saturday sew day..

worked on a few more dirndle skirts, two are a little longer for maybe a size 4,5. Loved the brown hearts the colors are so in right now. But who doesn't LOVE Mickey Mouse.

Good News, Small Handmade Business Crafters are still Alive!
This law would have cost us approx. $4,000 an item to test before selling. It was suppose to protect us from items entering from other countries. However, due to wording it included items being used by crafters, bought and already tested in the US.

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

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission voted unanimously (2-0) to issue a one year stay of enforcement for certain testing and certification requirements for manufacturers and importers of regulated products, including products intended for children 12 years old and younger. These requirements are part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which added certification and testing requirements for all products subject to CPSC standards or bans.
Significant to makers of children’s products, the vote by the Commission provides limited relief from the testing and certification requirements which go into effect on February 10, 2009 for new total lead content limits (600 ppm), phthalates limits for certain products (1000 ppm), and mandatory toy standards, among other things. Manufacturers and importers – large and small – of children’s products will not need to test or certify to these new requirements, but will need to meet the lead and phthalates limits, mandatory toy standards and other requirements.
The decision by the Commission gives the staff more time to finalize four proposed rules which could relieve certain materials and products from lead testing and to issue more guidance on when testing is required and how it is to be conducted.
The stay will remain in effect until February 10, 2010, at which time a Commission vote will be taken to terminate the stay
The stay of enforcement provides some temporary, limited relief to the crafters, children’s garment manufacturers and toy makers who had been subject to the testing and certification required under the CPSIA. These businesses will not need to issue certificates based on testing of their products until additional decisions are issued by the Commission. However, all businesses, including, but not limited to, handmade toy and apparel makers, crafters and home-based small businesses, must still be sure that their products conform to all safety standards and similar requirements, including the lead and phthalates provisions of the CPSIA.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

Today is my daughter's birthday, yes Lil Orchid (my granddaughter) sang "Happy Birthday Mom Mom" all day long. In fact this morning, she crawled up on the bed and whispered to her Mom "It's Birthday Mom Mom".

I didn't have to bake or decorate something for her, all she wanted was an ice cream cake that she saw advertised for Super Bowl Sunday. Yes a cake shaped like a Football! But it was good!!!

And for those wondering I sat up last night and this evening adding things to my ETSY Store.

My gosh, I've been busy!

Another midwestern Snow Day...

Waiting for the two day

storm of ice, sleet, and

snow to end. Bitter cold,

but at least it came with

some snow. The weather

and days are so bleak

when all you get is bitter

temperatures. So we had

some fun sledding and

building "Lil Orchid the Snow Girl".

Can you tell we tied fabric scraps

together for her snow scarf ;)

Then toasted some

marshmellows over

the fire and

began to sew some more. I had fun with applique on the little boys "Jon Jon".

A Full Day of Dirndle Skirts...

I feel very accomplished today, things went smoothly and I got alot done. I don't know if people realize how much thread and fabric, time goes into these skirts. These are full circle skirts, the bottom edge of the skirt is approx. 3 yards, they have 16 panels...but that's what makes it worth it, when it looks so adoreable on little girls. The lengths depend on how long you want them on your child. Lil Orchid has the shortest legs ever...but I still like the length shown. I know she will get a couple years of use out of them.

Year of the Ox

My daughter fixed us

a traditional meal of

crab ragoon

(with lil Orchid's help)

and some noodles

and Bun Cha,

Lil Orchid and I made

sugar cookies in the

shape of lanterns, a coin,

a dragon and lil orchid.

Mmmmmmm!

Everything was delicious.

Did a lot more sewing, mainly appliques that could be worn at Easter Egg Hunts.

"Tet" Vietnamese New Year

Chuc Mung Nam Moi

(Happy New Year)

Happy "Tet"

Ho Chi Minh City
2006
My sweet,Lil Orchid

Wishing everyone a Prosperous & Joyful New Year!

A year filled with Good Fortune.

And as with my Lil Orchid a year spent with Best Friends

(her Kitty Kitty);)

Sunday and Snowy AGAIN...

Happy Chinese New Year's Eve ....

Don't Forget to wear RED tomorrow, good luck and proserity it will bring

...and don't we ALL need it !

Did some sewing off and on today.

Lil Orchid keeps playing in my hair assessory drawer and wanted to wear some of MamMaw's hair things. What do you think of her hair do.

Had a nice fire a roaring for the newly fallen snow outside.

Just another Saturday...

We were suppose to get to go

to another Chinese New Year Celebration today,

but a turn of events got in the way and we didn't get to go.

So SEW!!!

Worked on some Bunny Applique work.

A Sew & Sew Day...

I told you I was in a Groove..

here is a few color matchs on

some dirndle skirts I've been sewing.

Sorry I'll get them finished and added to ETSY soon.

dirndle skirts

Putting alot of time into sewing some Dirndle (circle) skirts to sell. Lil Orchid and I had cut out and matched fabric for alot of designs. I finally had to make my own pattern (cut out a paper bag) so my daughter could help cut out pieces for me. She is such a big help, I love it cause it makes for some good conversation for the three of us. Here are the first two completed, they are 11 (hearts)and 11 1/2 (asian print) inches long from the waistline.

If you are wandering what length you would need and only have straight rulers, use a piece of string for the length then lay it down and measure. You can do the same with a waist line measurement. (do not measure over clothing) It is not necessary to put a slip or can can underneath.

I'm not selling any crinoline/can cans with the skirts (sorry would be too expensive and time consuming to make)

but you can buy some on ebay or go to http://www.98dolly.com/

this is the site for those fluffy little dresses from Dollywood, TN

Sad Good Bye, Snow & a New President...

This morning we woke to a light dusting of snow, enough to get Lil Orchid excited, she has been laying on the wood floor for weeks making her invisable snow angels..Today she got her chance.

Yesterday, MLK Day, my son had to return back to school. It was a great visit but Lil Orchid was not ready for him to leave. After spending the morning playing house then giving him his Valentines gift early he said good-bye. He was half way down the drive, when Lil Orchid began screaming "Hug, Hug" so we wrapped her in a blanket to catch Uncle Nathan for one last Hug.

She continued all day with that sad little face.

As with everyone else we watched the days events, Lil Orchid and I watched Aretha sing (she loved it), we watched Pres elect going to church (or as Lil Orchid says "there goes Brock O-bama"), she enjoyed the Armed Forces singing (Lil Orchid thought it was a Baseball Game).

GOD BLESS AMERICA