We Have a Winner

And so we bid a fond adieu to One World One Heart. Until next year, I hope. It's been a blast.

I know I got more out of our little adventure than I put in. I spent a fervent week surfing new blogs from all over the world. Met some awesome people. Saw some even more awesome art. Was inspired. Gained hope.

Seeing so many gorgeous, beautiful, insane and ,yes, just plain wonderful blogs gave me a boost. I got busy. Gave my little ole blog a makeover.

SO enough about me. Let's talk about my winner. Using a very scientific method, which involved my yelling across the house to my darling hubby "pick a number between 1 and 273." To which he answered "What?" and "What For? After some further interrogation he chose a number.

"57". I am thrilled becuase after reading her blog I found her to be a Craigslist afficianado and a girl after my own heart. The lovely and talented Shirl of "Life on an Artistic Shoestring" will soon find herself the owner of an Eiffel Tower Pendant from little ole moi.

Isn't Anyone Going to Mention My Makeover?

That is to say my blog's makeover? I am very interested on whether you like it or not so please leave me comments.

I thought the blog needed a little excitement so I spent the day yesterday experimenting and this is what I came up with. I am happy with the end result for now. Impressed myself since I did not know really what I was doing. It was a matter of trial and error. Anyway it was fun lots of fun and can be addicitive.

Am in love with Linda Warlin's dolls in Somerset Studio so I wanted to share some pics with you here. I am very big on harlequin, always have been, so I took that as part of my inspiration here. I wish my photos were better so you could really appreciate her work.

As you probably already heard, some good news on CSPIA mandatory lead testing. It has been postponed a year. That'll at least give folks more time to react to whatever changes will need to be made.

I also wanted to share with you this awesome floral arrangement. The colors are breathtaking and the combination so unique.

Can you believe the outstanding response to One World One Heart? I only have over 200 comments for my giveaway - which just floored me. I have met some fantastic people and seen some great work. I actually plan on posting about some of my favorite finds. But not until after the giveaways. I have my eye on some prizes and don't need any more competition. If you haven't singed up for my giveaway please make sure you comment under my original post dated January 20,regarding my giveaway. Comment cutoff for the giveaway is Feb 12 at 8:00 PM EST when I will make a random draw and choose my winner.

Repeal or Reform CSPIA HR4040

Reprinted from womentakewing.blogspot.com Jan 18, 2008

If you manufacture, wholesale, retail, sell or buy products, either new or used, for use by children you will be impacted by The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CSPIA), the first stage of which will go into effect Feb. 10.

The law, aimed at keeping lead containing merchandise away from children, mandates that all products sold for those age 12 and younger -- including but not limited to clothing, toys, books, sporting equipment, bikes, etc. -- be tested for lead and phthalates, which are chemicals used to make plastics more pliable. Those that haven't been tested will be considered hazardous, regardless of whether they actually contain lead.

Makers of children's goods cannot rely on materials known to be safe, even if the manufacturer of materials and supplies has already tested and certified them as being lead free. Instead they must put a sample from each lot of goods (each model, each size, each color....) through testing after complete assembly, and the testing must be applied to each component. Testing is costly and for each component could cost upwards of $100.00. For items comprised of many components the tab for testing could easily reach into the thousands of dollars.

This law will certainly affect large manufacturers, but small businesses and micro businesses less able to absorb the costs of testing, will be even harder hit. Many small producers who have prided themselves on providing safe products for children fear for their business survival and in many cases their very livelihood.

In recent weeks protests have begun to mount, alarms have been raised at hundreds of blogs, forums and within business groups, including ours, Women Take Wing! We urge you to educate yourself about the CSPIA, and hope you will join us in a call to our elected officials to repeal or at the least reform this poorly written and broad reaching piece of legislation.To date, few major media sources have picked up this story. One of the best was written by Walter Olson and published on January 16 by Forbes.com . Please write and/or email your local television stations asking for them to give airtime to this issue. Email your congressperson and submit your comments to the Consumer Product Safety Commission which is charged with enforcing the CSPIA. Take the time to sign one of the many online petitions. Together we can make a difference.For additional information:http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/legislation.htmlhttp://nationalbankruptcyday.com/
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6627969.htmlhttp://blogs.consumerreports.org/safety/2009/01/cpsia-concerns.html

or just do an internet search on "CSPIA" to find many articles and blog entries.Online petitions (a few):

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.htmlhttp://www.gopetition.com/petitions/reform-cpsia-hr4040/sign.htmlhttp://www.ipetitions.com/petition/handmadetoys/Class Action Lawsuit:http://reformcpsia.org/2009/01/class-action-lawsuit/To submit a question to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, click here.To submit comments regarding mandatory third-party testing, click here.

Got Cake?

Stampington recently put out a call for artists to participate in a Marie Antoinette challenge.

I am freak for Marie. It's the fashion, I know it is. And of course all the Frenchness!

Now I had never ever made a piece before, well probably not since I was in grade school. So I was a little trepidatious. Then I read Sandra Everston who encourages us that what we make does not have be perfect, just beautiful.

Well, that's all I needed to hear. I got out a gluestick and got to work. Now, I don't know if my piece will be published. The magazine will be published in April, 2009. We'll have to wait and see.

In the meantime here's peak. I call it "Got Cake". Marie's motto was "You can never be too rich or too thin." Please excuse my photos. If you doubleclick on the image it should come up a bit larger for your viewing. The project did come out prettier than my pics.

My Engagement

Many many moons ago when Mr. Vie and I were just dating he presented me a sewing machine. He thought that since I loved clothes it would only be natural that I would be a whiz at conjuring up my own couture confections.

Trouble was I had not sewn since I was 12. The machine that he bought me wasgifted me with was a top of the line, with all sort of fancy options. I was totally, unabashedly and equivocally intimidated.

Not to mention that for whatever reason I had gotten it in my head that I was getting an engagement ring that Christmas. (Never mind that I had said REPEATEDLY that I did not want nor need a ring. No longer do I play the coquette. Mr. Vie needs to be told things direct and to the point. He is not of the subtle hint variety -- I learned this the hard way) Long story short the machine still languishes unused in my closet.

I have been tempted to pull it out on a number of occasions. But never "sew" much so than now. Look at this, pure inspiration. Grosgrain Fabulous calls it her Lunch Date. (I guess that's what got me to thinking engagement, date --- get it? I know that I am opening up the competition but "sew" be it. She's actually generous enough (or is it nuts enough?) to be giving this beauty away. (I know that my puns are out of control here...sorry.)

PS Not only did I receive an engagement ring but on my recent 12th anniversary he gifted me with a gorgeous anniversary ring. And if I win this blouse I might just have to return the favor and take him on a date.

It's Been An Exciting Day, Hasn't It?

New hope, new president, new optimism. It snowed in Charlotte today, which is a rare occurrence and added to the day feeling like a grand holiday.

To top it all off I was strolling through blog land and came across One World One Heart. This is exciting stuff, people!!!

Lisa from a Whimsical Bohemian started this event a couple of years ago. It's one giant giveaway, but, more than that it's a way to meet and bond with bloggers from all over the world. I spent a couple of hours this evening visiting different folks, who I am certain I will be friends with in the future.

SO where do we begin???

Each blogger involved is having a giveaway, you can find a list of everyone here OWOH (There's more than 300 blogs --- lots and lots of great treats you can win.)

I am giving away one of my blinged out hand collaged Eiffel tower pendant necklaces.

For a chance to win my giveaway you need to leave me a comment on THIS post here. My giveaway is open to active bloggers only. I need to be able to contact the winner so make sure you give me an email address. The giveaway ends February 12th,2009 at 8:00 PM EST when I'll announce my winner chosen at random.

Also If you want to learn more about this event please click here OWOH.

Have fun and good luck!!!

Practical Reigns as Posh

Bonne Anne!

I am probably the last one to wish you the best this new year, seeing as this post is so late! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season. I find myself very optimistic for 2009 and all our futures. You have to break some eggs to make an omelet. That's the stage we seem to be in right now.

I am going to attend an altered book club meeting this weekend. It's a White Elephant exchange. (You know where everyone brings in a dud of a gift and exchanges it for something someone else has brought in.) I have to say there were no duds this year!!! I think we are all putting extra time into our gift giving. As pennies are tight people really seem to be all the more conscientious that there gifts be useful. In my book, practical reigns as posh.

So I think I will just grab a candle from my shop, VC. These are from the last factory in France that still makes its candles by hand. The Orange and Cinnamon will be just the thing to get us through the rest of the winter. (Long burning, gorgeous long lasting fragrance) $22.00. And I promise worth every cent. (I just hope my White Elephant friend is not disappointed to get something I love rather than a discard).

We are also exchanging ATC'S. If you like me are uninitiated to this, they are Artist Trading Cards. They are traded and collected 2 1/2 x 3 1/2" cards and you can paint, draw, embellish, collage and plain just go nuts. We were giving the theme "Resolution". This is the one I made. It's my first effort so I am pretty happy with it.

Va Va Va and Voom

Paris at Christmas. Breathtaking, Oui?