CPSIA Law

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/a>


Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.

Craft Event

We went on a quick journey down to Garden Grove for a quite-little Craft Event. A bit of a bust, but fun anyway. I met some people, and networked, and luckily was less than a mile from my mom's house. So that made it convenient enough to give it a try. I do believe Wesley had the most sales of anyone there! And it got me ready and eager for another sale soon. Although I should've stayed home and did the local little art show, but I had already made plans for this one when I heard about the local one. Oh well.



I enjoyed the people that I met. I even met someone who is an old friend's cousin. It's so true what a small world it can be! I met fellow Etsiers, and CCCOE street team members.... oceanavesilks RedBessBonney cigarboxbeads and needleinascrapstack. So that was fun. Some other people I enjoyed were psychoproducts and Whodini Handmade. And of course the friendly, energetic event organizer Lacy Ink. So not a complete bomb and waste!

My little table looked kind of cute, I thought.



And my mom's leaf creations looked stunning! These are made of concrete, and the colors are so lovely.

Art Lesson - Scientific Clouds/Imaginative Clouds

I did this lesson with Wesley's fifth grade class of 26 last week.

They were studying the weather, and magically on the Wednesday before the art lesson I got the idea while studying with Wesley for his test.

For the first part we used blue construction paper, and black and white tempra paint. (I also explained about "achromatic" and "monochromatic", just to throw a little art vocabulary in.) We talked about the different types of clouds - cirrus, cumulus, cumulonimbus, and stratus. I had some photo examples to look at. We painted the cirrus with a stiff larger dry brush, trying to make them as wispy as possible, just in white. Then we added a little bit of black to the cumulus. With the thunderhead, cumulonimbus, I tried to have them make a more contrasting cloud. The stratus was a little difficult to figure out, but it was basically more of a mix of grey.

This class hasn't had a lot of tempra painting lately, so I wanted to do some of that. And I notice they really still need to experiment with this paint. I did get them to mix more on the paper, instead of just mixing their pallette into a big mess. That was a good lesson for them. Although it seems that a lot don't know when to stop with the mixing, even on paper. A lot came up with more grey, no matter how many times I said to get clean paint and stop mixing once and a while. This is why I think they just need some more practice with this technique.

Wesley's turned out pretty good, and since he has a lot of experience in painting, he seems to know when to stop.



After the scientific part I wanted them to do an imaginary cloud. We even talked a little about what they see in the clouds as we were painting the first clouds, to get them thinking creatively about it. For the imaginary clouds I let them add one color to their black and white, making a monochromatic version. I first thought that I would give them a little guidance with this, but as I was handing out the colored paint, many were starting. And after the guided painting of the scientific clouds, I just felt they should be free to experiment on their own. Well I probably should've guided them a bit more during this. I did show them a version that I had whipped up, a poodle cloud. Because what's more cloud like than a poodle?

They really had some good ideas about the clouds, but I think they just had a hard time making these ideas transform from their mind onto paper. Or some would have a really cool looking cloud, then before you knew it, they had mixed the thing all up, completely changing the image. And usually not for the better. But I guess they were experimenting, and that is just as good for them. They did get more experience and that's really what they need.



I'm just so used to a lot of my projects coming out with a wonderful product. This was more process orientated. And kids love that. At least a few had a good product, as well as process. We adults just usually like the product to be good. And I think we should have fun with the process, forgetting the product, just sometimes!

Happy Valentines Day!

Finally I'm getting to my neglected little blog!

These are the annual handmade Valentines that Wesley made with my help. This is a Dr. Seuss inspired drawing that Wesley drew. We printed the design and wrapped 27 dark chocolate candy bars for his classmates and teacher. I think they are simply lovely little treats!

I'm trying to pull myself out of the dumps that I've been in lately. Personal problems and sicknesses, on top of the winter blues have just been wreaking havoc on my life. I've been unmotivated and depressed and my art, and life in general, has suffered. It doesn't help that we got some unexpected snow (about 5 inches) last night and today. Yes, we were in drought, and we need the moisture, but I've had to hike to my car about a block away all year. I'm tired of my car not being on my own property. But I feel I may be pulling out of this ... any day now.

I've got to go finish my PTA newsletter now, and get all prepared for an art lesson for tomorrow. I'm also so over the PTA, but the art lesson will be fun and the kids do make me feel better. Even though this is a brand new art lesson, and that's always some what of a learning experience, and could be hit or miss! Hopefully it goes well and I'll have some fun kid art to share soon!

Wow so sorry for the blues, but at least I've got a new entry, right? Hope your heart is filled with cheer!!

Happy Valentines Day

These are my son's Valentines that he handed out this year. We printed one of his ACEOs onto paper and wrapped a chocolate bar with the print. He then sealed it with a sticker and wrote on the back. I thought they turned out great and unique.

Most kids had the usual store bought Valentines. There's always a couple that make their Valentines - the same kids each year. I always appreciate the homemade varieties. I hope someone in the class can appreciate my son's as well. He's always made his also, since kindergarten.

It was a very nice Valentines Day for us. I hope you all had a memorable day of Love, too!

Wesley's New Skull ACEO

Wesley is getting busy with his art again. This is yet another of his terrifically creepy skulls. This is "Voodoo Skull". He really enjoys making ACEOs. And I think he's very good at thinking of new, crazy ideas. Wesley really does have a prolific imagination. I wish I could tap into it! This card is for sale now on ebay - find the link on the right and it should bring you to it. Half of his profits go to his college fund. He's such an intelligent person that he must go to college. I hope I can afford it when the time comes. I'll just have to make it happen somehow.

Another new thing in Wesley's life is that he's now playing the trumpet. A good thing about fourth grade is you get to learn an instrument at school. Luckily, that wonderful thing hasn't been cut from our school - yet! American schools are so skrewed up now. We have to have an art program completely funded and run by volunteers. And we are one of the lucky schools that has the ability to do this. Most kids don't get any art. It is so sad. I could have an entire blog on the subject of education in our country, but I think I'll stop here for now!