5 posts tagged “craft”

I'm not a political junkie, but OOOHHH, there's a new law here in the US that's making me angry.  Luckily they've put a stay on it, but we need to let them know that we want them to change it.

It's called the CPSIA.  It's designed to help protect toys from being contaminated with lead.  It will require the testing of anything that is or can be used as a child's toy to be tested for lead.  If it hasn't been tested by the CPSIA, then it's illegal to sell.  

Sounds good, right?

On the surface, yes, but if you read it, it's going to have terrible ramifications for a lot of people.  You might think this won't affect you.  You don't make plushies or dolls or anything that can be used as a toy, so you're good, right?  Nope.  What if you want to BUY handmade toys?  

You think, "Well, the makers should just get them tested, then - That's not hard, right?"
It is, because getting things tested for lead ain't cheap.  We're talking three or four figure numbers, here.  And the new restrictions posed by this law are so harsh that there's a lot of commercially made toys currently out that will be deemed unsafe, even though they're entirely non-toxic and haven't hurt anyone for YEARS.  The average independent, self-employed artist is lucky to make that amount in a month - Trust me, I know.  How much is the average rent/mortgage?  Utilities?  Food?  Do we have insurance?  Usually not.

Chances are good that those of you who sell or enjoy buying handmade plushies from cons aren't going to be able to anymore.  Parents or soon-to-be parents like me aren't going to be able to buy handmade toys for our little ones.  Traditional toy items like corn husk dolls and toy war shields - Made by my tribe. Yep, Crazed is a Native American, did you know that? - won't be able to be sold and thus put many traditional artists out of business.  Even Japanese temari balls can't be sold as toys because they can be used as a toy.  Art objects that were traditionally toys but are now made as replicas can't be sold under this law, including art dolls.  Even if they're made entirely of cloth, they still need to be tested.

So...  Kachina Dolls?  Important cultural and religious tribal item?  No longer are they used as toys, but they are "dolls".  They will be illegal to sell unless they've been tested.  Handmade rocking horses out of wood like my grandfather used to make?  Also illlegal.  Sock Monkeys?!  Those, too.

I know a lot of people who make and sell handmade toys and children's items for a living.  I want to be able to buy them for Lemony when she's old enough to have them because I want to buy local (well, as local as possible, in today's world, so that means buying things made in the US) and all-natural as much as I can.  Please read this article on Etsy and call your state senators.  Ask them to support amending this law because of how it will affect your life.  Don't forget to mention that it will put a lot of AMERICANS out of business in an already floundering economy where small businesses are closing down left and right.  It will impact a lot of our cultural heritage as well, Native American and otherwise.  Please call them or pass it on.  It only takes a minute.

And if you just want to call your senator right now, call ths number: (202) 224-3121 and tell them what state you are from and that you would like to talk to one of your senators.  That's the number for the Senate Switchboard.  Be polite, be nice, and in the end, thank them for listening to you.  It doesn't matter if you are of voting age or not.  This only takes a minute.  The switchboard was busy when I tried last time, so I'm going to hit redial on my cell in half an hour and try again.  It's that simple.

Please, please, please call.  We CAN make a difference.  We've ALREADY made a difference by signing petitions and getting this law put on hold for a few more months while people look it over.  We can change it.

Thank You,
Crazed

Some things that have happened at the Faire today.  Oh, the things that happen when you're a Rennie!

First off, a group of men entered my booth - Probably my age, mid-twenties.  I was behind the counter, having a drink from my tankard with pliers, piles of rings and half-finished things scattered on the counter before me.  Brian wasn't even at the Faire at this time; he had a meeting downtown, and was attending it in full garb because he had to rush to get there. ^_^
Anyway, the guys were poking at the chainmaile, taking turns trying on the steel coif (I have a sign up saying they can) and generally having fun.  I was working on stretchy Byzantine bracelets, making the little "units" to be later strung together.  One of the men noticed this, and said idly (while poking at the sterling pieces), "Oh hey, you're helping out, that's really cool."
His friends saw me bristle, some of them going "Oooo...  Uh oh," and the like under their breath.  I know for a fact my eye twitched.  "Helping out?"
He was still not looking directly at me as he picked things up and looked at them.  "Yeah, it's good you're helpin' out making things and stuff."
"I'm not helping out, sirrah.*  This is my work.  I am the chainmailler."
He was shocked, and his friends were laughing at him.  "You really made this?  All of this stuff?"  I was a bit insulted that he was so shocked, but I was good; I feel I remained civil.
"Yes, I did.  Ring by ring, all of it."
The man looked around as though in a daze.  I think I broke him because he didn't seem to be able to fathom that a single person could do all of that, and especially because it's chainmaile, and especially not a girl.  He kept picking things up, asking questions, and I answered them all.  I even gave a quick lesson in how to make Euro 4-in-1 (the most basic of weaves, the weave everyone pictures when they think of maile).  I explained how scalemaile was made, showed them all the different kinds of pliers, pointed out different weaves and how they can be combined, which materials were good for what, properties of metals... 
I think I spent at least twenty minutes talking about maile to these guys, but things were slow and I think it was time well spent.  All the guys walked away with at least more knowledge about medieval armor and an appreciation of medieval vs. modern uses - I had to explain several times how it was not and never was stab-proof and no, it's not bullet-proof.  One man walked away, shaking his head and in awe that someone could be so crazy as to dedicate all their time to putting one ring next to another in an ancient art form that requires the patience of a saint, the hands of a surgeon, and stubbornness greater than steel.
And that someone is a girl.

Story Number 2 is a better story, and one that I'm still smiling about.
I was tending the booth (again alone) when a couple with a stroller came in to poke at the shiny things. In the stroller was an older girl toddler; not young enough to "need" a stroller, but still at an age where sudden tiredness may occur, and a stroller wouldn't be a bad thing to have handy. She was fast asleep.
The couple explained that they were going to go to the Steelers game with some friends (probably to tailgate) but their friends had bailed on them, so they decided to come to the Ren Faire instead. They had actually arrived not long ago (it was about 2:30 at this time). I made sure to tell them that the Friar always knows the score, and he could keep them updated. While I was explaining where different stages were and what shows would be good for the whole family, their little girl woke up. She looked at me and froze. Her eyes were huge. I thought, "Oh, no - this little girl just woke up and the first thing she sees is an unfamiliar, strangely-dressed woman wearing lots of metal. She is going to scream."
The little girl gasped, and said, "Mommy, it's a princess!"
I about died on the spot. I started to laugh, thanked her, and said I wasn't a princess (I'm sure I was beet red). I explained that the Princess has an even prettier crown and a prettier dress, and that she could see them if they went to the joust. The little girl asked who I was, then. "I'm the chainmaile lady. I make chainmaile." I grabbed an in-progress mantle to show her what it was.
She touched it and said, "Knights wear this! You make what knights wear!"
I smiled and nodded, and said, "And someday, I'll learn to make a whole suit of armor."
She gasped, "Really? You could DO that?"
"Yep." ^_^
Her parents were happy (her mom, especially), and then realized they had to run to get to see a show they were planning on catching, now that they knew where it was.
I waved as they left, almost able to see the visions in the little girl's head of a female Vulcan, giant hammer in hand, forging mighty suits of armor and huge swords to go with them.
And I felt really, really cool.

That's it for today! ^_^ I'll try to remember more stories and post them during the week.
Later!
Crazed

*sirrah - formerly a contemptuous term of address to an inferior man or boy; often used in anger - In case you're wondering, no, no one in the tent aside from me knew that I was using an insult, but it made me feel better.  Catty and immature, I know, but I was ready to take someone's head off with those pliers and antiquated insults do very little physical harm.  Pliers, especially in the right/wrong hands, are another story.

I made it 2

There's a craft show here in Pittsburgh that just started up, and they're lookin' for crafters!
Their first event was last month, and I tried it out.  It was my first craft show ever, and I think I did pretty good, especially since it seemed pretty out-of-the-way to me.
But this month things are different!  The event will be held outside, rain or shine, in Braddock.  Check the poster I've got up here for info.
As I recall, the cost is $10 if you can bring your own table, $15 if you need to use one of theirs, and you can even pay through PayPal.
If you've got a site or an Etsy page, they'll link to it on their MySpace page, too! ^_^
So, if you're in or around the Pittsburgh area and feel like selling, please sign up!  The girls running it are doing a great job of advertising it, I think (Channel 4 News was at the first event!) and it's only getting bigger.  I hear the new Mayor of Braddock is big on bringing in art and culture, which is why he's all for this show, which I think is awesome.
See you there! ^_^
Crazed

Well, I rolled out of bed a bit before noon, got myself together for the day, and decided to take some pics of my current maile fun-ness to share before I got to work for the day.

4_2_07

Okay, I'm assuming you don't know much about me, or what I do, so's I might as well tell you.
I'm 25, I live in Pittsburgh, and I'm currently enjoying the many benefits, trials & tribulations of what I like to call 'fun'employment.  I'm married to an amazing guy without whom I would probably starve and/or die in a terrible kitchen accident involving lunchmeats, due to my staggering lack of skill in that area.  I also have rabbits, and a really huge cat.
Why am I seemingly jobless?  Well, I'm unemployable.  Not because I'm lazy or anything, but I because I have two degrees.  I got my Associate's in Computer Animation, and then my Bachelor's in Game Art & Design.  Because I have two accredited degrees, not one of The Marts or a McBurgerPlace will hire me.  I be too "Overqualified".  And you want to hear the REAL kicker?  The companies in my industry of choice all tell me they like my portfolio, I've got the skills they need, and that my freelance work is great, but they can't hire me because I'm "Inexperienced".  Try telling THAT to the Student Loan people...
But all is not lost!  I am an artist-type, and not just of the paint/pencil/digital/animation/3D modeling type.  I'm lucky to be blessed with dexterous hands an insatiable desire to know How Stuff Gets Made.  ^_^  I can knit, crochet, sew simple items, embroider, bead, make jewelry and do interesting, shiny things with chainmaile.  I also do henna, which has more than once saved my finanical butt.  I'm also lucky to have a husband who fully supports my madcap scheme to start my own business, which is why I started here in Vox.  I want to chronicle my successes, my failures, and the creation of things.  My dream is to be able to earn my keep, as it were (a Hint to my partial farm upbringing), even if I only make enough money to pay a single one of our bills each month.  Keeps me from feeling useless, and keeps me being creative.  With luck we can use my husband's part-time college professor pay for our rent, bills, etc, and the cash from my biz to pay down my college debt, or sock into savings.  That would be awesome! ^_^
So, The Business.  I've already got a name, Rabbit Dance Designs, and I've got a trademark - I'm all registered and set to go in that respect.  When we got our taxes done last month we talked with the tax guy a full two hours about setting this thing up right on the business end; I've got all my Excel charts set up and receipt envelopes properly filed away.  I've got an on-line store for what I've already got finished - It's http://rabbitdance.etsy.com if you haven't already checked it out. *wink wink, nudge nudge*
All I need is a Venue and Stock.  Stock I've got a decent amount of, but sadly most of the Art and Craft shoppers (at least to some of the shows I tried last year) are of the "elderly lady in a kitten sweatshirt" variety.  Not exactly the place for a pink and black chainmaile choker or an armor-like coif.  So, I've submitted an entry into the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival, which is back this summer and under new management.  With luck, I'll get accepted as a chainmaile vendor and we'll see how it goes from there! *dances*
Which then brings me to the problem of Stock.  I've got plenty for a table at your average weekend Arts & Crafts Show, but nowhere near what I would need for six weekends of medieval craziness.  I don't have a tent, although I hear new vendors typically lease a pre-built spot or something like that.  But I don't have the Stock to fill that space once, either.  We'll see what ensues.  I also don't have the garb.  I've got a nice bodice, but that's it.  The awesome thing about getting Ren clothes, though, is that they'll be tax-deductable!
So we'll see what happens.  I know this is a long post, but I wanted to clear the air and let everyone know what's going on.  I also want to show off the awesome that is chainmaile!  I love the stuff.  It's utilitarian, in the way of shark suits and butcher gloves, but you can use the same weaves and materials to make a piece of jewelry, a purse, or a watchband.  The next post will have things of a more fun nature, I promise - Pictures and some of my strangely ritualistic creative process, if that makes any sense.
But as I said before - It's a long post already, but it's also 3:30 in the morning, and even maillers who don't have to be up at any particular time like to go to sleep at a decent hour (even if our idea of 'decent' is 2 AM).

G'Night!
Crazed

(PS - Okay, kids - Another picture of a bunny, and then it's time for bed...)

Bunny Kiss