Saturday, February 5, 2011
In keeping with the DCU theme. . .
I was recently asked to make a very special custom order. My customer wanted a dress, pocket diaper and bib done in DCU. Since this fabric is being discontinued by the military, it's not so easy to come by. I happened to have one of my husbands old blouses (the one that went with the pants that made the bag in the previous post) and she was able to find an XXL blouse to send to me. What came out of these blouses are the swing back dress trimmed with pink rick rack, the pocket diaper, and the bib. I think they all turned out quite lovely, and it was rather nice working with these prints, as I haven't in the past. So, enjoy the pictures.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
The DCU Bag
Well, I wanted to make a purse out of one of Jake's old uniforms, but all I could find were BDU and DCU bottoms. I have the ACU top, but can't find the bottom to it. Since I was itching to make the purse anyway, I cut into a DCU bottom. The purse itself turned out alright, and I'm pretty happy with it. I will be making some modifications though. Like I plan to add linning and some interfacing to it. Overall, I think it turned out really nice. So, here you go. My latest project in the world of camo fabric.
Friday, January 28, 2011
My tribute to Valentine's Day
With Valentine's Day approaching, I wanted to make something fitting for the holiday. As I was going through my fabric, I found that I had the pink and brown Ooga Booga print in both PUL and cotton interlock. At that moment a lovely idea came to me, a One-Size diaper set. The diaper is a one-size, so it will fit for quite a while. The shirt is a 12-18 months with a heart applique of the cotton version of the print. Overall, I think it turned out rather adorable. So, now I'm off to make other lovely things, including a dress that will be modeled by an Ellie Bean model.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Two new additions (no not babies).
Last week, I had the Julia set modeled by an adorable newborn baby girl. It turned out just as I had hoped, and it was so nice to see a little baby girl wearing that set. Her name is Erin and she's a special assignment model from Ellie Bean models.
This week, I've been working on a few projects, including a new household item. ACU placemats. These placemats are something I had been contemplating since before Christmas, when I made placemats and napkins for my sister-law's. A friend suggested that I make some out of ACU, and since I'd been contemplating that already, I decided to go ahead and give it a shot. These are listed on my Hyenacart store, www.hyenacart.com/creativemams, but will also be avaialble today on Etsy as a custom order. On Etsy, you will be able to purchase the embroidery service as well, if you would like that option. You would need to purchase 4 slots to have all four embroidered.
So, without further ado, here are the placemats:
This week, I've been working on a few projects, including a new household item. ACU placemats. These placemats are something I had been contemplating since before Christmas, when I made placemats and napkins for my sister-law's. A friend suggested that I make some out of ACU, and since I'd been contemplating that already, I decided to go ahead and give it a shot. These are listed on my Hyenacart store, www.hyenacart.com/creativemams, but will also be avaialble today on Etsy as a custom order. On Etsy, you will be able to purchase the embroidery service as well, if you would like that option. You would need to purchase 4 slots to have all four embroidered.
So, without further ado, here are the placemats:
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Support Handmade and small businesses by contacting your Congress person regarding the CPSIA
I copied this posting from another blog because I think it bears repeating.
Support Handmade and Small Businesses by contacting your congressman regarding the CPSIA!
You might have heard about the CPSIA and how it's affecting small and handmade businesses everywhere. But you may not know why it is or what it is.
The CPSIA is the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. It was designed to help protect children from harmful toxins and chemicals in cheaply made foreign toys that were being imported to the US by requiring expensive third party testing to be performed on each any every component used in the production of said toys. Although a good idea in theory, the rules and regulations of the CPSIA ended up encompassing more than just foreign made toys. It ended up requiring that all manufacturers of toys, clothes, cloth diapers, etc. to be used by any child under the age of 12 also be required to pay for this testing regardless of their history or track record having been providing quality, safe, handmade goods. The cost of this testing would shut down, and has already shut down, many small businesses.
Now the race is on to have the CPSIA amended and reformed. Small business owners and handcrafters need your support. Help save not only small cloth diaper manufacturers, but many other wahm and family run businesses by printing the letter below and sending it to your local congressperson so that they might take notice.
In support of Small Businesses please use the sample letter below and send to your congressman letting them know how important this issue is and how it will further affect our economy and the livelihood of many small family run businesses.
Sample Letter
From: [your name and address]
To: [your congress person or senator]
Re: The Consumer Product Improvement Act (CPSIA) will result in a drastic deepening of the economic crisis even more
Dear [your congress person or senator],
The economic crisis in our country is distressing to millions of Americans. That is why it concerns me that under the CPSIA, many small business owners will be driven out of business, deepening the crisis. The premise of self reliance and entrepreneurship on which this country was founded is in jeopardy.
Like many people, I was deeply concerned by the dangerous and poisonous toys that large Chinese toy manufacturers have been selling to our families. And, I was pleased that Congress acted quickly to protect America's children by enacting the CPSIA.
However, I am very concerned that the CPSIA's mandates for third party testing and labeling will have a dramatic and negative effect on small businesses whose safety record has always been exemplary. It will devastate small manufacturers and home businesses who create children's products such as clothes, handmade goods and toys for children, beautiful Native American artifacts, children's books, adaptive products for children with disabilities, and classroom and homeschool materials. These small businesses simply cannot afford the $300-$4,000 price tag per product that Third Party testers are charging.
With the economic crisis we find ourselves in, fewer families will be able to afford the higher costs of the goods that remain available. Any company that is able to remain in business will undoubtedly raise prices due to increased compliance costs. Everyone will have to pay more for the remaining available goods, deepening the effects of the economic crisis for millions of families.
I urge you to quickly request the Consumer Product Safety Commission to make some very reasonable exclusions in their interpretation of the law as they continue their rulemaking process. These include exempting books and uncoated fabrics from testing and allowing manufacturers to rely upon testing done by their materials suppliers instead of paying for redundant unit-based testing. I would also like to see an exemption to third party testing requirements for micro-businesses similar to the exemptions granted by the FDA for small producers under the food labeling laws. As the Wall Street Journal wrote, "The Commission needs to implement the rules without putting more companies out of business in an already tenuous economy."
These toy makers, crafters, publishers and small home based businesses have earned and kept the public's trust. They provide jobs for thousands and quality playthings and educational products for hundreds of thousands. Their unique businesses should be protected. Please visit www.handmadetoyalliance.org to learn more about this issue.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[your name]
*Much thanks to KT Steppers on FaceBook for providing this form letter. Please also repost the content of this post on your blog, tweet about it, post a link to it on facebook, etc. We need your help spreading the word.
For more information on the CPSIA please visit this page located at The Handmade Toy Alliance website.
Support Handmade and Small Businesses by contacting your congressman regarding the CPSIA!
You might have heard about the CPSIA and how it's affecting small and handmade businesses everywhere. But you may not know why it is or what it is.
The CPSIA is the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. It was designed to help protect children from harmful toxins and chemicals in cheaply made foreign toys that were being imported to the US by requiring expensive third party testing to be performed on each any every component used in the production of said toys. Although a good idea in theory, the rules and regulations of the CPSIA ended up encompassing more than just foreign made toys. It ended up requiring that all manufacturers of toys, clothes, cloth diapers, etc. to be used by any child under the age of 12 also be required to pay for this testing regardless of their history or track record having been providing quality, safe, handmade goods. The cost of this testing would shut down, and has already shut down, many small businesses.
Now the race is on to have the CPSIA amended and reformed. Small business owners and handcrafters need your support. Help save not only small cloth diaper manufacturers, but many other wahm and family run businesses by printing the letter below and sending it to your local congressperson so that they might take notice.
In support of Small Businesses please use the sample letter below and send to your congressman letting them know how important this issue is and how it will further affect our economy and the livelihood of many small family run businesses.
Sample Letter
From: [your name and address]
To: [your congress person or senator]
Re: The Consumer Product Improvement Act (CPSIA) will result in a drastic deepening of the economic crisis even more
Dear [your congress person or senator],
The economic crisis in our country is distressing to millions of Americans. That is why it concerns me that under the CPSIA, many small business owners will be driven out of business, deepening the crisis. The premise of self reliance and entrepreneurship on which this country was founded is in jeopardy.
Like many people, I was deeply concerned by the dangerous and poisonous toys that large Chinese toy manufacturers have been selling to our families. And, I was pleased that Congress acted quickly to protect America's children by enacting the CPSIA.
However, I am very concerned that the CPSIA's mandates for third party testing and labeling will have a dramatic and negative effect on small businesses whose safety record has always been exemplary. It will devastate small manufacturers and home businesses who create children's products such as clothes, handmade goods and toys for children, beautiful Native American artifacts, children's books, adaptive products for children with disabilities, and classroom and homeschool materials. These small businesses simply cannot afford the $300-$4,000 price tag per product that Third Party testers are charging.
With the economic crisis we find ourselves in, fewer families will be able to afford the higher costs of the goods that remain available. Any company that is able to remain in business will undoubtedly raise prices due to increased compliance costs. Everyone will have to pay more for the remaining available goods, deepening the effects of the economic crisis for millions of families.
I urge you to quickly request the Consumer Product Safety Commission to make some very reasonable exclusions in their interpretation of the law as they continue their rulemaking process. These include exempting books and uncoated fabrics from testing and allowing manufacturers to rely upon testing done by their materials suppliers instead of paying for redundant unit-based testing. I would also like to see an exemption to third party testing requirements for micro-businesses similar to the exemptions granted by the FDA for small producers under the food labeling laws. As the Wall Street Journal wrote, "The Commission needs to implement the rules without putting more companies out of business in an already tenuous economy."
These toy makers, crafters, publishers and small home based businesses have earned and kept the public's trust. They provide jobs for thousands and quality playthings and educational products for hundreds of thousands. Their unique businesses should be protected. Please visit www.handmadetoyalliance.org to learn more about this issue.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[your name]
*Much thanks to KT Steppers on FaceBook for providing this form letter. Please also repost the content of this post on your blog, tweet about it, post a link to it on facebook, etc. We need your help spreading the word.
For more information on the CPSIA please visit this page located at The Handmade Toy Alliance website.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
In the New Year
It's been over a month since the last time I blogged. Part of that is due to being busy with the kids, custom orders, and Christmas presents. We went home to Ohio for Christmas, and I took that time off from work so that I could enjoy myself on Christmas vacation.
Since I've been back, I've been steadily working on custom orders. Today, I finally got the last item mailed out that was ordered during the Christmas break. I'm currently working on a dress set to be modeled by a newborn Ella Bean model. I'm very excited about this, and finishing up the dress this week. I plan to mail out a diaper cover, head band, and soft soled shoes to complete the set.
I'm also going to be working on two other custom orders starting this week and going into next week. I might be making a modification to some of my dresses though. With the CPSIA extension ending next month, I'm reevaluating where I get my buttons. If I can get certificates for the clay that is used, I will start using Tessa Anne buttons. She make beautiful handmade buttons that I think will look darling with my dresses. So, stay tuned to see what modifications I make to comply with the law.
Since I've been back, I've been steadily working on custom orders. Today, I finally got the last item mailed out that was ordered during the Christmas break. I'm currently working on a dress set to be modeled by a newborn Ella Bean model. I'm very excited about this, and finishing up the dress this week. I plan to mail out a diaper cover, head band, and soft soled shoes to complete the set.
I'm also going to be working on two other custom orders starting this week and going into next week. I might be making a modification to some of my dresses though. With the CPSIA extension ending next month, I'm reevaluating where I get my buttons. If I can get certificates for the clay that is used, I will start using Tessa Anne buttons. She make beautiful handmade buttons that I think will look darling with my dresses. So, stay tuned to see what modifications I make to comply with the law.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Now that Thanksgiving is over. . .
Well the week before Thanksgiving, James had double eye surgery. The day before his surgery, I went to get him up for school, only to find that he had thrown up on his bed, the floor next to his bed, and his bedding. I cleaned it up, and then called his school to let him know he wouldn't be coming that day. Later when the hospital called to get all the early registration info, they said he should be fine if he didn't throw up the next morning. So, he had his surgery, and it went well, but he still has to wear glasses.
Now, the result of him throwing up meant that I almost got behind on a custom order that I was in a rush to do. That Monday I was going to go to JoAnn's and that obviously didn't happen. Since James spent the rest of the week recovering, I didn't even make it out of the house until Saturday morning. But, I managed to get the supplies I needed for the dress, and get all but the buttons and button holes done before leaving for Thanksgiving. I got the dress finished right after we left.
The Saturday night before we left, I also managed to get most of a newborn ACU outift cut out as well (I'll post pics of that tomorrow), and a diaper cover embroidered. My next task is to get a pocket diaper, and another diaper cover done. Then onto a rather large order of an embroidered swingback dress with ruffles, instead of rick rack, and embroidery, with matching pants, diaper cover, dyed shirt, tights, and matching soft soled shoes. I plan on starting on this Friday, and working heavily on it Saturday.
Sunday will be spent working on Christmas presents. I'm making placemats with matching napkins for my sister-in-law's, an apron for my borther-in-law, a messenger bag for my neice, . . . and I still haven't figured out what to get for my other brother-in-law, and my husbands parents. My sister-in-law put in a request to Jake's mom for bamboo velour pillow cases, since she liked the ones I did last year, so I'm trying to decide whether to give them to my brother-in-law, or give them to her as a birthday present. Either way, they go to the same house.
Now, the result of him throwing up meant that I almost got behind on a custom order that I was in a rush to do. That Monday I was going to go to JoAnn's and that obviously didn't happen. Since James spent the rest of the week recovering, I didn't even make it out of the house until Saturday morning. But, I managed to get the supplies I needed for the dress, and get all but the buttons and button holes done before leaving for Thanksgiving. I got the dress finished right after we left.
The Saturday night before we left, I also managed to get most of a newborn ACU outift cut out as well (I'll post pics of that tomorrow), and a diaper cover embroidered. My next task is to get a pocket diaper, and another diaper cover done. Then onto a rather large order of an embroidered swingback dress with ruffles, instead of rick rack, and embroidery, with matching pants, diaper cover, dyed shirt, tights, and matching soft soled shoes. I plan on starting on this Friday, and working heavily on it Saturday.
Sunday will be spent working on Christmas presents. I'm making placemats with matching napkins for my sister-in-law's, an apron for my borther-in-law, a messenger bag for my neice, . . . and I still haven't figured out what to get for my other brother-in-law, and my husbands parents. My sister-in-law put in a request to Jake's mom for bamboo velour pillow cases, since she liked the ones I did last year, so I'm trying to decide whether to give them to my brother-in-law, or give them to her as a birthday present. Either way, they go to the same house.
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