mamaroots

pom pom critters- all natural

Have you seen those vintage pom pom critters out and about as we get closer to Valentines?  For some reason I also loved these little buggers when I was little.  I saw them at Target recently too as a kit for kids to make and picked it up and did my normal groan when I saw all the "foam, plastic, and nylon" materials inside.

I thought it really can be made all natural and even cuter!  So I rummaged through my supplies and put together a little fella.  It is pretty quick and would be a super cute little friend to Valentine friends!

Supplies:

natural material yarn- I used a varigated cotton yarn

wood heart

pom pom discs

glue

wool roving in white and black

1-Create a yarn pom pom, I used the largest disc set in the Clover pom pom making kit- but you could adjust this depending on the size of your hearts.

2- After you have your pom pom all trimmed up, glue to the heart so that the upper part of the heart creates the feet.

3- Take some white wool roving and wet felt in between your fingers to create to small wool balls.  Dry in a towel, the take a small bit of black wool roving and needle felt this on the white ball to create eyes.

4- Glue the eyes in place and your critter is all set to keep your Valentine company!

rainbows

You know that feeling after thunderstorms when the rain clears, the sun comes out and there is the biggest rainbow in the sky.  Does it still stop you in your track to see those bands of color up in the sky? Maybe not quite at the "double rainbow" intensity, but I still am in awe and happy when I see rainbows.

Well, for the past 3 years there has been a stormy tide in the toymaking industry.  You have probably heard me talk on and off during the past 3 years about trying to figure out what all of the CPSIA regulations would mean.  To be honest there were many times I did not know myself.  There are many folks that are much more eloquent with their understanding but I thought I would do a post about how I understand everything.  There has been the past few years of a "stay" until the government could figure out the new law.

This past fall there was a pretty big amendment to the original CPSIA regulation that was enacted that originally wanted all individual toys or run of toys to be 3rd party tested.  This most recent amendement actually helps small batch toymakers.  I strongly recommend you check out this page if you are thinking about making toys to sell.  It is very informative, please also watch the webcasts that are listed there as well- I thought they helped me with trying to understand the regulations.  

What many folks may not realize is that these regulations went into effect on Jan 1 of this year- essentially the "stay" was lifted.  I will try my best to let you know how this relates to me as a wood toy maker below:

1- I used natural materials that are by nature lead free- these are exempt from further testing.  This was exempted the first year.  There is a list here that includes wood, yarn, wool etc . . . please refer here: Table B on the exemption list.  If you apply no paint or surface coating of any type- you are still need to label and track, but not test your paints.  But if you add surface coatings you need to keep reading.

*If you use paint of any type, even AP Certified Non-toxic, and plant based washes or paints you are required to have the paints 3rd party tested in a CPSIA approved lab

2- I registered with the CPSC as a Small Manufacturer.  The toys I make are not intended for children under three and I label all of the packages with the required standard warning.  I am not required to do small parts testing because my toys are intended for children under 3 and I am a registered Small Manufacturer.  

3- Toymakers are required to track and label their toys, due to the size of my toys I label the packaging with both the small parts warning and with my tracking label.  See my original post here on my tracking and labeling.

Now, that may seem complicated and it has felt so, but I actually thought the registration process with CPSC was pretty efficient, and in January of this year I had my paints tested and there was an expense to that but the lab I worked with was great- VHG Labs, they had results to me within a day.  If you are a member of the Handmade Toy Alliance you get a reduced testing rate.

What have I learned in the process?  I really like working with some woods with natural coloration like walnut.  This is such a lovely wood that requires no additional brown coloring- and feels gorgeous! When I took a little break after the holidays I realized I was working too much. I like Red Bull and all, but I needed to cut back.  I like knowing that I am a small toymaker, not a mass producer and that alot of effort and times goes into each of my toys, clear down to the packaging.  

Will I continue- oh yes, but not at the same level.  I will probably continue to hold off on custom orders and make what the inspiration fairies whisper in my ear- this week I am so happy to be able to use rainbow colors where I want again!  So here are some links again if you are thinking about getting into the biz:

Handmade Toy Alliance

Keeping Up with CPSIA Team on ETSY

CPSIA

CPSIA- Small Business

 So how do I reward you for reading this very lengthy post on my process?  By encouraging you to go ahead and jump in and make some toys if you are inspired.  The process may seem odd and complicated and I am so thankful to the dedicated folks at the Handmade Toy Alliance that worked so hard on our behalf.  It was time where I knew I could not be at the legislative sessions that they attended but I could certainly contribute money to the Alliance to help pay for the expenses.  If testing seems expensive and daunting to you- just keep the wood unfinished.

Wood toymaking has been around for generation upon generation.  I really enjoy seeing new toymakers pop up and see their toys, because heck I am really still pretty new myself.  I have been making toys going on about 11 years now with about 4 years in a primarily wood medium.  This year I am learning to knit to add that to the mix!

But I am still rambling, I really hope this post has helped.  Please don't take me for an expert on the CPSIA and research and ask questions.  But also please don't dive into the business without understanding the government regulations either.  

Remember that reward part- well I wanted to give away a copy of this book that is a sweet, very well done book on making wood toys done by a fellow Etsian Erin from Imagination Kids.  It is a great start to the world of wood toymaking.  

So leave a comment here between now and Tuesday at midnight and let me know your favorite color to be entered into a drawing for the book.  Want extra entries?  

follow me at Facebook and Twitter

share on your blog or other social media love

Good luck and again I hope this helps!  Viva la toymaking!

Year of the Dragon-

Happy Chinese New Year!  I knew I had to do a little something special for my eldest who has and adores dragon energy!  I improvised the traditional Chinese Paper Dragons a little more yarn and felt style for some story table play!  I little bit of knowledge of a knitting tower is needed, but in case you don't have one and want to make this today the head of the dragon makes a nifty finger puppet too!

You can download this Once Upon a Table project below and print out the PDF- have fun today!  Don't forget that fortune cookies, dumplings, and hot tea make a great snack- that is what has been requested for an after school snack by my young dragon puppeteers! 

Download New Year Dragon

old meets new with friends

My monthly crafty mama gathering had us embracing the old with the new.  Have you ever seen those beautiful old friendship quilts.  The remnants of a gathering of folks putting together a quilt and adding their names one stitch at a time.  I had a notion of wanting to do this with this special group of crafty friends.  I pondered how to do this with all of our busy schedules.  

It then occured to me, another part of the quilt rescue mission that seems to be a part of my crafty life these days.  I was originally looking for an unfinished top that we could add our names, and then fell in-love with the set of vintage Dresden Plates.  It was just right, the stitching could happen on each mama's lap and happen inbetween sips of wine, breastfeeding babies, chocolate, and more stories.

Once all the blocks are gathered back up, and we catch anyone we missed this month, I will be adding these to a dark red back fabric that I thought looked somewhat Turkey Red, adding a teal back drop and binding, then we will be able to tie it together.

I am continually assured that re-claiming this art/craft DIY movement is powerful.  When women gather and create- watch out!  I am just loving knowing that we supporting each other and creating this new quilt from these vintage pieces.  The original makers probably had not idea how powerful they would be for us! 

I will continue to show you the progress!  Be sure to check back tomorrow as I have a new Once Upon a Table project for you- special for Chinese New Year!

reviewing

Before I start moving into the New Year, I thought it would be fun to share some of the Christmas gifties we made and received.  Our family presents were a really fun combination from all of us.  It was some homemade gingerbreads, boy designed Yeti ornaments, homemade Elderberry jelly, and some delicious homemade bread in a handmade bread bag.

I took a que from Soulemama with making the bread bags, and I tracked down a vintage linen calendar towel from a significant year for each family.  Might have been an anniversary or birthday.  The hardest part was tracking down the towels, and when I say hard I actually mean super fun!  I then just put in a quick seam for the tie, stitched around the edges, added some quilt binding tape for the ribbon tie and that was that!

Now I have a purpose for some rescued tea towels in the future!

the tea party

You know how sometimes a cup of a tea is just what you need.  It is sweet, warm, always there when you need it.  Last weekend I had the pleasure of having a special crafty mama gathering.   It was slumber party style and so much fun.  We celebrated one of my dear friend's birthday, crafted until the wee hours of the morning and enjoyed a delicious breakfast in the morning.

It was truely a Time to Embrace And enjoy.  I am honored to have such a lovely circle of women as friends. A circle of laughter, crying, crafting and tea drinking mamas.  So what better way to gift them then to search down each one a tea cup all of their own.  I had so much gifting them these vintage cups.  And yes I had quite a good time hunting down the cups too!  Also these incredible edible butterflies were the perfect addition for my friend's birthday that is very connected to butterflies.  Check out all these goodies from Sugar Robot.

I don't ever doubt that when women gather we can bring about change.  So this was a tea party of the different political type.  We are powerful when we gather, when we share story, when we mother and when we create.  And us liberal types will still share a cup of tea with someone who shares a different opinion than us, we just may give them an extra lump of sugar!

I will be back in this space later tonight after I share a solstice day with my boys- we are off for a nature walk and then will be creating a ceremony for me and the boys tonight.  I am moved by this Mother of All Release Ceremony call that is happening world wide tonight.  We will be creating our bundle after our nature walk, bonfire, and celebration Feast!  Happy Solstice everyone!

weaving

The needle, thread, fabric, yarn, and dust, dust, dust are weaving and flying throughtout the house.  The week before the holidays is a big crunch time for finishing up the merry making.  This is mixed in with some ebbing and flowing with some family health issues have taken me to place of understanding and growing in the way in which the universe is woven and my place as a mother.  

But I figured there are other last minute merry makers out there so I made a Once Upon Table Project for you this week.  If you enjoyed the Spider Ornament that I did for Rhythm of the Home, I thought you might like maybe just one more- this time with a little walnut influence.  

May the holidays weave peace and magic around your family.  I highly recommend the book The Christmas Spider's Miracle to go with this tutorial.  The spiders are so cute on the tree let me know how you like it!

Download Christmas Spider

never doubt

Never the doubt the simple beauty of reclaimed quilt pieces for decorating!  If you hit the antique/flea markets you probably have seen the pieces of quilts.  Either they are part of a cutter quilt, or sometimes they seem to have never made it into being quilts.  Saddly they are often just a couple dollars.  I can't help but pick them up.  

Today I took a couple lovelies that I got from an Etsy vintage shop and quickly stitched them on some red cotton from my stash and shizam, a little holiday color on the old trunk table.  These were sweet little hand sewn flowers with vintage fabrics.

This quilt top is a doozy.  I have looked it all over for any repair areas and am getting ready to finish this quilt.  My best trick is to use a new cotton sheet for the backing fabric.  Hoping to have this quilt done by new years.  I love looking at the amazing work that went into this top and finding blocks like this one.  It is just so lovely- yep certified fabric rescuer!  

Wouldn't a piece of an old quilt block be so charming on a bread bag for the holidays?  I am reminded that I would love to make a couple bread bags inspired from Soulemama.  Hoping to learn to make panettone to go with the handmade jelly this year- 

dear Sunday

Never doubt the options of scrabble tiles- always a fun learning tool!  Today they helped the boys with some very important letter writing while mama worked on some new surprise yarn balls.  

Wee little mini yarn balls going up in the shop within the next couple days- sugar mice inspired!  It seems as though my cat new something was up!  Actual sugar mice a drying as I type- more to come on that also tomorrow, a fun treat that will be going into the shoes for King Lauren (St. Nicholas Day)!  How about you- what treats to you have planned for those shoes?

welcome December!

Hello December old friend- one of my favorite crafty months- game on!  I could hardly wait to put up my new gnome from Painting Pixie that now graces my perpetual calendar on our ledge- one of my favorite morning rhythms.  The nature bowl which resides next to it is looking a lonely with just the greens, I think we will have to remedy that this week!

Today is also the launch for the winter issue of Rhythm of the Home, I hope you will make yourself a big cup o' tea and join me there today.  My contribution is of the spider type!  I was touched to find this tradion from the Ukraine of spiders in trees through the new book this winter The Christmas Spider's Miracle by Trinka Hakes Noble. 

Enjoy the tutorial and I will have another Christmas Spider projects and tutorials next week here for Once Upon a Table.  One way or another I will work through my arachnaphobias! 

One of the most magical moments of working on my submission was the day I wanted to photograph the tutorial was a lovely fall day and I thought I needed to find the perfect evergreen tree somewhere and then saw this evergreen shrub in my neighbor's yard.  When I went over it had beautiful webs all over made from just the most tiny little greenish yellow spider.  I took it as a sign and when I saw how beautiful the web was in the sunlight it was no wonder such a wonderful Ukraine folktale has evolved!

Don't forget to check the Rhythm of the Home blog also for lots of wonderful give-aways including one of my surprise yarn balls. 

Hope you have a wonderful beginning of your December- you don't even want to see the mess in my studio right now!