Amarillo Texas Photographer Bethany Fields

Hooray!

It seems all of us crafty people are throwing big ol' hissy fits.  And it's working!  The CPSIA has been "stayed" for one year while the kinks are being worked out....(more like cut out and thrown away if you ask me).  Read about it here.

Gillian says "Beebeedoe!" (Peekaboo)

    

 

Little Buddha Belly....

Amend the CPSIA!

 

The following is a letter I sent out this past week.....and as today is CPSIA blogging day, I'm posting it here for you.  Please do what you can to help repeal the CPSIA.

Dear Friends and Loved Ones,
 
I'm writing this to bring to your attention a serious issue that will effect all Americans beginning February 10, 2009.   The Consumer Product Safety Information Act was passed by Congress in August 2008.  The "CPSIA" is a well-intentioned law that can protect our children from dangerous components of many toys available in large "big-box" stores.  We all know the dangers of lead in products (as they have been in the news a lot lately!) and I think this law started out with good intentions.  The problem with it is the broadness of the law.  Anyone, EVERYONE who handmakes, buys, or sells toys will be affected.  How?  The law does not exclude books, hats, clothing, jewelry, purses, handbags, pillows, sports equipment, party supplies etc. 
 
As a very small business (just me and Russell when I need help with Excel :), I can not afford the thousands of dollars of testing that the CPSIA would require me to obtain on my products.  For one of my wool felt puffy heart pendants for sale over at my Etsy shop (Annieandolive.etsy.com) it would cost $1750 EACH TIME I wanted to make it.  Since they are currently $5.00, I don't know that anyone would be willing to pay $1755 for a small wool heart.  I would be forced to stop making many of my items, which hurts me both emotionally and financially. 
 
This is just one of millions of stories of crafters around the United States that would be either forced to pay thousands of dollars or fold and close their shops and businesses.  What about the little Grandpa that makes wooden toys for children in his Vermont garage?  What about the nice Aunt who knits, crochets and quilts baby blankets for the local crisis pregnancy center craft show?  What about the cool kid who handcrafts old-style baseballs and bats?  ALL of these products would be illegal without testing and certifying and the producers would face serious fines and jail time for creating and selling them.  WE as Americans, would also not be able to buy these beautiful, unique items as people can no longer afford (both personally or financially) to make them. 
 
The silliest part of this law is that it does NOT exclude childrens BOOKS.  So...come February 10, your child's school library will technically be illegal....as will all kids sections of any bookstore.  The law now states that you have until August 10 to have all your items that you have "in stock" either tested or have proof of their safety.  If you do not, you will have to destroy your stock.  This is a quote from the National Library Association website: "public, school and museum libraries will have to either remove all their books or ban all children under 12 from visiting."  Visit  here to read more about this:  http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1573

 
This law is absolutely ridiculous.  Please show your support for repealing parts of this law to better protect micro-businesses and handmade by writing your State Representative and Senators (contact them here: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml and  http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm as well as reading more information here at http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org .  State Representative Henry Waxman (D-California) is the head of the committee that oversees this law as the Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. You can contact him here: http://www.house.gov/waxman/contact.htm  
 
I thank you so much for your help in this,
 

Finally

my camera decided to work - only for an instant and so I took as many pictures as possible!  Not sure what is up with it - for some reason, it doesn't like to read cards - says "FORMAT" or CHANGE" or "CARD NOT READABLE" whenever I put in a card - (new or old)...but on a whim, I decided to try it and for once, it took!  Then I took out the card and uploaded them and alas, camera no work no more.  I really need to take it in and see about it; hopefully it's something simple and not too serious.  It pains me not to have it.  Honestly, that's why I haven't been updating as much...My life is a series of images in my head and when I don't have that to share with you, I feel boring ol' black and white type.  There are lots out there that can paint beautiful images with their words, I've just always enjoyed sharing the colored bits...

Anyway, I've been working on a newfound hobby/art/obsession.  Soft pastel painting!  I've done 7 or 8 of these and find them extremely satisfying.  Not only because I love the soft swish of color on paper (see...I like color) but because the results are so instantaneous...no waiting for paint to dry.  No brushes to clean (only my fingertips), no paint colors to mix on a messy tray.  Just me and beautiful sticks of color and my imagination.  I have been reading Bill Creevy's The Pastel Book and this painting I did today is very much based on his work.  He does these beautiful impressionistic still-lifes.  Keep in mind that the picture doesn't accurately represent the light source on the pears as by the time I took it, the sun had moved!

Miss G is talking up a storm (see "in the moment" picture at left for proof).  "Bush" (pronounced with a "u" like in "up") is school bus...hoeese (horse), Meme (Benjamin), Cowee (Colin),  Bookoo (book), appuu (any type of fruit....from oranges to bananas to pears...she really doesn't eat many *actual* apples)...so cute as she discovers new words everyday. 

Russell is home.  Snowed today!!  Boys played outside and chased Harry  all around...must go and figure out what to feed this crew....

Just a Sunday

Sleeping in.  Birthday parties.  Football.  camera still broken.  Art projects.  Nintendo. Naps and jackets.  Sandwiches and cold coca-cola.  bananas.  Trips across town.  Moving around furniture. Church yesterday. Happiness today.

(Here's the Christmas card finally!  Three cute chugas.) 

The inside featured a favorite Bible verse:

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit." ~Romans 15:13

Whew! 2009?

When did that happen?  Colin is now *eight?*  Next year will be 2010?  My baby girl will be *two* in April??  Oh my!  Camera is on the fritz.  Repainting and painting the house some more.  TWELVE different colors tried on the walls of the hallway.  Big parties over here.  Spiced almonds.  Rearranging furniture. Starving artist show makes my walls look pretty.  Christmas decorations still hanging on.  Wind blowing on a too-warm January day.  Chuga sleeping.  House quieter than it has been in a month.  Loads of laundry.  Dreams about the things "to-do" this year.  Taking up a new-found art.  Am obsessed as usual when tackling something new.  Starting to get organized.  Eating almonds and drinking more water.  Happy for a break from busy, busy and loving being home and having time to do the things I have wanted.  :)