Our Reversible Oilcloth Splat Mat - Vote for Etsy Top Selling Items!

Visit the NEW Chalkydoodles Shop

http://www.chalkydoodles.com/

to see our great selection of oilcloth SPLAT MATS, tablecloths, aprons, vinyl wall decals, chalk labels and upcycled clothing!

Single-sided, reversible, round, chalkboard, pet splat mats and more!

The NEW Chalkydoodles Collection of practical stylish goods for your home and family.

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From the Etsy Blog, The Storque: The Chalkydoodles Oilcloth Splat is among items highlighted by Etsy sellers in the Shop Makeover series.

VOTING IS NOW CLOSED


You can cast your vote for your favorite top-selling item, including our custom splat mat.

Choose your oilcloth fabrics and trim to create a mat all your own! Use it for art projects, under messy tables or even as a fun, waterproof rug.





Read more about it in The Storque:


"In an effort to better understand which of their items are workin' it, sellers shared links to their top selling items of 2008 in the comments of this post. Now we want YOU to pick your favorites from this pool. The hottest items will be featured in the Gift Guides and here on the Etsy blog!

VOTE HERE (Voting is now closed).

Nothin' like a lil informal/virtual focus group for your products. Sellers should check out the Shop Makeover Series and get involved. May your shops bloom and grow!

Good luck to everyone!"

Thanks for featuring Chalkydoodles, Etsy. We can feel the love!

CNN on CPSIA and Handmade Toys

Interested in the CPSIA issue and it potential effects on handmade children's products and small business?

Read the article posted on CNN Money today:

http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/14/smallbusiness/toy_law_threatens_small_companies.smb/?postversion=2009011509

Also, the issue was the cover story today in the Santa Maria Sun:

http://www.santamariasun.com/cover/1357/all-worry-and-no-play/

I'll be continuing to post news articles and other information as it becomes available.

Thank you for your support!

~Lyn

Help Save Handmade Children's Products!

Most likely, many of you have heard about the new Consumer Protection Safety Information Act of 2008 (CPSIA) and the impact it may soon have on the Children's Toy and Clothing industry.

As a small business owner, I am appalled by the unreasonable testing regulations on children's toys and apparel that will go into affect on February 10, 2009.

And, as a mom who loves to buy darling one-of-a-kind handmade clothing and toys (like the wool Maia doll by Violastudio on the left) for my kiddos, nieces, nephews and friends, I am terribly saddened by the prospect that soon I may no longer be able to purchase these items.

According to the new regulations, artisans like myself will be required to pay for expensive testing for lead and chemicals, called phthalates, on all children's products they make and sell. The required tests are very expensive, and will effectively render most sellers of handmade goods unable to continue offering their children's toys, clothing and accessories.

As an affected party, I am working with many of my fellow artisans on Etsy and throughout the children's handmade products community to spread the word about this potentially terrible blow to our businesses and, in many cases, our livelihood.

If you have not yet heard about this issue or if you want to learn more about it, you can read an excellent summary of the legislation here. Below are other sources to help you learn more about what is being done by numerous advocates of children's handmade toys and clothing to appeal to lawmakers to change this law so that it will not put hundreds of small business owners out of business.

There is also a lot of confusion right now among advocates striving for change and those who are being affected by these regulations. As a former journalist, I am a firm believer that access to clear, accurate information from a variety of reliable sources is key to educating the community on an issue and to helping advocates find the best way to make their voice heard.

Finally, there is a class action lawsuit being filed on behalf of artisans, crafters and small business owners, like myself. Click here to read a press release about the lawsuit and to learn how to become involved.

Handmade children's items featured on Etsy.com

Where can I learn more about the issue?

Etsy.com Where the Chalkydoodles shop resides, is heavily involved in the issue and has multiple blog postings on the Storque regarding the issue. Also, read Etsy's Open Letter about the CPSIA

The Handmade Toy Alliance http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/

The Toy Industry Association summary of CPSIA

CPSIA Central, a discussion site for those working to amend the CPSIA

BuyHandmade blog at http://blog.buyhandmade.org/

What can I do to help?

Vote for change on the website Change.org and join more than 10,000 other voters who have voted to support a proposal by the Handmade Toy Alliance to amend the CPSIA "so that all businesses large and small are able to comply and survive."

Contact your representatives and senators:

U.S. House of Representatives:www.writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

U.S. Senate:www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Write the Consumer Product Safety Commission (the CPSC):

CPSC Contact Information Here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Sign Petitions

Petition to "Repeal the CPSIA"

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/RepealCPSIA/?e

Petition regarding the CPSIA's Impacts on the Children's Apparel Industry

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/?e

I hope and pray that amendments will be made to the CPSIA to exempt certain materials from testing and/or to provide provisions for small businesses being required to test their products. If you enjoy purchasing handmade items and want to show your support for small businesses, please take a moment to read and then to act.

~Lyn

We've got the Look!

Chalkydoodles was featured in the Etsy Storque Spoltlight this weekend! Our Oilcloth Tablecloth with coordinating border found its way into the Etsy Finds: Getting Tricia Royal's Look - Home Decor Edition.

In the Get the Look: Decor series, Etsy highlights products by Etsy artists that allow shoppers to re-create the look of popular designers, artists and fellow Etsy shop owners.

From the Storque Spotlight article by Etsy admin iheartmoustaches published on January 4, 2009:

"This weekend's Get the Look: Decor is inspired by the San Francisco home of bits and bobbins artist and wardrobe_remix founder Tricia Royal aka bitsandbobbins. Her home is bright and cheery, filled with a hodgepodge of colorful vintage finds, quirky handmade items and artwork. Today we're going to show you how to achieve Tricia’s playful look using elements found on Etsy. You can view more inspiring photos of Tricia’s home in the Sneak Peeks column on design*sponge. "

I just love Tricia Royal's unique, vintage-infused style, and am thrilled to have Chalkydoodles included in the impressive collection by Etsy artisans.

Great color, great style. Couldn't think of a better way to kick off a great New Year!