Amber Dusick

Kiva - What if you could change someone's life?

I'm so thrilled to have found Kiva and I admit I'm totally addicted.  In case you haven't heard (hard not to they are getting a lot of buzz lately) it is a revolutionary new way to help people directly, from all parts of the world.  Entrepreneurs from all over request loans and you can browse profiles and loan them a 0% loan - as small as $25.  You are then paid back over time, at which point you can loan to someone else!

For the last night of Hanukkah every year we choose somewhere to donate to, and this year we loaned to a few entrepreneurs on Kiva.  Since the money will be paid back we'll simply keep on giving it over and over to new people.  

Happy Winter Solstice...and Hanukkah & Christmas

We hosted our 3rd annual winter solstice party this weekend and had such a good time that I completely forgot to take photos once people arrived.

These photos are the calm before the storm of 40 friends and family.  We served a special Solstice brew that we made and nearly ran out of it.  Unlike last year, I didn't bother to make labels.

We also enjoyed some rustic fireplace cooking over the weekend.  Food tastes better if cooked in a fireplace.  I swear.  

I'm off to disappear again for a bit, will be busy celebrating Hanukkah & Christmas all week.  

I hope your holiday season is filled with laughter and people you love.  

Stocking Stuffer for Your Little Elves

I made a bunch of these elf dolls over last weekend and finally have photos and the free pattern & tutorial to share!

  That red one below is already missing the candy cane that he had in his front pocket.  Hmmmmm...

  

They're awfully cute as decoration too.

Warning: They are so easy to make it is hard to stop.

Sweet Little Things (that made me so happy today)

1.  Packing up our handmade almond, shea butter soap in muslin bags and brown paper

2.  Returning after a long walk and realizing our house smells like almonds

3.  Hearing my son say "Handmade soap.  Mama made it.  Mmmmm" during his bath

 

4.  Raspberry Liquor on ice cream while snuggled under a quilt

5.  Getting excited about giving people our handmade goodies as gifts!

Plus...the very last item in the shop sold!  I'm on vacation until January!   

Natural & Mostly Free Holiday Decorations

I had three goals in regards to holiday decorating this year:  spend no money, do less  and use only natural decorations.  I can get so excited about projects to make and wind up staying so busy that before I realize it the season is over.  This year I really want to do less and be here more.

   

Full disclosure - we did buy a live tree, I wasn't about to run off into the woods and illegally dig one up.   

I also had already purchased a dozen egg gourds from Etsy seller Midnightcoiler for $8.  My son and I painted them a few nights ago with watercolors and then drilled holes and added wires to hang. 

Everything else we found and made.  The burlap around the tree base I already had laying around and the pine cones, acorns and other green branches that we made garland out of were gifts from the great outdoors. 

The only thing that will be added for our upcoming Winter Solstice/Christmas/Hanukkah party will be many little tea light candles that we already have in our closet -- purchased in bulk from Ikea several years ago.

Off to have another fire and drink hot cocoa...

Woodmouse is Evolving...

I hesitate to announce this right after my post of doom yesterday and want to emphasize that what I'm about to say has nothing to do with the new toy regulations, that this decision was made long before I knew about the toy testing.  It is convenient timing to be sure, and I see that as a way the universe is telling me I'm making the right choice at the right time.

After January 1st, there will be some exciting changes to how the shop will look and be run.  I've talked on and off about moving more from toy figures to art and decor figures and this will mark a major shift in the types of things I'll be making and selling.  

Virtually all the items I'll begin making after the new year will be either one of a kind or limited edition!  This will allow me to really do what I love most - design new things.  Every piece will be signed, and I'm very excited about evolving my work in this way.  I work best and am happiest when I can create new things.  I think you'll see my best work yet coming in 2009.   

There will likely be a lot less in my shop at any one time so I'll continue to preview all upcoming work here on this blog! 

This Farmer & the Dell Set in this post is just one of many new limited edition designs I've been playing around with.  It is based on the "Farmer & the Dell" song which I've had in my head for two weeks.

...but enough shop talk, my shop is nearly cleared out for 2008 and I'm ready to enjoy the season! 

   

  

Handmade Toys May Soon Be Illegal (including mine)

In case you haven't heard, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) has been created by the Consumer Products Safety Commission to regulate children's products, including toys.  While what they are doing is very needed in light of all the recent lead paint items from China the plans unfortunately will put most small, handmade toymakers out of business.

 

Every toy sold in the US will need to be tested by a 3rd party to be certified lead & phthalate free.  Unfortunately it costs anywhere from $1000 to several thousands of dollars PER toy to be tested.  I personally have hundreds of designs that I've sold in the last 12 months - and each one comes in several colors.  Say I just want to pick ONE toy.  Cell phones.  I make them in about 12 different colors.  Getting my cell phones "legal" so I could continue selling them would cost at least $12,000.  This is more than I made selling toys last year.  

I'm not sure how this will all pan out.  I'm hoping some sort of made in USA loop hole will be written in.  Virtually ALL of the recalls were from other countries - mostly China.  None were from the United States.  Where the heck do you even get lead paint if you wanted it?  Sale of lead paint has been illegal in the US since the 1970's.  Unless I happened upon a garage with some old paint cans and was crazy enough to put them on my toys I just don't think US made toys could have lead paint on them.  Seriously.    

If these regulations pass "as is" then perhaps people will go on selling illegally and label their items as "decor items" and keep their fingers crossed.  I really don't know.  I'm very concerned for makers who do this for a living is their primary source of income.       

Whether you buy handmade toys (I say toys but this includes clothing, diapers, baby carriers, all baby/kids items) or make them, this will affect you. 

Please go to Handmade Toy Alliance to learn more and use their sample letter to write to your Congress person or Senator. 

    

Handmade Portrait Video on Etsy!

A few weeks ago when Etsy emailed me telling me they wanted to "fly their videographer out to LA to film me and was I interested?"  I didn't hesitate for a moment!  YES!!  Which was followed by a week of being incredibly nervous until she arrived.   

Here is the Woodmouse Handmade Portrait!   

Tara was great to work with, one of those people who you feel comfortable with immediately which is a valuable trait for a videographer to have since people are usually pretty nervous on camera.

The Natural Kids team is featured in the video too and several other great artists have their work pictured along with me! Woolies, Beneath the Rowan Tree, Do Si Dough and MaDau Creations.

Win these SOLD OUT Ornaments TODAY!

You can win these SOLD OUT Ornaments on Friday just by commenting and mentioning something you like from my shop over on the Artsy Danger Ladies blog!  

Names will be randomly drawn Friday at midnight (Eastern Standard Time)!

Be sure to check the Artsy Danger Ladies blog every day - there will be a new giveaway each day for another week!

Yarn! Now what?

So my MIL showed up at my house today carrying a HUGE bag of yarn and hands it over.  Huge.  Wools, acrylics, cottons, who knows what - in all different colors and textures and all of it beautiful.  This isn't even all of it...

  

Keep in mind that I have only tried knitting once.  I think it may be time to try again.  It will be the perfect fireside activity while I sip hot cocoa over the weekend and relax.  

Thanks to everyone who purchased during the shop update today - things cleared out fast!  I'll be busy tonight packing up orders.  A few things here and there will be added in the shop, but for the most part I'm starting to slow things down and getting ready to enjoy the season.