We’ve been following the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) and its negative effect on the handmade products and small businesses we love, ever since the very beginning. And so, we wanted to pass along some updates, so that you can help us save handmade – and protect the interests of hundreds of thousands of craftspeople, parents and shoppers like us, who will suffer if this misguided act passes.

After all, if only the big made-in-China toy companies can afford to comply with the CPSIA, those are the only toys that will be available for your kids to play with.

As we learned from our friends at the Handmade Toy Alliance, a bill was recently introduced to amend the CPSIA and help out those people who already make safe children’s products, but can’t afford the cost prohibitive testing required to prove it.. But unfortunately (and surprise!), both parties in congress can’t see eye-to-eye on this issue and so nothing is getting resolved.

So here’s what you can do: Call your
local representative today to take a stand for small businesses and ask that the CPSIA draft bill goes to mark up and becomes open for discussion.

It’s a super quick phone call that can make a huge difference in the lives and livelihoods of so many people we care about, that you see on these pages every day. So pick up that phone, mamas, and have your say. -Kristen

Find your local representative and make a quick call asking them to bring the CPSIA draft bill up for open discussion. You can also learn more about the CPSIA through our Save Handmade resource page, and feel free to grab this lovely badge and post it on your website or blog to help spread the word.