Cocooning

I am so totally dusting off this blog and making it fresh again. Come back soon!

Save the Sock Monkeys!

Solicity Sock Monkey is Still Awake!

I joined the fight early this year to have the CPSIA , an Act making it tough for small businesses of children's products to stay in business, revised.

This law will affect crafters, handmade toymakers, boutique clothing artists, hobbyists and thrift stores not just major manufacturing companies who can easily afford the mandatory testing and certification.

The Act is so broad in wording that it would even force testing of materials commonly known not to contain lead or phosphates.

And we have won another step to victory or at least a stay of execution. They have granted a one year stay of testing and certification requirements for certain products.

http://www.cpsc.gov/

Yes, we do not want lead in toys and clothing for our children but the burden of proof needs to be on the manufacturers of the materials we use to make items with.

Instead this Act forces repetitive, redundant testing of the same materials at high cost over and over again. Sally crafter has to test the XYZ zipper she wants to use in her boutique dress for a toddler, and Betsy toymaker has to test the same XYZ zipper to use in her doll's dress and so on. When XYZ zipper company could test it once.

You can go directly to the update here:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09115.html

The fight is far from over but now we have a year to present our argument.

You can join the fight to "Save Small Business from the CPSIA" here:
change.org

or here:
http://cpsia-central.ning.com/

AND KNOW THIS CONSUMERS WHO HAVE KIDS AND BUY TOYS AND CLOTHING FOR THEM, THIS ACT WILL HIT YOUR WALLET AS THE COST OF ALL OF THIS REDUNDANT REPEAT TESTING WILL MAKE THE PRICES GO UP AND MANY ITEMS EVEN THOUGH THEY CONTAIN NO LEAD OR PHOSPHATES WILL STILL BECOME OBSOLETE .

We aren't asking congress to veto the Act but to revise it.

Will you join us?

Jewelry, Charms, Clothing, Bargains!
Visit Leon's Groovy Deals
An eBay Store

Knitter Wanted

Finished making the shamrock granny type squares for the afghan I'm working on. All 180 of them! Now to tie a zillion knots and dab them each with a dot of fabric glue for good measure. Then whip stitch them all together and off it will go! This is a fundraiser project for Anthony Maleski ------>



I'm also working on a pair of mittens for a friend. A belated Christmas present. Yeah, my bad.

But the main reason for this post is this:

I'm looking for someone in my area willing to teach me how to knit in exchange for my teaching her (or him?) how to crochet. That would be the Cleveland, TN area. Or any of the surrounding towns here in our corner of Tennessee like Chattanooga, Ocoee, Benton, Athens, Charleston, Old Fort, Georgetown, Birchwood...



You see I've fallen madly in love with Cowichan Indian sweaters and Mary Maxim patterns of the same ilk. And I finally got my hands on the prize pattern of all of these patterns. The one titled "Hoedown" that features a square dancing couple.

Isn't it adorable?

I have my French angora rabbit producing all this wool that I'm saving up to spin into yarn but I lack one little thing. The knowledge to knit!

Teach me! Pretty pretty pretty please!

Are we Americans going to fall for this anymore?

We have $500 screwdrivers in our Army.
We have doctors who push certain medicines on us for the kickback from the pharmaceutical companies.
And now we have the CPSIA with its repetitious redundant testing for lead in materials.

The end product is what must be 3rd party tested for lead

If the manufacturer's themselves where the ones required to test their materials only one test per material would be necessary.

But no, we sellers (crafters, seamstresses, toymakers, hobbiests) must obtain the testing so the same materials will have to be tested at HIGH COST TO A 3RD PARTY LAB over and over and over and over again.

Alice Crafter will have to have say brown Fimo clay tested for lead
So will Betsy Crafter
And Crissy Crafter
and so on.........

Whereas the clay manufacturer would only have to certify it lead free ONCE!

Are you seeing this new million dollar industry???

And where do you fall in the picture? Are you the small business who is going to go out of business over it? Or the consumer who will ultimately eat this waste of more American dollars?

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

A Little Irish Lass is Born

Recently I was commissioned by a certain watch connoisseur to make a baby ensemble for his family member who was expecting a girl. She arrived 6 weeks ago! Bouncing, healthy and gorgeous!!!

Okay so I'm a little late but I had extremely good excuses and I think I'm forgiven.


This is a vintage Annie's Attic pattern that I've always loved.




My very first granddaughter has one in pink stored away now for her future children. It is a BUNTING & BONNET made of a very soft cream baby yarn.

I changed the bonnet design a little. I didn't like the pom pom in the pattern so simply wove the ribbon along the long rectangle edge rather than sew it together and pulled it drawstring style to create a rounded back to the bonnet. Much cuter!



And from this awesome crochet pattern book titled Adorable Crochet for Babies and Toddlers by Lesley Stanfield I then embarked on making this gorgeous Traditional Smock dress.









Again I changed the pattern a bit. For one thing, good luck finding the discontinued yarn the pattern called for. After much searching and then waiting for it to cross over the sea I obtained a 1 pound cone of very fine 90% wool and 10% nylon waxed yarn that is washable.



I then held my breath as I tested the gauge and it matched! The sleeves didn't look long enough so more rows were added for good measure.



Now I love crafts of any kind and dabble in lots of them but sewing isn't among my favorites. My sewing machine has very few miles on it. So I had never smocked anything before in my entire life. It took about an hour of experimenting to get it down pat. Then it was a breeze! (Save yourself that hour and follow the instructions.)




Since the dress is made of wool and the babe is a girl this adorable Little Bo Peep with her Sheep gift box was the perfect choice to make this ensemble complete!

I'm finishing up a little pair of socks and tying up a special gift for Mommy to enjoy herself and this package goes out in the mail on Monday!

And you've got to check out the huge selection of fabulous watches
being offered by this blessed baby's awesome male role model!!!


Read my Blog Mini Series and
Enter my drawing to win an authentic Rockford Red Heel Sock Monkey!!!
You have until Dec 20th and then a second chance to win on Dec 31st

I've dug up a gem while blog surfing!

A "gem" is something that catches my eye, intrigues me and just, just ....floats mah boat!

You see I'm entering into a New Season in My Life and while I'm figuring out where it's taking me I've decided, for one thing, to begin to indulge myself, to find new things to get wrapped up in and rediscover old pastimes long abandoned as well. Like reading a good book.

Being a devout "list maker" I made myself a list with this decision and at the very top I listed "Find the hottest newest novel on the shelves and devour it." And while casually blog surfing for something else entirely I came across a blog, Chocolate Daydreams by Suzanne V. Reese who is the author of a book coming out December 11, 2008 titled "Where Hearts Prosper".

Not only have I just checked off #1 on my New Season In My Life List but in her blog she is also challenging anyone in a contest to promote this novel for her and well, being a promoter I've risen to the challenge. To me this is like waving a red cape at a bull. The prize drawing being a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

So here it is, her official request: On December 11, 2008, from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm mountain standard time purchase Where Hearts Prosper from Amazon or if you can't buy it in that hour then sometime that day.

Current Mountain Standard Time

The reason being that The Powers That Be at Amazon.com command that an authors book sell 500 copies within the first hour of being out in order for an author to be ranked among the coveted Top 50.

So, will you join me in discovering THIS hot off the presses new novel in a splurge of self indulgence?

"I would sock monkey person but I don't have the time to INDULGE MYSELF to read a novel!"

Your excuses:

"I have small children who love to metal detect sharp objects and play with them if I don't stare at them every minute of every day."

My response: While they are distracted by the metal objects quickly turn the clock back one hour and then trick them into going to bed early. This will work for several nights. Trust me on this one. In an extreme emergency do what Mad TV says and give them Nyquil for dinner.

"I have bills therefore I work and the boss makes me do the work of 3 people therefore I am too tired to eat let alone indulge myself with a novel."

My response: Have a friend take a full body photo of you in your work clothing and then surf the net for a good deal on getting that photo turned into a lifesized cardboard cutout display JUST like they have at the video stores as movie displays. If you really want to trip your boss out get three of them made to make him think you literally cloned yourself in your loyalty to the company. Put it at your work station then spend your shift playing hookie hookie. At home, in bed reading "Where Hearts Prosper".

"I cannot afford a new novel."

My response: Oh but you can afford that gallon of milk and that toilet paper in your bathroom can't you? Do you not know that a brief yet totally safe escape from reality for a few hours is worth it's weight in gold? I mean, the alternative here is to get hooked on drugs. This is a safety issue. It will keep you from cracking up. (Which just explained the New Season of My Life I already mentioned above.)

Is your mind still resisting this call

to indulge???

Let me up the ante! If you purchase this novel in the hour specified on Dec 11th I'll enter your name 5 extra times into my second sock monkey giveaway drawing being held on Dec. 31st.

And after you read the book you then have until Jan. 30, 2009 to write a review and post it onto your blog to enter into her second contest also for a $25 Amazon Gift Card prize drawing.

Then she is going to decide who laughed, cried and bled the most while promoting her book to the utmost and award that entrant a $100 Amazon Gift Card. The deadline for this is also Jan. 30th.

In my dreams I'll write something worth being put into print someday so this contest happens to be a learning experience as well.

DON'T FORGET WHILE YOU ARE HERE TO GO TO THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER OF THIS BLOG TO ENTER TO WIN A GENUINE ROCKFORD RED HEEL SOCK MONKEY. I'M GIVING AWAY TWO OF THEM! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. DRAWING DATES: DEC 20 & 31, 2008

Sassy Apron Giveaway

Retrosexual: the woman who ignores feminism in favor of old fashioned values. Even 1950's values. She's a little burlesque and a little Betty Crocker.

This blog post is about a few retrosexual items being given away!

On Elaine's blog My Life as a SAHM
I just learned about another giveaway to share!

Jody has a Sassy Apron Giveaway going over on her Fab Food Friday blog. It's really easy to enter to win! And get over there quick! The drawing is on Monday, Dec. 8th, 2008

Sassy Apron Shop on Etsy



And while you're here don't forget to enter to win my genuine Rockford Red Heel Sock Monkey giveaways on my eBay blog, Off With Her Head. Drawing dates are Dec 20th and Dec 31st for those.

The Making of a Sock Monkey

EASY TO ENTER SOCK MONKEY GIVEAWAY
Drawing dates: Dec 20 & 31, 2008

At my other blog on eBay Off With Her Head (I'm mypinkmimosa over there) I'm publishing a blog style soap opera titled "As the Blog Churns" over the Christmas holiday season.

Warning: a droll sense of humor is required to follow along.



At the end of each scene there are 25 Ebay seller's store listings and if you'd like you can enter my drawing to win one of two authentic Rockford Red Heel SOCK MONKEYS in my December giveaway by simply checking out just 5 of those lovely featured listings and emailing me at astheblogchurns@peoplepc.com to tell me WHO is selling those 5 items you looked at. Limit One entry per soap opera scene.

AND there is a second BONUS drawing. If you happen to purchase any item from anyone among the Who's Who on Ebay Sellers (who are the characters in the soap) you are entered into a 2nd sock monkey giveaway with no limit to the amount of entries for this drawing. Every single purchase is an entry. Again, just email me to let me know.

The drawings will be held on Dec 20th and Dec 31st, 2008

AND NOW, this blog is about those very two SOCK MONKEYS that will be given away and how they come to exist. First, I know an eBay seller, whiteshastadaisy, who sells authentic Rockford Red Heel Socks and bought a pack of two pairs from her. She's so nice she threw in an extra pair of minature socks so I get to make one for my Christmas tree too! Thanks so much whiteshastadaisy!



The package came with free instructions to make the sock monkeys or a sock elephant. For the drawing I'm turning these socks into MONKEYS. Come back to this blog to see every step as I bring these two dolls to life. Ohhhh, I feel just like Gepetto!

Avoid the Christmas rush!

Solicity Sock Monkey's Who's Who on eBay Directory

Happy Happy Birthday

To my darling husband of 13 years
Eddie
and to my dear cousin
Richard!