I am a serious craft person.  If you are interested in patterns, send me a PM.  I have patterns for toys for both kinds of kids.  Several of the pattern producers have given me permission to print their patterns, as long as I print the appropriate copyright info.

I am thinking of making dog and cat baskets with all USA made materials. From the basket to the food to the toys to the wrapping. What do you all think?

Thank You- Now i'm looking for places where they sell material, cloth, that is made in the USa. Any ideas? Thanks,

Thanks for your responses, everyone.  Here's another site:

http://www.usstuff.com/index.htm  -- Go to "Product List"  - alphabetical listing of products

Some companies that also do overseas manufacturing still make some models of products in the U.S. (Ex. New Balance?).  Read the listings carefully.

Here's a sample of a few products under the "A's":

Activewear
Adhesive Tape
Air Conditioning System Thermostats- Home
Air Filter- Home
Air Gauges
Air Pumps- Tire Inflators
Air Purifiers
Alarm System Crime Deterrent
All Terrain Vehicles
All Terrain Vehicles- Six by Six
Alternators- Belts
Alternators- Car, Truck Van
Amateur Radios
America: What Went Wrong?
America: Who Stole the Dream?
Amplifier- Sound, Electronic Ear
AM Radio Stations
Animal Cookies
Animals- Stuffed Toy
Antennas- AM Radio Antenna Reception Booster
Antennas- Phone, Cordless (Flexible)
Antennas- Television
Apparel- Short Run Manufacturing
Artificial Christmas Trees
Art Pencils
Arts and Crafts
Athlete's Foot Itch Creams
Athletic Walking Shoes
ATVs- All Terrain Vehicle

From doing a little searching, I can SEE FROM SEVERAL SITES THAT THE U.S. MOMS ARE HOPPING MAD OVER THE RECALLS and are researching American-MADE toys, and we KNOW WHAT POWER MAD MOMS HAVE!  And angry pet owners, too!!!

More:

Where a few favorites are made...

http://www.lego.com/en-US/default.aspx - LEGO pieces are made in Denmark and Germany.

http://store.playmobilusa.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-US-Site/en_US/Link-Category;pgid=acVoS08OV4Q000E8V1SN79.b0000yWLJftxU;sid=Q8us1toyiaJ6yJzH8wiO1No4l2I0UEsusiI=?catalog=STOREFRONT_US&name=S_ARTIKEL - Playmobil toys are made in Malta.

http://www.knex.com - creative construction toy

http://www.fatbraintoys.com/specials/made_in_america.cfm - a little of everything

http://www.treehollowtoys.com/organic.html - natural organic wood & cloth toys

http://www.sensoryedge.com/american-made-toys.html - toys & furniture

http://www.zometool.com/index.html - building type toys, Crazy Bubble

http://www.superstructs.com/index.html - building type toys

http://www.ecomall.com/biz/gift.htm - "everything eco-friendly," - I don't know where everything is made




Below is taken from this website: http://www.topix.net/forum/topstories/TK7S9ER939OLIVC0D

By HEIDI STEVENS
Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/shopping/chi-0812p2paug12,1,4040479.story

U.S.-MADE TOYS: The selection here is impressive. With 35 categories of toys, including train sets, puzzles and ride-ons, this online store appears to have a little something for everyone, and every item is made in the United States. The site is also refreshingly free of the jingoism that sometimes accompanies the "buy American" movement.

"Plenty of good stuff is made in lots of different places for some really good reasons," the site states. "But who takes their fun more seriously than the good people of the United States?!" Go to usmadetoys.com.

IKEA: I headed to Ikea in search of wooden train cars after tossing our Thomas set in an earlier round of recall madness. The store stocks an impressive selection of toys from all over the world (including China), but spokeswoman Janice Simonsen says they're all put through rigorous, accredited safety tests. The train sets are made in Bulgaria (and the cars fit on Thomas tracks). Visit an IKEA store, or go to ikea.com.

ROY TOY: Based in Maine, Roy Toy makes charming, wooden log cabins and other building sets made from pine logs and stained with a non-toxic dye. You may stumble across Roy Toys in some small, independent toy stores, but most of the biggies don't stock them. Roytoy.com has a full selection.

LITTLE TIKES: From bath toys to giant, inflatable bouncers, there's not much this company doesn't make, with much of it made in Hudson, Ohio. Little Tikes does have manufacturing and distribution centers in Europe and Asia, though, so if you're intent on buying American, check for "Made in USA" molded into the bottom. Little Tikes toys are sold at Target, Wal-Mart, major toy stores and littletikes.com.

CRAYOLA: The crayons, markers, paint and clay that have made this brand famous are mostly made in Easton, Pa., where the company's headquarters and major manufacturing facilities are located. Crayola products are sold pretty much everywhere. You can also shop at crayolastore.com.

There is the Discover Sounds Kitchen, made by the Little Tikes company in Hudson, Ohio. From bath toys to giant, inflatable bouncers, there's not much this company doesn't make.

And here is another idea for any critter lovers in your lives! Adopt a polar bear!

http://wildlifeadoption.defenders.org/site/Pa... =WHY07WDADOPT&s_subsrc=WHY 07WDADOPT_web 

........................................................

MORE TOYS:

http://channelcraft.com - toys, games, puzzles
 
LIST: Toys/Games made in the USA:

• Battleship
• Bicycle Playing Cards
• Boggle Jr.
• Candyland
• Chutes and Ladders
• Clue
• Connect Four
• Crayola Crayons * (check label for USA made - not all packages made here)
• Life
• Louisville Slugger
• Monopoly
• Mouse Trap
• Operation
• Parcheesi
• Play-Doh * (check label for USA made - not all packages made here)
• Pop-O-Matic Trouble
• Radio Flyer Discovery Wagon
• Scrabble
• Sorry
• Stratego
• Tri-ominos
• Trivial Pursuit
• Yahtzee
• Melissa and Doug U.S.A. Floor Puzzle (Most puzzles are made in the USA!)

Also, anything you buy from the American Plastic Toy Company is made in America?  Yes?
.......................................................

for pet owners:

a basket with things THEY can make for their pets  you can get catnip and wheat grass seeds, seed starter pots and a couple of larger ones. a small bag of organic potting soil and a little potting tool. add in some organic cotton fabric squares with patterns for toys. you could also pre-mix dry ingredients for treats and give recipes. for dogs, patterns and fixings for toys like cotton batting and stuffing, treat recipes and ingredients, cookie cutters, a fun ceramic hand crafted dog bowl with recipes for healthy stews, etc . . .  you can also put in fabric and rice so they can make mats for either pet that can be used for heating or cooling.  dried herbs like chamomile and lavender are nice to add to the bedding and mats. my pets love them.

Ask your family and friends to donate to an animal shelter in lieu of a gift.