Swap-o-Rama-Rama - Fall 2009

If I could only write about one event, I would write about Swap-o-rama-rama. As a matter of fact, I DO write about this event quite a lot (and you can read all the postings here) ... but that is because it is truly the best place to score free clothing and get awesomely inspired to "pimp" your own clothes. I always leave this swap with a bag full of clothes and the desire to cut up and redesign the clothes in my closet that I "almost" like. (Hey, that's me in the picture on the left making a super cool shirt out of a dress.)

One note: Bring your own good fabric cutting scissors. There are never enough. I'm going to bring mine and tie them with a long ribbon to my purse shoulder strap. I suggest you do the same.

Upcoming Swap in the Los Angeles area just in time to create your Halloween costume. Mark your calendar.

Venice Center for Peace and Justice with the Arts
2210 Lincoln Blvd (one block north of Venice at Victoria)
Venice, CA 90291
Saturday, October 10, 2009
noon to 5pm

To find upcoming events in your area, click here.

To find out how to start a swap in your area (yes, YOU can create one yourself... it's easy), click here.

Swap-o-Rama-Rama - Summer 2009

I've written about this before, but I need to make sure that my readers really GET this and GO!

One of the very best clothing bargains ever is Swap-o-rama-rama. You take a bag of your good condition clothes that you don't need/want anymore and trade them for someone else's good condition clothes that they don't need/want anymore. PLUS there are sewing machines and designers to help you "pimp" your new items. It is just the VERY best.

One time, my daughter got a pair of brand new knee high Liz Claiborn black leather boots from Paris. We knew where they came from because the person that brought them to swap saw the boots in my daugher's arms and told us the story. She was glad to see that they had gone to a good home.

OK.... so, there are actually two swaps this coming weekend. One is in Santa Monica, California and the other is in San Mateo, California at Maker Faire (www.makerfaire.com). There is also another one coming up in LA on July 11th.

The swaps are not just in California. Click here to find listing of scheduled swaps. If there isn't one in your area, you might want to see if you can get one scheduled. It is well worth the effort.

Get the info on these swaps at: www.hiplinemedia.com/swaporamarama.html

Swap O Rama Rama - Los Angeles - November 16, 2008

Oh joy of joys.... another Swap O Rama Rama date in the Los Angeles area has been announced.

Get out your calendar.  Make a big red circle around the date of November 16, 2008 and don't plan ANYTHING ELSE for that day!  This is one of the greatest events for a Bargain Queen (or King) in Training (that's YOU .... my readers).

I have now been to two Swap O Rama Ramas so I can report with certainty that this is a not-to-be-missed event.

OK... so enough gushing... I'll tell you about the event.

The next Swap O Rama Rama in the Los Angeles area will be on November 16, 2008 at The Shrine Auditorium at 649 West Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007 from 11 am to 5 pm (get there early... there WILL be a line.)

In order to get into Swap O Rama Rama, you can either bring a bag of clothing or accessories and pay a $5 admission fee or you can come without a bag and pay $10.  I suggest you bring a bag, not only for the cheaper admission fee, but to clear out your closet for the new goodies that will be a-coming.

Upon turning over your bag of goodies and your crumpled currency, you enter a swappers dream world.  Piled high upon tables are clothing items sorted into major groupings: tops, pants, coats, sweathers, dresses, etc.  On the floor under the table are shoes.  On another table or hanging on something are accessories.

Hugging the walls of the space are tables with sewing machines attended by helpful volunteers ready to assist you in redesigning your newfound treasure into something different.

At the last Swap I attended, I picked out a boxy shaped souvenir t-shirt.  Great color, great picture on the front.  Horrid fit.  With the help of the lovely volunteer (who, by the way, makes her living as a wardrobe mistress for a major movie studio) that t-shirt was restructured into a fabulous top that actually FITS me.  It's my favorite shirt and it is sooooo cool looking.

My teenaged daughter scooped up a pair of black leather Liz Claiborne knee-high boots.  As she was walking around, a lady saw them and said, "Oh, you got my boots.  I got them when we went to Paris and I wore them for one day.  But, I'm not a boot person, so I brought them here."  How cool is that?

This Swap O Rama Rama is also going to have a craft show.  These are members of the cutting edge of the Los Angeles Craft scene.  I know their work.  Get ready to shop for Holiday presents.

So, I can't say enough about this event.  Don't miss it.  After the last Swap, I felt so bad that I hadn't insisted that all my friends go.... so, I'm telling you now... don't miss this!

For those of you not lucky enough to live in the LA area, there are Swap O Rama Ramas in other areas of the world.  Go to SwapORamaRama.org to find or start a swap near you.

Huge clothing swap and create - Swap o Rama Rama

"There's a new phenomenon sweeping the world called Swap O Rama Rama. Founded by Wendy Tremayne, Swap is a clothing swap and series of DIY workshops in which participants explore creative reuse from recycled clothing. Basically, you bring a bag of clothes and they get sorted into piles by volunteers. You get to sort through all the clothes and work at the various DIY stations and sewing stations to create new clothes! It is the best GREEN event going on! Come on, let's save our planet!" (quote from Hip Line Media)

Couldn't say it better.... well, actually, I CAN add to this blurb. Swap o Rama is tons of fun if you are a creative-type person looking for some new super-cool, one of a kind duds to wear. PLUS, looks of wonderful people to meet.

It's not just about clothing. There is also an area designated to making jewelry. Last time I was at a swap, I made a bracelet with matching earrings out of Monopoly houses and hotels. I LOVE them.

OK... so if you are in Southern California, mark your calendar for June 28, 2008 and mapquest 2210 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA because that is where the next Swap where I will be is taking place. But do not despair if you live in other areas of the country. Swap has gotten so hot, there are scheduled events in such diverse venues as Philadelphia, Oklahoma City, Milwaukee, New York and Durham, NC. You can check out where events have been and where they will be by clicking here. For info on the Venice swap, click here.

Admission is $5 with a bag of clothes and $10 without clothes.... so, go through your closet and find some stuff that needs a new home.

Going to one of these events is well worth the hassle of getting there. Have a great time.