Oh friends, hello! My ’summer vacation’ from the clubhouse is coming to an end and I’ll start back in full swing next week. Lots of varied projects have been keeping me busy, not the least of which is the The 3rd Annual Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco this weekend, July 31st and August 1st, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day at the Fort Mason Center Festival Pavilion!

After a long hiatus from craft fairs (more than a year!) I’m excited to be sharing a booth with my good pal Cathy of California - and bringing a new selection of goods from the Mahar Drygoods Party Department (some of which Cathy and I created together!)  I’ve been working around the clock creating a lot of the items myself and a new display set-up (which is freakin’ adorable if I do say so myself!)

This particular show is among my very favorite craft, art, design and DIY shows and features more than 225 talented indie-craft colleagues from all over the nation. The spectacular setting over the San Francisco Bay is reason enough to attend, but there will also be great food, workshop and all manner of incredible handmade goods at the Fair! If you’re in the Bay Area, please come by and say hello!

Details, directions and any other question you may have about the event can be found on the Renegade Craft Fair Frequently Asked Questions page.

A few highlights of note!:

Discover the power of ‘craftivism’ at the Scarving Artists Knit-In, coordinated by the St. Anthony Foundation. Get a crash course in knitting and crochet and contribute a handmade-scarf to benefit the Bay Area homeless population!

San Francisco’s marvelous Museum of Craft and Folk Art will be leading several hands-on demonstrations inspired by their popular Etsy Craft-Bar nights.

The fantastic folks from Etsy will also be there to guid you through a whole host of quick and simple, make and take projects: stamping, sewing, printing and more.

Visit the Renegade Info Booth to custom-make your very own Renegade button and to pick up a free issue of 7×7 Magazine or Juxtapoz Magazine while supplies last.

Sign up for free-to-enter raffles for your chance to win a year-long subscription to Uppercase Journal or prizes provided by Chronicle Books, Beautiful/Decay, BurdaStyle.com and Jenny Hart’s Sublime Stitching.

And finally don’t forget to get your photo snapped in a free-to-use photobooth provided by The Magnolia Photobooth Co.!

It’s day four of our bloggy love-fest, celebrating some of the small businesses that are members of the Handmade Toy Alliance. The aim is to bring attention to the current efforts of the HTA to amend the the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in a positive way - protecting children’s safety while allowing crafters, manufacturers and importers of small batch children’s products to remain in business. Please see the paragraph at the bottom of this post for more information and helpful links!

From her home base in Suquamish, Washington, Laurie Sharp needle felts arks full of Wool Pets. She only discovered the craft 4 years ago but now it’s one of her greatest passions and she has two books and a brilliant line of craft kits to prove it! She even shears, washes, cards and dyes the wool from her own small flock of sheep. Visit the Wool Pet’s website to see more of her work, or visit her Etsy shop to purchase a kit!

“Since I was very young, I have admired the natural world. The trees have often offered comfort, the mountains brought strength, and the sea tranquility. As I grew older, I developed an appreciation and empathy for animals, which profoundly influenced my artwork.”

Wool Pets is a member of the Handmade Toy Alliance, a non-profit organization made up of crafters, manufacturers and importers of small batch children’s products. In 2008, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) to regulate the children’s product industry - a well meaning but over reaching law with unintended consequence including the requirement that all children’s products to be tested at a third party testing lab. The testing costs are so prohibitively expensive that they will result in many small businesses having to close their doors. The HTA is urging Congress to amend the CPSIA in a way that keeps safe products in the market place and maintains safety standards that protect our children while keeping innovative and industrious ‘mom and pop’ shops in operation. Learn more about the HTA and what you can do to effect positive change by visiting www.handmadetoyalliance.com.

Welcome to day three of our bloggy love-fest, celebrating some of the small businesses that are members of the Handmade Toy Alliance. The aim is to bring attention to the current efforts of the HTA to amend the the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in a positive way - protecting children’s safety while allowing crafters, manufacturers and importers of small batch children’s products to remain in business. Please see the paragraph at the bottom of this post for more information and helpful links!

Jennifer Murphy has been making bears since she was eleven. Her repertoire includes many other animals now, but it started with bears. It makes perfect sense, considering she is the daughter of an incredibly talented toymaker.  As her skills developed, Jennifer’s aesthetic became increasingly influenced by turn of the Century toys made in Germany and those made in the 40s and 50s in the US and Japan - resulting in the love-worn cast of characters you see below.  Visit her site to see more of her work and visit her blog to learn more about her process and current projects.

As you might imagine, Jen’s collectible art animals are in constant demand. Her next batch of goodies will be available on Tuesday June 29th at 12noon (10am Pacific, 11am Mountain, 1pm Eastern).

Jennifer Murphy is a member of the Handmade Toy Alliance, a non-profit organization made up of crafters, manufacturers and importers of small batch children’s products. In 2008, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) to regulate the children’s product industry - a well meaning but over reaching law with unintended consequence including the requirement that all children’s products to be tested at a third party testing lab. The testing costs are so prohibitively expensive that they will result in many small businesses having to close their doors. The HTA is urging Congress to amend the CPSIA in a way that keeps safe products in the market place and maintains safety standards that protect our children while keeping innovative and industrious ‘mom and pop’ shops in operation. Learn more about the HTA and what you can do to effect positive change by visiting www.handmadetoyalliance.com.

This week we’re participating in a bloggy love-fest of sorts, celebrating some of the small businesses that are members of the Handmade Toy Alliance. The aim is to bring attention to the current efforts of the HTA to amend the the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in a positive way - protecting children’s safety while allowing crafters, manufacturers and importers of small batch children’s products to remain in business. Please see the paragraph at the bottom of this post for more information and helpful links!

“Blabla means nothing and everything,
it’s a swirl of letters flying,
a small word for a big idea…
‘Happiness fits in the palm of the hand.’
Blabla searches for beauty,
authenticity and laughter.”

In 2001, best friends Susan Pritchett and Florence Wetterwald partnered with an incredibly talented group of expert knitters in Peru to create line of toys and clothing for children called Blabla. What has resulted is an incredible marriage of old school craft and modern sensibility.

Florence, who designs the product line, say she thinks about “Blabla products as contemporary objects which reflects the inner life of the children in this modern world… I like to believe that my designs comfort them and make them smile.” Florence, as a big kid, let me just say - I’m grinning like an idiot! Brilliant stuff - see more here.

Blabla is a member of the Handmade Toy Alliance, a non-profit organization made up of crafters, manufacturers and importers of small batch children’s products. In 2008, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) to regulate the children’s product industry - a well meaning but over reaching law with unintended consequence including the requirement that all children’s products to be tested at a third party testing lab. The testing costs are so prohibitively expensive that they will result in many small businesses having to close their doors. The HTA is urging Congress to amend the CPSIA in a way that keeps safe products in the market place and maintains safety standards that protect our children while keeping innovative and industrious ‘mom and pop’ shops in operation. Learn more about the HTA and what you can do to effect positive change by visiting www.handmadetoyalliance.com.

[Oh good grief! I got so excited about HTA Week that I jumped the gun and posted a whole week too early! The official HTA Week begins next Monday, June 21st. So we'll continue the festivities then!]

This week we’re participating in a bloggy love-fest of sorts, celebrating some of the small businesses that are members of the Handmade Toy Alliance. The aim is to bring attention to the current efforts of the HTA to amend the the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in a positive way - protecting children’s safety while allowing crafters, manufacturers and importers of small batch children’s products to remain in business. Please see the paragraph at the bottom of this post for more information and helpful links!

Our first stop is Grand Rapids, Michigan, my hometown and headquarters of Uncle Goose. Since 1983, this company has been producing an amazing array of blocks from sustainable Michigan basswood and child-safe inks. We’re talking about everything from traditionally styled blocks to those with more of a modern aesthetic, old school English language blocks to those featuring alphabets in Braille, Hebrew, Dutch, Russian, Arabic (and many more), nursery rhyme blocks to those featuring US presidents… the variety makes your head spin. (Blocks featuring the Chinese alphabet that are manufactured in the US - imagine that!)

I’m not aware of any other company currently manufacturing embossed alphabet and number blocks that compare to the quality and responsible manufacturing of Uncle Goose. Take some time to explore their site and support this HTA member.

“We are concerned about our environment and wish to point out that wood is a renewable resource. The wood we use is farmed–planted and harvested on industry-managed land around the Great Lakes. Our manufacturing process minimizes waste, both in our production and packaging. We use only child-safe, non-toxic inks. Our toys are continually tested and are always well within the safety guidelines of the ASTM and more stringent European EN-71.”

Uncle Goose is a member of the Handmade Toy Alliance, a non-profit organization made up of crafters, manufacturers and importers of small batch children’s products. In 2008, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) to regulate the children’s product industry - a well meaning but over reaching law with unintended consequence including the requirement that all children’s products to be tested at a third party testing lab. The testing costs are so prohibitively expensive that they will result in many small businesses having to close their doors. The HTA is urging Congress to amend the CPSIA in a way that keeps safe products in the market place and maintains safety standards that protect our children while keeping innovative and industrious ‘mom and pop’ shops in operation. Learn more about the HTA and what you can do to effect positive change by visiting www.handmadetoyalliance.com.

Heads up Junior Society members, we’ve got a little something different on the schedule this week!

On Thursday, June 3rd I’ll be speaking with Beth Engelman and Jenna Riggs the lovely ladies behind Mommy on a Shoestring and Mommy on a Shoestring Radio and you’re invited to listen in on our conversation. Tune in from 2:00 - 2:30 EST and listen to me prattle on about our hallowed clubhouse, earning merit badges, secret handshakes and our illustrious readership.

If you’re unable to listen to the broadcast on Thursday, the podcast will be available on the Shoestring Radio website and also available for download on iTunes.

I want to pass along a small update on recent efforts to amend the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) - legislation that while well-meaning threatens to destroy the handmade children’s market. A ‘call to action’ letter was just released by colleague Cecilia Leibovitz, president of the Handmade Toy Alliance and owner of Craftsbury Kids and I’ve reprinted it below with her permission.

Republicans and Democrats disagree on CPSIA amendment that would offer relief to thousands of small batch children’s product makers

Will small batch makers and specialty retailers of children’s products survive the CPSIA? This has always been the question, as from the beginning, this law has left us suddenly on the verge of extinction. Eighteen months of hard work has resulted at least in recognition of the fact that our preservation was not considered when this law was passed. However, we are still very much endangered, and action is needed now more than ever.

Thanks to the collective voices of American small businesses and citizens, we were heard by the media and our representatives, and could not be ignored. Once again, we must raise our voices, to prevent handmade children’s products from becoming a casualty of Washington’s inner partisan disagreements.

Recently a bill was introduced by the Department of Energy and Commerce, to amend the CPSIA, offering important relief to thousands of small batch business owners. This relief would prevent many from closing their doors. Democrats and Republicans in Washington can not see eye to eye on the need for the proposed agreement.

We need to tell our representatives today that it is time to take a stand, and show their commitment to keeping our businesses alive. We at the Handmade Toy Alliance urge you to call your representative in the House Commerce Committee and ask for the CPSIA draft bill to go to mark up and become open for discussion. We have been told time and time again, that we must call, call, and call if we are to be heard. The combined power of our voices is what it will take to keep small batch children’s products from becoming a distant memory in America. Please help! Contact the Minority side at 202-225-3641, and Majority side at 202-225-2927. You are likely to get an answering machine. Leave your name, city, state, House Representatives name and share that they must work together openly in committee to bring about an amendment to the CPSIA now.

I strongly encourage you to take just a few moments to lend your voice to this effort. It’s just a quick (but oh so important!) phone call to leave a message with your name, city, state, House Representatives name (find your representative’s name here) and simply state your request that Republicans and Democrats work together openly in committee to bring about an amendment to the CPSIA now. Amending the CPSIA is important not only to the survival of retailers like myself (Mahar Drygoods) but also the livelihood of many, many artists whose work I love, champion and sell everyday.  A million ‘thank yous’ for your participation!

Following are links to past Mahar Drygoods blog posts regarding CPSIA legislation:
January 31, 2009
December 18, 2008

So it’s decided, I need a Euro-Protex 3000 Air Supplied Suit, certified “protection against against radioactive contamination” (and I would presume the common cold.) The good folks at Rich Industries, Inc. claim that “the Euro-Protex 3000 is the preferred choice when it comes to working safely in hazardous conditions” which I now know includes the waiting room of my doctor’s office. (Want to see the suit in action? See this demonstration video…it gets good around 2:28 when the model starts doing calisthenics.)

Last Wednesday I went for a regularly scheduled check-up where I’m convinced that I contracted the flu. The next day found me hacking and coughing and so congested I prayed for a head transplant. A week of bed rest and countless bad movies later I’m feeling a little better. Give me a few more days and we’ll be back to regularly scheduled posts.

Lest flu season pass without a ‘teachable moment’, I’ve dug up a chemistry experiment for you and the kids to create something akin to what I’ve been coughing up all week.

Play Slime

Materials (makes 1/4 cup)
1/4 cup white glue
1/4 cup tap water
1/2 cup distilled water
2 teaspoons Borax
food coloring
air-tight container or baggie for storage

Directions
1. Mix 1/4 cup glue, 1/4 cup tap water and a few drops of food coloring in a bowl.
2. In a separate bowl mix 1/2 cup distilled water with 2 teaspoons of Borax. (The Borax should not be completely dissolved.)
3. Add 4 teaspoons of the Borax solution to the glue solution and mix with a spoon until a ball of slime forms.
4. Once the slime begins to form, take it out of the bowl and knead with hands until it achieves a smooth and consistent texture.

Store in an airtight container when not in use.

Here’s a little something for you parents with younger kids to look forward to. We’ve all been there…the hair, the outfits, the sweaty palms - the high school prom. Today we welcome new kid on the net Promtacular! an online repository of reader submitted photographs capturing us in our most coiffed, billowy, tulle wrapped, sequined glory.

“…let’s be clear: this site isn’t about reviling days past. No, no. We at Promtacular! are here to celebrate the sequins. To embrace the lace. To high-five the hairspray, the mullets, the dyed shoes and the press-on nails. Because proms may be awkward, but they’re also full of awesome.”

[Thanks to CoolMomPicks for sending this gem our way!]

[Now re-read the post title using your best Monster Truck Rally announcer voice!]

A heads-up for our Los Angeles area readers! This Sunday, my pal Clare Crespo and I will be hosting a crafty event for boys and girls ages 8 to 12 at the lovely Home Ec store in the Silverlake neighborhood of Los Angeles. We’ll be creating jellybean bugs and bubblegum bunnies and all manner of candy critters to inhabit special box dioramas! Clare’s baking a festive batch of bird’s nest cupcakes for snacking and the kind folks from the Pasadena Humane Society will be bringing a live bunny for ooohs, ahhhs and gentle pats on the head!

There are a few spots still available so visit the Home Ec site to sign up or call the shop at (323) 906-8826. Come join us and join in the fun!