I've been swamped with catching up, making and packaging products to get ready for the coming-up-fast Fall Festival Craft Shows Season and the coming-in-faster-than-anticipted Holiday Open Housees and Gift Season. And somedays, my health refuses to cooperate with me and my to-do list. I've even had to take a couple of weeks off from my Farmers Markets. Not wanting to leave anyone hanging though, I've reached out to esteemed industry persons get help to further inform and educate my readers on the threats and perils facing the Handcrafted/Handmade Cosmetics Industry. We are under threat from spurious over regulation and reporting that will do absolutely nothing to make cosmetics safer -which, by the way have a near perfect safety record; From reckless scarmongers who use junk science, no science and outright fear mongering to help draft badly written, proposed legistlations. The latest threat is known as The Safe Cosmetics Acts of 2010, HR 5786. << MORE >>

OMG! This is one of the funniest facebook themed send ups I've ever seen.<< MORE >>

"...The EFFECT of this legistlation is not to put you out of business. The PURPOSE of this legislation is to put you out of business."<< MORE >>

In the midst of this urgent issue of knocking back the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 (for brevity, I'll just refer to it as the SCA 2010), I've found that many consumers don't realize this idiocy will not do one thing to make cosmetics "safer" for consumers. The Cosmetic Industry is not making products to harm their customers. Any who did that would go broke in under a year. What the SCA seems to be attempting is to be a combined American form or mirror of the EU's Cosmetic Directive and REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances). Try reading these and keep your head from hurting. << MORE >>

Not even the BIG PLAYERS could keep up with this chaotic and idiotic Savings Clause. << MORE >>

Those who know me know I have issues with Google and their lack of respect for privacy regarding web usage. I'm also a tad pissed they caved in to some of PandaLand's internet demands. So you know I'm totally pissed about something when I end up subscribing to something else that normally pisses me off in order to help out and get the word out. I broke down and subscribed to Google/YouTube so as to post this entry. And to facilitate other possible or future needs that may entail YouTube. Seems no matter the issue, if you want to be heard around the world, put a clip about it on YouTube. << MORE >>

My Gentle, Wonderful Customers and Blog Readers, I have not posted in ages- Since the Farmers Market season began. I apologize to you, but I have been extremely busy. I've had no time for blogging, just making and selling soap and the upkeep of that end of the business. It takes time to compose, write and write coherently. I didn't and still don't have the time. I refuse to post crap post, guest posts (you still have to proof, review and edit), filler posts about nothing or badly written posts just to fill some web space. But I have to take time to bring this very important issue to your attention. In a nutshell, if you want me and other handcrafted/handmade cosmetic manufacturers to keep making our quality and good for you products, take a look at this: Opposition to The Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 (H.R. 5786) << MORE >>

But I'm told it may get worse first. I know I'm behind and that I need to post my next part on "You Really Do Want To Promote Your Business, Don't You?". However, last week I yanked something in my back -really bad- and it's been fubar'd the last 9 days.<< MORE >>