CPSIA Product Testing Regulations

If you are unaware, the government passed new regulations on mandatory testing of products that would come in contact with children 12 and under. This goes into effect February 10, 2009. It is causing a tremendous amount of concern among us that hand make items for children.

This effects everyone though. After February 10, 2009, any item made prior to that date that has not been tested cannot be sold. Garage sales, thrift shops, consignment shops will not be able to sell childrens items.

I have been struggling to find the right way to post this on my blog. It's so overwhelming I didn't know where to start.

Here is an excellent blog post about it. Please visit and read carefully. She has explained it very well and provides links for more information and ways to help.
Sweet Figments

More links regarding CPSIA testing:
ZRecommneds: Five steps you can take

The Red Porch Site Has Launched!!

Go check it out!!

The Red Porch Handmade Digital Art

Super cool stuff!

:-)

Buy Handmade This Holiday Season

When you buy handmade items, you are buying quality.

You are buying one of a kind.

You are supporting a person that put their time, energy and love into creating something special.

What's more meaningful.....a mass produced product that everyone has or a gift that is handmade by one person for another?

There are so many amazing handmade products out there I'm sure you'll find the right one that will make your family and friends say "wow....thanks!"

Visit Etsy.

Cool handmade things for everyone on your list.
And you don't have to leave your house! (Another bonus!)

Wishing you a safe, warm and blessed holiday season.

Site launch date set for December 1!

I am so excited!

I can't believe it's here already.

Check out the blog, they are doing interviews of the artists and site hosts and picked me to go first.

The Red Porch Blog

So many folks have signed up already and it just grows every day.

The buzz is getting louder!

Handmade Digital Art - I can finally spill the beans!

As some of you know, for months I’ve been working hard on kits for a digital scrapbooking site.
They will be launching the store with my products in the next few weeks! I am very excited about this. It’s very unique, felt and fabric art. I’ve only seen a fraction of the work and it’s outstanding. (Seriously, I feel like I’ll be riding on their coat tails!)

Please check out their blog post for more information:
Red Porch Blog

They are offering an early-bird promotion right now where anyone who creates a profile, and uploads at least one layout before Nov 29th gets a free kit before they launch the store. You can sign up and get updates as well so please tell anyone you know that’s into digital scrapbooking.

You can get a sneak peek at www.theredporch.com with the awesome lettering in the header.

They are also looking for a creative team to build layouts, here is that info: Red Porch CT

I’m sorry if this sounds jumbled! I am just so excited and there are some things I can share and some I can’t just yet. I can’t show you any of the art but here are the titles of the kits I’ve made:

Maggie’s Garden Collection
Big Top Alphabet
Retro Revival – 50’s and 60’s

Thanks and stay tuned.....more to come!
:-)

So where's the punch line?

Wow.

I really don't know what to think about anything anymore.

We have been through a lot since making the decision to move almost 2 years ago. I'd like to say most of it was good but I can't. It's been an uphill battle and the only thing that actually went according to plan was Scott's "new career". "Thank God we have THAT going for us" we said.

We struggled with the decision to move for this, did the research, talked to sources. I know no one could have foreseen the wall street crash that in turn caused a downward spiral in the oil and gas industry around here.

Now we are stuck in a place where we really aren't happy, in a house we won't be able to afford soon and we can't sell.

An acquaintance said it best, "You leave your beloved Austin and this is the kick in the teeth thanks you get".

Yep!

Joke's on us!

Busy, busy, busy....

So much going on!

We signed Maggie up for gymnastics today, I'm so excited! (Okay, it's tumbling....she's 23 months!) But still, I think she'll really like it. Girl is made for this. Olympic hopeful. No pressure.

I will be opening a second Etsy shop soon. www.twokazoos.etsy.com. I'll move all my kid related things over to it and keep Brannock Arts for more art, scrapbook, etc. items. I will also be making everything in Two Kazoos out of wool/wool blend felt so they will be of better quality and more durable.

Scott and I celebrated our 6th anniverary this past weekend. We were able to go out to eat sans kids and it was a really nice evening.

Oh and last but surely not least HOCKEY SEASON HAS BEGUN!!
I have been jonsin' for months (um.....since the cup was awarded??
Ha ha!)
So here's to a successful PENS year!!