Help save Handmade!!!

Before I post about anything else, I want to make sure that you all know about the troubles facing the men and women who provide us all with handmade items.  See below for important information.  As I get new information I will add it to the site.

Some of you may have already heard about the new law passed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). It is very well intentioned, but doesn't take into consideration people like me who love to make handmade goods for others, and who do not have unlimited resources(money specifically) to adhere to the very strict new testing requirements. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act is requiring costly mandatory testing on ALL handmade children's products. That means in just over 1 month all handmade products (targeted at children 12 and under) will no longer be available to those who want them unless these tests are done. With this act going into effect February 10 2009 so many people will be affected! There are many people all over the country who will have to close their shops, or drastically reduce the amount of items they offer. Men and women who are incredibly talented will no longer be able to share those talents with us because they are not able to invest thousands of dollars into third-party testing and labeling. This testing is important, but requiring testing just to prove that children's items that never had harmful chemicals in them still don't have harmful chemicals in them is going to be way too costly for many people to do. I am asking for your help to keep the handmade community alive...and thriving. Here's how you can help:

- Find your congress person and senators and write a letter like the this one. It would be especially helpful if they serve on the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection or the House Committee on Small Business.

- Go to Change.org and vote for amending the law. With enough votes it will be presented to President Obama in January...maybe he can help!

- Tell anyone and everyone you know about this new law and how it will affect me and each of you.

Thanks so much for your help and concern with this. I just started my store, and I am LOVING it. I want to be able to continue, but I will not be able to sell any of my towels, or mei tais, or baby blankets if something isn't done to alter this law.