Search results (title) for: "politics"

CPSIA: Overcoming Obstacles and Fighting for Change

2009-09-28T17:00:00-05:00

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) was passed just over a year ago, and since a stay was put in place in February, Etsy makers of children's items have kept the conversation going on the special Etsy Forum. From major newspapers to the blogosphere, from mom and pop stores to multi-national corporations, the CPSIA has continued to provoke confusion and ire. We invited Cecilia Leibovitz, a.k.a. paperdreams, to give us an update on the state of affairs. Cecelia is not only the founder of craftsburykids.com, a shop specializing in unique handmade toys and gifts for children — she is also President of the Handmade Toy Alliance, a grassroots organization advocating for makers of small batch children's products.

Many who produce small batch items for children are well aware of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). You may already know that fabric has been exempted from CPSIA and that crafters are not necessarily required to label their items, but must keep an accurate record system in place in the event of a possible recall. There are very specific stipulations that go along with these exemptions (for example a screen printed T-shirt would not be exempt due to the inks used in this process). I urge you to take a look at the pages linked below for more information.

While many are breathing a sigh of relief now that fabric is exempt from CPSIA, more is needed. Dan Marshall, founder and Vice President of the Handmade Toy Alliance is concerned that while fabric used in a hair bow is exempt, the barrette itself is not, along with zippers, snaps, buttons, etc. used in clothing.

Painted items are not exempt from CPSIA, nor are they part of the one year stay that expires on February 10, 2010. If component testing is not allowed, it will be indefinitely illegal to produce painted items for children without third party testing, unless of course you’re Mattel. The Handmade Toy Alliance has been a strong advocate for component based testing, as the organization recognizes how crucial this point is for crafters and micro businesses, if we are all to survive.

Certain components contain lead that is bound into their structure, and thus not biologically available, even when swallowed. Crystals, some rhinestones and other glass embellishments fall into this category.

In July 2009 the Fashion Jewelry Trade Association (FJTA) requested an exemption from the CPSIA lead limits for crystal and glass embellishments. This request was denied by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in spite of the fact that test data and analysis were presented, showing that ingestion and mouthing of leaded crystal would result in absorption of so small a quantity of lead that it may not even be detectable in a child’s blood stream.

According to CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum, denial of the FJTA’s request was due to CPSIA language, which states that the possibility of *any* (without specification of whether the amount must be determined harmful or not) ingestion of lead renders an item unacceptable under CPSIA standards. In an official CPSC statement, Tenenbaum said that “...while Commission staff recognized that most crystal and glass beads do not appear to pose a serious health risk to children, because ingested crystal beads that leach lead will result in some lead absorption, the request for an exclusion must be denied.”

At this point, various distributors claim to offer low lead and lead-free crystals and rhinestones. If you are using these items on products for children, you will want to be sure they truly comply with the law.

“The test data I’ve seen for these alternative rhinestone products is based on modified EPA Method 3051,” says Sheila Milar, a partner with Keller and Heckman LLP and counsel to the Fashion Jewelry Trade Association. CPSC specifies use of modified EPA Method 3052 to test crystal and glass. Method 3052 uses hydrofluoric acid in the solution to digest crystal, which can’t be completely digested using hydrochloric acid.” Ms. Milar added, “Many laboratories will not handle hydrofluoric acid and the fact that such a strong and dangerous acid is required to fully digest crystal and glass is another indication of how lead is bound into the structure of the material.” It is still not clear whether test results based on Method 3051 would be acceptable, and the jewelry industry is seeking clarification.

Heather Flottman, a board member of the Handmade Toy Alliance and owner of children’s clothing label Liliputians NYC, hasn’t let stringent regulations stop her from creating and selling her work. “I use some flat back buttons that look like jewels. I XRF tested them and they came in less than 10ppm for lead,” says Heather.

“There are safe alternatives to the classic Swarovski crystal out there. People do not have to give up nor do they need to report every sparkly thing they see to CPSC,” adds Heather. She uses plastic button eyes for her appliqués, has certification from the manufacturer that they are lead free, and XRF tested them herself just to be sure.

If as the CPSC has alluded to, component testing is allowed in the near future, items like Heather Flottman’s buttons will be tested by the manufacturer, and it will be affordable and easy for crafters to use them. In the event that this doesn’t happen, Heather says she will switch to buttons made of natural materials exempt from CPSIA, such as unpainted wood and shell.

As we move forward, let’s work together to fix the CPSIA, as well as network and find creative ways to navigate the law. Now more than ever, it is of the utmost importance that we do not turn against each other.

Further Resources:

Join the HTA to effect change in the CPSIA — http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org
Explaining the facts and dispelling the myths about the CPSIA — http://www.whatiscpsia.com
Official CPSIA Website — http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html
Tracking Label Policy (Number 9 refers specifically to crafters) — http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/sect103policy.pdf

Check out the CPSIA Forums for More Discussion

Gingeroni1 Works for Caregivers' Rights

2009-08-17T15:13:00-05:00

UPDATE: We just heard from Kathi, "Just a quick update to let you know the spousal caregiver bill HB39 has been signed by the Governor and should go into effect immediately. Thank you so very much for writing the original article in the Storque and the exposure that it gave to the bill." Congratulations, Kathi!

[The original post below is from November 2007, so you can see democracy works, even if it takes a couple years!]

As admins, we often get emails from people who work from home and how they use Etsy to reach out to the world wide web for income and community. For us, Kathi aka Gingeroni1's voice spoke out from the home in another way. As a fulltime caregiver for her husband, Dennis, who has Lou Gehrig's Disease, Gingeroni1 uses Etsy as one of her main sources of income.

I am a full time caregiver for my husband who was diagnosed in 1999 with A.L.S., better known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. My husband is totally dependent on me.   He survives only by the use of a ventilator, and has done so for 4½ years.

I stumbled upon Etsy in September of '06 as just a buyer and was hooked right away. Since I am not able to go outside my home without arranging for someone to come sit with my husband, I had to do all of my Christmas shopping online.   The site was amazing — so much talent in one space. There were so many choices at fair prices, which is important when you have so very little disposable income. I was already selling some of my jewelry pieces here locally and contemplating using the Internet but, by no means, was I computer savvy. When opportunity knocks, kick that door wide open. I listed my first item in March of this year and said, "Hey, this is easy.   I can do this." Well my pictures of my jewelry were another story. Dennis has always been the photographer. I have been practicing, though, and have become acceptable at it.   Now that I have my own shop on Etsy, it gives me a sense of pride. It has been an amazing journey for me and I have met so many wonderful people on Etsy.   Even my good friend of eighteen years has opened up a shop. It is called Ooh La Lah.

I have done so many wonderful things since my husband's diagnoses. Don't get me wrong, of course, I wish this disease had never entered our lives. However, I believe it not only has made me a stronger person, but also a better person. When you have such a horrific event in your life such as this, you really stop and think about what is truly important.   My husband, Dennis, is my life, my inspiration, and my hero. He has such an amazing attitude and that allows me to do what I do.

Presently, as a spousal caregiver, I get absolutely no help from the government. It is as if I am invisible, yet I save them hundreds of thousands of dollars a year by caring for my husband in our home.   I was informed that if I divorced my husband, the government would pay me to care for him in HIS home. What is wrong with that picture?! That is something that I cannot and will not do!   I am also currently promoting the congressional bill H.R.175 that, if passed, would provide payment for spousal caregivers. I have a meeting this month in our home with Illinois Senator David Koehler to discuss these issues. He has been quoted in a newspaper article as saying there is no program to date, but that he was willing to investigate to see if one could be implemented.   When opportunity knocks, open that door wide. This issue is huge for so many spousal caregivers who feel the same way as I; that the only option is to divorce their spouses to survive.   Well, I do not think that this is an option.

My husband and I, along with a committee of fifteen, have started and chaired our local Walk To Defeat A.L.S. for the last three years. We have raised-to-date a total of $250, 000.00 in that three short years. I also am a mentor to other caregivers. I have done television interviews and newspaper interviews.   Dennis and I have been the profile family for the local MDA telethon. I have initiated the ALS Association Water Bottle Project that sells and distributes drinking water with an A.L.S. label on it. It's currently being distributed In Illinois and Missouri to hundreds of retailers. For every case of water that is sold, fifty cents is donated to the A.L.S. Association for research and patient services.

I have many challenges in my life, but the rewards are much greater. I truly, truly am blessed.

Your Friend,

Kathi

Further Resources:

To learn more about ALS commonly known as Lou Gerhig's Disease go to alsa-stl.org

Kathi's Caretobead blog

Guest Curator: Father's Day Fun with Extreme Craft's Garth Johnson

2009-06-03T14:19:00-05:00

Garth Johnson is a California based writer, artist and educator with a raging craft problem. Extreme Craft is a compendium of art masquerading as craft, craft masquerading as art, and craft raising its middle finger.

Ah, Father’s Day: It smells of oiled wood and cheap cologne, with just a whiff of regret. I know you feel bad about all of the dull neckties and golfing DVDs that you've given your father over the years, so this year it's time to make it up to him. Wouldn’t Dad love something handmade and distinctive? It’s time to grow up and face facts — all fathers have their faults, so stop singing "Cat’s In the Cradle” every time you cross paths, and bury the hatchet with one of these special gifts.

Miniature Pipe Wrench Cuff Links

Your dad sees himself as many things, and I’m guessing that “handy” is one of them. Remember that time he “fixed” the sink, which led to massive water damage and a huge bill from the plumber to “unfix” his handiwork? Give him these beautiful pipe wrench cufflinks, which he’s bound to accept with a smile. They'll be sure to remind him to just call the plumber next time. By pinktophat, $25.

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Hand-Carved Briarwood Tobacco Pipe (The Pick Axe)

I’m not one to promote tobacco addiction, but perhaps your father likes to unwind with a snifter of cognac and his favorite pipe when he comes home from the office. Would it kill you to make the old man happy for once instead of nagging him about his bad habits? The least you can do is provide him with some old-world craftsmanship — something that can take part in his after-work ritual (and serve as a fine heirloom once the old man keels over from lung cancer). By Switchiecat, $44.99.

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Poker Dogs Win Hands Down -1950's style smoking jacket - Men's size Large

Let’s face it: your father's smoking jacket isn’t getting any younger. He bought it before he married your mother because he thought she would find his Hugh Hefner-isms sexy. For your mom’s sake, you should buy him this beautiful smoking jacket from bettyoatmeal. She melded a vintage smoking jacket design with a “dogs playing poker” tapestry, and wound up with a true classic. Buy him this jacket so he’ll be the envy of his friends, as well as the wearer of a pretty great piece of conceptual art. By bettyoatmeal, $175.

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Ron Paul Felt Finger Puppet

If old people like anything, it’s Ron Paul. Your father has been paying taxes all his life, and he’s sick of it. So who cares about things like Social Security and Medicare? With this awesome Ron Paul finger puppet, your father will be able to put on endless puppet shows for your children about the evils of single-payer healthcare and tax-and-spend liberalism. This is the gift that keeps on giving! By mullishmuse, $9.

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Sigurd, a ceremonial Viking helm

If your dad isn’t exactly the smoking jacket and snifter of cognac type, then chances are he might enjoy this ceremonial Viking helmet by TomBanwell. Imagine his golf buddies' surprise the next time he shows up on the links in full BERZERKER mode. His days of waiting behind doddering, lollygagging groups of golfers will be behind him if you purchase this baby. All it takes is a Viking helmet and a polite “May I play through?” and he’ll be good to go. Valhalla awaits (your purchase). By TomBanwell, $595.

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ERNST BORGNINE Signed Numbered Matted Art Print

No matter what kind of dad you have, it's highly probable he likes Ernest Borgnine. Whether it’s the sensitive, vulnerable “Marty” Ernest Borgnine or the “McHale’s Navy” Ernest Borgnine, your father has more than likely spent plenty of happy hours appreciating his genius. This witty Max Ernst style mash-up painting by kategabrielle adds layers of cultural meaning that your father will enjoy “Ernestly” unpacking at breakfast with his golf buddies. By kategabrielle, $10.

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Baa Relief tee shirt

Another thing that fathers find irresistible is a baaaaaaaaaad pun. (Sorry about that one…I’m testing the waters for eventual fatherhood myself.) Etsy seller smilingsquid is making a serious play for cornering the market in bad pun apparel, and I believe your father will enjoy getting in on the ground floor. Like the Ernest Borgnine painter, smilingsquid enjoys combining wordplay with towering icons of world heritage. By smilingsquid, $15.

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Custom Made BBQ Smoker

Remember that kid in high school or college who could make a “smoking implement” out of anything from an apple to an old shoe? My father-in-law is that way, only with do-it-yourself meat smokers. He hung up his “smoking jacket” after an ill-fated attempt to make a rib smoker out of a filing cabinet. (He belatedly discovered that heat causes metal to expand, making the door inoperable.) I’m not one to deny somebody the thrill of invention and working with their hands, but I’m pretty sure that giving the gift of this custom BBQ smoker would’ve saved some heartbreak all around. By mjmetalworks, $750.

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Meat grinder screenprinted pork necktie

Are you kidding? With all of this great stuff, you’re still considering buying your father a tie? If you must buy a tie, I think you should at least combine it with his favorite thing — meat! Short of making him a tie out of bacon, this piggie grinder tie is the best you’re going to do. If you opt to make him his a tie out of bacon, keep him away from bears (and that pack of feral cats that roam his neighborhood), and email me a picture at garth@extremecraft.com. By toybreaker, $30.

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Looking for past Guest Curators? Check out our archive.

View More Men's Shopping Posts | View More Father's Day Posts

The Candidates & the Caregivers

2009-05-26T08:52:00-05:00

UPDATE: Gingeroni1 let us know the latest on the Caregiver's Bill:
"After three long years of Introducing this Bill every year it is finally on the Governor's desk for signature. It was a long journey. Here is a radio interview I just did Thursday about our upcoming ALS walk, as well as talking about the Spousal Caregiver Bill. http://jmpradio.com/pods/ml/052109TH.mp3"

[The following was originally posted on February 18, 2008.]
It's President's Day! It's an election year here in the US, and we're all getting worked up into a tizzy about the presidential candidates. It's also a good time to stop and think about democracy and the importance of voting and making your voice heard.

Kathi Kupferschmid aka Gingeroni1 is great example of someone who has taken the governmental bull by the horns in an effort to improve the lives of spouses and caregivers supporting incapacitated loved ones. In November 2007, Storque ran an article about her and her struggle to make ends meet while caring for her husband who has Lou Gehrig's Disease. Gingeroni1 has been fighting for legislature to help others in her situation: the Caregiver's Bill. Here's an update on her progress as the bill moves through the Illinois legislature:

"Wanted to give you a update on the Caregiver bill, for spousal payment. It has been re-introduced and it is on the floor. Bill HR 175 expired. A bill can remain in Congress for a period of two years and after that it is thrown out. Senator Koehlor — the Senator that came to my home — reintroduced the bill February 14. The Bill # is now Senate bill 2112.

It will move quickly threw the House and Senate. There are several other political personnel that have co-sponsored the bill. I have some information to pass on: the Senator is hoping that other states can use this as a model and form their own bill for their state. My husband and I did a television interview last Thursday and we have also done two newspaper articles. One that ran this Wednesday and the other today."

In one such interview in the Peoria Journal Star, Kathi explains her predicament:

"'I save the government money,' she said. 'This would be much more expensive if I went back to work and Dennis went into a nursing home. This new legislation is not going to cost the government a lot of money. This is money already allocated for home caregivers.'

The couple rapidly wiped out their life savings, but Kathi Kupferschmid said she feels blessed to be able to care for her husband at home."

If you want to help, write to your state Senators and reference Illinois Senate Bill #2122. For more info on how to get your state involved, contact Senator Koehler's Office at ( 309 ) 673-8404.

Have you ever written to your government about an issue? International folks, do you have any important elections coming up this year? Post in the comments below!

Spinstersummer's Ode to the Queer Animal Kingdom

2009-05-08T16:30:00-05:00

Nicole Georges, a.k.a. Spinstersummer, has been making zines since she was thirteen. Her ongoing autobiographical zine Invincible Summer is about bands, relationships, animals, vegan food and beehived hairdos. Nicole's Etsy shop is full of goodies, from fun zines to stuffed sock monkeys, narwhals and queer animals calendars. The animal lovers pet portraits and illustrations are not to be missed!

Freelance producer/director Cat Tyc was inspired by Etsy's Handmade Portraits series and decided to head out on her own to shoot a portrait of her pal Etsian Nicole Georges. Cat Tyc has produced and directed music videos and the short film, Umbrella. More info about Cat's work can be found on her blog and her website.

More Comic Book Posts | Books and Zines

Browse Etsy for Comic Books

Watch our Handmade Video Portraits series and subscribe to our Youtube Channel!

Tax Time for Artists: Give Good Deeds Their Due

2009-04-03T16:00:00-05:00

Chuck from DownToTheWireDesigns checked in with us after his New Year's Resolution to donate a piece of his jewelry every week for the entire year. Committing to a project like that is quite an undertaking for any artist, and Chuck wants to share an important message about a new piece of legislation that would improve the way artists are compensated for their charitable donations. 'Tis tax season after all...

There is currently a proposed change to the tax code pending in the U.S. House of Representatives that could have a profound effect on all U.S. artists if passed. The proposal, H.R. 1126, also known as the Artist-Museum Partnership Act of 2009, seeks to address the issue of artists donating their work to charitable groups and institutions. As the law currently stands, any person in the arts donating their art work is only allowed to deduct the cost of the materials involved in producing the art work. This resolution seeks to change that situation and would allow for a fair market value deduction.

You can follow the progress of the resolution at this site, and you can locate and email your representative through this site.

I would encourage everyone to contact their elected representatives in support of this resolution so that it does not languish without getting a floor vote. Getting this passed is a basic issue of fairness. The tax code as it is now written discourages charitable giving in these hard times and it undervalues the work of artists.

To illustrate the absurdity of the current law, consider the following: If I donate a piece that I could normally sell for $100 but that only costs me $10 in materials, I can only deduct that $10 on my tax return. My time, design abilities, and technical skills are not valued at all in the tax code as it now exists. However, if someone else buys that same piece of work for the $100 that I normally charge, they could then donate it to charity and deduct the full $100 market value irrespective of the cost of the materials used in its creation. This is simply not fair, and it hurts both the artists and the groups which rely on those artists in their fundraising efforts.

Again, if you feel that the current law is unfair, please take a moment to send a quick email to your elected representatives encouraging them to support the resolution. All you need to do is write them a single line saying, “I am writing to encourage you to support H.R. 1126, the Artist-Museum Partnership Act of 2009.” If you feel inspired you can elaborate by telling your elected official how the current law affects you, and how the change would be an improvement. Try to keep it short and be respectful.

Seller Handbook | Tax Season-related Posts

Artistic Endeavors: Knitta, Please

2009-03-05T17:01:00-05:00

"The apartment I moved into has a tomason," said Rachel, my friend Tom's girlfriend. "A what?" I asked, thinking it was some sort of poltergeist. "It's this old, weird metal thing sticking out of the wall," Rachel explained. "I'm not sure, but I think it used to be a fixture when there were gas lights." "A tomason," my friend Tom, a book editor, followed up, "is a word coined by a Japanese artist Genpei Akasegawa. It’s in this book I’m publishing in June called 'Portrait with Keys' by Ivan Vladislavić." According to Wikipedia, Genpei Akasegawa used this word to refer to useless street objects that happen to look like conceptual art.

Tomasons are a little more banal that ghosts, and I've found them much easier to spot, now that this unlikely word is in my head. Tomasons now appear before me on my daily walk to work. Before I hadn't noticed them; they'd flowed together in the continuous stream of my peripheral vision. It occurred to me that they are part of what makes up our general experience of grit and urban decay. An army of tomasons stands silently at attention, arming the city with strong stuff like metal poles and concrete abutments. And then one day, out of the blue, a steel door handle is decked out in a brightly colored knit cozy.

Last week, tomasons were the focal point of my conversation with Magda Sayeg, a Texan knitter cum artist who visited the Etsy Labs on Monday Craft Night. Her project, Knitta Please, started out as spontaneous fun — an urban intervention transforming formerly unnoticed corners of the drab streets of Houston into warm and fuzzy bits of art. The door handle to her boutique was the first tag. Magda, who goes by PolyCotN (sounds like the hip hop version of punk rock's Poly Styrene of the X-Ray Specs, eh?), and her crew would sneak out and "bomb" Houston with their unfinished knitting projects, thrift store baby blankets, and left over balls of yarn. Armed with these fiber cousins of spray paint cans, they'd sneak attack an unsuspecting tomason and suit it in a multi-color knit cozy. Wrapping it with yarn and, in a sense, tarting it up for all manner of pedestrians turned out to be a thrill, so much so that they've been keeping it up since 2005. Now the knit cozies are popping up all over the world.

Like spray graffiti, knit graffiti seems to be infectious. During her visit to the Etsy Labs, Magda told me a bit about the worldwide appeal. Magda was in New York between trips to London and Milan where interviews, talks and art happenings are taking up more and more of her life. Her next project is writing a book about how to start your own crew. Imagine different artists developing their own take on the emerging public art form... a Westcoast/Eastcoast rivalry, distinctive tags from famous virtuosos emerging from the underground. Why is it spreading? Magda points out that this sort of tagging is accessible to anyone who can knit, and we all know about the incredible resurgence in knitting at the turn of the 21st century (just ask the folks over at Ravelry.com). In part, her original impulse was creating some elbowroom for females to be part of street art and to comment on the macho culture of graffiti. Knitta Please appropriates the territorial hip hop rites with a smile. "Yarn is badass!" Magda insists.

For all the tongue-in-cheek anti-authority naughtiness of Knitta Please, Magda doesn't want Knitta Please to unravel. According to her, "There are rules." She's wary of people taking up the idea and making choices she wouldn't make. For instance, she's not so into the idea of tagging sculpture: "Other people's artwork or trees...why tag those? Those things are already beautiful." Her interest remains rooted in calling out the ordinary, almost to the point of invisible, objects in a city, things that offer up dreariness more than anything else. I was struck by her description of paying a visit to one of her older New York tags to see if it's still wrapped at the Delancey Street side of the Williamsburg Bridge. "It's now probably so dark, I don't think I'd even be able to find it," Magda wondered. Like an unintended smog-detector, the knit cozy probably returned to its tomason secret identity, cloaked in the gritty, shadowed city.

When pressed about "the point" of Knitta Please — feminist performance art? DIY post-consumerist rebellion? Why doesn't she spend her energy knitting blankets for the homeless? — Magda shrugged, "Not all things have to have a purpose." Other graffiti and street art projects can take on more overt political and environmental issues. In recent years, activist knitters, from such organizations as the Revolutionary Knitting Circle, knit in public, at rallies and peace protests. Some graffiti artists are now using wheat paste (such as WK Interact), moss, or even power sprayers, which "the authorities have no idea how to handle because the graffiti artists are actually cleaning the surface," Magda chuckled. Knitta Please's project in itself is pretty pure and simple — but it's open to interpretation and that's part of the fun.

Magda is pleasantly surprised that Knitta Please has caught on organically around the world. She's thinking about moving on from her day job running her boutique and taking on larger projects (she recently wrapped an entire bus in Mexico) while working with communities and art organizations. While visiting New York, she was on phone calls with Maker Faire organizers, as well as in talks with a Brooklyn public art organization that wants her to tag a whole street's length of parking meters. She'd love to have a Knitta Please World Congress some day.

Previously, Magda and her husband ran a gallery in Houston. She described the place as "empty, quiet, and kind of sad." Street art allows an artist to reach people and impact their lives, making an impression and asking for a reaction. Magda recalls an old man reaching out and touching the cozyied bus in Mexico and laughing.

Magda and her crew started the project with the intention of having fun and simply creating a more joyful experience. Knitta Please first gives these tomasons a hug (or makes them wear a silly outfit, depending on how you see it), and then with the bright yarn beckoning in the sunlight, this knit-graffiti asks us to reconsider our way of seeing and experiencing the city. At the end of the day, even the most curmudgeonly person would have to admit, Knitta Please's project is disarming. Her favorite tag, she says, was a Christmas gift. "I tagged my friend's light pole Christmas eve. She woke up to it. It was really special — I know that sounds dorky, but it was. " Knitta please, there is such a thing as a graffiti knitting Santa Claus!

Further Resources:

Knitta Please
Political protest turns to the radical art of knitting
History of the built landscape, books by John Stilgoe
Revolutionary Knitting Circle
Ravelry.com

Magda is magdasayeg on Etsy. Some of her favorite items are in the collection below.

Artistic Endeavors series | Artwork for Every Room Showcase | Art Gift Guides

CPSIA: Blog-in, Updates & Clarifications

2009-01-29T14:17:00-05:00

UPDATE: MomsRising.org shared this letter with us. Click here to sign their petition.

"Ask the Consumer Products Safety Commission to Clarify New Child Products Rules to Protect Safe Handmade Toys and Clothes."

[The following was originally posted on January 28, 2009.]

Today, bloggers are converging with a blog-in on the CPSIA issue — which has become such a huge topic of discussion for artisans and vintage sellers who sell children's items. We encourage all of you to blog about the CPSIA today! See the Common room for more info.

Here are some of the latest headlines from the BuyHandmade blog:

Matt spoke with the CPSC and the exemptions are not yet a done deal, and they won't be by February 10th. Congress gave the CPSC this new law, and it's their job to figure out how to enforce it. The CPSC needs to decide which exemptions they can have within the framework of the current law. In other words, they are trying to clarify and interpret the law — and Congress wrote this law very broadly, albeit with good intentions.

This is why it's so important for concerned crafters and vintage sellers contact their elected representatives in government. The CPSC told us that Rush & Waxman are the Congressmen who could deal directly with this issue. Please see the Etsy Action Kit for sample letters!

On the topic of exemptions, the CPSC can't exempt groups of people (say, artisans or crafters). But they are looking at the issues of:

One of a kind items (OOAK)
Levels of production or scale of manufacturing
Proposed exemptions include untreated cotton, wool, leather and wood, gems, steel.

After January 30th deadline, there will be another February 17th deadline for commenting on exemptions.

See our other posts on the CPSIA issue!

An Historic Day: Obama's Inauguration

2009-01-20T10:50:00-05:00

On this historic day in the U.S. — with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day just yesterday — let us be thankful that the United States as a nation has made so much progress. Whether you're watching the inauguration from the crowded streets of Washington D.C. or from your television set, it's sure to be a monumental day full of hope and enthusiasm. This collection celebrates Barack Obama as he ushers in a new period of U.S. history. Happy inauguration!

Read more election-related articles like this one.

In Honor of the Inauguration

2009-01-12T18:05:00-05:00

Barack Obama will be sworn into office next week on Tuesday, January 20th, 2009, and along with the official ceremony, many unofficial celebrations will be taking place. Washington DC locals are preparing their homes as swarms of guests descend on the capital. This collection should help with the hosting preparations! Are you going to DC? Post in the comments below!

Read more election-related articles like this one.

One Jeweler's New Year's Resolution Revolution

2009-01-06T10:30:00-05:00

Ever have that feeling like your New Year's resolution (oh, bathing the cat once a year, swearing off cupcakes, not pressing the snooze button for an hour) pales in comparison to others' loftier goals? Chuck from DownToTheWireDesigns has an inspiring one to share with all of us. Think big, people!

The biggest challenge for me as a jeweler has nothing to do with metal, or stones, or using the tools of a metalsmith. Rather, it is reconciling my political beliefs with my chosen field. In some ways, jewelry is an unlikely profession for me—not just because (where I come from) the very idea of making jewelry as a career is simply unheard of, but also because my values rebel against the very thing that I do.

I am not a big consumer. In fact, I believe that our consumer-driven society is responsible for many of the world’s most pressing problems. Yet here I am making my living making jewelry. Handmade jewelry, true, and hopefully not anything that anyone would buy and then consider disposable, to be thrown out as soon as the next fad and fashion sweeps through, but still a luxury item—something that no one honestly needs. I am sometimes bothered by the fact that, to some extent, I need the very consumer society that I reject in order to do what I enjoy and pay my bills in the process. My political values being what they are, I sometimes feel that I should be doing something more meaningful with my life.

It is in this sense that jewelry chose me. I found jewelry entirely by accident—but it was a happy accident because I found out that I was pretty good at it. It is not a stretch to say that it is the thing I am best at doing. It is hardly a perfect match.

But what fun would the world be without fashion? Adornment has been with human beings for tens of thousands of years, with stone and shell beads among the earliest of found human artifacts and metallurgy—mostly for decorative purposes— one of humankind’s earliest technological advancements. I can hardly stop that tide on principle itself. Luckily I have found ways of using my jewelry skills for the greater good.

Several years ago I was approached by a non-profit, the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), about transforming their logo into jewelry pieces that they could sell on their website as a fundraiser. I took on the task thinking that it would probably not amount to much. I designed the pieces for free and then sold them to the group at wholesale prices lower than they had been able to find elsewhere. They placed a small initial order and later requested a few additional pieces to send out to the press to promote their big upcoming week of awareness events. One morning I got a phone call—Dr. Phil had just featured one of the necklaces on his show! It was just a short one minute mention, but already their website was buzzing. They held off on placing an order because the show had not yet aired on the West coast and they had no idea how big the overall response might be. By the next morning they had orders for nearly 300 necklaces! When all was said and done, I had made over 600 of the necklaces to meet the demand created by Dr. Phil’s generosity. I made good money for my time and NEDA had made well over $10,000 to fund their programs. It is an ongoing relationship that provides me with work while supporting an organization whose work I strongly believe in. To date, my work has helped them raise many times that initial amount over a few short years.

Beyond that, I have long donated work to charity auctions—usually a necklace and earring set. It is not a lot, but every donation helps. Having attended a number of these auctions in person, it is fun to see the excitement of those attending as they place their bids and watch the items they are hoping to get. For the organizations putting on the auctions, every individual donation adds up big by the end of the night.

I was recently selling at a show when I was approached by a person soliciting auction donations for a group. In all honesty, I was a bit annoyed at first to be asked in this way. I was busy and this was the only show I do each year—I would have preferred to have been asked in a different setting. But then I considered his dilemma: needing to raise money for an important cause in a tough economy and competing with several other worthy groups in the same situation. I had once dated a woman who was in charge of coordinating one of these auctions for her Public Interest Law group. When they went out to solicit donations, they often found that another group had already canvassed the territory. Businesses were only willing or able to donate so much, so it was a difficult undertaking.

So I reconsidered my thinking, and with a slight change in perspective, I realized that I could easily donate something to one auction a week throughout the year with little hardship to myself. That is 52 donations a year of a necklace and earring set each. The materials cost is minimal, as my biggest expense is my labor—but even that is negligible in the bigger picture. If I invest 1.25 hours in each set (and it would probably be less than that if I include these pieces in my larger workload for the week, with the division of labor reducing the time needed for each piece) that is only 65 hours for the year. But beyond that, the monetary value of these donations is much more than I could ever realistically hope to give as a cash donation. If the average retail price of each donation were $72, the total value of the donations for the year would exceed $3700. While I realize that it is unlikely that each group would get the full $72 value for each set in the auction format, they will make some amount that will be helpful to them both in terms of the money that they raise, and in making their auction a fuller, more exciting event.

What I get out of this is the ability to make the world a slightly better place while doing something I love. I not only get to make jewelry—I get to make a difference.

So this is my New Year’s resolution: I will create pieces to donate to 52 auctions this year. I will donate my time and hopefully do a lot of good in the process. I would love to see other Etsy sellers challenge themselves in similar ways. If you cannot give once a week, how about once every two weeks or once a month? Individually we might not be able to make a big difference, but together the impact could be huge.

Are any of your New Year's resolutions good deeds? Post in the comments below!

CPSIA: Updates and Calls to Action

2009-01-05T18:15:00-05:00

UPDATE: This morning we spoke with the Deputy Director at the CPSC and he expressed the CPSC's desire to communicate with the crafter community, whether in a Virtual Lab, podcast, or blog post. However, there's work that needs to be done before that can happen. He will be keeping us in the loop, specifically regarding an open call for comments coming soon. In the meantime, if you have questions, send them to newleg@cpsc.gov. Please stay tuned — we will share any info as it comes in.

[the following was originally posted December 31, 2008]

Many members of the Etsy community have been involved in spreading the word about the impact the CPSIA might have on handmade and vintage toy and children's apparel businesses. Here at Etsy, we wrote an Open Letter about the CPSIA and invited Patricia Bittner, the Small Business Ombudsman at the Office of International Programs and Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, to talk with our community in the Virtual Labs. Patricia passed on our requests to the proper people, but as of yet, not one has accepted our offer of a webchat. However, Patricia noted that the office has been getting many, many communications from small businesspeople on the topic.

The Washington Post reported on the issue in Lyndsey Layton and Annys Shin's article, Toymakers Assail Costs of New Law: How Consumer Protections Will Be Implemented Is Onerous, Manufacturers Say. "While toy giants such as Hasbro and Mattel began changing their materials even before the law was passed, some owners of medium and small businesses say they do not have the time -- or the money -- to comply with the tough new provisions."

The Richmond Times reported small businesses' concerns about a lack of clarity regarding the enforcement of the law. The article, New Law May Hurt Crafters At Home, conveyed the crafting community's desire for exemptions. The newspaper noted that, according to Julie Vallese, spokeswoman for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, "There are exceptions to the testing rule for crafters making only one unique copy of each item." Vallese also told reporter Sean Mussenden that "Small toymakers have inundated the commission with questions and complaints about the new standards."

Cecilia, of the handmadetoyalliance.org and craftsburykids.com, is helping crafters and artisans get their voices heard. She is very active on the Alliance's Facebook Group (join the group here). We wanted to share some updates and deadlines via Cecilia:

Midnight, this Wednesday, December 31, 2008 is the deadline for the first round of voting on the Change.org site. If you haven't voted, please do, and pass the word on. Let's remain in the number one spot! Here's the link.

This coming Monday, January 5, is the deadline for comments to the CPSC. The CPSC has asked for comments regarding natural materials exemptions! This is our chance to speak directly to the CPSC and push them to include these important additions in the CPSIA/provide your personal feedback on anything that hasn't been touched on. The CPSC statement lists the component testing deadline as January 30th: http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/ComponentPartsComments.pdf
The natural materials exemptions feedback/vote was due on the 5th.

The blogosphere has been spreading calls for amending the CPSIA. Here are just a few posts:

BlogHer - The CPSIA puts handmade toys and kids clothes in danger of extinction. Like, soon.

Crafting in a Green World - Geppetto in Peril

The Twitter feed of Kathleen Fasanella at Fashion Incubator has all the latest news - http://twitter.com/kfasanella

BuyHandmade.org and the Handmade Consortium will be updating a new blog section on the CPSIA topic. Click here for a whole lot more links.

Many Etsians have been sharing information via this thread in the forums.

Read our Open Letter about the CPSIA.

We wish everyone a safe, healthy, and productive New Year. Keep up the momentum!

Handmade Children's Items & Unintended Consequences: Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act

2008-12-10T20:09:00-05:00

The following is an open letter regarding the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). This Act, which will go into effect on February 10th, 2009, puts forth much more stringent safety measures for products intended for children under the age of 12.

Under the very important auspices of child safety, the Act may have grave unintended consequences: fewer choices for families who are looking for handcrafted alternatives. Many Etsy artists and craftspeople have expressed fears that they won't be able stay in business due to the burdensome cost of testing and certification pursuant to the proposed legislation.

As a venue for handcrafted and vintage items from small entrepreneurs, Etsy has invited the Ombudsman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to join us in a webchat in our Virtual Lab. Etsy would very much appreciate the opportunity to provide a forum for discussing the concerns of artisans who make toys and children's products as well as their customers who support handmade products.

We urge members of the Etsy community and anyone concerned with both child safety and conscientious consumption to contact their governmental representatives; ask them to consider how the Act will impact independent craftspeople.

The office of the CPSC ombudsman: 888-531-9070.
Visit the Handmade Toy Alliance for information about writing your representatives.

Over 200,000 artists, crafters and vintage collectors sell their items on Etsy.com. Many of these artisans make toys and other items for children. Made with love, care, the human touch and—often—all-natural materials, these items bring the consumer marketplace back to a personal level where customers can chat with toy makers and even create custom items for specific needs. Etsy members are part of a larger movement that seeks to creatively provide people across the globe with alternatives to mass-produced goods.

Many Etsy sellers are work-at-home-moms and dads. Among them are crafters with the skill and heart to preserve traditions of toy-making or to innovate their own methods of making children's items with a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) hands-on philosophy. You can meet an Etsy toy maker and seller by watching this five minute video portrait (all of our videos are published under open Creative Commons, so please feel free to repost). Amber Dusick, aka woodmouse.etsy.com and Los Angeles-based toy-maker/work-at-home-mama, is an artist who would be impacted by this proposed legislation if it is enacted. Amber uses sustainably harvested woods, non-toxic paints and beeswax along with her wood-burning tool to create simple, natural wooden toys. Her imagery is reminiscent of a child's crayon drawing come to life in wood.

Amber, like other Etsy toy makers and sellers, is fearful that as a sole proprietor she will not be able to afford the stricter regulations of the Act; the cost of testing and certification is likely beyond her means. She told Etsy, “I'd be more than happy to have each of my toys tested, if it wasn't so cost prohibitive. It is the COST involved in testing that will shut us down, it isn't that anyone refuses to have their work tested."

The Small Business Administration defines "small business" as under 500 employees. Most of our Etsy members are either sole proprietors or maybe a family or studio of friends working together. Many craftspeople on Etsy have told us that they could be put out of business if forced to comply with the proposed legislation. This is the painful irony bound up in the CPSIA.

Etsy wanted to reach out with this open letter to see what can be done to ensure that small businesses and micro enterprises are being taken into account with this legislation. Our members would like to better understand how the CPSIA took into account these smaller businesses operating with fewer resources for testing and compliance. We believe Etsy artisans are pro-testing and pro-safety; the problem is the prohibitive certification costs relative to their small businesses' incomes. Our community is concerned that this legislature disregards small businesses in its attempts to regulate large corporate entities.

The U.S. House and Senate passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (the CPSIA), and on August 14, 2008, President Bush signed the Act into law. Further information on the Act is available at the CPSC website at http://www.cpsc.gov/ and helpful FAQs are located http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/faq.pdf.

Please leave your comments in this forum thread. Thank you!

A Message for Obama

2008-11-06T17:30:00-05:00

Barack Obama had been "leading" on Etsy for a while! We've noticed so many artists and crafters pouring their hearts into handmade expressions of grassroots support. Over at flickr, folks are posting their homemade messages for Mr. President Elect. What's your flickr message to Obama?

More Election-related posts | Items tagged "Obama"

Looking Back at Presidential Facial Hair & Other Historical Trivia

2008-11-05T10:26:00-05:00

Congrats to Obama!

It was almost a year ago today, the conversation that started it all. My bearded, History teacher brother (whose birthday happens to be on Nov. 4th, voting day) and I were talking at my parent's house. The news was on the television in the background. Journalists in ties and others in Jackie O. pearls were debating the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

Instead of discussing that, we focused on past American presidents such as TR (Teddy Roosevelt) and John Adams, who was suddenly 'Mr. Popularity' with a few new bios and his own mini-series. I had been looking for a non-freelance, personal art project to work on, a theme to savor. Advice was needed as well as some inspiration. Suddenly, at that moment, surrounded by my two other brothers with facial hair, the idea clicked. Presidential Facial Hair Hall of Fame...of course! Oprah would call this my 'Aha!' moment. Tears would be shed.

Drawing the 9, I mean 10* bearded, mustached, and mutton-chopped portraits taught me so much about the presidents. In grade school and high school I knew them as facts for a test or paper. In college I ignored them almost entirely, except for Abe Lincoln, choosing instead to focus more on the 'art' side of history. (Sorry, guys!) Who knew they were so interesting? Drawing this theme also solved the 42 or 43 presidents mystery for me.**

The ten portraits were such a blast to work on, I had to draw the rest of them. That was my next project, which is now complete. What next? A search on Etsy for fun and interesting presidential items!

On Etsy, you can find hundreds of items for 2008 candidates: McCain/Palin...

Folk Art Political Pin by daydreamdesigns77

John McCain Glow-In-The-Dark 3D Fridge Magnet by rovakada

Lampwork Glass Sarah Palin Portrait Bead Pendant Necklace by helensharvest

Obama and Biden are in the mix as well...

Barack Obama Crochet Doll by deadcraft

OBAMARAMA Charm Bracelet by emilyfloyd

Obama and Biden 1-inch Button Set by eddeezy

There are so many other presidential items!

For now, let's look back at some former leaders of the United States, and the Etsy sellers who've included them in their shops!

General George and Martha Washington by UneekDollDesigns.

She says, "...famous pair, George and Martha Washington. He led the young United States into victory during the Revolutionary war, and she was a young widow with two children whom George married. Later, Martha was a reluctant first lady of the United States, but she apparently supported George in the presidency in spite of her misgivings."

PellinorePress's George Washington Mask "is one of many printed on our Vandercook letterpress printing press. It's printed from a hand-drawn, hand-carved woodcut. We initially made these for a 'George Washington' Halloween party. Everyone who came got a George mask."

johndelucca did a series of Presidential prints with wild animals perched aloft, besides lesser known Franklin Pierce shown here. "I did them just to be funny, but also to express how ultimately unimportant our society and system are and how unconcerned nature is with them. These animals don't care who the people are, they just see a comfortable looking head to rest on."

susanestellekwas on Abraham Lincoln: "I had made that Lincoln image as my first experiment in gocco. It was a doodle in my sketchbook that I drew on July 4th and I thought was funny! You can be pretty horrible at capturing famous people's likenesses and still score with Lincoln!"

woodartbyal started making this Teddy Roosevelt portrait for the Boy Scouts. "My council is the Theodore Roosevelt Council BSA. I could think of no better way to honor him. It takes about 3 to 4 hours of work on a scroll saw and then more time to finish the portrait and frame."

akeywithin says of Woodrow Wilson: "I got all my stamps from my grandpa, who got them from his grandma. I do know that Woodrow Wilson was President at the start of WWI."

JFK Earrings by artenergyalchemy. She says, "I have met so many interesting people all over the world because of my funny jewelry. They tell me when they wear my creations it lifts their spirits and puts a smile on their faces."

ArtbyMarilyn's shop has almost all of the presidential portraits in print, card and bookmark forms that are extremely affordable! This Jimmy Carter Print shows her favorite former leader: "He is a sweet person and was a good president, but people don't recognize that. I think our country should know about their forefathers and be more patriotic. That is why I painted them. My father came through Ellis Island, as did my grandfather. I had three brothers who fought for our country and I worked for the USO to help our troops overseas."

DIYorDIE made this Ronald Regan Necklace, and has this to say about Reagan: "In the days when Transformers and Michael Jackson ruled the airwaves, Ronnie’s wrinkled face ruled the world. I remember being in school and reading about our then president. Did you know he was an artist and liked to draw for Nancy when he was on the phone? I kid you not, I read about it in Weekly Read in the 80’s. It was then that I realized he was the coolest dude ever."

44 Presidents and a letter to a Cat is comic illustrated by MariaSputnik, which her friend Mza wrote: "America can get awfully polarized during election year. I decided to draw this comic because I think it's important to remember that the people with whom we disagree are human beings doing the best that they can."

roska's Pick Your Favorite President Pins

Some vintage presidential items:

Vintage Presidential Card Game from timepassages.

The President Could Be You Cup from dahlilafound

1979 Susan B. Anthony Collectible Doll from backstashandbygones

1924 Presidential Campaign Buttons from HummingbirdEyes

So, there you have it. There are many more presidential items for sale on Etsy; take a look for yourself or for someone else. History is fun!

The Storque has a handful of other election-related posts, take a look!

The Homefront Team, Etsy Sellers who have family in the military, will be having a Trunk Show on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at 7pm Eastern Time in the Etsy Virtual Labs. Anyone is welcome to come. They'll be showing off items they make and socializing. Please join in!

*Van Buren is the honorable mention. He wasn't included on some of the online lists I found. But seriously, how could you not include this guy! His mutton chops are quite impressive!

**Moustached Grover Cleveland was president in 2 non-consecutive terms: both before and after the term of bearded Benjamin Harrison.

Vote!

2008-11-04T08:04:00-05:00

Don't forget to vote today, fellow Americans!

See more Election related posts.

Etsy World Tour: Germany Celebrates National Day of Reunification

2008-10-03T17:30:00-05:00

National Day of Reunification is a holiday in Germany celebrated on October 3rd which commemorates the anniversary of German reunification in 1990.

For 41 years our country was divided into to Federal Republic of Germany in the West and the German Democratic Republic in the East, separating friends and families for almost half a century. My grandma, having just gotten married, had to part with her parents and sister who had decided to move to the West before border control became tighter.

And it did become tight. My earliest childhood memories include standing in a long line with my grandma, waiting (and hoping) for her to be granted a visa to see her parents again. Sadly, she only ever got permission to leave for special occasions such as weddings and funerals. I was still a child at that time and had never met my great grandparents. All I knew was they sent us care packages for birthdays and Christmas, filled with goodies we could never get in the GDR. And sadly a lot of these goodies were mysteriously gone before they reached us.

While I do not remember the day the Wall came down on November 9th, 1989, I do fondly remember our first train ride into the West of Germany. My whole family, without a visa and without any fear. My first time to meet a part of my family I had never met before.

Shop Local: Sellers Based in Germany | Etsy World Tour Series

Election Time, Americans: Halloween Costume Ideas

2008-10-02T23:09:00-05:00

I'm so frustrated with these debates! I can't wait to just vote and get it over with! It's such a deadly serious campaign. Keep your sense of humor and do your best impersonation this Halloween. Here are some ideas for dressing up and getting into it!

Election Time, Americans! | Etsy Finds Vintage: Getting Jackie O's Look

Etsy Finds Vintage: Getting Jackie O's Look

2008-09-26T09:08:00-05:00

Jackie O: What an icon! Whether you're a fashionista who loves 1960s style or simply looking to get political with your costume this Halloween, today's Get the Look (Vintage edition!) is devoted to the style maven of the Camelot era, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Jackie had many signature looks throughout her life, all of them fashion-forward and iconic. For the sake of today's Find, we're focusing on her period in the White House. This First Lady had it goin' on!

Vintage 50s TEAL Wool Twill Pillbox Hat w/ Hatpin

Jackie's look was always topped by a pillbox hat. So chic. From RetroWear, $28.99.

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SALE Cerulean Blue Vintage Mod 2 Piece Skirt Suit Set

This skirt suit is pure White House. From shopgoodgrace, $58.

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Pearly Pin Grouping

A tasteful brooch for your suit lapel is essential. From sugarbeans, $10.50.

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Stranded - Plain Vanilla - Fabulous Vintage Four Strand Plastic Bead Necklace

Jackie was known for her casual cool strand of pearls. Everyone can benefit from a little elegance! From OldWaysforTheseDays, $14.

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Pointed Stiletto Heels Size 10 AAA

These suede stilettos are amazing. From daisytoad, $27.

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Audrey Hepburn

A lady always wears gloves. From whichgoose, $15.

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60's Eyelet Leather Clutch by Theodor of California

A clutch adds a formal element to any outfit. Jackie would approve! From VerseauVintage, $17.

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VINTAGE MOD light blue MINI shift dress S/M

When all of her social duties were completed, Jackie would change into her trusty shift dress. Keep the summer alive with this baby blue mini. From DuchessVintage, $60.

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1960s Vibrant Yellow Shift Dress and Jackie O Jacket Medium

This bright dress and jacket combo gives the best of both worlds: casual and formal, simultaneously! From enigmavintage, $58.

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Looking for more vintage Finds? Try these Etsy links:

Vintage Category | Vintage Showcase | Vintage Gift Guide

Need a daily fix of Etsy Finds? Sign up for the Etsy Finds e-mail! Conveniently delivered to your inbox!

Election Time, Americans!

2008-09-25T19:51:00-05:00

It's time to get our heads in the game and get out the vote. We've been noticing many election-related Etsy items cropping up from the grassroots of this here marketplace. Creativity is on the march! These handmade items will help you spread the message about your candidate — and many will help you alert your fellow citizens to the flaws of the opposition.

Who will it be — Obama or McCain?

You might also be interested in:

Bark the Vote | Etsy Finds: An Informal U.S. Presidential Poll

Items tagged with Obama | Items tagged with McCain

Items tagged with Democrat | Items tagged with Republican

Items tagged with Vote

You be the Judge: Vuitton and Darfur

2008-09-09T16:00:00-05:00

This article was originally published on May 6, 2008. We are reviving it as part of the Best of the Storque series. Enjoy!

I’ll admit it: as Etsy's in-house attorney, I love reading legal disputes and thinking about what important issues each side should stress. I especially like to analyze pending copyright, trademark, and patent cases. I daydream about what points I would argue if I were the lawyer for each side and then I put on my imaginary judge’s robe and make a decision.

Well, here’s your chance again. If you were the judge, what would you decide on this real-life on-going legal battle? (Remember, this issue hasn't gone to court yet…and it will likely be decided in a Danish — not U.S. — court).

Nadia Plesner is a Danish artist. According to her website, the illustration “Simple Living” was inspired by “the media’s constant cover of completely meaningless things. My thought was: Since doing nothing but wearing designer bags and small ugly dogs is enough to get you on a [magazine] cover, maybe it is worth a try for people who actually deserve and needs attention.” One hundred percent of the profits from the Simple Living t-shirts and posters will be donated to Divest for Darfur.

In February, 2008 an attorney for Louis Vuitton Malletier (“Louis Vuitton”) sent Plesner a letter asking that she discontinue making and selling the Simple Living products. According to Louis Vuitton, the illustration infringes on the company’s intellectual property rights, in particular the Louis Vuitton Monogram Multi-Color Trademark, to which it is confusingly similar.

Plesner responded to the letter, arguing freedom of expression. She said she will continue her Simple Living campaign in order to raise money for the victims of Darfur. Louis Vuitton sued her and according to torrentfreak.com the company demands $7,500 for each day she continues to sell Simple Life products. Plesner found a lawyer to represent her free of charge.

UPDATE: Plesner started a Foundation to use her art to "raise funds and awareness for crisis situations/areas throughout the world, especially where children are victims." Plesner's art no longer makes any references to Louis Vuitton (the bag is gone!) and she writes "[t]hank you so much for all the wonderful support of my first Simple Living campaign and the lawsuit."

Hopefully Plesner's legal issues are a thing of the past. However, had this case gone to a Danish court what would YOU have decided? Was there risk of confusion? What about the fact that Plesner is raising money for charity? In the comments below, you be the judge!

Read Sarah's previous post in the series Apples to Apples and all her Legal Info for Artists pieces.

How To Make Stamped Tagged Silver Earrings Video

2008-09-08T19:24:00-05:00

Carolyn, aka AutumnLeavesJewelry, has started putting up videos that share her work and process. In this video, she's turning the camera on herself and her workbench and walking us through the process of making stamped silver earrings that support a political candidate. She's just started with video, but her personality shines through.

This video is a great window into her workshop. We get a chance to see her workbench and tools! Want to make your own videos? Check out the Getting Started in Video series and share your world in moving pictures!

Want more fun political posts? See this article — Bark the Vote — about pets stating their causes (AutumnLeavesJewelry is mentioned in it too!).

Bark the Vote

2008-07-10T16:00:00-05:00

Dogs are definitely getting more political these days. (Or at least their owners are.) It seems our dogs can get us to do just about anything. They want to sleep on the bed? We move over. They whimper and give puppy dog eyes? We give them treats. Bark at the door? We let them out. So how far does the dog’s influence go? For some people, it extends into giving their dog a political voice.

Owners and their politically-minded dogs have a wide range of products to choose from. They can support their favorite presidential candidates with items from several Etsy sellers. I have been inspired to sell dog bandanas bearing the slogans, "Barkers for Barack", "RePUPlicans for McCain", and "Canines for Clinton". AutumnLeavesJewelry creates custom dog tags for Barack fans. Dogs looking for a less subtle way to speak their mind can opt for the full t-shirts from alfieandrex with the logo, "Dogs 4 Obama", emblazoned on their back.

The messages move beyond the upcoming presidential election. An intelligent dog would probably appreciate a "Smarter than the President" bandana available from makeyourdogsmile's shop. Peaceful pups are the perfect candidates for the "Another Puppy for Peace" shirt created by Blackflag317.

Have a dog who is afraid to speak his mind? Never fear! Dog-owners can wear their pets’ opinions as well. Campaign buttons abound in thedogcoatlady’s shop for every breed from Boxers to Westies.

These buttons are not limited to dogs, either. Cats and even ferrets can speak their mind vicariously through their owners.

Want to support your dog’s opinion but not sure which party your dog would endorse? Take this quiz from squidoo.com to quickly determine your dog’s political leanings.

Republican vs. Democrat: Is your dog a donkey or an elephant?
Republican Pets:
1. They bark at passing neighbors and traffic; home security is very important to them.
2. Their ears perk up when Fox News comes on.
3. They are a big spender at the local pet store.
4. Strongly believe pet matrimony should only occur between two cats or two dogs.
5. Believe in the 2nd amendment right to bear teeth and claws.
6. Are for electric border fences for the yard.
7. Want national ID tags for all pets.
8. They advocate for the pet tracking chip — you can never have too much security!

Democrat Pets:
1. They want universal veterinary care for all!
2. They want their treats for free.
3. They socialize with all breeds at the dog park.
4. They prefer their owner uses biodegradable poop bags.
5. Are very concerned with the rising rate of pet food.
6. Have the young puppy and kitten vote locked.
7. Want an end to the war of dogs vs. cats once and for all.
8. Think of Ralph Nadar as the dog catcher.

Once you know where your dog falls, you can register him to vote at mypoliticalpet.com, a "non-partisan, informative, free website dedicated to your pets and the latest political news." There you and your dog can connect with pets from across the nation and discuss the latest political issues. You can also monitor important animal issues including keeping pets out of labs and the dog and cat fur prohibition act.

When you consider the fact that elected officials make decisions that can affect the lives of pets, it doesn’t seem so far-fetched to let your dog influence your vote. After all, it is not just your world, it’s your dog’s, too.

Now I have to wonder, would my dog influence the way I vote? I don’t know…I guess it would depend on what she was wearing at the time, and of course, where she bought it.

American Consumerism

2008-07-04T12:31:00-05:00

Consumerism: A passion for acquisition of personal property; the concept that a healthy economy requires a strong consumer market; advocacy to protect consumers from false advertising, shoddy merchandise.

Have you noticed how the definition of consumerism is being interpreted by those of us in America who consider ourselves part of the so-called Indie Movement? This movement has been initiated, motivated, propagated by us – and folks like us from all over the world. Us, being the people who care more about the personal part of the property. Us, being worldwide consumers, AND artists, crafts people, activists, punk rockers, back woods weavers, dirty potters, knitting divas, computer nerds, and so much more. We, being one weird bunch coming together to create something and succeeding. Succeeding because we are working together across our opposite occupations, mismatched philosophies. We are the buyers and the sellers who are bringing the world back to basics.

Think about baby America for a minute. Baby America was full of rebels and idealists. Full of people who wanted to find a different way, a better way, a more fulfilling way; people like us. Those oddball revolutionaries built this new world with hand forged tools as they pushed across the land. And the lands were settled and each settlement was full of folks with the necessary skills for survival: they could make soap, knit socks, shoe a horse. Each settlement had some sort of crafts people - basket weavers, blacksmiths, and carpenters. The people created what they needed on their own, and they went to the local Indie folks for the works that fell out side of their own skill set. And the nation flourished and grew and prospered. Then, folks spread out even further a field and it became hard for them to get all the things they needed. During this time, the blight of slavery began to spread across our nation as many of our forefathers looked for ways to more easily obtain what they needed and wanted.

The nation grew more, and more, full of all manner of great minds, melding skills from all over the vast, earthen world. There were times people traveled many miles by horse and buggy, or waited months and months for their goods to be delivered, but the Indie Artist Craftsperson was still able to make at least some sort of living.

But our new country continued to grown even bigger. And smarter. And faster. The machine age of industry grew, and the plastic world began. General stores became Five and Dimes, and then Sears and Roebucks, and then Targets and Wal-Marts. The American people could easily find very inexpensive items to meet their every need. They no longer had to MAKE life's little necessities. They no longer needed to visit their local craftsman or wait for a handcrafted dining table from the carpenter three towns away. They could buy particle board and polyester! They never had to sit up at night to knit mittens or slippers because they could run down to the Super Center at any hour of the day or night to buy such things for pennies of the cost of knitting them!

The craftastic connections that had made communities strong in spirit and economy began to unravel and the people in Adolescent America seemed to have forgotten how positively lovely it was to sleep beneath a hand pieced quilt, made by a grandma lady, and filled with natural fibers. They forgot that buying hand thrown pottery dishes to eat off of, not only keeps an age old art alive, it fulfills someone’s creative drive; it helps SOMEONE ELSE to support their family.

Thank goodness we, not just us Americans, but all the people of the Indie Craft Movement, have come along to connect the dots. We have begun to recant some of the mistakes our parents and grandparents made. We have started to realize once again how delicious it feels to wash up with natural goat's milk soap and to dress our babies in handcrafted clothes emblazoned with pirates and sushi. And we have started to realize what this awakening means to consumerism, to craft, to the economy, to people, to the country, to the WORLD!

How odd that this eye-opening fusion of consumption and craftivism, connecting us and helping us create a more personal level of consumerism has been birthed from the all amassing global sphere of technology and information known as the internet. If only those original renegades could see where their steps have led us; right back to a new frontier. It is still a new frontier. And just like the original American frontier folk, we are relying on each other for support and encouragement. We are turning to each other to buy the things we cannot make ourselves. We are teaching each other and ourselves new skill sets. It seems that after several generations of near oblivion, we are beginning to be much more responsible in Adolescent America. We are more concerned about our Earth and the land; much more concerned about the foods we eat and the waste we create; once again interested in helping and supporting each other in a crafty sense.

The naysayers who call our movement a trend — they just don't get it. They must not be hearing us when we say that this sense of community, albeit mostly virtual, is changing a lot of lives, this country, and the world for the good. But they will see, because we are all standing together on this front, sewing machines and scissors at the ready — and we ARE making a difference.

If you're interested, I recommend these for further reading:

http://www.artjewelryforum.org/speakers-presentations/diy-websites-and-energy-the-new-alternative-crafts/

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/etsy_ebay_distributed_mass_customization.php

https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/dspace/bitstream/1794/5194/1/Rachel_Johnson_07.pdf

Big thanks to twiststyle for sharing her reflections. Please leave your thoughts in the comments below! You can also read, Crafting, Consumerism & Cooptation: Materializing a Utopian Idea, MicroRevolt: Changing the Way We Think About Protest, or stringtheory's Make like a Tree posts.

Handmade in the U.S.A.

2008-07-03T13:00:00-05:00

Tomorrow, July 4th, the United States celebrates its 232nd birthday.

For me, patriotism has always been about pride in one's contribution to the community. We are a nation founded, developed, and changed, by individuals. From independence to civil rights, America depends not on conformity or mob mentality, but instead on the hard work of innovation and uniqueness. I desire to be challenged by something new and different in politics, art, relationships, and commerce.

Looking at the work of independent artists and designers is heartening for me. There thrives our history in the forged steel cloak pins, and there inspires our future in the solar powered light seeking robots. Mainstream media tells us that all is hopeless, that our voices go unheard, that we are lazy, apathetic, and shallow. Independent artists and crafters defy this wave of cynicism, choosing to reconnect with the individuality, the hard work, and the creativity that is America at its best — or rather one of the best things you'll find in America that also transcends national borders. International creativity can unite us all in change for the better.

— mtraub

A Dude's Perspective: Men Who Craft

2008-05-30T12:17:00-05:00

artish, a female crafter, took some time to chat with men who craft on Etsy. She wanted to hear their thoughts on the marketplace, crafting and gender. Here's the latest from the Dude's Perspective...

I’m not ashamed to admit it: I’m one of those people who likes to read your Etsy profile. And I always feel disappointed if there is a yawning blank space at the end where it should say ‘Male/Female, born on…’ And of course while I do applaud all the women who are designing, creating and selling on Etsy, there is some part of me that shouts ‘hoorah!’ when there’s a man behind the store.

Yes, I know it’s 2008 and we are all far too well-educated (aren’t we?) to think that Women’s Work and Men’s Work and the difference between them still exists. But the fact is, some stereotypes still prevail. So here I am celebrating the men of Etsy. They bravely knit, sew, forge, appliqué, cut, sculpt, draw, paint… the list is endless. But the main thing is that they are out there, designing and creating.

Here are some of my favorites:

Beach Burner Portable Bonfire, a 24 inch Recycled Steel Fire Pit, is a stunning piece of functional art. It was drawn and cut by hand, by artist John T Unger aka johntunger. At first glance, you could say that John’s art is a ‘masculine’ one. It’s all about steel, fire, and sharp edges. However, John says, “…I've also done very delicate, subtle work that wouldn't have any obvious gender bias or reference. One of the projects I'd really like to do at some point is glass mosaics of Georgia O'Keefe's flower paintings (because the shading of the glass would equal her subtlety with a brush)…”

John jokingly talks about Etsy as the ultimate dating site — what better place for creative, talented people to find each other? Sorry ladies, he’s taken.

Matte aka matteart has been painting for a living for 13 years. His paintings and prints are original and modern. He has a wonderful illustrative style, and I adore his bear monsters.

He acknowledges there are a lot of both women and men who work in similar mediums — so his focus is on promoting himself and running his shop well.

I love this Time Travel clock! Eric aka IMOTIME proves that you can make a clock out of absolutely anything. I find his clocks really interesting and imaginative. According to Eric, the fact that the majority of people who visit his shop are women does affect what he makes and how he writes his descriptions.

He finds it humorous that some people make assumptions and refer to his store by saying “she makes clocks from..."

Craig aka cubistliterature does a lot of knitting and sewing — and not surprisingly, he has noticed that people have certain ideas about his choice of medium. He says “...certain crafts (e.g. knitting, sewing — even making yarn) are regarded as being either male or female... what I DO care about is the fact that we still think like this, that we still buy into the whole gender roles mindset.”
I find his shirts particularly interesting because of the way he uses language and plays with words. And who can resist red fingerless gloves? Not I.

Craig says “what I'd really like to say is that I want there to be MORE males out there doing those things considered ‘female’. (And the same goes for the women, too! Get out there and do something ‘masculine’!) I don't want to be one of a few guys on Etsy — and I especially don't want to be one of a few guys of THOSE few guys who knows how to knit and sew and spin yarn. It's time to get past these old-school notions of gender roles. Let's move forward! It'd make things so much more interesting.”

For some strange reason there are still stereotypes. Here’s to breaking them down! The desire to create something — isn’t that what it all comes down to? So come on all you Real Men out there... show us what you’re made of!

Further Resources:
www.matteart.blogspot.com/
www.johntunger.com/
imotime.com/default.aspx
cubistliterature.com/
www.craftypod.com/?p=439 (men who craft, BLOG)
www.craftzine-digital.com/craft/vol03/?pg=58&search=men+who+craft&u1=texterity&cookies=1 (seven men who craft)

Father's Day Showcase | Gift Guide for Him | Father's Day Gift Guide | A Dude's Perspective

Etsy Finds: An Informal U.S. Presidential Poll

2008-04-27T15:14:00-05:00

Last week, for the heck of it, I thought I'd search for the top three U.S. presidential candidates on Etsy, and see what sort of items our crafter-politicos are coming up with. Answer: all sorts of amazing things. From the usual pins, t-shirts, and posters (complete with clever sayings and great artwork, something *not* so usual in the political merch arena), to jewelry, toys, and voodoo dolls. (!)

But the real story ended up being Barack Obama, and how he's got more than twice the number of items stumping for him than all the other candidates combined. The senator from Illinois has a wide margin, with 395 items tagged with Obama listed at the time of this writing.

Hillary Clinton's a distant second, with 112 items. Unfortunately for Hill, some of the items seem to be, ah, not so supportive (exhibit A: Hillary pinata head). But, as they say, all press is good press, right?

At 27 items, John McCain has a long way to go if he wants to be competitive in this race. Luckily for him, his presidential chances don't hinge on the number of crafts he's currently inspiring. Only time will tell if he moves up once the Democratic primaries are over and the national race begins.

Well, that's all for now! Now's the time to stock up on the goods for your favorite candidate, so you'll be ready to go when the season's in full swing!

Need a daily fix of Etsy Finds? Sign up for the Etsy Finds e-mail! Conveniently delivered to your inbox on the daily!

Etsy Finds: The Politics of Love

2008-02-11T10:48:00-05:00

Now, I am not an overtly political person. (Which is to say, I don't push my political views on others. At least not on purpose... but I digress.) What I'm trying to say is that even if you're not a fan of Barack Obama, it's impossible not to get a chuckle from these cards by nowvember. The kitschy collages are sure to bring a smile to the face of your beloved. Also, after you've chosen your favorite for that special person, you still have two left to send to your grandma, sister, or favorite aunt.

Regardless of the outcome of the primaries, nowvember has won the race for my affection.

P.S.: Vote!

Crafting, Consumerism & Cooptation: Materializing a Utopian Idea

2008-02-09T21:00:00-05:00

If you don't make it yourself, are you just a consumer — consumer in the dirty sense of the word?

I recently read Jean Railla's guest post “What Would Jesus Sell?” about Rev. Billy's Church of Stop Shopping, Morgan Spurlock, the Handmade Pledge and Etsy. Rob Walker — the author of a New York Times Magazine piece Handmade 2.0 about the crafting movement and Etsy — posted Jean's article on his blog Murketing:

"What Would Jesus Buy is the suitably ironic title of the documentary produced by Morgan Spurlock (of Super Size Me fame), which follows the antics of 'Reverend Billy.' As the head of the Church of Stop Shopping Reverend Billy, a character developed by the New York City actor Bill Talen, preaches an anti-corporate theology with an authenticity of feeling and full gospel choir. In the film, Reverend Billy is up to his old antics–exorcising demons at Walmart Headquarters, taking over the Mall of America, and finally crashing Disney Land. His objective? 'To save Christmas from the Shopocalypse: the end of mankind from consumerism, over-consumption and the fires of eternal debt!'
I wonder what Reverend Billy would have thought about the handmade pledge sponsored by Etsy, Craftster, Craft Magazine and others this past holiday season: 'I pledge to buy handmade…and request that others do the same for me'...

...But I can’t help thinking: Isn’t shopping, no matter how wonderfully crafty and politically correct still, well, shopping? Can you escape the so-called sin of consumerism by buying handmade?'” [Read the whole post]

Jean then goes on to pose important questions about the crafting movement and its relationship to the act of buying. This topic fascinates me and makes me uneasy too. It's something I often think about. If you're just a buyer on Etsy and not a seller, are you somehow less empowered? Are you less talented? Are you not *really* part of the community? And Jean pushes this a bit further by begging the question: If you're selling things at all, are you selling out and therefore opting in to a consumerist society, albeit one a shade better than simply shopping at the massive chain stores crowding out small businesses all over the globe?

Can the act of shopping have meaning?

I think it does. I speak for myself here, both as a buyer and a seller, and as someone who has had the chance to really observe what happens on Etsy on a day-to-day basis (because I'm an admin at Etsy, yeah, so I guess I'm pretty biased!). What follows here are some of the questions I often ask myself when reflecting on Etsy's role in the larger capitalist society.

I, for instance, make movies (or rather I used to before I decided to take a job at Etsy); my filmmaking collaborator and I sell our doc Secondhand (Pepe) in my Etsy shop. I'm personally sending it out to the few that buy it, asking for their feedback after they watch it. Why am I selling it? In part because I went into debt making the thing and I'd like to make back at least a token amount of the money I spent! But I also listed it because it's an amazing experience to get those comments and criticisms from people I've never met face-to-face. My listing fees buy me access to a larger audience. The sale price of my movie covers the cost of making the DVDs, if not the time and money spent on the production of the film.

The world needs people to make things. Yes, I suppose Etsy could have been started as a website where makers give away their handmade things or do barters and swaps. But what about people who really want to make a living from what they make and do it part-time or full-time? In order for that to happen, creative people need buyers. Otherwise, they'll have to make do with some sort of day-job, probably something that is not their passion.

To play devil's advocate with myself: why taint people's DIY impulse with money? Why not shoot for a higher goal? Why not aim towards a folk culture where art and craft function not as commodities to be bought and sold, but rather as objects that have deeper meaning and are passed freely from person to person according to usefulness or significance? Then there wouldn't be any arts "professionals." Anyone could make something that benefited society, as long as they practiced the craft to the point where it was beneficial and accepted by the community. In order to have the time to practice that craft, the community would support the person and guide them by passing down ways of doing things from those masters that had come before...Actually at this point, what I'm describing starts to sound similar to what I see happening on Etsy a lot of the time: in a way, the Etsy community is a platform for people to support learning — and the line here between professional and amateur maker is often blurred. There are fulltime Etsy sellers who have experience and have dedicated their lives to making and selling what they make. But the amount of informal learning and eye-opening that goes on with newbie sellers on this site is remarkable. That's a vast resource that is supported by the fees and other revenue streams on Etsy.

Another devil's advocate question that I sometimes ask myself: I feel great when I need something and I buy it from Etsy. For example, I need a notebook for work, so why would I ever go to Stapes and not buy a recycled one from an independent seller? The consumer's choice is obvious in this case. But what about those cute earrings I saw on Etsy? Or that little crocheted octopus? I don't need these. Right now, a little red octopus is staring blankly at me from where she sits on my desk. I don't think she knows the answer. But then I think of the seller RubySubmarine from whom I bought it. I like to think that by buying from her, I was doing my part to enable her to be creative, to support her as she tested her knowledge of crocheting, to talk with her about why marine life is so crazy interesting. Or when people compliment me on my angry octopus skirt by aorta, I tell them to go to her shop (yeah, there's a special place in my heart for the octopus). I feel like in a tiny way, I've become a patron of the arts or a supportive member of a folk community. Or maybe this is something new and different and complex.

[tote by weatherandnoise]

There's meaningful expression in the objects that I wear and that I have around me: I'm showing people that I support independent artists and I value things that aren't produced in a sweatshop or in a polluting factory, etc. I'm also proud to be a seller. This meaningful expression translates a utopian idea into something material. That's the power of art and culture: it's a physical expression of an idea. I seriously think about these things, and I think most Etsy buyers do too. And if some of them don't, then part of Etsy's mission is to spread the word (now I sound like the Reverend)! Etsy is not just a black and white site where people coldly pass money and goods back and forth. Etsy is also a place where this discussion can take place. Etsy brings us together to talk about consumerism and craftivism. Only if we don't talk about it will the handmade movement be co-opted by consumerism. What we stand to gain by talking about it, alternatively, is enormous: we can spread the word about the values underpinning the handmade movement to many, many people. (Now, that's evangelical!)

Seriously, there are other shades of grey. In real life, making a utopian idea a reality is sometimes messy. "Buy something because you love it, need it, it will haunt you if you don’t. Buy art because it makes you think every time you look at it. Buy things that are beautifully crafted because you appreciate the design, the workmanship and using something that is so well made will enrich your life. There is a lot of handmade crap out there… along with all the manufactured crap," says seller Mimi Kirchner aka mck254 on her blog post about the Handmade Pledge. Mimi pointed me to the comments on her post. kristin "feel[s] there are great reasons to buy handmade when and only when the crafter or artist truly loves what they are creating and it shows in their work. if the handmade item was made to just make a buck…i think that will show in the work as well and i would not care to buy that." Karen B. feels that buying handmade "is a way to slow down the consumerism/design for disposal mentality so ingrained in today’s world. I would apply your thoughts about buying handmade to anything one buys: do you need it, is it good design, does it speak to you, will it enrich/enhance your life….?" And "do you need it" begs these questions, "Does art matter? Does craftsmanship matter? Does the personal connection between buyer and seller matter?" These things do matter and that act of buying something handmade from the maker has symbolic value. But it also has a direct impact on our lives. It gives us compensation for our labor and also a sense of participating in a movement.

When I boil down all my questions, I realize that DIY and the handmade movement — and what I see going on in the Etsy community — is conscientious participation. And if you're a buyer of handmade things, you are participating by supporting independent artists, crafters and makers. It doesn't feel like rampant consumerism. It feels like you're making a difference. Making things and using those things — if it's going to be a sustainable movement — can't completely exist outside the marketplace.

Please let me know what you think in the comments below.

Call for Feminist Crafters: Crafting Resistance & Community

2008-01-30T16:23:00-05:00

Attention crafting feminists! Academic researcher pinupchick wants to hear your reflections and stories!

Etsy's core mission is to help artists and crafters make a living from what they make. This may seem like an innocuous enough statement, but truth be told, the socio-political-cultural-economic state in which we live makes this a rather bold rallying cry. We want to make history's "way of doing things" undergo a change and Rob aka Rokali's recent announcement about Etsy's future explains how we seek to grow the company in contrast to many corporations. Etsy is part of a larger movement and we at Etsy want to learn more about the consciousness of feminist crafters in our midst (See Beth's post about Craft and Protest at the New School). And so we were excited to hear about pinupchick's call for participants in her research study. We hope that you choose to participate and make your opinions and experiences known!

(Fun fact: Etsy is about 90% women)

Crafting seems to be all the rage these days, and websites like Etsy are certainly helping the handmade movement gain momentum. Of course the popularity of crafting is completely dependent on all you talented sellers (and buyers with excellent taste!), and a little press here and there can't hurt either. But in addition to this, crafting is becoming a popular topic of study in the academic sphere.

Crafting and DIY movements are becoming crucial areas of research in the liberal arts, social sciences, and humanities. This is where I come in. Not only am I an avid Etsy fan and buyer, I'm also a graduate student at the University of Western Ontario. I'm currently pursuing my Master's degree in Media Studies, and my thesis is on crafting as a mechanism of resistance against corporate-fueled capitalism, focusing specifically on feminist crafters. For my study, I will be conducting e-mail interviews with crafters (and craft buyers) that make or buy goods with feminist messages, or craft with feminist beliefs at heart. I'm also interested in speaking with Etsy sellers who advertise or have been featured in BUST magazine (BUST has overt ties to third-wave feminism and often features goods from Etsy sellers).

I'm interested in studying crafting as a resistance mechanism: in the age of mass-production, corporate mega-profits and the resulting unethical production practices such as the use of sweatshop labor, crafting (and buying handmade goods) stands in opposition to the unethical labor and production practices of certain large corporations. Feminism is a natural extension of this, as historically textile work, sewing and needlecrafts have been located within the sphere of women. And now, crafters (some motivated by feminism), are reclaiming the once domestic significations of handicrafts as both liberating and pleasurable, and embracing this new domesticity as a form of feminist resistance and subversion.

Crafting as a form of feminist resistance is being examined by a few other scholars, but as far as I know, I am the only one looking specifically at Etsy and the crafts production and marketing cycle. Because craftwork provides an alternative to mass-production, I believe that buying and selling handmade goods is a politically subversive act that allows for a fair, equitable, and ethical form of capitalism. Ultimately, the handmade movement can help create positive social change.

But I can't conduct this study without you! If you are at all interested in participating in my study, please convo or email me. I will provide detailed information about the time requirements and will forward you the required documents. Together we can show academia how important crafting really is to the world!

Post your comments below and let us know what you think! Have you heard of other researchers working on this topic? Have you found any books that address these ideas?

Additional Resources