4 posts tagged “doll”

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

Okay, I mentioned that I've been sucked into the world of ball-jointed dolls.  One of the really fun things you can do with these dolls (besides creep people out - hee hee!) is pose them and take pictures to make what are known as "photostories".  They're basically little comics that feature dolls as opposed to drawn characters.
This one features Roland and myself as I give him his first haircut.  I had bought him not long before I made this and the only wig they had left that was of a length and a color that I liked had really, really long bangs - down to his chin!  He looked as emo as a blonde without make-up can probably get, and that's just not him...  So, I had to give him a proper haircut!  Granted, I've never cut someone else's hair before, much less a small wig (the job I do on my own bangs is hack-n-slash, at best), but I didn't tell him that before I started. ^_~
(side note - Roland is an Abio Angel San from Divinity Doll.)

WOW.
Things have been so crazy-busy, it's not funny.
The Faire goes...  Not so well, sales-wise, but a lot of other merchants aren't doing so hot either, and they're telling me to regard this as not only my first Faire, but as a "New" Faire altogether.
Still, I won't give up! ^_^ Here's some pictures I got together to share with you guys.  I've got more on my Flickr page, so check that out, too.

I hope you guys like them.
In other news, one of my newest hobbies is Asian ball-jointed dolls.  I went to my first doll meeting last week, and it was great! ^_^ And Roland (my Abio Angel San) met a girl for the first time!  I hadn't figured him for the shy type, but here he is, bein' all nervous.
But, I do have more chainmaile to make, so I'm off to do that!

Later!
Crazed

Wow... Just - Wow.
Otakon was AMAZING!  I had a ton of fun selling with Maqqy and Craig, made new friends, lots o' cash (Ring Lord, here I come), met more than a dozen other maillers, took pictures, got my picture taken, got some connections, bought stuff...
So yeah - Wow.  My voice is still hoarse from all the talking; it felt like I answered a million questions!
Bad news is I sold more than half my stock, so this makes me a bit nervous for the Ren Fest, because it starts at the end of August and I do NOT have enough stuff to survive the first weekend. I just know I don't, so I need to get my ass in gear and get with the makin'. Luckily I have a ring order coming in the mail tomorrow (yay!) and I've rested up, so I should be good to go.  But still...  If I sold more than half my stuff at an event NOT geared towards people who are fans of chainmaile...  I'm doomed.  But in a good way.
In the Alley, I sat between to Maq (of course) and these guys from a company called "Bishonen House" that makes custom ball-jointed dolls and clothing. Needless to say, they were amazing!  Man, I wish I could sculpt. And the guys were really nice, too, and it turns out they're in Pittsburgh! ^_^ Who knows, maybe I shall be doing maille for their dolls in the future?  You should really look at their site.  Awesome things abound.
And oh - I forgot to mention that one integral part of con-going: SHOPPING! The Dealer's Room was confusing, but full of goodness. I got Brian a Totoro short (otakus, you know the one) that he'd been eyeing on the internet for as long as I've known him, a stack of manga (yay hentai!), a leather corset for only $145 (http://www.timeless-trends.com/L01.htm) and a doll! ^_^ After making that little maille vest for Kristi's doll Seth, I've been itching to get my hands on one so I can make maile for dolls. The people from Divinity Doll were at Otakon, and I bought the last boy they had available. Not sure which model I got, but I got one, gave him green eyes, a long honey-blonde wig, jeans, and a pirate shirt. Brian named him Roland. Once I get his wig to stay on right (the doll people said I need some velco dots) and fix his bangs so he doesn't look all emo and can see, I'll post a picture.
But - I do need to get to the making, and clean up all the stuff we unloaded from the car...

Later!
Crazed