The following is a letter I sent out this past week…..and as today is CPSIA blogging day, I'm posting it here for you.  Please do what you can to help repeal the CPSIA.

Dear Friends and Loved Ones,
 
I'm writing this to bring to your attention a serious issue that will effect all Americans beginning February 10, 2009.   The Consumer Product Safety Information Act was passed by Congress in August 2008.  The "CPSIA" is a well-intentioned law that can protect our children from dangerous components of many toys available in large "big-box" stores.  We all know the dangers of lead in products (as they have been in the news a lot lately!) and I think this law started out with good intentions.  The problem with it is the broadness of the law.  Anyone, EVERYONE who handmakes, buys, or sells toys will be affected.  How?  The law does not exclude books, hats, clothing, jewelry, purses, handbags, pillows, sports equipment, party supplies etc. 
 
As a very small business (just me and Russell when I need help with Excel :), I can not afford the thousands of dollars of testing that the CPSIA would require me to obtain on my products.  For one of my wool felt puffy heart pendants for sale over at my Etsy shop (Annieandolive.etsy.com) it would cost $1750 EACH TIME I wanted to make it.  Since they are currently $5.00, I don't know that anyone would be willing to pay $1755 for a small wool heart.  I would be forced to stop making many of my items, which hurts me both emotionally and financially. 
 
This is just one of millions of stories of crafters around the United States that would be either forced to pay thousands of dollars or fold and close their shops and businesses.  What about the little Grandpa that makes wooden toys for children in his Vermont garage?  What about the nice Aunt who knits, crochets and quilts baby blankets for the local crisis pregnancy center craft show?  What about the cool kid who handcrafts old-style baseballs and bats?  ALL of these products would be illegal without testing and certifying and the producers would face serious fines and jail time for creating and selling them.  WE as Americans, would also not be able to buy these beautiful, unique items as people can no longer afford (both personally or financially) to make them. 
 
The silliest part of this law is that it does NOT exclude childrens BOOKS.  So…come February 10, your child's school library will technically be illegal….as will all kids sections of any bookstore.  The law now states that you have until August 10 to have all your items that you have "in stock" either tested or have proof of their safety.  If you do not, you will have to destroy your stock.  This is a quote from the National Library Association website: "public, school and museum libraries will have to either remove all their books or ban all children under 12 from visiting."  Visit  here to read more about this:  http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1573

 
This law is absolutely ridiculous.  Please show your support for repealing parts of this law to better protect micro-businesses and handmade by writing your State Representative and Senators (contact them here: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml and  http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm as well as reading more information here at http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org .  State Representative Henry Waxman (D-California) is the head of the committee that oversees this law as the Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. You can contact him here: http://www.house.gov/waxman/contact.htm  
 
I thank you so much for your help in this,