Save Artists From Unfair Law

Table and chair sets like this one may soon be history. The reason? A law that goes far beyond protecting children from lead and goes into the realm of ridiculous.

Let me make one thing clear -- I totally support testing children's items for lead. We all know the impact of lead on children. It was scary and infuriating last year to realize that kids we love were playing with toys that had lead on them. Plus, the trauma of explaining to a two-year-old that Thomas had to go to the hospital. So this isn't about keeping lead away from children. Any reasonable person supports that.

This is about protecting artists from being shut down. The law requires all items -- including hand-made items -- to be tested for lead. Since artists items are all hand-made that means each individual item would need testing. Some have estimated the cost at $150 and up per item. Who can afford that? And what customer will absorb that cost?

Most artists are like me. I purchase my wood at local building supply stores. I buy my paint locally. Everything I use is already -- by law -- required to be lead-free. I am really careful with the items I select. That I only use items that are already tested -- and can prove it -- should be enough. Nope.

I have a few items in stock that I made before Feb. 10, 2009. I can sell those items. But how can I, or any other artist, afford to continue to make items for children under age 12? This includes the little wood fishing poles and cars, the stained baby beds and coat racks. The list could go on and on.

Please contact your local congressman or senator and urge him/her to undo this overstep and protect artists.