No Mattel Needed .... Are you my Dolly

Who needs plastic dolls created in a lab, formed in a mold, and off gassing in you child's environment. Buy a handmade doll made with love out of natural materials. Have a Handmade Holiday! Shop Etsy.com and search naturalkids !

The NaturalKids Store

My favorite Etsy Team that I belong to is The NaturalKids Team. When I was a buyer on Etsy and planning my new business I really love the feel of this group. I am very goal oriented and I knew it would be my goal to make items that would fit with their point of view. When I got to become a member it was my goal to do what I could to be an active supportive member. I love all these great artist and the wonders that come out of their creative minds. I was recently voted in as Ad Administrator for the group. I have so enjoyed serving these great people and taking them closer to the goal of being able to make good livings from a craft we love to do.

This Holiday Season skip the big box store and come peek in our shops to fill you holiday list. I am not only a member but a shopper too. A great benefit to the team is many of our items compliment and play well together. Here are a few I have bought. Keep checking back to find out more about these Artists.

Pirate Island Playscape Custom made by Rumpos

Small Rainbow Stacker by Imagination Kids
Fairy Silkies by BeneathTheRowanTree
Wooden Dolls and Playsets by The Enchanted Cupboard
Check out more Great Artist on our Members Page

No Mattle Needed...CPSIA may have things stacked against us but Fisher Price don't have Stackers

Wooden toys that spark the imagination!

No Mattel Needed ...I got the Blues

I am sad, blue over the discovery that CSPC loves Mattel! Support Homemade!

Santa's Little Helper or The Etsy Elf

This year I made a pledge to myself to buy handmade gifts and to work towards an all homemade Christmas. No easy task with 3 boys who love their electronics and being plugged in! Well my first thought was to make things but mothering and homeschooling leaves me little free time without the kids. So I turned to one of my favorite places, www.etsy.com .Not only am I a shop owner but I love to shop here as well. Here are a few things under our tree this year.

A wooden dagger and handmade sheath by two young brother. You can find them at http://www.dragonsandmermaids.etsy.com/

A pokemon tent and sleeping bag set. Just the thing every little 4 year old trainer needs. See http://www.munzies.etsy.com/ for all your toy tent needs.

Marble toy set, unfinished pine Mini marble run without marbles and Marble archboard in unfinished hard maple. By www.krtwood.etsy.com

Doll carrier blanket and pillow fits 17 inch doll. By www.Mimas.etsy.com

What the CPSIA means for me

I completely believe in attachment parenting and so that leaves very little of my life for me with 4 kids. My art/craft is my outlet. I have always painted but making toys has given me great joy. I am often giggling in my art room over the little faces and what new thing I created by gluing two wood pieces together. I don't get that much sleep these days with our little one teething, so I find that a little joy in my day is a BIG DEAL. The day I found out about the law felt like the walls were coming in on me. I didn't even realize how sad I was until I started feeling better because of the good news that has been coming lately in the news. I was joyful again, I even wanted to redo Christmas! As a parent this scares me. I want to be able to get creative things for my kids from other crafters. This year in our house 50 percent of the items under the tree were from etsy sellers. Santa even felt my kids were good enough that they got toys made by the ETSY Elves this year. Last week I shopped for my daughter's first birthday, everything was homemade from Etsy shops. It was exhilarating, no crazy packaging, no plastic, and toys she will treasure forever. I think there are some simple steps they can take. Like in the NEVER ENDING STORY, the princess only needed a name for the nothing to go away. If they give us a specific, descriptive name instead of calling us MANUFACTURES they could easily fix this for us. In recent reports, they have been referring to each of us as an "independent craftsperson". Also, American-made products that already are tested and certified non-toxic should be exempt. There is a great many things that do not contain lead, and I am working on compiling a list. I want to make sure I list things I use and plan to use in the future. Simple steps can be made to change this law, they just need to "walk" that way to change them.