled water is often much less regulated than tap water, and can often contain significantly more toxins than tap water, which is very strictly regulated.)

Please check out this issue.  If you want to take action, here are some resources found at Connie’s blog:

Sign the petition.

Vote for Change at Change.org.

The Handmade Toy Alliance has provided a sample letter and listed contact info for your Congress Person and Senators.

National Bankruptcy Day Site.

Write to man who sponsored this bill and send him an item of yours that will be illegal to sell after Feb 9th, 2009 in protest. http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5949146

Bobby L. Rush (D)
Washington Office
2416 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
phone: 202-225-4372
fax: 202-226-0333

{ 2 comments }

If you’re in New Orleans, be sure to come check out the annual New Orleans Craft Mafia tradition tonight — it’s The Last Stop Shop at The Big Top!

Get great last-minute handmade goods for everyone on your list and support local artists.  This event is more than just an art market: we’ll have snacks, live holiday music by ukulele crooner Littler Richard, plus a reprise of our annual Handmade Holiday Ornament & Tree Raffle, with the proceeds benefiting Recycle For the Arts.

There’s also a cash bar and free parking across the street at Fleet Tire.  We’ll be there at The Big Top Gallery, located at 1638 Clio Street between St. Charles Avenue & Carondolet Street, from 6-10pm.  Stop by and say hi!

{ 0 comments }

If you’re in New Orleans, be sure to come check out the holiday arts market & green fair at the Whole Foods on Magazine Street this Sunday, December 14. I’ll be there from noon til 5pm along with some of my other New Orleans Craft Mafia members. There will also be people from some of the local green non-profit groups, plus beer & wine tastings and a green gift wrapping station. Don’t miss it!

{ 0 comments }

Geez, there are just so many amazing new shops stocking eco-friendly fashions, handmade gifts and fair trade goods that I’m having trouble keeping up with them all!  It is nice though that this is starting to feel a little more like the norm than a passing trend.

Equita is a Pittsburgh based company with both a webshop and a brick & mortar boutique stocking the best in ethical fashion, organic body care and sustainable home decor.  They are one of only a few American companies currently carrying FIN, a Norwegian brand whose Fall/Winter collection features non-violent silk which is grown in the wild, and handpicked and handspun by artisans.  One of their pieces is this gorgeous zippered dress.  Equita also carries other well-known eco-labels such as Edun, Loomstate and Del Forte.

Camilla Boutique is another eco-friendly shop located in Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill neighborhood. Founded by Camilla Ares after she became disillusioned with the unsustainable practices plaguing much of the fashion industry, Camilla Boutique stocks green clothing and accessories, as well as goods for kids and the home. Camilla also offers an online store, so that that individuals who can’t make it to Brooklyn will still have a chance to buy beautiful eco-friendly clothes.

If you’re shopping for eco-conscious and socially responsible Hanukkah gifts this season, check out the Spertus Shop at the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies.  They’ve got some really great products, like these wooden crocodile-shaped menorahs, which are handmade and finished with non-toxic milk paint by special needs adults in Israel.

And for those of you up north, be sure to try goodEGG industries and their eclectic mix of gift ideas, all handmade by Canadian artists. This shop was founded in May 2008 by two Toronto-based craft bloggers: Laural of Thimble, and Jen of the Toronto Craft Alert, who I had the pleasure of meeting during Craft Congress 2007. Their shop has a curated selection of fabulous products, such as this awesome moose antler ring.

{ 0 comments }

Jacqueline Myers-Cho got in touch recently to let me know about her new work and a book she has coming out soon.  I’ve been a big fan of her artwork for awhile now, and I’m still ridiculously sad I missed out on this amazing painting.

I had no idea that in addition to her gorgeous mixed media pieces she also makes really cool fabric creations as well, like ruffle scarves.  And not only that, Jacqueline has written a book with step-by-step instructions for cool DIY sewing projects.

It’s called STRANDS: Creating Unexpected Fabrics and Fashionable Projects, and it’s available for pre-order now.  Once the book comes out in December, Jacqueline will also be selling signed copies in her Etsy shop, Bob n Stitch.  This sounds so cool, I can’t wait to check it out!

{ 2 comments }

It’s shaping up to be a crafty weekend… Too bad I’m in the wrong part of the country!

If you’re in Chicago, this weekend is the Renegade Craft Fair!  This year’s event features 250 booths filled with handmade goodness.  My fellow New Orleans Craft Mafioso Laura of Prix-Prix will be there, so stop by her booth and say hi and check out her awesome necklaces made from recycled ties and Mardi Gras beads.  It’s all happening this Saturday & Sunday, September 13 & 14 from noon - 10pm each day, along Division St. between Damen & Hermitage in Wicker Park.  Did I mention it’s totally free to attend and they’ve even got live music?

You’re also in luck if you live in upstate New York.  The {NewNew} York Etsy Street Team is leaving NYC for a day and heading up to Dutchess County to set up shop in Beacon, New York. Their event, Handmade Cavalcade, will take place from 1 - 8pm, and will coincide with Beacon’s Second Saturday Art Walk. The Handmade Cavalcade fair will be located at the corner of Main Street and North Cedar, right in the middle of town.

I’m jealous I’m so far away from all the crafty fun!  I think I might have to make up for it by taking a visit to see my mom at her flea market in Mississippi.  Anyway, the weekend seems to be off to a good start… I got word that I was mentioned in a list of Top 50 Green Fashion and Design Blogs!  Thanks guys, I’m honored!

{ 1 comment }

I know I’ve talked about Handmade Nation, the indie craft documentary by director Faythe Levine, here before.

Well, the feature length film is currently on schedule to premier at a 2009 film festival (which festival is still to be determined). The other big news is that Handmade Nation, the book, is scheduled to be out in bookstores this November, but it’s already available for pre-order at Amazon.com. I’m so excited… can’t wait to get my hands on the book or see the full length documentary!

You can catch a sneak preview of the film, check out the blog for updates or shop the Etsy store to help show your support for this amazing project!

{ 0 comments }

Readers of my own blog dramatis personae may recall that I am an avid fan of Wendy Mullin’s Sew U guide to sewing & patterns. In her first guide, Mullin created an exciting, engaging, and easy to understand guide to the basic principles of sewing. In a pinch, it’s the first resource I turn to (even before my Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Sewing!).

Courtesy of the fantastic Hachette Book Group, I was notified of Mullin’s newest publication: Sew U Home Stretch: The Built by Wendy Guide to Sewing Knit Fabrics.

Like Mullin’s earlier book, “Home Stretch” treats its readers as beginner seamsters/seamstresses, and once again breaks down sewing to its fundamental level, but this time with an emphasis on sewing knits. In her typical fashion, Mullin demystifies the process, reassuring the reader that the myths of sewing knit fabrics are irrelevant.

Happy Bits!

No Presumptions Necessary: Mullin creates a piece that goes beyond being a guide for the most inexperienced seamstress. “Home Stretch” features a great guide in early chapters, which breaks down necessities based on your experience level, financial resources, and interest (”Getting By/Recommended/Pro”). Despite her recommendations, Mullin makes all aspects of this book as accessible to all readers as possible.

Humor + Tips = A Fashionable Touch: More often than in “Sew U,” Mullin interjects her personal sense of humor with fashionable anecdotes and words of wisdom. Quips like, “Using an interlock knit for a tank dress or miniskirt is a good idea, because the fabric will be a bit more forgiving and less clingy than a jersey, which tends to reveal every detail of the posterior region.” are featured in every chapter. It’s hard not to take away the wisdom while laughing about the honesty of it.

Basics for Beginners: Not only does Mullin go through the beginnings of how to shop for, select, and use knit fabrics, she covers the basics of more advanced sewing techniques like using and shopping for a serger, pattern drafting, and more.

Let’s Get Pattern Happy! Like in “Sew U,” “Home Stretch” features three complimentary patterns in the back. But in the last half of the book, Mullin spends a substantially larger amount of time discussing those patterns, how to use them, and how to adapt them. She provides a large jumping off point and encourages the readers to get creative.

Increased Focus on Sustainability & Recycling: In addition to the chapter on recycling, early on Mullin says:

I want you to take the pile of old T-shirts you were planning to send to Goodwill and think, “Wait– I can cut the neckline off this and sew it to another shirt and make an entirely new shirt!” I want you to look at your brother’s old gym-class hoodie and envision a cute, cozy winter dress. I want you to turn sweaters in to scarves and legwarmers in to sleeves. This book is more than an instruction manual– consider it a launching pad for your own creativity.

Now, the exciting bits… I completely devoured this book in one evening, and now it’s your turn to do the same… Hachette Books was very gracious, and gave me two copies of “Home Stretch” to give away to readers of Dramatis Personae. I’m going to extend this offer over to readers of Miss Malaprop as well.

Just leave a comment on this post at Dramatis Personae by Friday May 30th, indicating that you’d be interested in winning a copy. It’s that easy. On June 1st, I’ll announce the winners (nothing fancy this giveaway go around!) on my blog.

{ 2 comments }

Check it out, the New Orleans Craft Mafia made the cover of this week’s Gambit Weekly. (That’s the weekly free alternative mag here in NOLA.) There’s a picture of me and NOCM founder Rachelle and overall it’s a pretty fabulous piece of press!

{ 0 comments }