For-profit blog. Non-profit post.

The Girlie Blog is a for-profit blog. My other blogs and websites are for-profit too.

None of them make a huge profit -- and with the increasing demands of motherhood they makes even less now -- but they make something, and I'm happy about that. 

Earning, after tax, goes towards sustaining the sites themselves (hosting, SEO, research, marketing, etc.), as well as kids' extracurricular projects and activities that my husband and I would otherwise think twice about spending money on.

For-profit blogs are often frowned upon.

It's been a controversy in the blogging community for a long time. Whatever opinions you have, I respect. However, do realize that many, many NON-PROFIT blogs are written to drive traffic to for-profit businesses and services. (I've actively studied the IM forums for years; I know what goes on.) These bloggers often disclose their real names that can be easily found through social platforms like Linkedin, or post links to businesses they support. These blogs scream so righteously that they are non-profit, but indirectly they make quite a pretty penny.

Why. So. Sneaky.

This blog is for-profit.

I proudly disclose that, and urge you to do the same. There is no shame in getting paid for the hard work you do. At least you're not paying five dollars to a kid in a third world country to pump out really bad content that you'll stuff with keywords -- and on a .org too.

Once in a while, for-profit blogs do non-profits deeds.

And today's post and advertising is purely non-profit. Though I was contacted by a local advertiser to write about local designers selling on SwopBoard, I like the website, I like the designers, and I like even more what they're doing for local schools.

In case you haven't heard, SwopBoard.com is an online market place, much like Craigslist, niche'd-down for families. Founded by busy mom Natalie Angelillo in 2013, SwopBoard lets you buy, sell and trade gently used items in a warm, family-oriented community.

Sounds like a wonderful idea, right? Here's the kicker: "every time a parent at your school sells an item on SwopBoard, your school receives at least 10% of the sale. The more people in your school that buy and sell on SwopBoard, the more your school makes."

What a great way to give back to the local community!

Now, SwopBoard is teaming up with local designers who have also agreed to give back -- I LOVE THAT! And I think you should get to know these wonderful, talented and most of all generous designers on the SwopBoard Boutique:

1. Même (exclusive to SwopBoard)

Même is a minimalist clothing label focusing on neutrality and longevity in garments for children ages 1 to 7. By combining elongated and breathable silhouettes with finer textiles, garments are made to grow with your children and be shared between brothers and sisters.

2. Silvae

Silvae is a Seattle-based, ready-to-wear line by Deborah Roberts that is produced domestically in New York. Inspired by her surroundings in the Pacific Northwest, the collections merge feminine silhouettes, organic shapes, and a love for the surreal.

3. Velouria

Velouria is a shop in Ballard specializing in lovely, small production, independently-made clothing, jewelry, accessories and then some!

4. Rachel Ravitch

Rachel Ravitch studied art and design at the University of Washington in Seattle. Her current line of jewelry is inspired by movement and flexibility. Each piece is crafted to be lightweight, durable, and unique.

5. Jennifer Ament Art

In her own words: "I went to school for design and psychology, dropped out, traveled, listened to a lot of music, saw a lot of shows, came back to school for art...traveled...married...traveled...had babies, Akira and Henry, painted, carved, cut, kept drawing... decided I needed some art for my own walls...my friend came over and asked if she could buy some...I made some for her....started getting more interest about my art...and things went from there. I am not interested in mass production, 10 to 50 is my usual run...I love what I do, if it ever starts not being fun...I will stop doing it..."

6. Akiko's Pottery

Akiko is from a small town on the north island of Japan. She has been living in Seattle since 1986 and making pottery for 24 years. She enjoys making pottery, baking bread, making sake, spending time with her four adult children, gardening and tango dancing.

7. Ladies and Gentlemen Studio

Founded by Dylan Davis & Jean Lee in 2010 , Ladies & Gentlemen Studio's playful explorations in materiality blend their resourceful curiosity with the desire to find ideal pairings of material and function. The Studio's open, multidisciplinary approach to design yields an ever-evolving set of ideas and experiments fed by inspiration collected from their everyday discoveries, explorations, and surroundings.

8. FARIS

Artist and designer Faris Du Graf was raised in the Northwest by furniture specialists, so modernist principals of purpose, order, and equanimity are native to her outlook. Exploring the complexity and simplicity of shapes, and seeking to maximize the impact of minimal materials, Du Graf hand-built the brass plates and hinges that make up the first armor-like collection of her eponymous jewelry line. She debuted F A R I S in early 2013 as an ode to historical art, contemporary culture, the icons of decoration and the abstraction of ideas, and the rich community of craft around her.

You can find all the designers at The Boutiques section on SwopBoard at this link.

Thanks for reading! 

I hope you check them out. And I hope you enjoyed today's non-profit post, despite it being on a for-profit blog.