May 29, 2012

Swap Your Way to Best Dressed

Recently Travel + Leisure voted Portland one of America’s Worst-Dressed cities. HOW RUDE! Though I disagree, I can see where they’re coming from. We live in a place where wearing a sleeping bag  four months out of the year is customary. I get it. Exhibit A:

That would be my dog Franklin and I in matching coats. Don’t judge. We were cold.

Anyways, let’s go ahead and BREAK THAT STEREOTYPE. Wear cute outfits! If you’re a guy, wear cool, manly outfits (I hear you don’t like having your clothes called “cute”). Wanna know a super cheap way to get cute outfits?

SWAP!

Come to SWAPmaine on Sunday, June 10 at the Portland Flea For All from 10:00am to 2:00pm. You’ll gain some awesome new-to-you digs, all for the cost of your old clothes. If you bring your stuff to the pre-drop off time on Saturday, June 9 from 10:00-2:00 we’ll give you a ticket to get in free. Hooray!

So, let’s show Travel + Leisure who’s boss. Wear your finest this summer!

Laura
sweeter salt

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May 22, 2012

Atelier Stitch to Offer Free Tailoring at Swap!

Dear swappers,

The third installment of SWAPmaine is less than three weeks away! The SWAPmaine team is busy getting ready – recruiting final volunteers (interested? Email us at swapmaine@gmail.com), flyering the town and getting ready for the Pre-Swap Drop Off Day (you want to get in for free, right?). We’ve also been gathering some great raffle prizes AND thinking of other ways to make this event a great swap experience for you!

We are excited to announce a new addition this year – Giselle from Atelier Stitch has offered to set up shop during the swap and will do simple repairs (holes and hems) for tips only. So if you find the perfect shirt, but the hole in the elbow isn’t doing it for you, stop by Giselle’s table for a quick fix! She can also help hem pants and skirts – even if you don’t need tailoring, stop by her table and learn about all the great, affordable tailoring services she offers.

Atelier Stitch also offers sewing classes  (every good swapper should learn some basic sewing skills so they can rescue cast offs), quilting classes, embroidery classes (I’m definitely signing up for this, I’ve always wanted to learn!) and a Youth Fashion Apparel Sewing Camp.  We are thrilled to have Giselle at the swap and hope you will stop by and visit!

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May 14, 2012

The Incredible Shrinking Woman

My weight has always been a little unstable. In college, it all started when I packed on the freshman 15 (and by 15, I mean 30). But then post-college I peeled it all off on Weight Watchers (vowing never to do it again). But of course, a few years of checked out snacking and TiVo, I crept back up again… Throw a failed marriage and a blown out thyroid in there, you’ve got a good 15 years of ping ponging between single and double digit pants.

Up until very recently, I’d been in double digit town for over 3 years, and had pretty much let go of any hope of ever fitting back into my “skinny clothes”. In fact, I brought all but my very favorite “skinny” items to the last SWAPmaine, and exchanged them beautiful things that actually fit me. Finally comfortable in my curvier body, I focused on building a fantastic wardrobe for the body I had, instead of punishing myself for the body I might never have again.

And then, I got sick. Continue reading →

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May 8, 2012

What’s Your Swap Style?

At this year’s swap, will you beeline it to the shoe section? Fill up two bags (illegally)? Take your time combing through each and every bin? Take this custom SWAPMaine quiz to find out what your swapping style is. Tweet your results to @SWAPmaine!

via

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May 4, 2012

A Journey Back..

to SWAPmaine numero dos.

if these photos don’t make you want to join us for swap number 3, just think about getting new clothes for free. yes. free. at no charge. actually, it will be a reward on top of a reward. since donating your old clothes will only help out goodwill of northern new england, you will already be feeling good. free clothes with just be an added bonus.

since this will be our third time around the swapping block, we are becoming a bit of a pro at this. so if you enjoyed the first swap, LOVED the second swap, just imagine how you will feel about the third swap.

hope you are as excited as i am… now start going through those closets!

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May 2, 2012

Pre-Swap Drop Off! All the Details You Need

Pre-Swap Drop-off Details

Saturday, June 9, 10 am to 2pm
Portland Flea for all

Bring a bag (or 2 or 3!) of clothes, shoes and accessories and you will get a ticket to attend the swap on Sunday, June 10 for FREE!

As you may recall from our last two swaps, we set up pre-swap drop off days so you can come to the swap hands free and ready to swap. In exchange for dropping off early, we give you a ticket for free admission – pretty good deal!

Why does SWAPmaine offer this? The pre-swap drop off is very important to making sure the swap goes smoothly. When we have enough people that drop off early, it gives the SWAPmaine crew and all our amazing volunteers the time to sort through the clothing, hang it up on clothing racks and place everything in the right categories. This pre-sorting allows us to have a beautifully curated assortment of clothes, shoes and accessories ready for swapping the minute the doors open.

While of course you can bring your clothes the day of the swap (and we encourage this, so we can continually replenish the inventory), there are benefits for the organizers and YOU when you drop off early. And remember! All leftover clothing is donated to Goodwill, so as always, we encourage swappers to give more than they swap.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions at swapmaine@gmail.com. Interested in volunteering during the pre-swap or the day of the swap? Let us know and get in for free!

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April 27, 2012

Big News! Next SWAPmaine Event Scheduled for June 10!

Hey swappers – WE ARE BACK! The next swap has been scheduled and we are in a brand new, exciting location!

Sunday, June 10
10:00-2:00pm
Portland Flea for All
125 Kennebec Street
Portland

Thanks to the brand new Portland Flea for All, they have graciously  offered to host us for our third swap! More details to come soon, but mark your calendars and start gathering your clothes, shoes and accessories for some serious swapping just in time for summer!

As always, all proceeds will benefit Goodwill Industries of Northern New England.

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