save handmade!

The New CPSIA law affects EVERYONE! As of February 10th, it will be very hard to find any children's products....Please read this important letter, forwarded to me from another small business owner, and pass it on to anyone and everyone you can think of, including your friends, customers, co-workers, bloggers etc. Our plea to amend the CPSIA so that hand-crafters and small businesses can survive,has made it through to the final round of voting on change.org. Please take a moment to vote now and bring this important issue to President-Elect Obama on Inauguration Day.

"Dear Customers, Artists, & Friends,

Much has been accomplished since I was last in touch regarding the CPSIA. Thousands of small businesses and citizens have banded together to fight the pending demise of handmade children's goods - the CPSIA facebook page I created less than a month ago, now has close to 6,000 members, and is gaining steadily every day. Our cause has been covered by dozens in the media-featured in at least 9 news articles in the past weekalone. And we made it through to the final round of voting on change.org. This is all testament to the incredible power of ordinary citizens when faced with dire circumstances. We may never fully know how this crazy law was allowed to pass, but one thing is forcertain: Our liberty and right to self-sustainability is not something we are willing to hand over in exchange for shallow and superficial promises of child safety. This law will not make children safer, but it WILL force thousands of United States businesses to shut their doors if passed as is, on February 10, 2009. Among other things, the CPSIA will forbid the sale of used children's books, clothing and toys; in a few short weeks these items will be considered contraband. Disturbingly, some used children's stores say they plan to go out of business. I have also heard from some crafters who have already ceased production or plan to shortly. We can not let American small business disappear. If you are considering shutting your doors, please reconsider. On difficult days, I myself have questioned whether my company will be able to survive this, but when I think about all that is at stake -our children most important of all- I am reminded that giving up is not an option. Please join me in continuing the fight to maintain our freedom to make and sell beautiful-and safe-goods for children in the United States of America. Together, we CAN and we WILL win!

Cecilia Leibovitz

CraftsburyKids.com

handmade for childhood"