Start Your Holiday Shopping Swapping

The holiday season is almost upon us, but this year, many Americans can't afford to cross everything off their loved ones' wish lists. So what's a cash-strapped consumer to do?

If you're in the Seattle area on Nov. 21, buy a ticket to the Holiday Home Accessories Swap. It's an ecologically — and economically — friendly event sponsored by Sit + Sip, a company dedicated to promoting sustainable possibilities for your home. With a solid 20 percent of admission proceeds going toward charity, it's worth considering staging a swap in your 'hood, too.Here's how it works: Swappers scour their digs for gently used décor items (pillows, lamps, throws, frames, etc.) that they'd like to trade for other people's swag. Then, participants bring their wares (a minimum of three) to the swap location, peruse the merchandise, and seize the chance to swap their goods for someone else's.

Lest you're imagining a free-for-all with shoppers duking it out over a lamp, the event is actually conducted in organized rounds where 25 people swap at a time. Each person is guaranteed to walk away with at least four "new" treasures, plus whatever items are leftover after the swap rounds are complete. The brains behind the swap are Sit + Sip's co-founders, Sara Eizen and Piper Salogga (pictured here, Sara on left), both Seattle-based interior designers who focus on helping their clients make responsible, green choices when redecorating their homes. In 2008, the women banded together to form Sit + Sip, often hosting events at their favorite home accessory stores (complete with coupons and goodie bags) where they highlight new green options that have come onto the market.

"We realize that not everyone has the budget to retrofit their home with solar panels, tankless hot water heaters or all new energy efficient windows and appliances," says Salogga. "So we wanted to show people the range of things they can do like buying a couch from a company that uses reclaimed or FSC Certified wood in their frames and non-toxic chemicals in their fabrics or products from companies that support fair work conditions or pillows that are made from recycled fabric. It can also be as simple as trading your home accessory items at a swap to simply freshen up the look of your home or office." The idea for the Home Accessories swap came to Eizen, ironically, after she found herself with nothing to wear. "I needed new clothes and had heard about clothing swaps," says Eizen. "And then a light bulb went off in my head. I thought, if people are swapping clothes, why can't they swap home accessories?"

The pair decided to test Eizen's theory by holding their first swap last March. It was such a success they were inundated with requests for another event. In keeping with the spirit of the season, this time the swap will have a holiday theme: Along with home accessories, swappers are also encouraged to bring gently used Christmas decorations that they either have no use for, or have grown tired of.  That idea was inspired by Salogga's own stash of holiday mementos that deserve a good home.

"My grandmother gave me this beautiful bell collection. It's so pretty, but it's just not me. That's a perfect item for the swap," she says.Tickets to the swap are $10 and can be purchased on the Sit + Sip website. (Since only 100 slots are available, reserve your space now!) Also, check out the site for a list of approved swappables. And, as if dressing up your dwelling for 10 bucks weren't enough reason to get out of the house, you'll also be supporting a worthy cause — 20 percent of all proceeds will go to the Seattle Children's Hospital and any leftover items will be donated to the Children's Hospital Thrift Stores.  Swappers are invited to bring a $10 gift card for the hospital's teenage patients.

"We want people to do their holiday shopping with us," says Eizen. The motivation, she says, is simple. "A lot of people are having a tough time right now, but we all still want things. That's not going to change."

'Tis the season to be thrifty!

The DetailsWhen: Sat. Nov. 21, 2009. 9:30am - NoonWhere: Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103; 206.783.2244Cost: $10