Happy Site Friday: Children's books online

OK. I am totally excited today to share with you the biggest kept secret of the Internet. Well, my biggest kept secret. I have mentioned before how I LOVE vintage children's books, and collect them for inspiration. Well, if you haven't heard of the Rosetta project, you are in for a treat.

This site is an online library of hundreds of vintage children's books that have been scanned in page by page and can be read and seen online. You are not allowed to save any of the information without buying the books, however. They range in price based on length and how valuable. But when you buy the book, it is saved to your computer and you can print it or read them on your screen! These books are amazing, and they are being updated weekly. There are books from the mid eighteen hundreds up to the 40's , and range from early readers to books for youth. It is so amazing to watch the trends in children's lit change through the years. You really get a sense of what the culture deemed as fun for kids. They also have books from different countries...Sweden, Brazil, etc.

I can't post more pics, since they are highly protected. But I promise you won't be disappointed! I have been checking their site for 2 years now, and consider it the biggest gem I have found yet.

Have fun! I would love to know your favorites!

Happy friday my friends!

xoxo

sarah jane

Interior decorating.

via ohdeedoh

via www.rebeccafromtheheart.blogspot.com

I have been getting some images from my customers of how they have framed and hung the prints they bought. It is so fun to get these! I wanted to share a couple...don't you love how these are displayed? So different from each other...but so unique. I love it. I would love it if any of you have any photos of my prints framed and up in a room, that you email them to me! It would be so fun to make a customer collection! Not only that, but I am a sucker for looking at how people decorate...I find it so inspiring! Thus my addiction to design blogs! (Oh...to get past the boxes so I can decorate my own space!)

Happy thursday folks! I am feeling the weekend love already:)

Voices were heard...but keep shouting!

If you haven't heard already, there has been an "EMERGENCY STAY" on the CPSIA bill, meaning in short, that a year has been allowed to get things in order. Horray! Voices WERE heard! I was getting a little weary of our government (still am actually) but the knowledge that with media like it is today (blogging, email, television, news press) the heat of this spread like wildfire all the way to the big dogs, and they are listening! The fight isn't over yet though. You need to read this informative statement from Senator DeMitt to the small business and handmade community about what to do next. He knows the drills, and knows that this will only end up postponing things not changing things just yet. So we still need to voice our concerns! But in the mean time, things are clear for a year!

Thanks for all your input on the CPSIA post. It is just so great to see the online community get together on this!

Three sets a charm.

OK, here they are! February shop update! New valentines designs and a new postcard to cheer up the coldest of us! I plan on shipping a bit more than usual to make sure everyone gets their valentines in time! Come on over this afternoon for the big shop update!

But first, head over to DESIGN MOM'S Valentine Giveaway. My cards are included in a FAB gift set that could be yours if you comment! But don't wait too long...valentines is ONLY 10 days away:)

Thanks for all the nice comments on the new designs! You guys are the best! Happy Valentines!

Valentines 1958

Yesterday I came across these pictures and just melted. Aren't they so charming? Who doesn't love Audrey, and who doesn't wish they had a pet baby deer?

I was COMPLETELY inspired, and had the spontaneous need to get some sweet Valentine cards in the shop of a much younger Audrey (or whom ever you will) and her dear pet (no pun intended.) So, between packing, shipping, cleaning and errands, I managed to get some new Valentines cards made up. I realize it is a bit late, but I have been rather busy with some other projects I can't mention just yet.

They will be in the shop tomorrow, with a couple other things I hope. Happy Valentines!!!

Happy Site Friday: Poladroid.net

Hi. My name is Sarah and I am a recovering Polaroid-aholic.

Yes. I am hooked. I found this free download that gives you a "Polaroid" camera for your desktop, and all you do is drag and drop your digital photos into the camera, and CLICK-CLICK it pops out a Polaroid version! The photos even sit on your desktop and "develop" just like the real thing! I am in love!

The above photos come from a photo shoot my cousin at Gashlycrumbs did for me with my Toys on Wheels, J'aime ma Maman , Danse avec moi and Dress up party print. I think they look pretty nifty in vintage film!

To satisfy your own Polaroid cravings, click here.

** and THANK YOU for all of your hard work with voicing your support of changing the CPSIA. Great comments everyone!

Raise your voice for change!

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Ok. So here is the beef. Never heard of the CPSIA? Panicking over the new regulations? Read on.

I join my voice today with over 260 bloggers today to inform and bring hope about this really upsetting new law in place which ultimately affects the entire nation.

WHAT IS THE CPSIA?

Do you remember last year's scare over wooden and painted toys from China? I remember debating whether or not to give Ian the set of wooden airplanes I bought him from Pier One. We were all scared.

In response to the overwhelming recall of toys and products containing lead (over 8 million items) the government decided to step in and stop the issue of lead getting to our children. Good, right? Keep children safe!

When congress passed the CPSIA (the Consumer Product Safety Inspection Act) in August 2008, they were intending to protect companies from selling harmful products. All products intended for children under 12 years old must go through thorough and stringent testing. The CPSIA bans lead and phthalates in children's products, mandates third party testing and certification, and requires manufacturers of all goods for children under the age of 12 to permanently label each item with a date and batch number.

For all the official legal documents and info read here.

How does this affect us?

With good intentions to protect children, the new regulations are so broad and far reaching they are doing more harm than good. Third party testing is so outrageously expensive and extensive, a KEY issue looked into when passing this law, it is threatening to put tens of thousands of companies out of business. For example:

So, you make/sell products for children:

  • Each particle of your product (clothing, books, toys, educational materials, baby products, etc.) must be tested by a third party. You sell a baby sweater? Each zipper, button, thread, fabric make and particle must be SEPARATELY tested. Even if lead has never been detected in that product. Even if the manufacturer of that product claims the contents are safe. If you make the baby sweater, you must get it tested.
  • Testing can be anywhere from $100-$500 per test, so add that up, and you have a sweater not even worthy of being sold in Nieman Marcus
  • For a rather humorous (but healthy dose of reality) of the costs imposed on small business, see over 1,000 ETSY items that have been priced to meet the demands after Feb. 10th here.

(my favorite is the handmade felted play lunch set costing $10,080. To buy, click here.)

What does all that mean?

  • To the small business owner: Small business owners, home run businesses and crafters will need to have their products comply with these new regulations (regardless of how many products you sell) or serious fines (up to $100,000) can take effect.
  • To the student and avid reader: The national Library association is concerned because children's books currently fall under the umbrella of the CPSIA. Read the American Library Association's letter to congress here. School materials and educational materials will go up in cost due to the stringent testing.
  • To the Thrift store shopper: Currently their is no formal statement exempting thrifted items from being tested. There is some info that suggests thrifted items are exempt, but it is still not clear
  • To the consumer: Fewer options will be available. Handmade, European imported, boutiqued, unique children's products will no longer need to compete against the mass produced Matel and Fisher price products because they will no longer be legal. Read the Handmade Toy Alliance's statement here.
  • To the economy in general: With families losing incomes due to these regulations, consumers paying higher prices for children's products and businesses having to borrow more money to stay afloat, February 10th has been labeled as "National Bankruptsy day"

Statement from the Handmade Toy Alliance: If this law had been applied to the food industry, every farmers market in the country would be forced to close while Kraft and Dole prospered.

What can we do about it?

The law is already in place. The CPSC is a rather small organization and is struggling to create the infrastructure to comply with such a massive change in commerce. Because of that, formal statements with specifications of any products that may or may not be exempt have not been made. At this point, companies are still forced to comply. According to this forum, Congress has denied a second hearing, and has not shown any signs of changing the law.

However, YOUR voice NEEDS to be heard in the mean time. This issue has already made it to the front page of Change.org (Obama's site on change) but still, nothing has happened yet to suggest change. If something doesn't happen soon, HUGE changes for the worse have already been set into play.

A plan for action:

Helpful links and references:

1. The Handmade Toy Alliance http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/ The most comprehensive source for information and action is the website of the Handmade Toy Alliance. - Sign up for their newsletter: - Join their Google Group 2. Reform CPSIA http://reformcpsia.org/ An Organization of Retailers & Consumers Focused on Reforming the CPSIA

3. ETSY ACTION KIT

http://www.etsy.com/storque/media/bunker/2009/01/CPSIA-Etsy-Resources.pdf

A comprehensive list of info, sample letters to use, action plans, links and official statements

2. Fashion Incubator http://www.fashion-incubator.com/blog/ Kathleen Fasanella has been doing a wonderful job of explaining the CPSIA in straightforward and clear ways. Highly recommended.

3. CPSIA Central http://cpsia-central.ning.com/

4. Buy Handmade

http://blog.buyhandmade.org/

The handmade consortium is keeping this blog up to date with CPSIA news and press.

5. National Bankruptcy Day http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/

6. Smart Mama Blog http://www.thesmartmama.com/bg/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

RECENT ARTICLES ON THE CPSIA:

1. Forbes: Scrap The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act Part I: Part II:

2. Bloomberg: Mattel, Wal-Mart Test Toys as Small Firms Struggle

3. Business Week: Misinformation and the CPSIA

3. CNN: New Law could wipe out handcrafted toy makers

Right now, American voices need to be heard. PLEASE write you reps, make calls, blog, contact your local media! I cringe to think that the handmade Christmas items I bought this year (that my children are currently playing with as I write this post) will no longer be available for purchase in the very near future.

So there is the BEEF! Apologies for this VERY long post! But being part of the handmade and small business community, I am passionate about getting these regulations altered to allow business to thrive as usual! Raise your voice and make a change!