So I mentionned a few entries ago that after years of being a home crafter and participating in small sales, etc. that I am finally getting organized and taking things to the next level. Overall it has been an awesome experience, but for someone who is used to just sitting down at the sewing machine and making something it has been a little unnerving. The past month as I’ve been working on my doll prototype I’ve faced three challenges – figuring out how to make an item that could be easily taught and reproduced, sourcing materials that are both good quality and affordable and getting the securing the proper registration certificate so that I can sell stuffed articles.

Sourcing materials and the subsequent importing issues is an ongoing concern, but I have finally put the finishing touches on my prototype and I’ve had silkscreens made so that I can reproduce the four optional doll faces easily and between yesterday / today I secured my Ontario Registration for Upholstered and Stuffed Articles and ordered the corresponding tyvek labels. By the weekend I’ll be able to sit down and make a complete doll body that can be sold in a retail environment! I am so relieved.

Here’s a little sneak preview of the silkscreens that I made for the dolls. The image at the top of this entry shows the four optional doll faces in various states of completion. The black lines on the face are done with one silkscreen and the colour is applied by hand – both processes are done using Colour Vie pigments. The blush on the cheeks is a MAC cosmetics Mineralize Blush. An uncoloured face will be included in each doll kit that I make and additional faces will be sold seperately. I’ve yet to determine what the cost of these items will be stay tuned.

The image on the right is the artwork for another screen that I had made, but haven’t had a chance to print with yet. This image is going on a muslin over-the-shoulder carry bag for the doll. I’m still in the process of sourcing fabric for this project. I eventually plan on selling the carry bag both as a finished item and as a project kit.

I’m really stoked to get started on building my inventory because I’m itching to get out there to start selling, but before I finish I should elaborate on one thing that I mentioned earlier. I mentioned that I had recieved my Ontario Registration for Upholstered and Stuffed Articles. For the small crafter who might be doing a small sale with their guild at Christmas this may not be a big deal, but if you are a home toy maker or do things like decorator pillows, etc. this is a must have. It certifies for the public’s safety what the stuffing content of your article is. My registration number certifies that my dolls are stuffed with all new materials and states that the filling is polyester fiber. There are different types of labels depending on what you’re doing or how you’re using them – if you’re using recycled fibres or reclaimed fibers it all has to be declared.

At first I was intimidated by this idea, but really securing a registration number was easy. The Technical Standards & Safety Act (2000) isn’t light reading by any means, but through the Markham Small Business Enterprise Centre I found a great little handout called “Guide to the Testile Labelling and Advertising Regulations” which is put out by the Governemnt of Canada Competition Bureau. From this handout I found out that what I needed was a “Form 3” label from the Technical Standards & Safety Authority (TSSA).

If you are a member of a craft guild, your guild might already be registered with the TSSA. Years ago I know this was the case with my guild (Markham Guild of Village Crafts) and for a small fee a guild member could buy Form 3 tags for their dolls and teddy bears direct from the Guild.

If you aren’t part of a craft guild that has a TSSA registration number you’ll have to get your own. The price of the registration for these labels varies according to how many items you plan on producing in one year. Since I’m not planning on making over 999 stuffed items this year I qualified as a “Home Hobbyist” and the registration for that was only $20. Once you’ve registered with TSSA you have to have your own labels printed. On the TSSA website there is a list of qualified and specially equipped printers who can make those labels for you. I ended up having my labels made by Orchid Label and Printing Co. in Toronto. My first batch of 1,000 labels has cost me $84 ($45 is a one time setup fee which includes a proof to inspect / adjust prior to printing, $39 for printing trimming). So long as your registration number is current (renewed annually), there is no expiry date on the labels, so at under $0.09 per label its not that costly.

I should mention that once registered, your business might be subject to inspection, but its really no big deal. It might involve a visit from an inspector to see the stuffing that you are using complies with the label type that you’ve applied for. This all may sound like a bunch of red-tape, but to get entry into some larger craft sales or to put your product into retail stores legal compliance is important and worth the effort.

Happy Crafting!