Happy April!

Okay, so I don't really DO April Fool's, but I thought I'd say happy April everyone! May you see pretty flowers, nice showers and more blessings than you can handle!! :)

And of course, don't miss Mom's Cafe tonight at 9 pm Eastern. :)
www.blockheadradiolive.com :)

~~Amy

I feel tired, oh so tired, but accomplished! :)

I'm tired. Crawl into bed, snuggle up and pass out before Seinfeld tired (that's 10pm Central!). BUT, I feel accomplished! My first ever craft show appearance is next Sunday, and it's been a long road. Man, I hope the customers come! :) I sewed today from 10am-6pm. I am beat! But I made some awesome things for the show, including my own chalk cloth sign for my booth! (Being chalk cloth, I can write whatever I want on it!)

So, if I get a little extra time this week I'll finish up one set of flannel baby bib/wipe sets, and maybe one minky bear (amazingly a teddy bear doesn't take me too long.)
But more importantly to do:

• All the tags, labels, prices for completed inventory..including ingredient label on soaps and bath salts.
• Cut swatch samples for fabric available for custom pants, teddy bears and more! (basically a swatch of all my fabrics!) Organize and label accordingly.
• Print out the 'catalog of ducks' available for ducky soaps, as well as a catalog of ducks I can easily order.
• List of scents available for soaps/salts.
• Prices signs, info signs, etc. Biz cars, CPSIA info all ready to go.
  
• Blockhead Radio print out!
• Price listing sheet...because I won't be there on Saturday (church), my selling partner will be working on Saturday, so I need to leave her a complete list of my items with prices so she can mark off as she sells and I can accurately figure out taxes, etc.
  
• Buy various office supplies/table supplies for set up.
• Drink a large appletini and eat massive amounts of chocolate.
• Sell like I've never sold before.....

That about sums it up....countdown is ON.

WOOOT! I Won a FREE CD! Love me some Dare Dukes!

Yes! I knew Blockhead Radio would pay off at some point.... I, a faithful Lost fan, TAPED it tonite (so tell me NOTHING or I shall beat you senseless) so that I could tune into my favorite station, Blockhead Radio and hear Dare Dukes! Now, you may say, who? Well...let me enlighten you!

Dare Dukes is a fantastic indie artist.....I do not dare even peg him into a genre, because well, I hate that. Music is music! (And no, the dare pun was not intended.) If I dig it, it is good, end of story.

Well, I dig Dare! :) There are a couple of musicians we play on BHR that I REALLY like and he is one of them! (I love them all....but some I love more....)

And I got to win the AUTOGRAPHED CD from Dare Dukes!!! GO ME!

Nope, not sharing.

Want to learn more about Dare Dukes? Not a problem!! Click HERE to learn more about him, and CLICK HERE to listen to Blockhead Radio where his music is in rotation! Learn all about our other great artists too!

I love free stuff and good music...an excellent combo!!

NOW, go check out Dare's website, make sure you sign up for the newsletter and get a FREE Mp3!!!! Then once you hear how awesome he is.....get some of his CD's! :)

If you ever hear any artist on Blockhead Radio that you enjoy, just click on the BHR player where it says "Buy CD" and wham..you can get that awesome music delivered to your door! :)

Enjoy!

Ready for another giveaway!??? Get in here and WIN!

Here is our latest giveaway!!

$25.00 gift certificate from Blue Wings AND a free soap from Purities!!

This is a fantastic giveaway! Winning is EASY PEASEY!

Just visit EITHER shop, and come back here, leave a comment on THIS blog post with the URL of the item you like and why! You have one week to complete this task, should you choose to accept it... (and why wouldn't you?)

REMEMBER to leave a contact email for you in your comment so I can find you to let you know you've won!!!

When the week is over, I'll use my super scientific number generator (my husband) and pick a winner! No, no matter how much chocolate you bribe me with, I let him pick the random number! :)

So get on over to her shops and pick your fave!
Blog about this giveaway and get an extra entry! (Must provide blog POST URL in your comment!)

Blog about the Blockhead Radio Tutu Challenge found HERE, and get an extra entry! (Must provide blog POST URL in your comment.)

Here's a sampling of the great goodies you could win!





Happy Browsing!!!

Find her Blog at bluewingsshop.blogspot.com

Don't Miss the Party!!

Don't Forget about our CPSIA thank you party for all your hard work!!!

http://blockheadradio.blogspot.com/2009/02/are-you-ready-for-party.html

TONIGHT Feb 22, 8 pm EASTERN!

www.blockheadradiolive.com

Online Party and Giveaway!

Don't forget guys!!

Our online CPSIA party (a thank you for all our hard work and a way to kick back!) will be going on Sunday, Feb 22 at 8 pm on www.blockheadradiolive.com

You can read more about it HERE.

AND,

Do NOT forget the current giveaway...going on HERE!

Enter to win now!!

Don't Miss this Awesome Blog Post!

This will be AWESOME.

http://blockheadradio.blogspot.com/2009/02/see-blockhead-rod-in-full-ballernia.html

My Faves: Bath and Body Edition

Hello gang...if you haven't heard I have recently taken up soaping...oh my. Why didn't someone tell me it's so darn addictive?? I'm a goner. I have no room left for ANYTHING, fabric and soap supplies have taken up my home...the kids must sleep outside I guess?

So here are some of my favorite bath and body items!

I did not order this one last time because I feared I may eat it...being a chocoholic and all...












Aliens Rock:



Avocados..I don't eat 'em but they look yummy to bathe with..
Laundry Soap counts as Soap, remember! Save money, Go Green!!

So pretty... So clean...



Soapy Fun from Louisiana:


This isn't soap, it's art! And from Daytona Beach, my second hometown!

Don't Eat the Soap!!

And you have to have something to PUT these awesome soaps on!

And to help use every last drop of your cool soaps!

This is just the tip of the iceberg!! Check out www.etsy.com and just search 'soap' or any of these great teams:
Cafemom Team
Lartisans
Pluggers United

and many more!

----Amy

The Witching Hours 5-7pm Eastern on Saturday

What are The Witching Hours?
"The Witching Hours" where A Good Witch Too will be the hostess with the mostest plugging shops with "Wicked Good Sales"! Yes, Saturday Night Specials is going live on the air. Call in with your specials and join us in chat to share your links. Don't forget about the Treasure Hunt!!!!

TONIGHT'S FEATURED SHOPS!


www.mamaslittlemonkeys.com

www.fleurdeink.com

www.robynsart.etsy.com

www.cbessentials.etsy.com

www.mercyming.etsy.com

www.marin.etsy.com

http://www.ikowdesigns.com

Http://lillyqueen.etsy.com


GIVEAWAYS!
http://bella1104.blogspot.com/

Find about 18 different giveaways! Hurry… Ends Tomorrow Night!

So come join us tonight, www.blockheadradiolive.com

Don't Give Up the Fight!

While this news about the stay on the enacting of the CPSIA is wonderful news, it does not mean our battle is over!

We still have the 30 day comment period, so inactuality after Feb 10 the law remains the same, until the 30 day comment period is over (around March).

My point is this: While this is slaptastically happy dance news, our fight is not over! We need to keep putting pressure on lawmakers and keep getting our voices out there! This year will pass very quickly and we could find ourselves in this exact position in a year.

DO NOT GIVE UP THE FIGHT! Continue to write letters, just changing them to incorporate your thanks for the stay, and continued proof that handmade is and has been safe.

Keep on going guys!
Mama

Breaking CPSIA News, Via www.etsy.com

We are so excited to announce that the Commission has voted for a "Stay of Enforcement of Certain Testing and Certification Requirements of CPSIA" — which means that the burden of lead testing and certification has been suspended for a year while they take more time to review the rules and plan enforcement! All of your hard work has paid off (for the time being at least!). You don't have to pay to do the certification and testing, though you are still liable if your products are found to have lead. We are so pleased that artisans and vintage sellers got their voices heard. Your hard work is not over; we must continue to play a role in advocating for small business people throughout the coming year.

"The action taken today provides breathing space to get in place some of the rules needed for implementation, but it should not be viewed as a full solution to the many problems that have been raised." —U.S. Consumer product Safety Commission

You'll find the press release below:

CPSC Grants One Year Stay of Testing and Certification Requirements for Certain Products

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously (2-0) to issue a one year stay of enforcement for certain testing and certification requirements for manufacturers and importers of regulated products, including products intended for children 12 years old and younger. These requirements are part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which added certification and testing requirements for all products subject to CPSC standards or bans.

Significant to makers of children’s products, the vote by the Commission provides limited relief from the testing and certification requirements which go into effect on February 10, 2009 for new total lead content limits (600 ppm), phthalates limits for certain products (1000 ppm), and mandatory toy standards, among other things. Manufacturers and importers – large and small – of children’s products will not need to test or certify to these new requirements, but will need to meet the lead and phthalates limits, mandatory toy standards and other requirements.

The decision by the Commission gives the staff more time to finalize four proposed rules which could relieve certain materials and products from lead testing and to issue more guidance on when testing is required and how it is to be conducted.

The stay will remain in effect until February 10, 2010, at which time a Commission vote will be taken to terminate the stay.

The stay does not apply to:

• Four requirements for third-party testing and certification of certain children’s products subject to:

  • The ban on lead in paint and other surface coatings effective for products made after December 21, 2008;

  • The standards for full-size and non full-size cribs and pacifiers effective for products made after January 20, 2009;

  • The ban on small parts effective for products made after February 15, 2009; and

  • The limits on lead content of metal components of children’s jewelry effective for products made after March 23, 2009.

• Certification requirements applicable to ATV’s manufactured after April 13, 2009.

• Pre-CPSIA testing and certification requirements, including for: automatic residential garage door openers, bike helmets, candles with metal core wicks, lawnmowers, lighters, mattresses, and swimming pool slides; and

• Pool drain cover requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act.

The stay of enforcement provides some temporary, limited relief to the crafters, children’s garment manufacturers and toy makers who had been subject to the testing and certification required under the CPSIA. These businesses will not need to issue certificates based on testing of their products until additional decisions are issued by the Commission. However, all businesses, including, but not limited to, handmade toy and apparel makers, crafters and home-based small businesses, must still be sure that their products conform to all safety standards and similar requirements, including the lead and phthalates provisions of the CPSIA.

Handmade garment makers are cautioned to know whether the zippers, buttons and other fasteners they are using contain lead. Likewise, handmade toy manufacturers need to know whether their products, if using plastic or soft flexible vinyl, contain phthalates.

The stay of enforcement on testing and certification does not address thrift and second hand stores and small retailers because they are not required to test and certify products under the CPSIA. The products they sell, including those in inventory on February 10, 2009, must not contain more than 600 ppm lead in any accessible part. The Commission is aware that it is difficult to know whether a product meets the lead standard without testing and has issued guidance for these companies that can be found on our Web site.

The Commission trusts that State Attorneys General will respect the Commission's judgment that it is necessary to stay certain testing and certification requirements and will focus their own enforcement efforts on other provisions of the law, e.g. the sale of recalled products.

Please visit the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html for more information on all of the efforts being made to successfully implement the CPSIA.

Do you need Free advertising?

Check it out!!

http://blockheadradio.blogspot.com/2009/01/need-some-free-advertising-you-bet-you.html