On the bright side

[Former_Member]

Its hard to see the silver lining, but there is one. ♥

Many of us are being forced out of businees or forced to change what we make. There will be less children's items to buy. BUT...we are the lucky ones! We can make our own!! We won't be forced to do without these lovely things, because we can do itourselves.

Its a bit of a silver lining..not huge, but a bit.

Any other positive outcome that you can think of?

[TheBlingyBobbin]

I found out a component I was using was over the lead limit - I would have had no idea if it were not for the law. :( I hate not using pearl snap clips, but if a child ever got one in their mouths and swallowed it and was harmed, that would be awful.

So, being more aware of things is good. :)

[Former_Member]

CutesyCloths says:
I found out a component I was using was over the lead limit - I would have had no idea if it were not for the law
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Thank you for posting this. At the end of the day, the law is keeping about items over lead limits out of the hands (and lets face it, mouths) of children.

[bobbinalong]

I think this whole CPSIA thing has just shown us how strong we really are. I did do a local NBC interview for the news on this subject. I have been in contact with my representative's office in Washington periodically. I guess it has made us think. To look at the world through different eyes. To search for ideas from within ourselves to see this thing though. It isn't over yet.

[Former_Member]

Sorry. I've got nothing. :(

[Former_Member]

TheWorldsDresser says:

Thank you for posting this. At the end of the day, the law is keeping about items over lead limits out of the hands (and lets face it, mouths) of children

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Nope. That might be one happy side-effect of the law, but the as written is clearly more about preventing competition. It's about keeping toys off of the shelves unless they are the mindless, mass produced, trinkets sold by companies with the resources of a Hasbro or Mattel. It would be trivially easy to draft a law that keeps lead out of the hands and mouths of children that didn't destroy small businesses, but let's face it, at the end of the day, the effect of this law is about keeping any item that can't be sold to 10,000 people off the shelves.

[Former_Member]

dmollison....I love your new store. The purses are gorgeous. I hope you get to sell dolls again someday.

[Former_Member]

You made my night, southernbeauty.

[Former_Member]

I'll be first in line to buy a doll if you get to make them again.

[Former_Member]

TheWorldsDresser says:

Thank you for posting this. At the end of the day, the law is keeping about items over lead limits out of the hands (and lets face it, mouths) of children

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dmollison says:
Nope. That might be one happy side-effect of the law, but the as written is clearly more about preventing competition. *****************************************************

It's a glorious "side effect" and as a buyer, I'm more likely to purchase a baby gift from a handmade crafter who has tested her products, than from someone who has not - even if it means paying a higher price.

With that, I'm going the gym - its Saturday and lovely outside. Have a great day!

[bobbinalong]

The problem with the testing is that it is so expensive versus what we could possibly charge for a doll or toy, it would be out of the question.

Now back to MyMotherMary's post. I think that when election time rolls around, we are going to take more responsibility for the people we send to Washington. I saw a Congressman on one of the Sunday morning TV programs, and I won't say who it is, that said that the people in Congress are amazed at some of the people being elected. The ones being sent to Washington are really not capable of the job. He says it makes it doubly hard on those people already there trying to do a job and having to work with some of the new people. I think we might be able to relate. It is not that we want people who think our way, but intelligent, capable people to take on that position. I think we are sending some on a popularity basis only.

[Former_Member]

That child would be in way more danger of choking on the snap than dying from lead poisoning...The snap would pass through their digestive system in a day if they didn't choke on it first..We all need to be realistic here..As someone said, this law is about competition, nothing else.

[Former_Member]

That child would be in way more danger of choking on the snap than dying from lead poisoning...The snap would pass through their digestive system in a day if they didn't choke on it first..We all need to be realistic here..As someone said, this law is about competition, nothing else.

[Former_Member]

yeah, I guess there isn't much of a bright side, is there?
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Donknits says:
That child would be in way more danger of choking on the snap than dying from lead poisoning...The snap would pass through their digestive system in a day if they didn't choke on it first..We all need to be realistic here..As someone said, this law is about competition, nothing else.
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Exactly!!

I keep buttons out of my babies mouth because they're chocking hazards!!

Where are the studies that prove this law will reduce lead poisoning??

Where are the studies that prove handmade items are a lead hazard??

Where are the studies that prove this law will effectively reduce the danger of lead??


Low income children, in the inner city are the ones most likely to come in contact with lead. Does this new law really aim at helping them???

Good intentions does not equate to a good law. We need to quit judging laws based on its good intentions and judge it based on its reality!!

[Former_Member]

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It's a glorious "side effect" and as a buyer, I'm more likely to purchase a baby gift from a handmade crafter who has tested her products, than from someone who has not - even if it means paying a higher price.
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More power to you. It's nice that you have the freedom to choose. But you raise another interesting point - this law needlessly raises the cost of toy manufacturing, and as a result, it means that families less well off than you are going to have to live with fewer (and lower quality) toys.

It would be a very simple matter to revise the CPSIA to allow for toys that are safe *and affordable*. But Congress won't change it because the only suffering it causes is among small businesses and poor people. Small businesses have no political clout, and poor people only have political clout when it comes to spending tax payer money on social services. So who cares about them?

[Former_Member]

there's nothing wrong with the law, itself... but it should allow for fair testing and documentation of the lead in our supplies.

if my supplier is giving me a COA that states the items i'm using is lead and phthalate free, i should be able to write a GCC based on that.

that's how they do it in the building industry... and it's been regulated since the 70s.