Egg Toss, Jeopardy, Babin's Land

All Staff at Babin's this morning.
The pictures are more fun than talking about it.

Bruce sports his apron/team poster.















KRod cracks me up with her mouth wide open while she tosses!!



Nice catch Josh!!


Ewwwww...






Another one bites the dust












Josh caught the winning egg, thrown by Jeff Thompsen.



Da winners



Carnage.

GO!! Red Team

Tomorrow is one of Babin's biannual All Staff Meetings. The theme is Luau or Hawiian... Beach. Ummmm, my personal favorite. Right? I am on Bruce's team, again. I can't remember having any other team captain, it's been that many times Bruce has chosen me. :0)
Our team color is red. We are wearing red shirts... The team poster I made this time is actually an upcylcled apron from B's that I did a little applique and paint on.
I will *try* to remember to take my camera with me this time so I can share the fun and learning experience we have!

Port O'Connor Mini Vacation

I have been in such a need to just get away, if even for just 2 days, and I finally did!!
YIPPEE!!
A friend of hubs has this *beach* house (not actually ON the beach, but 3 mins away) in Port O'Connor, Texas. He offered it to our family for any weekend we wanted. We planned it and got out of our Katy house without a hitch.... Almost.
So, we took two vehicles for comfort and so we could bring Rosie-Pants. :0)
I drove the Girlz car; Lauren, Lindsey, Rosie and I. Scott and Shane took the Dodge PU. Following the Boyz, about two hours into the drive, I realized I left the big black bag at home on my bed. It contained ALL of "Us Girlz" clothing, undies, swim suits....
AAARRRGGGGHHH!
I remembered all the food, batteries, dog food, trash bags.... You name it, I got it. But not MY stuff. LOL We only had the clothing on our backs. Flip flops.
First night there, Shane and I got out and about to find the pier, the beach... a STORE. We found it all. But trying to find the house was a joke. I got to a stop sign and was signaling to make a left, changed my mind, and flipped the signal to right. As I turned the wheel, the blinker must have clicked off, cuz a minute later, behind me in the darkness was police lights.
?????? What the....????
*wiped the sweat off my brow*
I played my tourist hand, 'cuz thats the truth and all I got. I drove away with a warning. And white knuckles. And I made sure to exaggerate my signals at every turn.
Saturday morning the girls and I rose early and set out around town to question the local gals about finding swim suits for ourselves. (The house is equipped with a washer and dryer.... I can deal with that!) We were pointed into the direction of Sisters Gift Shop. When we found it, I was worried. It looked too tiny to offer anything that would fit, much less afford.
Ahhhhhh. One should NEVER judge a book by its cover!!


LOVE-LOVE-LOVE the blue with yellow trim!!!


At 9:21 AM, Kathy Hoskins was outside, between the 2 buildings that makes the shop so unique. Realizing I was yet one more lost tourist, she offered help. Directions to the nearest Walmart, 60 miles away. She saw the terror on my face and invited us in to look around. 39 mins before opening time.
Kathy showed me three suits, but only one was my size. Pink. Ruffles. Bikini. Little. Never.
I tried it on. It fit PERFECT!! And, I think I looked FAB-U-LOUS!! LMAO
Lins got a cute little bikini, and Lauren decided on a pair of boys surf shorts with a tank. Ca-Ute!!
The best thing?? Kathy and her sister, Teresa Gonzales, own this incredible little Boutique and have created a place where EVERY girl NEEDS to shop. They get in new stuff every week and the prices are better than reasonable. I was afraid my cute little pink bikini was going to cost a fortune, but when I saw it was only $18, I was ready to buy the white one too!! (I'll be getting that suit when we go back!) Gonna sock away a few nights pay at Babin's for the next trip so I can go s.h.o.p.p.i.n.g!








The beach was fun. Not crowded. Dogs. Moms. Kids. Locals. I had a nice conversation with a woman from Sugarland. Sure makes me wish we could afford 2 homes. I could live in POC June through August. Easily. Honest. I really could. The people I met were more than nice. Like meeting a family I never knew I had.
I can't wait to go back.
So.... That's pretty much it. We BBQed some burgers and Shan''s 6 pack of Mangrove Snapper. Ate in style with lots of flavor.








Rose brought all the boy dogs in the neighborhood over to our yard, with her girly scent. THAT was interesting.
The drive home was interesting to say the least. Our previous drive to get there, was over 3 hours. Home? 2 hours, 25 mins. 75 all the way. I still have a cramp in my calf. LOL I put more highway miles in this weekend than I have in 3 years total. LOL I miss traveling.
Enjoy my photos. I'm smiling whilst I post them!

Hermit Crab Hnting






Lone Hermit Crab on the beach.









Mmmmm. Rock Crab.



Hee-hee. Pink Bikini. :0)















My real reason why I love POC so much?? They named a street after me.

I Gave Up Painting For Quilting ~ Part 2

While the quilt was getting quilted, I finished making the binding. Now, quilters, mind you, I don't traditionally bind my quilts. Hereis how I made this particular binding.
I started with more of the 5inch squares I had left over from the quilt. I decided on a pattern, and started sewing one long line of squares.
((Pardon the burnt starch on my ironing board. I know. It looks disgusting.))
The long strip of squares has to be ironed into the shape I need it in so it will fit as an easy casing over the edges of the now triple layer quilt.
First, I iron it in half. Then I go back to the beginning and open up the binding and then bring the edges to the inside. Iron firmly.

Fold over and match the edges. Iron. Starch, iron again.







Wrap the binding around the edge of the quilt and start sewing!! I am not a pin user.... But most people will pin the binding down before sewing. I find that step time consuming and the pins always get in the way. My machine likes to eat them.



I put *after market* loops on the back in case Allison wanted to hang the quilt in the baby's nursery. These have their own stitching, so they may be removed so the quilt may be used.






Mmmmmmmmmm.
Freestyle, stipple quilting.
Yummy enough to eat!



This is a great shot of the tuxedo pin tucks from Grammy's shirt.






My friend wanted a little dedication on the back.
She came up with, "Wrapped in Grammy's Arms".
I embroidered that phrase on one of the sleeves from the shirt.
Fitting, eh? Even though, once complete, you would never know. I do, my friend does and I am sure Allison's little man will grow up knowing it as well.


Welp, there it is.
I also made a smaller, crib sized quilt, but I tied it.













Extra fabric = Extra stuff









Hopefully, I will be getting some pictures from the baby shower and the new nursery.....
*HINT-HINT*

I Gave Up Painting For Quilting ~ Part 1

I have been sitting on this project for a while... Keeping quiet for a couple of months while I work on it in secret.
Now, that the quilt(s) are complete, I can share the story. Also, in the nine years I have been sewing, I have never documented a project from beginning to end. I tried to this time.... I got most of it. I did not get any pictures while the quilt was actually getting quilted at Quilt-N-Sew. Bad timing.
The story behind this Memory Quilt:
A good friend of mine has 2 daughters, Allison and Annie. Both girls and the Mom are attorneys. Allison married Shelby about 15 years ago. Shortly after that, Shelby's Mom passed away after a river rafting trip of an unknown disease. It was VERY unexpected and still undiagnosed. The day of her Memorial Service, Shelby's Dad dropped all of her clothing off at a second hand store.
Well.... My friend wanted a piece of her clothing to save... So one of HER friends spent a couple days going through all the stores merchandise until she finally came up with a baby blue shirt of Shelby's Mom!!!
This shirt was cleaned, pressed and then stored out of sight, out of mind for NINE years in the back of the bottom drawer....
Here is the shirt before I started cutting. I really liked the pin tucks down the front, kinda like a tuxedo shirt. When added to the quilt, it gives dimension and interest. You all know how I enjoy interest, texture and dimension in my work. LOL


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So now I kinda wanna share HOW I make quilts. Just keep in mind that I am self taught and I take or make shortcuts. I just wing it, I guess. If any of you reading this are REAL quilters, please do not discipline me. I do the best I can. :0)

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All the supplies and tools I would be working with. Including a published book of short stories and poems pulled together after being discovered on Grammy's computer.


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First, I had to carefully cut the main attraction of this quilt into perfect 5" X 5" squares. The buttons had to go, as well as the buttonholes.

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I use my straight edge and rotary cutter to get them perfect.


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After cutting a 5 inch strip of fabric, I then line that strip up and take off the selvage and cut at 5 inch intervals to make 5 inch squares. Just basic.


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I love my cutting mat, straight edge and rotary. I used to cut by hand and none of my squares would match. LOL Not only that, but it was very time consuming.

Once all my squares are cut and stacked, I can start making a pattern. I like to choose which fabrics compliment each other as well as those that conflict, or add depth. Making sure the balance of the finished product is right is almost as time consuming as making it.
Here is the grid system I use when doing my layout. It allows me to see which fabrics will touch and it looks like a mini version of the finished product.

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Once satisfied with the layout, I stack each row and then stack them. One little neat stack of 5 inch squares!!

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I love this pic.

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Starting with the first row, I sew one strip of squares together, always with right sides together. Sometimes I used my serger, but this time I wanted to be sure my seams were all exactly 1/4 inch, and durable. I don't always trust my serger for strength like I do my New Home digital machine. Everyone has their preferences.

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I line up my finished strips, or rows, as I call them. When all of the rows are complete, they will be stacked in opposite order with the bottom row on the top.
Don't forget to iron all seams flat, or the quilt will end up with puffy squares instead of flat ones.

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I lay the next row to be attached face down over the bottom row, lining up the center square, and stitch together using a 1/4 inch seam.
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Once all rows are together, I iron from the back to make the seams flat, then I trim away all the loose threads and strings to make the back pretty. :0)
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Almost done with the top!!! Can smell the finish line!!
Since you can never be perfect, the edges of the quilt need to be evened. Fold the top in half and trim the edges to match.
((The next step is not pictured))
To finish the top, I used a light weight denim that I bleached a light blue to match the shirt. I cut 4 - 3inch strips and attached them to the perimeter of the patchwork to frame up, or contain the inside design. I always feel that a quilt looks like it would just go on and on if it were not contained with that little piece of framing. So, you will find that all my quilts are framed in just a little bit, so they look finished.

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Done for the day!!!
I gathered up my quilt top, my batting and the backing to get over to the quilt shop. They will layer all three parts and use a large machine to sew all three together, making this quilt an indestructible piece. It will last forever, through wash after wash and can be handed down through many generations in its new family.

Work in Progress

I may never finish this project, LOL But I figured I could share where it is now.
The kids room.
Not a huge room, so organization and *housekeeping* is a must.
First the theme. Surfing. The beach. California. All things warm and sandy. The kids and I all share the same kinship with salt water and sunburns, so the choice of theme was unanimous.


I started with the walls. Palm trees, shades of blue... I had one obstacle.. a wall with tons of "graffiti" type paint done with enamel paint pens. I had to cover with a dark gloss (kids wanted black, I chose a nice dark chocolate). This wall is free to them to decorate with posters, signs, junk, art. The TV is on this wall too, on a dresser I just recently moved in. It still needs a paint job, along with the other dresser.



My next venture was the closet. I gutted it and painted it a light lime green. Added white wire shelving and some bins on rollers. Everyone has their own space and places to keep their favorite things. The curtains to cover the closet are from a flat sheet I got at Ross. I like that they are white so they add a lightness to the room. And the surfboards, of course, compliment the decor.




I used another for the 2/3 curtain on the window and topped that off with a grass hula skirt. (Garden Ridge Pottery was having a 50% off sale on all party stuff!! So I got a bunch of cool little things like the skirt for pennies!!)




The rest of the surfboard sheet was cut up and I used it in the two queen sized quilts I made the girls and the matching pillow shams. I am happy that the sheets I paid like $25 for, have gone so far in this decor. If I had actually fond a fabric I liked, I wold probably spent $200-300 on it to get enough, and there wold have been lots of seams.




So, anyhow, the paint on the furniture is fun and colorful. Each part is painted a different color, kind of like inside Babin's. (Babin's has a bunch of wood inside that was salvaged from New Orleans, and it is painted fun bright colors and adds personality.) I still have to finish the two dressers, like I said before, and I still have parts of the kids beds to touch up.
I forgot to mention, I ripped up the carpet and painted the concrete a fabulous cerelian blue to mimic water from the prettiest beaches.


Hows THAT for Krafty? :0)

I know, I know.....

I have abandoned my post as Blogger for over a month now... Geeeeeezzz
Here is my excuse:
I got nothin'.
Nada.
Zip - Zilch. LOL
Update on me: After a bout of walking pneumonia and yet another round of antibiotics, I am FINALLY beginning to feel more like Trevor again. (Yea!)
Since closing the Pink Zebra, I have not been creating. I have been avoiding the sewing machines staring at me from my dining room table. Except for the curtains and quilts I made for the girls bedroom, I have made nothing. The CPSIA crap just totally did me in. It killed my spirit and my *want* to make anything for the little ones. And I hate it (actually, I hate the thoughtless authors of the darned law!)
I have been given a quest!! I have a secret project to make for a friend.... She saved some things and I have been given the job to create something new from something blue... I can hardly wait to share, but I have to keep the secret for a bit longer.
As so many of my friends on Facebook reminded me last week, I have celebrated yet another birthday. Woot!! Thanks for all the shout outs from friends past and present. I had a fabulous lunch at SaltGrass with my dear friend, Marsha. MMmmmmm... with a slice of cheesecake for desert. Yummy!!
Other than that, my friends, work, clean the house, hang with the dog. I have just been laying low. Hangin' tight and working at Babin's pretty much every night.
I do try to be home on Modays for Dancing with the stars and Thursdays for SurvivorNight.
Here is a shout out to all my old PZB customers: I jst dropped off all my left over stock at the very same address and old house on First Street, but theres a new owner in town: Kathryn of the Childrens Carrosel. She sells some consignment clothing (new and used) hnadmade cloth diapers and tons of toys. Shes even got strollers, highchairs, carseats. You name it. She is so packed in there she will be moving to a much larger location in a month. I will keep you notified as she will have a special KraftyMommas section jst for them new babies!! Ye-ah!!
Yes, KMB will be making a new baby line that is completely CPSIA compliant.
You are welcome to leave me any ideas you have for the new line!! I.E. some colors, appliques or themes you would like to see!! I am happy yo ablige!\
So, my friends and followers, thanks for taking time ot of your day to catch up with me today. I look forward to getting my blogging back on and getting my crazy world back to a normal pace.
Cheers!!
:0) Trevor

TOUCHDOWN!!

Most of you who KNOW me, know I have had "IBS" for the past 20 years or so. Good days, bad days.... I have tried meds, diet, less stress.... Everything to try and correct what has been *diagnosed* as IBS.
However, at my last Doctors appointment, for my heart, she prescribed a really strong antibiotic. And with that antibiotic, she recommended I drink one or two DanActives a day to keep the good flora in my digestive system. (The antibiotic kills ALL the bacteria, good and bad and in the digestive system. In fact, according to WebMD.com, you can get a form of Colitis up to 3 months AFTER taking the antibiotic!! WOW!!) So, since I am scared to death of having/getting anything to upset my digestion, I scrambled to the store and started taking 1-2 DanActives every day while I was taking the antibiotics.
Lemme tell you.... I have had the HAPPIEST digestive system I have had since I can even rememeber. I am *on time* and not only that, I can complete an entire cycle (ifyouknowwhatImean). No more stock-piling for a week or more and then eliminating a million times in one day, making my stomach ache and feeling nauseated and unable to eat. No more bouts of diarreah. I feel great!!
More benefits, as they advertise: DanActive helps to increase your immune stystem so you won't pick up bugs all the time. We'll see if that holds true.....
One last benefit: I have lost FIVE pounds since I started drinking the DanActive. I do not know if it was the "build up" or the fact that my body is digesting what I need or even that I am not craving crap food much anymore. I don't care, I am just not bloated anymore and that makes me *feel* in better shape.
So, I urge you, go try some!! Just for a week or two. You tell me what you think!! Leave me a comment if you believe!!
:0)

Glaveston, TX is rebuilding!! Yea!!

I have no idea why I love Galveston, TX so much. Really. It is so NOT a California beach town... no real waves, the water is dirty, debris on the shore and lots of jellyfish in the surf.
All that aside, it smells so salty, the wind blows spray in my face... Ahhhh. The sun burning my skin while the kids kick up sand into my contacts... Peace. Love. Serenity.
After spending the last two years of Saturdays at the shop and not having been in Galveston since my Dad was here in March of 2007, I have been feeling the pull, the lure of sand and salt water tugging... no wait, PULLING & DRAGGING me towards the Gulf of Mexico. After my health scare, I KNEW I needed to something for ME that I enjoy, that I need, and I needed to take the girls down to Galveston to check it out and get some sun.
So yesterday, we piled into the Isuzu and made tracks to the beach.
Perfection. Could not have asked for a better day.
We saw total destruction, things standing in the middle of destruction. We saw rebuilding, fixing and brand new growth. Many of our favorite things were still in place, like Mr. Shark (AKA Ole Rusty Butt) who sits across from the seawall right on Seawall Blvd. He was a bit beat up, but still standing all mighty with his surf board.
I have to say, I am in love with Galveston's strength and integrity to come back and rebuild. After Ike, there were literally no beaches. The water came up to the seawall. Now, after 5 months of sand dumping, tourists, locals have a beach to take the kids to, run dog on... It is simply amazing to see Galvestonians work so hard... all day, all night to deliver sand to the beaches. And other things too. Like all the houses.... So many abandoned, demolished. Then we drive on another street and there are houses being fixed, painted. I snapped a couple pictures of houses that at first glance are just so cute, but when you look at the picture, you will notice little things: the corner of the roof, a dead palm tree, slats missing from a shutter, or the entire shutter missing from the home..... but only on one widow. Oh so random.
I am so happy to see Galveston rebuilding and jumping back after such devastation. I am proud of them also.
The water came up to over 9 feet into the Strand District. It was not water coming up and over the seawall, but instead, when the storm surge came into the ship channel, it was shoved up the backside of Galveston Island and onto the streets and shops along the Strand. I got a few pictures of where the waterline was. Hard to imagine the Strand submerged, even for just a few hours. I congratulate the shop/restaurant owners for their strength and love for what they do to rebuild, repaint and reopen.

I was able to speak to a few of the Strand's shop owners. This was the first weekend they had seen a lot of people shopping and hanging out (spending money), other than Mardi Gras weekend. I giggled every time I saw the basket or section with the signs that read, "50% off Ike damaged T-shirts", LOL
Anyhow, I will stop my rambling (I had a lot to say, and still do) and let you get on with the pictures. There are many, so go get your cup 'o joe, LOL
Make sure you get to the ones with the FABULOUS Victorian Architecture. The attention to details, the paint, the choice of colors. It is simply amazing if you let yourself believe.
Enjoy. :0)

Where Ya Been??

Hey, where has Krafty been?
I have been fighting some health issues. Of all things, my heart. I was having that "beating in my chest" feeling or fluttering. It was all the time, not just once in a while and I was exhasted. So I finally owned up and drug myself to see the doctor. After several tests, including a way cool ultra sound of my heart, I found out that I have high cholesterol, a bacterial infection somewhere in my body and my heart is just fine and healthy. Since I have been on the antibiotics, the fluttering has gone away and I am finally beginning to feel like me. I also took a mini vacation from all my stresses (doctors orders) and did nothing but clean house and paint. My stress relievers.
Thanks, everyone for the emails wondering what is up. I did not get any of them until yesterday because I did not turn on my pc for almost a week. It was actually kinda nice.
:0)

So this is what I wrote...... CPSIA

I was given the heads up that a certain person was looking for real life stories about how the CPSIA has affected me and mine. So this is what I wrote. This is actually the *edited* version as I just could not shut up. I felt like it was my one and only chance to write a personal note with feelings mixed in with the facts. If I could have hand written this with actual tear stains, I would have.



20 February 2009


The Honorable Henry Waxman

The Honorable Bobby L. Rush

The Honorable Joe Barton

The Honorable George P. Radanovich

Committee on Energy and Commerce

United States House of Representatives

2125 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515


Dear Chairmen Waxman and Rush and Ranking Members Barton and Radanovich:

I am writing to regarding the new law, CPSIA, put into effect February 10, 2009.

You see, I have been making and designing children’s Boutique Clothing for eight years now. I have spent many hours using my creativity to design perfect appliques and mastering twirly skirts. I have also built a huge customer base who rely on me to keep their children dressed in the best of custom clothing. It is what I do, and who I am.

In January of 2007, I utilized my talents and that of 10 other children’s designers to open The Pink Zebra Boutique. A small shop where Mom’s could come in and touch, see, feel the best in handmade clothing and accessories for their children. Our offerings quickly became popular here in the small town of Katy, Texas and even Moms from Houston would drive in to shop in my store. The Pink Zebra became an icon in a very short time.
This past December 2008, I became aware of CPSIA, but only because I like to be on my computer. If I did not have this tool, I would not have found out until someone verbally told me about it. I spent many hours, days and weeks researching and trying to figure out why CPSIA was including me! How could I need to test clothing items with nothing but fabrics and thread for lead? Have I been poisoning children for the past 8 years?

I quickly researched the testing that would be needed.... XRF Technology would be good until August of 2009. I inquired at some companies to see if the cost would be feasible. At $400 a day to rent the gun, and the training involved paired with the amount of merchandise in my store would cost me over $2000, and closure of the store for a week or more to make the documentation.

I spent 2 weeks trying to decide what I should do.

I have put so much money and time into painting the shop, the walls, the furniture, the displays. I had just purchased 1,000 new business cards in December. I lost the deposit I put on the building because I had to break the contract 2 months early.

I feel like I have taken a personal blow with everything I have lost.
With no word or changes to the CPSIA, I gave notice to my landlord that I would be closing my shop, vacating the first week of February. Everything immediatly went on sale to clear out as much as possible. Many of our items sold at or below materials cost, giving us all a loss on our business efforts.

The Pink Zebra Boutique closed on January 31, 2009.

It is so sad, that my dream of being an enterprenuer and Business icon in my community was so quickly snuffed by an over reaching law that was intended to make TOYS safer for children. It makes me so angry that everything I have worked for the past decade is gone. It saddens me that my customers, my biggest cheerleaders, can no longer purchase the very clothing items I love to design.

Although it is too late to save the Pink Zebra and all the designers associated with it, maybe something can be done to save the rest of the handmade clothing business.

Component testing. If all components available to BUY were lead free. If the fabric were certified lead free. The elastic, the thread. IF toys and other goods need to be lead free, the components to make such items should also be lead free.

I think about all the new Moms holding their newborns against the tee-shirt that says, “New Mom” all in crystals. I worry that the quilt on my bed from JC Penney, that my babies laid on when I changed their diapers, might have lead. It is not just childrens items, or baby things. My babies were held close to me and MY shirts were never tested for lead.

In closing, I want to thank you for taking the time to read my letter. This law means so much to me and my livelyhood. I want for children to be safe, not coddled, or in a plastic bubble. Children need to be free to live and experience life. Parents just need to pay attention to their kids and make sure they are not eating the zipper on their jeans or licking the pages in their books. Please don’t allow the CPSIA to take these vital things from our lives!!

Sincerely,


Trevor M. Thorson
Owner, Pink Zebra Boutique
Owner, KraftyMommas Boutique

If you made it this far, you need to check out this story about a library in Nebraska. Books under an orange tarp, under quarantine. As if deceased.
Yep, libraries are having to close up the kids section so they can go through and get rid of books printed pre 1985. Far reaching and over written, this CPSIA. What a pile-o-crap.

Um, well, Yea. R.I.P.

Not feeling all that creative right now. Check back in a couple of months, I guess.

CPSIA and My Five Favorites

Bankruptcy Day is only TWO days away, and I have been thinking about how my (and my children's) lives will be changed forever. I am making a list of (only) 5 of my FAVORITE things that will be affected on February 10, 2009, forever.


1. Tee-shirts. As a kid I always loved wearing tee's with silly graphics and pictures of my favorite rock bands. My kids are following in my footsteps... Hillary Duff, Taylor Swift, Vans Tennis shoes. Even silly ones like "Can I recycle my brother?". No more silly, trendy tees for my kids.


2. Halloween!!! I would have 5 Halloweens instead of all the other Holidays!! We love to dress up in the craziest of KraftyMommas Boutique costumes, complete with tons of accessories we often buy at the Dollar Store and WalMart. This year, in 2009, we won't be able to do much, as it will cost THOUSANDS of dollars to have these extravagant costumes tested. Not only that, but last years prize winning costumes will not be legal to sell on eBay, due the cost of testing requirements.


3. Resale shop-hopping. The girls and I LOVE checking the resale shops for things to paint and craft with. But we also love to buy clothes and stuff for play and dress up. Sometimes we even find items for our Halloween costumes. Most of the resale shops by our house have stopped taking children's items for fear of getting caught selling/stocking and illegal item. They are scared of what COULD happen, since they do not possess an XRF gun or the money to buy one.


4. Garage Sales. Yep, I am el-cheapo. I love garage sales. When the kids were babies, I bought 3/4 or their wardrobes from garage sales, and we still do frequent them. One can never have too many pairs of shorts here in Texas, nor can a girl have too much Barbie crap. I refuse to buy certain things at retail, when I know it will get lost, forgotten or thrown away, LOL Now, I guess, not-so-much.


5. My creations. (I saved this for last) I love the fact that I can make so many different things for babies. That people seek me out to make that special quilt or coming home from the hospital outfit, is such a blessing. I have been bettering my sewing skills every day for the past 8 years to get to where I am now. Not only have I lost the freedom to create for others, but I have lost my brick and mortar shop as well. Over the course of 2 years, I built up relationships with designers and customers alike, and now I have to bid them adieu. Many will hang on to our friendship, but without the common bond, others will slowly fade and begin buying mass produced crap for Target and Walmart, as they can squeeze that cost of lead testing into their production line.

Now that I have shared with you, I want you to share your top 5 in the comment section!! PLEASE list your top 5 Favorites the CPSIA will ruin for you on Bankruptcy Day, February 10, 2009.
(If you blog your TOP %, please share your link and link back to me!!!!)

Remember, EVERYONE will be affected by the CPSIA, EVERYONE.

**EDITED** to add 5 Favorites Blogs:
Whimsical Walney
Connie, owner of From My Room Resale