It Came From Outer Space…

I’ve come to realize that I really dislike this time of year. We got W2’s, I’m waiting on 1099s and I just got the 1098 for the mortgage, and it’s a complete and TOTAL headache. I think it would be easier looking for a Mesothelioma lawyer than sorting this stuff out.
I generally pride myself in doing these types of things for myself; but there comes a time where you have to recognize that you need a professional’s help. I wouldn’t be trying to defend myself in a legal case, and I really don’t have to put myself through the stress of dealing with all these fiddly tax laws and changes and all the frustrations. It’s better for me, for any potential clients I have if I’m not stressed out by all these things and can focus on them and what they need from me rather than being distracted.
Some times the answers to an issue are so simple you feel really silly for not having seen it before.

There’s something energizing about getting the house in order and having things more the way that you feel they should be. As things begin to come together in our home and it slowly becomes more OUR home instead of the place that we’re living I feel extremely energized, and in turn have more energy to do other things.

We’re gradually replacing old appliances and repainting. First on the agenda is a new dishwasher, and I’m wondering about redoing the sinks with Moen things once that’s done. A lot of things went to pot, or rust rather because the place was empty for over a year, and with each coat of paint we add to the protection of our home, until in the end we will put glaze patterns on and draw actual sigils into some of the door frames especially the exterior ones.

It may seem strange to some people but I often have a really hard time putting pen to paper, other times the words just flow out but when it actually is about some thing, particularly myself, it gets difficult.

I’ve started many times trying to write articles. When I was writing articles for the Tarot Magazine it became a huge chore, much like when I had to write essays for school. I could have written all night about aliens and cyborgs, but writing about tarot, some thing I love and I couldn’t do it all.

I have a hard time selling myself…so that’s probably part of the reason it’s hard for me to work this business some times, because a lot of it is about selling yourself and I don’t always feel like I’m worthy, or I worry that I’m doing things wrong some how.
It’s a hurdle that I have to get over. Not only are my products worth people’s while, but I am too. I make jewelry with things that I wouldn’t feel bad giving to my friends and family, so therefore it is worth people’s while.

Ah, well…I’ll get things sorted out, usually once I realize I’m being silly and self-conscious about something it’s short order before I get over it. We have new stock we need to get up; and now is the time to get the actual store sorted out as well. Given my job hunt is on hold for a few more weeks.

Reposted from Honey, I Punked the Kids a fellow punkymom’s blog. You’ll probably see this on several of my blogs today as it’s very important! Repost it as you see fit, and spread the word, but please link back to her blog as the source, not mine!

“Your outfit is absolutely adorable!” I heard a woman say behind me and my daughter replied with, “Thank you! My Mommy has a clothing business!” and I sighed. Sighing is not my usual reaction when I get a compliment for my work. The woman and her sister were very polite and had no idea that they had just brought to surface so many terrible feelings with their compliments, “You made her outfit? It’s amazing! You really have talent and I’ve never seen anything so adorable.” They didn’t have kids but talked about how they almost wished their biological clocks started ticking simply to shop for my line of clothes. I was completely flattered but almost muted because of the recent decision to close up my Immature Couture shop. When they asked where I sold my clothes I didn’t have the energy to explain what was going on so I simply said “Online.” thanked them and went back to grocery shopping with the kids.

I want nothing more than to know that the toys my children play with are safe and will not cause them any harm. I understand the urgency to protect the children of this country from high levels of lead and stop the ridiculous recalls. What I do not understand is why these new regulations were passed with such carelessness that it requires testing for products that have virtually NO risk of lead contamination! Products like clothing, blankets, wooden toys and books! The CPSIA is essentially causing many small businesses that make products for children under the age of twelve to close up shop because of their haste in passing regulations that have an insane amount of loopholes. Congress decided that a problem caused by ridiculous and irresponsible mass-market toymakers should be solved with a solution that sucks in various other industries that are completely unrelated to toys!

Later on when the kids and I were checking out the two women approached me and asked for my business card because they wanted to tell their friends about my clothing line. I smiled and tried to explain to them as plainly as possible that as of February 10th I would be officially closing up shop because of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act . Shockingly they were outraged that they hadn’t heard of it. That they felt their rights as consumers were being taken away. That the deadline is so close and there isn’t a media outrage over it. That more small businesses are being shut down and allowing the big companies to triumph. We exchanged information, I gave them my card and they said they would be writing whoever they needed to and be in contact with me. They weren’t business owners who are effected by this nor were they parents but they were as equally outraged as most of us that have to close our shops.

The apathy that I have seen from the general public and even those that own small businesses and are not effected by the new regulations have saddened me until I spoke with these two women. They were absolutely right! This does not just hurt my business. This hurts everyone no matter if they have children or not. No matter if they have a business selling products to children under twelve or selling something that, thankfully for them, does not have to be burdened with the CPSIA. Why don’t more people care?

I loaded up the kids, put my groceries in the trunk and at that moment it finally hit me. Something I started as a side business for extra cash in hand and as a creative outlet was taken from me. Just when my business started to take off it was ripped from my hands, discarded and no real explanation for it. I sell clothes. Not jewelry. Not toys. Not anything that has been manufactured overseas or injected with lead. I design, cut, iron, serge, stitch and package every item of clothing myself. To comply with these regulations each product I made would have to be tested which means each indicidual component of the garment would have to be tested for lead. A 15$ onesie now costs 400$ to make simply because of the testing fees! I put sleepless nights into marketing plans, helping Etsy teams and writing blogs to help the handmade market. There is no reason for so many of us to be swept out of the way because some major corporations wanted to cut their overhead costs and put MY children in danger. I stood there and cried in the parking lot. There is no reason why so many handmade artists look away at the pain so many of us are going through simply because they are not in the same boat.

Do something. The children in this country need to be protected but by regulations that target only the products that can cause potential harm. If you don’t do it for yourself and your business, or your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or friend’s kids then do it for the sake of what’s right and stop being silent and a doormat in our society.

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html
National Bankruptcy Day
Handmade Toy Alliance

from CPSIA isn’t the only problem, Apathy is as well on immaturecouture.blogspot.com.

Up until I read this I hadn’t even heard about CPSIA which is very problematic given it may well affect the future of the jewelry that Kore and I make…I have to check into this further, as well as register my complaints. Pass along the word.

I feel almost like “bad Pagan no biscuit” because we’ve been living in this place for over a year and up until today had never done anything much about recycling. This is not to say I’ve not been being environmentally conscious in other ways, but it’s very counter productive to help in some ways and not in others.

I’ve spoken before about the fact that we use green products. We have low chemical or no chemical cleaners, and we have the water softener so that we use less detergents and soaps, or can use ones that are softer and gentler because they don’t need all the fluff to get them foaming. When we use our fire pit it’s dead wood or wood that we don’t want to put to the landfill (like all the broken left over pieces from the construction we’ve done). Things like that.

According to the EPA, the national recycling rate is just 30%. Increasing materials recycling in the US to 60% could save the equivalent of 315 million barrels of oil per year. Recycling is a great way individuals can make a difference, both locally and globally.

However, despite that, our bright shiny yellow recycling bin had been hiding behind the shed for a year untouched and unused. Very bad of me. So, after Yule I called the waste department and found out all I needed about when, where and how they took the recycling, and today marks the first day of the New Year it’s gone out properly, as Tuesdays are our recycling day. Kore and I put our heads together for a place to put the recycling bin during the week so that it’s easy for us to access and use, and as full as the thing has become it seems to be working out pretty well so far, so we’ll see. Fingers crossed the refuse collectors actually do something with it today.

The only things that are in our bin right now are empty soda cans and a few empty champagne bottles. I’ve been looking at EarthEasy.com’s recyclable lists to see what else we might be able to recycle. I’m not sure our area takes paper products, so in the mean time I’m trying to stop getting paper plates and cups because it’s exceedingly wasteful, and we should just actually WASH our dishes, go figure!

(As a side note I dislike that I find myself having an internal debate over whether I should spell the word magical or magickal)

The point is that a great part of having faith is finding ways to celebrate or pray while you’re doing more mundane things. I used to have a lot of revelations while I was hanging out the laundry, and in this hectic time it’s much easier to find a way to pray while you’re doing something else. I know a lot of people dislike the fact that my husband who considers himself a Catholic does not attend church; but he finds a great deal more faith and peace in prayer which happens while he’s listening to the radio than going to services.

For me, with as much of my time that is taken up over the kitchen sinks or with the laundry tubs. I find little ways to give thanks while I’m doing those things, or cooking our food, for me that’s no better time.