Michelle Obama

Was watching Entertainment Tonight on the tube. The lady said that Michelle Obama is 6 tall in leotards. So, how tall is she without leotards?

Blythe

In my travels to Blythe yesterday, I passed by Love’s here in Tyson and saw gas prices had risen to $1.85, up six cents since a week ago. Now, get this one..... gas was going for $2.24 in Blythe at several filling stations. It’s going up and up and up. Just checked prices at COSTCO in San Leandro and saw that it’s up to $1.97. Obama, Obama, Obama.

Going to be a bit chilly this morning in Tyson. Mercury going down to 37 degrees this morning. At least it's not 37 BELOW like some places. Been pretty cold in East Baraka. Single digits all over the place and people are freezing their macadamians off.

Thirty-seven degrees is the coldest it has gotten since we have been here. Going to be a bit on the windy side also. There were a number of people who had difficulties bringing down their canopies yesterday and I understand that a couple of them put on quite a spectacle, from what I was told. I heard that the wind really picked up pretty well yesterday afternoon. Wish somebody would have YouTubed it. Sorry I missed it....we were in Blythe. Blythe. Good ol’ Blythe.

Click here to read more or you can read our daily log about the Tyson Wells Sell a Rama.

Tyson Wells

The Tyson Wells Sell-a-Rama has just finished and we are between shows, expecting to set up for the Arts & Crafts Show tomorrow. The weather here has been great with temps in the 70's and only one day of showers. The wind picked up yesterday and that is a problem on occasion. This morning seems to be a bit cooler and temps are expected to be in the low 60's for a couple days.

We took down our things yesterday and will load them up this morning. We pulled our motor home over next to our space to block the wind and spent the night here. Quite noisy and a lot different than camping out in the BLM, where it is almost totally quiet. Over here, you can hear the cars on I10 passing by and there were people tearing down their booths late last night. Also, some people like to play their music (or whatever you want to call it) loudly at midnight.

Sales were down here for many of the vendors and you can pretty much blame the economy. They had the Innaugaration on Tuesday and my sales got worse each day after. What's to come!
I heard that sales have been down all over this place...Quartzsite, Yuma, etc. People not impulse buying or just not spending very much, holding on to their bucks. Mostly buying the $1-5 gadgets and gizmos.

Please read my daily log on my website called Starving Vendors where I tell about each day we had here in Tyson Wells.

We will be in Space PQ4 for the next three weeks, so come on down and check us out.

Tyson Wells

We are still at the Tyson Wells Sell a Rama. Be sure to check our Daily log:

http://www.starvingvendors.com/events_Tyson_Wells_Sellarama_2009.html

Updates

Haven’t been able to update over the past week. We have been at the Tyson Wells Sell-a-Rama since last Tuesday and internet connections have been few and far between for me.
The weather has been perfect here with temps around 74 degrees each day and sunny. Last year, it was cold during the first several days and quite windy. What a difference. Hope we can escape the rain. I understand that the East has been under a big freeze since last week and have had some snow.

Tyson Wells Sales-a-Rama is a gigantic event where vendors come in from all over the place and sell their goods. Part of it is consumed by rock and mineral vendors while the other 2/3 of the vendors sell anything and everything imagineable. There really are not too many other shows to choose from this time of year and if you have a motor home, then it’s like a mini-vacation AND if you are older, you really appreciate the warmer temperatures. People have been selling here for years and we have been here for 6 years ourselves, finding our ‘permanent’ spot here in X-19. We have a nice neighborhood of vendors in this area as many of us have known each other from other California shows.

RV’ers from all over the country congregate here every winter and park their motor homes in the same areas each year, mostly in the BLM lands just south of Tyson. However, there are thousands upon thousands of RV’s parked in the area for the winter.

I will be giving updates here every 2-4 days, whenever possible. We are returning on Feb 16 and once again, we will be covering a vast array of topics after that

Arizona Events - Yuma and Tyson Wells

INFO ON ARIZONA EVENTS - Yuma and Tyson Wells.

Nice weather here in Hayward with temps around 70. In Quartzsite, sunny with temps 70/40 for the next 10 days (hopefully). A bit breezy today. In Yuma, nice and sunny with temps approaching 75 degrees throughout the week. Reports from the Old Town Jubilee there show that some vendors are down by as much as 75 percent. Very rough, especially for those that travel and have to stay in motels. I might add that all the new construction in that area has been detrimental to vendors at shows there. Improved shopping areas for visitors and the area provides more things for people to do. Sure an improved downtown area would attract more visitors, but I think that the events are of little concern to them.

Would like to let people know that we (DandL CREATIONS) will not be in Kernville (Whiskey Flats Days) this time nor will we be in Lake Havasu for the Winterfest since we have an 'extended stay' in Tyson Wells this time. Whiskey Flats is a nice show for the month of February as the weather is decent. despite at least a day of rain or snow for the past 4-5 years at this event. Nice parade, shootouts and is enjoyable. It's a hell of a ride getting there, driving along the Kern River Valley since it has many winding, harrowing turns, making it difficult for motor homes or vehicles towing cargo trailers, etc. Not recommended to drive at night. It's quite scenic, nonetheless.

We will be at the Tyson Wells Sell-a-Rama beginning on Tuesday, located in Space X-19 until Jan 26. We will them be over in space PQ-3 on Jan 29 for the A&C show. The event runs until the 8th of February, but we will be there until Feb 15. Hope to see you there. If you mention this blog, I'll take 10 percent off your purchase.

For more info on shows, festivals, etc. check Events and Festivals. I have a website called Starving Vendors that has many reviews of shows we have done in past years and you will most likely find them very informative. Lots of information, etc.

Bay Area Thrift Stores

San Leandro. Thrift Town 16160 East 14th St. San Leandro, CA I absolutely loved this thrift store. It was huge, well organized, and packed full of fabulous items. I had a hard time finding much clothes that I liked or that were not outrageously priced. I did find some great slips here, so it could have just been an off day for the clothes I looked at. They had a wonderful selection of books, household items, vintage shoes, and luggage. I definitely, definitely am going back next time I make my rounds up North!

Berkeley Goodwill 2058 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA This is a nice big store. Unfortunately we were on our way to lunch and I only had a chance to look through a small portion of their clothes. The prices are about the same as most shops in the area, and though I didn’t find anything spectacular, I think it could have just been an off day. I will probably go back if I happen to be in that area again.

Oakland Clausen House Thrift 4834 Telegraph Ave Oakland, CA I went to this thrift store a while back with my mom and had some pretty good luck finding good items. This time around, the whole store looked different, and while more organized, I didn’t see a single thing in this tiny store that so much as caught my eye. I would only go back if I were walking by and needing to kill a few minutes.

Saint Vincent de Paul Outlet Store 9235 San Leandro St. Oakland, CA This was a funny store, and one that would be incredibly easy to miss. I’m not sure how my mom found it, seeing that the outlet is in back of another store, which you have to walk through to get to. They had a fair selection of clothes, were very well organized, and not too overpriced. There was a huge selection of furniture, and only one other shopper in the store, which was kind of strange, but we had lots of room to look!

I have composed a listing of Thrift Stores in the Bay Area.... Oakland, San Leandro, El Ceritto, San Francisco, etc. Go here to see our Bay Area Thrift Store guide.

Big Brother is Watching!!

All License Plates to be Photographed in Arzona.
Michael Ferraresi The Arizona Republic November 23, 2008
Officer David Callister parks his patrol car under a shady interstate overpass, angling his cameras to target a flurry of passing traffic. Then he waits.

Infrared units mounted to the front of Callister’s vehicle scan the license plates of a Casa Grande firefighter, an Ohio State football fan and everyone else who drives past as he hunts for stolen vehicles.

Every plate is photographed, time-stamped, labeled on a GPS map and automatically logged into an Arizona Department of Public Safety database. An electronic voice alerts Callister to stolen vehicles within seconds after they pass, giving him the ability to make quick arrests.

Callister is among the growing number of Arizona officers who use cameras to scan thousands of plates on a daily basis, sweeping parking lots and highways to recover stolen vehicles faster than ever before. Read article

What to Watch: Oregon is using this same technology to track the number of miles motorists drive on Oregon roads so citizens can be tracked [and TAXED] by the mile. STORY HERE

Canopies for events (EZups, Caravan, etc)

ADDED ON 01/06/09 I just received my canopy and opened it up and it was broken. I am through with these cheap COSTCO canopies...like I said last week, mentioning that they are cheaply made. The PLASTIC PIECE ON ONE OF THE CORNERS was broken and the canopy is useless. I called COSTCO and had to wait half an hour and they told me to call the individual stores and that I did. Hayward Business Center....no canopy. San Leandro, no canopy. Fremont... no canopy and I was told that the COSTCO's no longer carry them in their stores, you have to order them. I explained that I needed it by Tuesday and it was tough turkey for me. He said that I could bring my canopy to any store and get a refund. Wow. What a burn. Did I ever get screwed on this piece of junk. DO NOT BUY COSTCO CANOPIES.

I doubt that UPS damaaged it in shipping because there were no frayed edges on the box. No sign of damage on it. Additionally there's a round thing that goes on top of the canopy and it was attached to the middle pole that extends upward. Broken. So it looks like I have to use an old CARAVAN canopy of mine that has a big tear on the side of the top piece and I have to tie a couple pieces together to hold them in place. My 'better' canopy has patched up holes on top and a couple connectors snapped. Both covers sag terribly and I hope that we don't have rain. I am sure that either of those two canopie would win the 'Ugliest Canopy Contest'.

I will never ever buy another COSTCO CANOPY again. Usually I get to use them 2 or 3 times at least before they start breaking, cover tearing or pieces snapping off. Pay the money... GET YOURSELF a decent EZ-UP or something similar, but do not buy COSTCO CANOPIES. Piece of trash.

This is what I said last week, before I received the canopy.

I just came across a website that has a wide selection of canopies for A&C Shows, festivals, street fairs or whatever you wish to one for. I just bought my 4th Caravan Canopy from COSTCO and they are half-way decent. Kind of light though and not made of steel like some of the better quality one's out there. Covers are fair and the sides of these are cheaply made.

If you want somewhat better quality canopies, such as the E-Z Up's here is a website that you can take a look at. They have a nice selection and the website is nicely designed. Large pictures of various canopies along with the features of each. They have The ENTERPRISE II, HUT, & ECLIPSE II. Also DOME II. They have accessories for the canopies; sidewalls, etc

http://www.craftcanopy.com/ezup.htm

DandL CREATIONS Shows Jan-Feb 2009

National Bankruptcy Day - February 10, 2009

CPSC & CPSIA new laws bad for myriad of items, not just childrens items

This will affect many of we sellers...not those that just sell children related items.The new CPSIA will affect many of us that sell ANY products that can be consider for children.

CBS Consumer Product Safety Commission news article.

Not just toys and jewelry, but clothing, room decor, school supplies, educational aids, art work, art supplies, pillows, books, bedding, items for babies and children under 12 (shampoo, body lotion, tooth paste with a popular teen star, a huge amount of products) etc. There are many collectibles that could be considered also.

I read on one forum that there are many collectors under the age of 12 for baseball cards, postage stamps, postcards, coins etc...these will need to be tested just as books for under 12 (used or new or those considered that a 12 year old might read) will need to be tested if they don't have the CPSC stamp of approval. I do not know the validity of the claim above for collectibles, but there were many up in arms about the cost of having every item tested so they would have the certificate required by the CPSC and the cost would put them out of business.

If an item is made for someone 12 & under to use it will be subject to the certified testing. If an item could be used by someone 12 & under..not necessarially made for a 12 year old and under, you might want to stop and look for the CPSC statement. (Example: Scooby Doo bedding)Even used clothing purchased for resales or vintage items will be subject to the testing. click here to read more

HR4040

CRAFTERS OF CHILDREN'S CLOTHING GETS SCREWED by HR4040. That's how it affects vendors....even those that sell commercial clothing, Please read the entry in this blog prior to this.

Here is more info on HR4040.

For more information on this please check http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-4040 This is about the HR4040 bill that was passed in December.Here is what somebody wrote on their blog.

The following are from a couple fellow 'crafters' and is quite interesting to read.

http://pinaforesandknickerbockers.blogspot.com/2008/12/disturbing-law.html http://babyswagspr.wordpress.com/2008/12/23/supporting-small-businesses-cpsia-law-issues/

Help Save Handmade Toys in the USA from the CPSIA - Hand-made Toy Alliance. http://sites.google.com/site/handmadetoyalliance/ You can vote here or get info on contacting Congress about this matter.

Save Handmade Toys From the CPSIA http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

I can see a lot of people will be taking an interest in the toy issue as it involves the crafters. There are a number of people out there who make children's clothing for a living and sell at various events. Also affected could be the makers of children's toys or the vendors that import toys from China or anyplace else. Sounds like big problems for some vendors and if I were in their shoes, I would be mighty worried right now. As if the vendors don't have expenses already, they could possibly have to pay around $85 per test. I'll bet that the company that produces testing products is going to make a lot of money out of this and it would not surprise me if they put money in our Congressman's/woman's pockets.

I know this is for the safety of our children, but I wonder if this is really as big a problem as it is being made out to be. Is there an 'underlying theme' to this

Makers of Small Toys - Arts and Crafts

I was just reading about these recent laws that are forcing companies to have their toys tested for lead. Don't know if this is really necessary and I think that this lead problem might have been blown out of proportion. I agree that children should be protected from lead, but there might be groups or individuals out there who stand to make some big bucks because of this. I am always skeptical about some of these new laws where you have to do this, buy that, wear this, don't wear that, etc. because I think that the producers/manufacturers of these items, etc., are the ones initiating the bills that create these new laws.

Anyhow, went off track here. There are quite a few people in the Arts and Crafts world out there who are making their toys OR are importing them from China, etc. Here is a link to an article about having to get your toys inspected for lead. Life is tough out there for the vendors and arts and crafts people and things might get tougher.

Toy makers may win lead-testing exemption
Rules on lead threatened to hurt those who create handcrafted items

Dec. 24, 2008, 8:14PM SAN FRANCISCO — The makers of handcrafted toys received some holiday hope Wednesday with support from a federal agency for proposed exemptions from strict lead-testing regulations they feared could put them out of business.

Last year's discovery of lead paint in mass-market toys prompted the government to pass new safety rules requiring testing and labeling that mom-and-pop workshops and retailers said they could not afford.

As a February deadline for complying with the law loomed, toy makers who use materials such as unfinished wood, organic cotton and beeswax sought exemptions from the rules.
In a memo released Wednesday, Consumer Product Safety Commission staffers recommended that the agency exempt some natural materials from the lead testing requirements

continue story

Events and Festivals

We have just added listings in Events and Festivals. Check for details on: San Francisco Crystal Fair Feb 28-Mar 1, Holtville Carrot Festival Feb 7-8, the Original Creative Festival in San Mateo on Jan 23-25, the 11th Annual San Diego Multicultural Festival January 17, International Family Film Festival in Los Angeles Feb 26-March 1 and the Southern California Cherry Blossom Festival in Los Angeles Apr 4-5.

I have listed these festivals in Upcoming Events at the Starving Vendors website and there are many other shows listed there also. Check it out. We also have many reviews of events we did this past year and they are very entertaining and I think that you will like reading them. (Guide to Shows>Events>dates)

Go down and get yourself a delicious Philly Cheesesteak, grab a nice cold 2-liter bottle of Briar's Birch Beer or a real bear and enjoy yourself. Later on, take a trip over to DandL CREATIONS, our website where you can buy puka shell necklaces in any size you want or a cowrie shell choker to give to your sweetheart.

Does anybody out there need this sign?