CPSIA CRISIS

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

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

Giveaways Rock!

Smox and Maggies Rose Garden are having a giveaway at ­ Smox Workshop Blog for a tutu and hair accessories!

What a great way to get your shopping done for the holidays, how about winning something fantastic!

You can always go to ­ SMOX and
­ Maggies Rose Garden to fall in love with all the beautiful products!

I have been seriously slacking...

Just so everyone knows I still have a pulse and still care, here is an update. A few things that have been going on in the wonderful land of Turtle Girl Mama Land.

1. My brother in law got married. That was fun. I say that very lightly.

2. I have two craft shows coming up, that I am very unprepared for, so now I have officially lit the fire under my rump.

3. Madelyn has been sick, and everyone else has too, but she matters the most!

4. WE ARE LOOKING FOR A HOUSE! So when I am not crafting or taking care of a runny nosed baby, we are trekking around Northern Rhode Island looking for our dream house.

So now that you know I am not gone, tell me whats new with the wonderful lives of everyone out there!

I am still here....

I just have been really busy. I still love everyone out there in the blogging world and I have a few new things to show everyone, but you must wait! I promise it will be soon!

Much love. Amanda

Naner Bread

Ah, Betsy (Tuff as Snails ) has been talking about Banana Bread for weeks now, she even posted an entry on her ­blog not to long ago. Quite frankly I think she needs a twelve step program for her addiction to Banana Bread, but thats just me!


My husband walked through the door from a interview with a fire station and asked what I was making, when I told him Banana Bread, his eyes lite up like I said I just won the lottery! We love banana bread here, but for some reason bananas rot in her house in like two minutes. Not in the good for making banana bread rot either, more like moldy bug ridden rot. So I stole some bananas from my mom and began the journey to naner bread land!


Well anyways, I was going to try her recipe but didn't have many of the ingredients on there, so I made my own! Fancy I know!


Here is my version, Banana Oatmeal Bread:


1 1/2 cup of All purpose flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oatmeal
3 tablespoons of light brown sugar
1 teaspoon apple pie seasoning (or cinnamon)
2 1/4 teaspoon of baking POWDER (not to be confused with its cousing baking SODA)
1/2 c milk
1/2 applesauce
1 egg
2 very ripe bananas


I used a 8x4 greased loaf pan, but you can really use any square or cupcake pan. Preheat oven to 350 F.


Combine all dry ingredients and mix together very well. In another bowl mix together bananas, egg, milk and applesauce; combine all wet together til semi smooth.


Combine wet into dry. Mix until all incorporated, don't overmix!


Bake for 1 hour, or until golden brown on top, and toothpick comes out clean when in inserted in the middle! Cool on cooling rack or keep in pan, your the boss!

Now ENJOY!

This is a very unsweet bread, so if you like sweetness, it may not be for you. It is a variation on a Weight Watchers recipe. It is worth 3 points if you cut the bread in 7 slices! Its pretty good, just not very sweet. Maybe I should work on making super potent sweet bananas..... stay tuned.

Its time to be Tuff

Tuff as Snails that is! Let's talk about ­Tuff as Snails. Betsy is the sole creator behind the beautiful, funky and vintage inspired goods in her shop. I had been eyeing many of the dresses in her shop for quite awhile! I was able to scoop one up, but it will not fit my little turtle for quite awhile, but one must plan ahead! Betsy combines such unique, vibrant and beautiful fabrics together to create funky pieces of vintage inspired goods!

Looking to keep busy while out for the day, then the crosswords puzzle dress if for you, just make sure to bring a washable marker for years of enjoyment!

We all know every little kid wants to be a super hero like their mom, with this fancy dress and cape, their prayers are answered!

Just take a look at her Japanese Pop Octopus Dress, even if I had never seen the beautiful masterpiece of a dress, I would be intrigued by the name alone!

Not into dresses? Well she has you covered with that as well! Your little one could sport a sweet t-shirt with a "tuff" pirate lady on it! Just waiting to get that for my little one as well!

How about spicing up your neck? You can sport a sweet necklace of Lil Miss Muffet or how about a Anatomically correct heart brooch? With Tuff as Snails, you have one stop shopping to keep you funky and unique!

Check her out, I know you won't be diappointed!

CLEARANCE SALE!

I am having a clearance sale at Turtle Girl Crafts! Everything in the clearance section has been lowered atleast 45%! Lots of fun clips for you or your little one!

Check it out for some great deals, the more you buy the more new things I add!

New Shop for Mama!

SO I decided to seperate my shops, to have one for Mama, and (Turtle Girl Crafts, the original) for baby and children.

So far, I will just be moving things from my Turtle Girl Shop over to my new shop, but go take a look to see whats happening over in my newest shop!

Lil Turtle Mama Crafts

I am very excited to open this new shop on Etsy!

Birthday Surprise!

What a birthday surprise! I was looking over this website, and found my tye dye mary janes featured on the Cafemom Etsy Moms section! It was a wonderful thing to see! I just had to share!


The website I am featured on!

Happy Birthday to ME!

So another year older, and lots to show for it. I won't make this a complete trip down memory lane, but since last year, I have got married and gave birth to a beautiful bouncing baby girl. I couldn't be any happier.

Alright enough with that.

I finally finished the cheerleading bows! I never have seen spools of ribbon as big as the ones I bought. I bought way to much ribbon, so if you are in the search of ribbon, please let me know, I have it for sale!! The bows are simple, but to get the three colors together I had to glue it all together and that was alot of work. But all in all it was simple, and it will be great to see my bows in action! The team last year went all the way to Nationals and came in second place! Yay to the South Attleboro White Hawks! Interested in your own cheerleading bows? You can contact me and we can ofcourse work something out! I have many styles and colors to choose from!

And because everyone needs a good laugh once in awhile, this is what happens when the husband dresses the baby!

Fluffy Bum!

The day has finally arrived, I have a fluffy bum baby! I found this woman on cafemom.com that coincidently lives pretty much down the street from me, that makes gorgeous cloth diapers! If you are interested in getting cloth diapers from this talented mama, you can contact her through cafemom via this group, Beezi Bum Cloth Diapers


My next venture will be to try to make them, I don't think its going to work, and I will be left unsatsified, but I suppose, I can sew, I have a baby, and the internet. We shall see what happens.

Right now in my shop I have all my booties on sale! They are originally $14, now they are $10! Great deal! Its for this week only, in celebration of my birthday, so get them while they are hot!

Well I am off to make 30 bows for a cheerleading squad that is going to involve me getting off the computer and begin heating up the hot glue gun!!

Now to end this on a beautiful note, the cutest fluffy bummed baby in her new dipe! I can picture what she is saying, MOM WHY ARE YOU TAKING MY PICTURE AGAIN!!!!

There is no place like home...

I have had adventorous day and too bad clicking my heels did not get us home! Gloomy and icky all day, lugging around an infant to a hospital and trying to keep her from not crying while visiting was an adventure in it self. But she wore her new shoes (ofcourse available at manda5463.etsy.com) and turned heads everywhere we went!

Anyways I have had a huge desire to feature a fellow etsian and have not figured out who to feature. I know this is a little blog, and noone reads it, but if you do, any feedback would be stellar.

Now to end on a great note, here is the Turtle Girl modeling her new shoes!

Ahhh my neck hurts!

Yeah I did that.

I also made 10 pairs of baby booties, like the Robeez, but much fancier! They have killed my neck, but so worth it. Here are a few of my favorites!

I will soon have a fluffy bottomed baby! I am so excited to get her sweet little bum in some cloth dipes. I ordered a whole bunch of supplies to make my own as well. Amazing, what an addicition. It seems that all addictions I have lately are buying things or making things for her. I couldn't even leave Target without atleast five things in my cart for her, some needed, but the onesie was not. A mothers love is never ending, but her bank account will feel the love! haha, she is worth it, once you see her little face its amazing, you fall and love and melt, all at once. I may be biased, but its the truth. Look at that face, ignore the silly man on the left, pay all your attention to the lovely lady on the right. Yes she LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE HER FATHER! Argh, I had no part in that baby making!

On a final note, I made these kick ass plugs for a friend I met on Cafemom. We made a trade, I feel like I made out in the deal, but she seems to like these. I enjoy them, I think they are super fancy, love the color, and who wouldn't want octopi legs coming out their ears?!

Sweet Satsification

Ahhh, I finally did it. I have been toying with making pacifier and toy clips for quite sometime, but didn't want to buy all the supplies to do so! Well I did, and I love making them! I love that fact that they are better than the one I bought for my daughter at the store, and I could make one to match every outfit! Best of all, they can be used to hold onto toys as well, when you outgrow the binky!

The product of my labor:



Here it is being used by little lady:






All currently for sale at www.manda5463.etsy.com