Favorite neighbors

This past year at craft shows I lucked out sitting near great people.
At Bust I was next to the ultra lovely Maggie and David from Loyalty and Blood They print cool shirts and great tote bags and make jewelry. They do it all!

On the other side of my were the cuties from Schmutzerland I picked up this delightful Octopus ring that I always get 1000 questions about whenever I wear it.
Crafty Bastards in Silver Spring is where I met Kasey and Kelley of Biggs and Featherbelle (you need their citrus and peppermint soap. Trust me.)
At Art Star I wasn't next to them, per se but when the monsoon hit saturday afternoon, the ladies from Clairemcdermott offered my brother and I a piece of plastic to put up so our tent had a wall and it worked surprisingly well. They were so kind to offer us that last tarp.
There were a few others through the year but I've unfortunately forgotten their names. I'm looking forward to making new friends and neighbors in 2009!

More on the consumer product warning info

I'm trying to consolidate information and links here for myself and for other people-
First, http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/263549

Well organized site from a toymaker with info on the ruling as well as how to write to congress:
http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/

About the CPSC
http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.html

bad news/worse news

This is going to be a little bummer of an entry, but I will try to post later the spoils of my quickie shopping spree from bust as well as a little bit about my totally awesome neighbors.

bad news: I am sick. started with a sore throat monday and steamrolled into stuffy nose, lots of coughing and other unattractive things. I've been home 2 days and I feel lousy.

worse news: Have you heard about the CPSIA ruling? The Consumer Products and Safety Commission (CPSC) is trying to pass a ruling about toy makers and people who make products for people under 12.
while I don't necessarily consider my stuff for kids, i know people give them to kids. THis would mean I would have to pay for 3rd party testing of my toys and could cost up to $4000 per toy.
Bunk right? Why is this happening? Because of China and the slack import laws that allowed stuff riddled with lead to come into this country.
read more about the regulations they're trying to pass here:
handmade toy alliance and sign their petition while you're at it.

i'm going back to bed.

Spectacular craftacular!

It's 7:30 on Monday morning after a long weekend and a lot of driving from Tina's sister Lisa but it was worth it.
THanks to all who came to Bust's Craftacular! I have a new record to beat! You're all amazing.

THank you thank you thank you!

new favorite-

I admit, I'm really gunshy about ordering stuff from abroad. I think it's because 3 out of 5 times, i have international shipping nightmares, but how CUTE is this necklace????
It's from Joannarutter on Etsy.

Thank you!

Thanks to all who came out on Saturday for the Holiday Booty market!! I hope you had fun and ate lots of cookies (i did!) and found great christmas presents!!!!

This Crafting Business: Staples V. Kinkos

I've recently begun utilizing the printing services of Staples. Which, if you've never explored and do a lot of printing not from your home, I recommend checking out.
Now, both Staples and Kinkos have features where you're able to email a document and specify paper preferences and pick up etc.

Now, your mileage may vary as the staff of each location differs wildly and that's as important to this whole process as paper selection is.
For what it's worth, here's my opinion of the two chains in the area

Kinkos
College Park- preferred if you need to be in the store. Big, room to lay project out. Good access to their supplies. Also, will let you use their large format printer. Also, open acess to paper stock (not toal stock, but it's enough)
7th & D NW - Staff helpful, not allowed to touch large format printer, easy metro access (Archives/Navy Memorial)
7th & NY - Best staff in the city. Layout a little confusing. This is my preferred Kinkos location, Metro stop: Convention center or China town. 5 blocks from either. Parking not recommended.
8th & D st. SE (Capitol Hill) This one is kind of a nightmare. Good Metro access, but the staff is ridiculous at best and usually surly. Machines largely undependable.

Saying that, I just made tags for my owls and emailed it in to the Kinkos on D st. SE for pick up. I did call ahead to see if they could be done an hour earlier than the web said they would be available for pick up. The guy on the phone assured me no problem. I arrived at the store and no one knew what I was talking about, still they printed the tags out for me, and I have to say, they look great.
That mostly is because I chose the glossy cover card stock. An option Staples does not have.


Staples:

Location: Rt. 193 Greenbelt/near college park. Across the street from Beltway plaza mall. It's fine, they're competent. Not my first choice.

Location: 14th St. Columbia Heights- great. Huge, new facility (no room for project layout, but good) helpful staff. Understand double-sided copies.


Kinkos wins for more convenient locations and I think paper selection.

just a tip

christmas wish #1

from Made with love by hannah

I wonder if my brother would actually get this for me...probably not.

I'm particularly covetous of the blue.

shows!

I'm excited for christmas this year. i hope i don't lose the excitement....I haven't even minded the slightly early music.
I'm really looking forward to going to NYC with Tina Seamonster for the Bust Craftacular and other NYC shenanigans.