Amy of Priddy Creations is kicking off the new year with a giveaway!  I already own two of her camera straps and just adore them!  Stop by The Vintage Pearl to find out more and submit your entry.  Winner will be drawn Monday morning!

Isn’t she pretty?  Now I just need to convince the Easter bunny to bring me some L glass, LOL! Once I get more comfortable with it, you will likely see “product photography” added to the list of services at Simply Creative :o)

Published courtesy of Cool Mom Picks. For more information, please visit: http://coolmompicks.com/savehandmade/

With this act going into effect February 10 2009 so many people we love will be affected: Moms who sew beautiful handmade waldorf dolls out of home, artists who have spent decades hand-carving trucks and cars out of natural woods, that guy at the craft show who sold you the cute handmade puzzle–even larger US companies who employ local workers and have not once had any sort of safety issue will no longer be able to sell their goods. Not without investing tens of thousands of dollars into third-party testing and labeling, just to prove that toys that never had a single toxic chemical in them still don’t have a single toxic chemical in them.

How to Get Involved — it only takes 5 minutes of your time!

-Find your congress person and senators and write a letter like the sample here. Particularly if they serve on the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection or the House Committee on Small Business.

-Send an email directly to the CPSC or contact chairperson Nancy Nord at 301-504-7923

-Vote for amending the law on Change.org, digg style: With enough votes it will be presented to President Obama in January!

-Place the Save Handmade! button on your blog or website to help spread the word to everyone you know who cares about protecting the little guy and preserving beautiful items made with love for our children.

Simply Suzann is a long-time customer of Simply Creative. In fact, Suzann’s site was one of my first back in the day.  She’s been using osCommerce CRELoaded for many years, but recently decided to evaluate other e-commerce platforms because her version 6.15 software was becoming outdated.  She decided to switch to Simple Cart and couldn’t be happier…

“I have been working with Amy for quite a while now and have always been more than pleased. Recently, Amy informed me that my website shopping cart was quickly becoming obsolete and would need to be updated. Not being one to love change, I was a little hesitant. I adored my site and had become so comfortable with how everything was done. I decided that I would go ahead and upgrade, since this change was inevitable and had resigned myself to the fact I may not be able to fully understand this new way of doing things. In a word, I was “scared”. In a couple of days, Amy had everything upgraded and looking so fresh and new! She explained everything in very simple terms, so that even the most “un”savvy computer person like myself, could understand. I love my new shopping cart and I am just amazed at how much easier it all is. Amy is also there every step of the way. If you are thinking about a cart upgrade and like me, a little hestitant, don’t be! It really is easy as pie!!  Thank you so much Amy, you are amazing!”

Click here to check out Simply Suzann for boutique handbags. Add a splash of style to your life!

This might be one of my favorite websites…. ever!  I thoroughly enjoyed working on this site with Dabney.  Guess I’m a true prepster at heart, LOL!  Dabney Lee Woglom runs a successful stationery business, dabney lee stationery, offering personalized stationery and unique gifts. She recently expanded her business to include a home line full of fabulous embellishments to inspire and dazzle your home and office. The dabney lee AT HOME collection offers stylish trinkets that are sure to add glamour to your everyday lifestyle… everything from monogrammed lucite trays, paper placements and drink coasters to personalized desk calendars, file folders and “to do” lists. You’re sure to find something you can’t live without.

Click here to check out dabney lee AT HOME!

Angelica Grace Designs is a long-time customer of Simply Creative. In fact, her blog may have been one of the first blogs I designed back in 2006. Angie has a newfound love of photography and wanted her blog redesigned to accomodate larger pictures.  We reconfigured some settings, moved around the navigation, and gave her a more photo-friendly layout. Click here to check out the *new* AGD Blog!