Woohoo! We made the cover! Yes, the liliputians boys birthday outfit, Silly Birthday Monkey, is on the cover of the October issue of PARENT GUIDE NEWS. We are grinning ear to ear just like the little guy wearing our design. 
PARENT GUIDE NEWS is a print magazine and website that is the oldest and largest local parenting publication covering New York City, Queens, Long Island, Westchester County, Rockland County and New Jersey. And, yes, a liliputians design is on this months cover!
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Keep up the fight and save handmade!
Official Handmade Toy Alliance Press Release – Sep 11, 2009
Handmade Toy Alliance (HTA) Board members Jill Chuckas, owner of Crafty Baby (CT) and Kate Glynn, owner of A Child’s Garden and Impish (MA), attended a hearing in the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection on Thursday addressing issues regarding the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). Although not invited to formally testify, the HTA has vocalized a solid and consistent message to fully participate in the process to address the unintended consequences facing its members from the CPSIA. This hearing, although solely focused on the information shared by Chairperson Inez Tenenbaum of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), was the first of its kind to discuss the implementation process and ramifications of the CPSIA.
When questioned directly by Ranking House Member Radonovich (CA) and Chairman Emeritus Dingell (MI) if the CPSC needed flexibility in the CPSIA to grant exemptions and fully implement the law before them, Chair Tenenbaum repeatedly stated that it was premature for her to answer the question. Later, when Rep. Dingell further pressed the issue asking if she would support targeted amendments to the CPSIA, Chair Tenenbaum again stated that it was premature to fully answer, but once her staff finished “untangling the knots”, that a legislative response may be needed. Throughout her testimony, Chair Tenenbaum reinforced her commitment to work diligently to educate consumers, implement the legislation before her and be transparent in the process.
One issue that Chair Tenenbaum began to touch upon was component based testing – an area on which the HTA has long awaited a ruling. “We heard it clearly stated by Chair Tenenbaum that a ruling relating to component based certification will be forthcoming, but no time line as to when that will be and exactly what it will encompass,” Chuckas stated. “We recognize that she has only been in office for just over 2 months and has made tremendous progress in a short period of time, but our member businesses are closing now and this ruling could keep them open. It is extremely frustrating that this process takes so much time when it appears, at least from our standpoint, to be a fairly straightforward request.”
Following the hearing, Chuckas and Glynn visited with their members of Congress – the offices of Sen. Kerry (MA), Sen. Dodd (CT) and Rep. Himes (CT). Chuckas and Glynn had met with staffers from these offices after the April 1st rally and had kept in consistent communication with these Congressional members. At this meeting, the HTA team sought additional support and outreach to request further hearings and open dialogue with both Congress and the CPSC, hoping to enact common sense changes within the fabric of the CPSIA. “It was encouraging to hear that my Congressmen are willing and able to openly discuss the concerns of the HTA membership as a whole,” Glynn commented. “Although I recognize that our journey is not yet over, I feel some amount of hope that our voices are being heard.”
The Handmade Toy Alliance is a grassroots alliance of 382 retail stores (including liliputians), toymakers and children’s product manufacturers from across the country who want to preserve consumer access to unique handmade toys, clothes and all manner of small batch children’s goods in the USA. Formed in November of 2008 in response to the CPSIA, HTA members are parents, grandparents and consumers who are passionate about their businesses as well as the safety of the children in their lives. While in support of the spirit of the law, the unintended consequences of the CPSIA have motivated members of the HTA to work to enact change at a federal level. More information at www.handmadetoyalliance.org.
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The Handmade Toy Alliance is a grassroots alliance of 382 retail stores, toymakers and children’s product manufacturers from across the country who want to preserve consumer access to unique handmade toys, clothes and all manner of small batch children’s goods in the USA. Formed in November of 2008 in response to the CPSIA, HTA members are parents, grandparents and consumers who are passionate about their businesses as well as the safety of the children in their lives. While in support of the spirit of the law, the unintended consequences of the CPSIA have motivated members of the HTA to work to enact change at a federal level.
Buzz. Buzz. We love lots of buzz at liliputians. Buzz about our designs makes us very happy!
There was some A List Baby buzz about liliputians hair flowers and how perfect they are to complete a flower girl’s ensemble.
There was some buzz about our über popular boys birthday shirt, the Birthday Cupcake Monster on Tot Trends Weekly.
And on the Back to School Thingy by Brown Couch Events, there was some buzz about a special coupon code good for 15% off your liliputians order through Sep. 30th. And check out their fabulous give-aways too . . . there’s a liliputians birthday shirt of your choice going out to one lucky winner!
The Handmade Toy Alliance is a grassroots organization, a coalition of 368 children’s product manufacturers, toy retailers, and concerned citizens from across the country, who want to preserve unique handmade toys, clothes, and all manner of small batch children’s goods. Formed in November of 2008 in response to the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), the Handmade Toy Alliance has given a voice to small businesses by offering common sense solutions on how to improve the CPSIA, while ensuring safe children’s products. HTA recently incorporated as a nonprofit trade organization.
Vicki Bodwell, owner of the online children’s bedding and decor store, Warm Biscuit Bedding Company, and Heather Flottmann, owner of NYC-based children’s clothing and birthday outfits boutique, liliputians, became Handmade Toy Alliance members shortly after organization’s inception. Heather joined the HTA Board of Directors in May. Like all HTA members, their involvement has been fueled by a desire to raise public awareness of the unintended consequences of the CPSIA; how an unamended CPSIA will put small businesses, such as theirs, out of business with cost prohibitive and redundant third party testing for lead and phthalates in all products intended for children age 12 and under.
On June 8, 2009, Vicki and Heather were guests on David Rushkoff’s WFNU radio show, The Media Squat (archives of this show can be listened to in an array of formats). The three discussed the CPSIA and the broad nature of the law’s language. The effects on small businesses vs. large corporations were also debated as well as the changing marketplace and growing demand for organic, handmade, quality goods. The pair offered up possible solutions to improve the CPSIA, such as allowing component based testing. David asked what concerned listeners could do. Vicki encouraged them to, “Join the Alliance at www.handmadetoyalliance.org,” Heather urged, “Let them know that this law needs to be amended. We are for safe toys but not at the cost of small business. Contact your representative about HR 1815, an amendment sponsored by Rep. Joe Barton along with 24 co-sponsors. It’s the Consumer Product Safety Solutions Act of 2009 and currently in committee. Tell your representative to vote in favor for it.” Vicki responded that, “Once these laws are passed it’s almost impossible to reverse, so that’s why at this stage it’s critical that people get involved now.”
Rushkoff concluded, “It will be pretty hard to make anything once there is the barrier to entry of a few hundred thousand dollars in testing. It’s almost a form of the worst kind of deregulation masquerading as legislation.”
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The Handmade Toy Alliance represents small toymakers, children’s product manufacturers, and independent retailers whose businesses cannot survive without repairing the CPSIA. We believe that these changes will not only help our businesses, but many other companies large and small who have been caught in a snarl of unintended consequences, affecting everything from apparel to educational materials for children with disabilities. We need common sense reform to preserve the heart and soul of American toys and children’s products.
In honor of TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY, (on September 19th) liliputians has unveiled its first pirate themed birthday shirt (matching applique jeans are in the works as we speak) in the liliputians boys birthday collection.
Tis the perfect for your little swashbuckler’s big day whether he’s sailing the seven seas in search of treasure, battling piñatas with his trusty sword, or feasting on birthday cake.
Liliputians, or I guess I should say me Heather Flottmann, is the designer of the week this week on Journal Modiste. Journal Modiste is a site focusing solely on handmade goods and is also a great resourse for indie designers. Here’s a sneak peek at the interview or visit their site for a larger look.
Congratulations are in order for liliputians retailer Starlooks Boutique. They just were the focus of a very complimentary write up by Lipstick to Crayons. Starlooks Boutique features a wide variety of products for babies, toddlers, girls & boys & parents too, with the majority of their offerings being handmade and MADE IN USA goods (liliputians fits the bill on both accounts).
We were happy to hear about the much deserved attention they received as well as the unexpected surprise of finding out that the liliputians Strawberry Icing Ruffles Birthday Outfit was mentioned/pictured among their numerous offerings.
We need your vote, or Red Riding Hood does I should say, so please do your part!
Liliputians entered the Handmade Kids Sweepstakes on etsy (thanks to the urging from our friend Whitney, liliputians retailer and co-owner of The Silly Wagon).
Twenty nine finalists were chosen in each category and the liliputians Little Red Riding Hood Skirt Set was one of the chosen for the clothing category.
So go to etsy and VOTE FOR RED (you only have until September 8th 11:59pm EDT)!
Liliputians thanks you . . . and you may even win a $350. etsy shopping spree just for doing your part.
There was a great surprise in my inbox this morning. I received an email that my Indie Designer Interview (that I had completed some time ago for blogger/writer/designer Mallory Whitfield) was posted on the Styledash web site today. I am really thrilled to be included on this site and in this ongoing series. I too find it so interesting to see what makes other creative types tick.
Starlooks Boutique is a newish mom-and-pop-run online store (with personal mom-and-pop customer service too) that offers a fun mix of clothing, toys, jewelry, unique gifts, and other cool finds for parents. One such example is Rock Star Baby’s line of organic beauty products (for baby and big people too) that contain no harmful parabens, laureth sulfates, phthalates/fragrance, chemicals/propylene glycol, or dyes that are usually found in most baby products – just natural ingredients. Starlooks focuses on Made in America products with some great classics such as Holgate wooden toys. My favorite is the Mr. Roger’s Trolley . . . almost wants to make me break out in song “Won’t you be my neighbor!”
Starlooks is also the newest retailer of liliputians birthday outfits and everyday-wear clothing for girls and boys. The owners of Starlooks have a great eye for unique kids apparel and goods (I mean, they DO offer liliputians, right?!?). They are parents to FIVE kids so they have truly become experts in this area! Although the Starlooks Boutique is already up and running with items being added daily, a BIG grand opening is in the works. Check back & we’ll keep you posted.
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