Know what those Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar Dollfaces went and did? Against their better judgement, they made me a "Featured Artist" on their website!
Well, of course they wanted photos of lil' ol' me, and not wanting to disappoint, I called up my friend Autumn, and her ridiculous photography skills, and she very kindly obliged me with a downtown photo shoot. Pro that she is, she even managed to get a few of me with my poor old sunlight-sensitive Swedish blue eyes open, and that is no small feat.
If you've been following the CPSIA news closely, as I have, then you're probably aware of the threat facing makers of handmade children's products due to the unintended consequences of the legislation meant to protect our children from lead and other dangers. I'm happy to report that our voices are being heard!
On Wednesday, the Committee on Energy and Commerce sent a letter to its chairman, Henry Waxman, urging that the effective date of the legislation (February 10) be postponed until a hearing can be conducted so that those involved in the decision making process can be better informed of the serious side effects of the CPSIA.
From the letter: "...it is becoming clear that, without the rapid application of some common sense, the new law also holds potential to impose vast economic hardship without actually protecting anyone."
"Many involved in CPSIA's creation were passionate to improve the safety of our children's products, but surely no one expected or wanted to drive thousands of home-based and small businesses out of operation and turn thousands of Americans into surprise victims of a brutal recession. For example, it seems obvious to us that the hand-knitted sweaters and homemade hair bows sold by artisans on eBay are highly unlikely to endanger children's health." "The situation is urgent. On February 10, in less than three weeks, these tiny producers will be out of business."
"Meanwhile, there is no evidence that these micro-producers are doing anything wrong or endangering anyone, and we believe there is no reason for them to suffer a devastating economic blow simply because their government cannot find a way to help in time."
You may read the letter for yourself as a pdf file here.
To keep yourself informed of the latest CPSIA developments, and to find out how you can help, visit the discussion on Change.org, where the issue was voted one of the Top Ten Ideas for Change in America. (images from Better Living magazine, June 1954)
A few days ago, I stumbled upon these amazing WWII era photographs from the Library of Congress' photostream on Flickr. I instantly though of my great grandmother, Bertha Belle, who worked at a foundry here during the war, building planes. In her downtime at the foundry, she crafted beautiful silver and turquoise jewelry. This was a couple of years before she built the little house I grew up in, almost single-handedly, wiring the electrical systems herself, with automotive wiring. She was a tough broad, and far ahead of her time, having been married and divorced several times in the 1940s and 50s, when such behavior was unheard of. Unfortunately, she left this world by her own hand, years before I entered it.
Grandma Bertha Belle, I wish I could have known you.
As 2009 brings all of us a fresh start, my head is swirling with ideas, plans, goals, and the delicious promise of possibility a new year inevitably brings. I am greeting this new year with more hope and excitement than any other I can remember. These last few months, I've begun to feel a heavy weight slowly lifting from my shoulders---the weight of grief and loss and longing for what I should have had, and holding onto the past when I ought to be looking ahead. I am feeling more creative than ever, and suddenly remembering a bit of who I was before I was "Mama", and before I looked Death in the face and was forever changed. This silly little blog was born out of grief and loneliness, and a desire to reach out to the world. It was my happy place to escape. I have treasured each and every comment and kind word I have received, and have made so many wonderful friends here. So, thank you, Dollfaces, from the bottom of my heart. One of the bits of my old self that I'm rediscovering is my lifelong passion for music.
Here's one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite musicians. I think I want this one played at my funeral. I recently learned that Iris DeMent and I share a birthday, so it seemed a fitting post for the first day of the last year of my twenties.
Here's to 2009. I hope it's a great one for all of us!
