25.3.15

Nature Bag and a Giveaway

Hello dear readers,

Ohoh, it's been too long... But it's good to be back, both at home and on my blog.
I had a lovely time in Thailand and today I would like to take you with me to an interesting project in a neighbouring country: Laos.

Maybe you remember the first photo, I posted it before on this blog last September...

ByHaafner, yarn bag, Nature Bag, kudzu, JungleVine

It's a bag from Nature Bag - I bought it a couple of years ago when I was in Laos. I sometimes use it as yarn bag when I'm abroad, because it's flexible and lightweight. It's from made of the natural, strong kudzu fibre which is traditionally used in Laos (and other countries) for making bags and baskets. Kudzu (also known as Japanese arrowroot, as Wikipedia kindly informed me) is a climbing vine that is native to Laos and many other parts of Asia.

ByHaafner, Nature Bag, kudzu, JungleVine



















On the occasion of posting that photo last year I was contacted by the kind Terry from Nature Bag. Nature Bag is a fairtrade project based in Laos. They make these traditional tote bags with a modern twist from the JungleVine as they dubbed the amazing fibre that is destined to be turned in a Nature Bag. We agreed that I would style and photograph more Nature Bags. The results of which you see here! I loved doing this because fairtrade has my heart.

ByHaafner, Nature Bag, kudzu, JungleVine


I tried to highlight the fact that they are very lightweight by pinning them to my wall. I only needed a two or three pins. (Good news for my wall.)

ByHaafner, Nature Bag, kudzu, JungleVine, yarn bag

Despite their lightweight nature and delicate looks, the bags are very strong, capable of expanding to carry heavy cargo. (I loaded mine with books!) The bags are knotted, not woven or crocheted, so in the unlikely event that a hole develops, the bag should not unravel. I wish I could say the same about my crochet. ;-)

ByHaafner, Nature Bag, kudzu, JungleVine, tulips






Nature Bag gifted a bag for a giveaway for my lovely readers! If you would like a chance to win the blue-striped bag below, follow this blog and leave a comment. You can enter until April 2th 2015. [Edit: now closed]

















If you'd like to see all styles of bags and meet the people who craft these lovely bags click here to go the Nature Bag website. (They have a webshop.)

ByHaafner, Nature Bag, kudzu, JungleVineIn my next post I'll show you a bag I crocheted with JungleVine. I'll also share my pattern!
Okay, that's it for now. I hope you'll enter the giveaway. [Edit: now closed] If you do: Good luck!

Many thanks for your visit and I wish you a most lovely week.



64 comments:

  1. They look like truly wonderful bags.

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  2. Ik wil heel graag de tas winnen. En ik ben ook erg benieuwd nar het patroon. Duimen maar....

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  3. Oh, zou heel graag de tas willen winnen voor m'n wolletjes...

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  4. I love the look of this bag and you did a great job photographing it!

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  5. Ik zou de tas wel heel graag willen winnen ....
    Groetjes Renate

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  6. Wonderful bags I would love to own one x

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  7. Os sacos são lindos.
    Adorava ganhar um deles.

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  8. Lovely bag, I remember using the arrowroot in macrobiotic cooking! Thanks for the giveaway. CJ xx

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  9. Love the bags and their natural look! You did a great job on them and deserve the praise from Nature Bag. Love the blog, I have been following, it's nice to see a post from you. Thanks for sharing!
    ~Crystal
    Crochet, A Day In The Life (find me on Bloglovin)
    http://krystlewv.blogspot.com

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  10. LOVE these bags, I have saved the link to the Naturebag website as I am thinking they will make great Christmas gifts for everyone this year!

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  11. Such beautiful bags, useful and fairtrade just perfect!

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  12. Perfect bags and I will love to win one of these!

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  13. Those bags are great! Love their look!

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  14. Wat een mooie fotos weer! Ik zou heel deze tas willen winnen!

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  15. Wow wat fantastisch mooi..!!!! Helemaal verliefd op die prachtige tas! Ik doe dus heel graag mee! Liefs Lisanne

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  16. Hi Haafner, these bags are great! I'm quite intrigued how the knotting is done, and also how you got on crocheting with the yarn so I look forward to your post on that. Yes I would like to win the bag of course but I think I will pop over to the website anyway to see what others there are :o)
    Have a super day! Sam xxx

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  17. Hi Haafner, thank you for the information on the bags, I've not seen them before and they look delicate yet strong. It will be interesting to see your bag and how easy it was to use Junglevine.
    Love the blog, you have some wonderful work on here. Cheers, André

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  18. I like the look of these bags... and I like the delicate yet strongest as that suggests the bag wouldn't grow like my home-made string bags! Lovely giveaway...

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  19. Such lovely bags, and I love the pictures you took of them.
    Trying to de-clutter I guess I should not try to win new stuff, but then having this bag would allow for getting rid of all the hideous plastic bags swarming our house, and not having to accept them anymore when shopping for I will be bringing my own (which will be much nicer than the refundable Zeeman ones I carry in my purse now).
    Love, Pauline

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  20. Hi! Neat bad and I love Fair Trade as well. Thanks for the giveaway. stairwayheaven11@gmail.com

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  21. I LOVE you natural fibers. This would be a great bag to take to the Farmers market!

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  22. I recently read that in England or the UK, shoppers provide their own shopping bags and most stores sell them. I've wanted to purchase a Jute market bag but I live in the states and the only one I seem to find come in large bulk orders sold for retailers or come with some logo.

    I love the style and materials for these bags. thanks for the link - and the giveaway.

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  23. Wat een mooie tas, ik zou dan ook graag mee willen doen

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  24. What a perfect bag for yarn storage!

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  25. Great bag to carry on everything everywhere. Thank you for the giveaway!!!!

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  26. Great bag to carry on everything everywhere. Thank you for the giveaway!!!!

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  27. Wonderful giveaway,bags looks amazing!Love it,thank you for the chance to win it.Have a great weekend.

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  28. These are perfect for me! The weight of anything I carry is urgently important because of severe injuries and surgeries....I just cannot lift heavy things...It is perfect to have a bag that is so attractive, yet strong to carry - whatever! This looks like it could even be used for groceries.
    Thank you for this wonderful opportunity!
    I'd sooo love to win this! Thank you, Nature Bag! and thank you, too, for offering this to us.

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  29. Love the fiber for the Nature bag,Its SUper Sweet,and can hold my pattern book and yarn,Thank you for a giveaway

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  30. I like to join in the giveaway. The bag looks really practical! I also like that its 'green' and reusable!

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  31. I am in love with this bag and I'd be happy if it came to me.

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  32. I see they are in OR. Is this contest international?

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  33. Supporting these ladies in Laos is fantastic! Thanks very much for this giveaway, the bags are great! Pati x

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  34. Lovely bag for yarn! Looking forward to seeing the pattern you created. {hugs} Maize

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  35. Those bags look so nice. Love your blog!

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  36. I love it. Thanks for giveaway. I am so glad I found your blog.

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  37. Hoi Haafner,

    Ontzettend leuk dat je door Nature bag bent benaderd. Het past inderdaad ook bij jou! Mooie outfit heb je trouwens aan op de foto.

    Vind je het erg als ik niet meedoe? Ik heb al zoveel tassen. Dan is het leuker als je een ander er een plezier mee kunt doen.

    Fijne week en goede Paasdagen!

    Madelief x

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  38. These bags look soo soft but durable! I like the striped one

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  39. I love the fact that these bags are made from something natural instead of plastic. I would love to own one. Thank you for doing this giveaway so I have a chance to win one. I live in the states and have never seen one of this type. They are just awesome.

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  40. Marnie G (Derrick Todd)March 31, 2015 at 10:57 AM

    I love the look of this bag. I'm sure it is very versatile and could be used for many things. I love the natural look and fibers used. I followed on Bloglovin' -- name: Marnie Guffey. Email: marnieguffey@gmail.com

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  41. Hello Haafner, I've popped you into my sidebar and will be a regular visitor from now on. Thankyou for the chance to be entered into this lovely giveaway. This bag is beautiful and as our cottage is full of wood and pebbles and old stone walls I have to admit to being rather excited by the natural style of it.Did you hear the news about our Comic Relief Crafternoon total? Wonderful no?

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  42. My daughter could use a bag like this for her yarn.

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  43. These bags are fabulous! This would be great for so many uses and it's cute too!
    I follow you on Instagram for all your great pics, as justjerseystyle.

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  44. This bag looks so nice! I can think of so many uses.
    bethelderton59 at gmail dot com

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  45. These bags look lovely. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

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  46. Cute bags!!
    I follow via email schutzme37@gmail.com

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  47. My wife would love the bag it is lovely. I follow via email. cooladam1 at live dot com

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  48. i follow via GFC and bloglovin'

    i loved looking at the blog with all the pictures of the village and villagers! very inspiring!

    kmcgrew213@aol.com

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  49. I am so glad I found Your blog! Wow, it's from Netherlands :) I also would love to win this elegant nature bag!
    I am following You on Bloglovin' via name: fiona nuyen
    Thank You for the chance

    Fiona N
    iceyogurt(at)gmail(dot)com

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  50. I am a GFC follower (katja9_10). This is such a cute bag. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Les Johnson
    katja9_10 at Hotmail dot com

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  51. I follow GFC as Angela Saver. Thanks for the chance!

    andysavi.mom@gmail.com

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  52. I follow you on GFC. The bag is lovely and would make a good place to hold my yarn so my cats stop running away with it!

    lshumack at gmail dot com

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  53. I follow on GFC as Pockets =) Thanks for the chance!

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