Check out my new vintage bathing suit! That beautiful blue and black polka dotted one-piece is indeed my 2008 choice for swimwear. Due to our taking the Wardrobe Refashion Pledge, a homemade bikini was actually in the works instead of my usual trip to Target’s swimwear section. But like most great wardrobe choices, that blue suit was love at first sight. I haven’t worn a one-piece in years and frankly I didn’t think that a genuine vintage bathing suit would be very comfortable since a lot of them were wool. But I put those concerns aside and decided to be adventurous. I’m so glad I did because not only is this skirted one-piece cuter than any of the bikinis I have been watching, but it’s made of cotton and oh-so comfy. Even better, it was “new old stock” (commonly noted as “NOS” on eBay) so although my Lee Swimplay suit is probably from the 1950’s, I’m still the first one to wear it!

If you’re still searching for the perfect swimsuit (or one of many) and want something really unique for summer then you must see the selection of vintage bathing suits on eBay and Etsy. Unlike new suits, each vintage bathing suit is one of a kind or extremely limited edition, and the range of styles is much more creative than modern swimwear. Buying vintage online also gives us the opportunity to support all the great indie business owners out there.

Left to Right: some girls vintage, Love Spy Vintage, and Mel’s Shoppe Vintage

Here are a few of the hottest vintage swimsuits being bid on right now. It surprised me that they were all one-pieces, but those are indeed the best sellers, almost without exception. Despite the popularity of the modern bikini – and I swear it’s not hyperbole to say that nearly everyone in southern California wears one – it seems that a new retro-loving generation is discovering the one-piece. Some truly fantastic maillot swimsuits did come from seasons past; highly styled designer suits of the 40’s and 50’s, the profusely psychedelic prints of the 60s, deep V necklines and bias cuts of the 70s, and uber high cut legs and fluorescent colors of the 80s. Whether you’re a vintage fashionista or a lover of all things retro and ironic, there’s a style for you.

Below are some of the most popular vintage bathing suit auctions going on right now, but there is always more to be found on eBay.

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/mables/mables.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/payitforward/payitforward.php on line 122

About 3 years ago I picked up my first copy of Dream Big by Lisa Hammond on a lark. I was skimming the New Arrivals section at my library and the bright cover and bold title leaped out at me. It wasn’t a topic I had been consciously thinking about, but I was willing to give it a look. The ambitious tag line sounded great too – “Finding the courage to follow your dreams and laugh at your nightmares” – but I wondered how the author was going to cram such life-changing info into the relatively small book. The introduction gives a great insight when Lisa mentioned that she did not start with a business plan, despite everyone insisting that she do so. Following a lengthy “winning formula” can be so helpful at times, but your creativity and integrity will rapidly change your entire life. What made this book so endearing and inspirational to me was that simplicity. She encourages women to start with what counts: finding your passion. Everything else will flow easier once you start from a place of personal honesty. We’ve all heard the old saying that when you find work you love, it never feels like work. This is exactly why Lisa’s book is called Dream Big! She helps break down some of the internal barriers that prevent us from pursuing our DREAM calling. Not a “job” or even a “career”, but a “calling”. What a huge difference this will make in finding fulfilling activities to pursue.

The author is well qualified to write this book, as she is the owner of the mail order company Femail Creations (”Gifts to Celebrate and Inspire Women“). It was started by Lisa when she stopped working at her husband’s construction company. Like many of us, she was “going crazy” working at a job that she had little interest in! Lisa needed new work that was meaningful to her, and would allow her to stay home with their daughter. She was able to do both when she realized her dream of starting a mail order company. What made that meaningful and fulfilling for her was that she offers products that also support other women. Femail Creations sells many handmade, limited run, artisan products created by women, some of which are also SAHMs. Not only does Ms. Hammond now have a calling that she loves, but she is able to help other women realize their dreams by giving them a place to sell their creations. That’s the kind of win-win business planning that I love to hear about!

Femail Creations doesn’t really do sales, but they just let us know about a FREE shipping sale for orders $75+. No coupon code required, just click the link and it will automatically be entered into your cart.

Other places to buy the book online: Half.com (my fave), Amazon, and eBay

Dan Piraro is a multi-talented guy, but he is probably best known for his off-beat cartoon strip, Bizarro. Although I had seen that cartoon in a few various places over the years, it wasn’t until I read about Dan in the debut issue of Herbivore Magazine that I began to take notice of his work. One particular area of his focus really caught my attention: animals. Outside of being a skilled illustrator and comic, Dan is also passionate about animal rights and isn’t shy about using his skills to raise awareness about it. His latest contribution is a bizarre and very cool looking shirt that he designed for Endangered Wear that gives 100% of the profits to Dan’s favorite farm animal sanctuary. There’s a limited run of 750 shirts being produced by indie shirt company Endangered Wear (limited runs are their specialty, hence the name). All of their designs are printed on made in the USA, sweatshop-free American Apparel t-shirts, too. Whether you’re a card carrying member of the Secret Society of Vegans like us (just kidding, they don’t issue cards), or just not a big fan of factory farming, this shirt is a fun way to spread the word and help animals. And honestly, how many shirts do you have that feature a retro-look piggy being flown to safety thanks to a flock of funky birds?
$22.95

Last year, the handmade revolution caught on like wildfire. Giving handmade gifts says so much more than any factory made item, and it supports independent artists, too. We scouted out some unique Valentine’s Day gift ideas that would make a loving and unexpected gift for your special someone.

It’s official: Etsy is the place to get handmade items year-round. They have a beautiful Valentine’s Day Showcase to make it easy for us shoppers to find those truly unique items.

Let’s begin with a couple anti Valentine’s Day gift ideas, because not everyone thinks hearts and candy on February 14th. The one of a kind creations from Snarky Cards make me genuinely LOL. Over the course of about a week, I’ve read every card to Sean, which prompts us to cackle with delight. (I almost wish I had more questionable relationships so that I would have a reason to use these cards. Almost.) They’ll send the perfect message to your ex, or anybody else you want to stick it to this V-Day.

This Anti Valentines Day bracelet from Ben can Dance Creations is similarly blunt and snarky. With such unmistakable missives as DIE, KTHX BYE, and U SUCK, your target will get the message loud and clear. A perfect piece of jewelry that says “I hate Valentine’s Day”, but is still super cute.

For those of you with more traditional- and functional- relationships in mind this holiday, here are our absolute favorite picks from the myriad of handmade cards on Etsy:


Handmade Valentine’s Day cards (from left to right) from Art by Nakisha, Twisted String, and picklehead.

Although Etsy is increasingly popular, there are still lots of handmade Valentine gifts on eBay, so be sure to check those out, too:

You heard it phrased a million different ways last year: green is the new black. 2007 was definitely an amazing year for advances in the “green” lifestyle. Information, organizations, and products that help us reduce our global footprint popped up everywhere! Whether you switched to a hybrid vehicle or didn’t have a chance to “go green” last year, there are lots of ways to easily transition to a more eco-friendly way of life. Here are a few of the biggest, yet easiest and most affordable green ideas;

Food
Surprisingly, what we eat has more impact on the environment than the kind of vehicle we drive! The 100 Mile Diet blew up in 2007, bringing much needed attention to the effects of transporting food rather than buying locally. Combine this knowledge with A Few More Inconvenient Truths and we’ve got a recipe for the most eco-friendly diet possible. According to an article from Earth Save called 100 Mile Diet Not Quite Right (PDF file):

“Take the intentions of the 100 Mile Diet authors to heart, but be careful about it. Make sure that the foods you choose are plant-based, seasonal and organic. Don’t drive great distances to get it. And, like Smith and MacKinnon, grow what you can yourself. In the long run, the whole world will be much the better for it.”

Clothes
Here’s a fun way to make a stylish and eco-friendly change: update your closet. When the time comes to replace any part of your wardrobe- from shoes to jeans to accessories- look for sustainable style. According to the Organic Consumers Association, “Cotton accounts for 50% of the world’s fiber needs, 24% of the world’s insecticide market and 11% of sale of global pesticides, making cotton the most pesticide-intensive crop grown on the planet.”
Because of their selection, The Green Loop is my favorite source for sustainable, sweatshop-free clothing and accessories. Their prices are a little out of reach for some, but they are fantastic for inspiration and for a few key splurge items. Amazon actually has a growing selection of more affordable organic clothes, as does eBay and even Zappos. Want more purchasing options? Check out Of The Earth’s awesome retailer links page.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Upcycle?
This is a broader concept that challenges us to integrate green ideals into every area of our lives. You’re probably familiar with the first 3 concepts, but “upcycling” is quickly gaining momentum in the handmade community. Etsy has a great article that discusses how everyone can learn to “repurpose” trash-bound items into something useful. Not only can you upcycle your own goods, but you can also purchase products that are made of upcycled or recycled material. Definitely check out Neurasthenia’s Recycled Wearables, epositive, and EtsyTrashion.

Have you decided to go green in 2008? We’d love to hear your experiences and tips; please leave us a comment!

Have you ever wished for a 50s style purse- with the trademark quality and attention to detail-that was still brand new? “Deadstock” purses are hard to come by, and often cost an arm and a leg, and accurate reproductions are even rarer still. Thank goodness for Revamp Productions and their line of retro purses, each handmade by local craftsmen and artisans in the USA. Most feature lucite handles and gorgeous barkcloth reproduction fabric: perfect for that vintage 50s pin up girl look. Check out the beautiful atomic boomerang print on the “Brandy Alexander” featured at left! The website says “these purses are not so much a purchase, as they are an investment. Worth every penny, these Revamp Productions Purses (are) guaranteed to last a lifetime!” Visions of reproduction 1950s heirloom purses handed down to kids in 2050 are swimming through my head now. Oh, the fashionable irony!

While there’s only one style of the “high end” purses currently available, you can get a free Express Mail upgrade with the purchase of any Revamp Productions purses valued at $200 or more. (You’ll receive Express Mail shipping at the Priority Mail price, for a savings of $10-15). I can’t wait to see the newest styles!

$72 most styles