a local market + backpack giveaway!


Recently I was contacted by a large sunglasses company to host a giveaway on my blog.  It's my first request for a sponsored link, and honestly, I considered it -  traffic coming through here and somebody gets a free pair of sunglasses!  Their requests were that I post photos of cool looking fashion bloggers wearing their sunglasses and give an introduction with links telling all about their company.  After a bit of consideration, I decided - nope.  I would have to warp my personality to pretend that I've always wanted these sunglasses, and that you should too - it felt like selling out. 


And to be honest, I already often resent how material and opulent the blogging community tends to be - sometimes making it seem that you have to be wealthy and live in a perfectly clean big white house filled with nice/expensive things in order to have a successful blog and a happy life.  Or how many blogs post endless products that further inpire this wanting - perpetuating the idea that owning more and more things will make you happy.  While of course, this urge comes over everybody (I have a bit of a clothing problem myself), I generally like to promote the ideal of: 
live simply, work with your hands.  

And, it's probably best to support others who are doing the same.


So, I didn't really feel that this globalized sunglasses/glasses company was fitting into this ideal.  But, it did spark the thought: hey, I should still do a giveaway!  


So, I present to you a woven straw, drawstring backpack, lined with cotton, and attached with adjustable leather straps - I picked it up from a crafter at a vintage fair here in Victoria.


And, and, and that's not all! I'm going to fill the backpack with products from local Vancouver Island farmers markets!  Things like salves and seed bags and locally crafted goods, all produced here on the island, or from neighboring islands!  A sort of local farmers market kit + plus beautiful straw backpack giveaway!
I mean, I think we all have the desire to collect lovely/cool things, and as long as it's not done in excess, why not satisfy that desire by supporting nearby farmers, artisans, and crafters?

All you have to do is post a comment below and you'll be eligible for the giveaway!
Winner will be picked and posted on June 3rd!


** This post was also inspired by Milla of The Girl Who Married A Bear.  She's doing a series right now on buying and selling clothing, personal style, clothing ethics, and more!  Check out her blog!

22 comments:

  1. Oh My gosh! Best Giveaway Ever! I will for sure try to post this on my blog! I'm going on vacation tomorrow but I'll try to sneak it. So loving your blog and inspired by you.

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  2. Sounds great!

    Thanks for giving us the chance to win so original gifts! :)

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  3. Can we please be real-life friends? You are such a constant inspiration and this giveaway is just perfect! :) Thanks so much for hosting it!
    -Stefanie

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  4. What an absolutely lovely giveaway; I discovered you through Evi at sexta-feira and am now following you via bloglovin'.

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  5. Count me in, what a great giveaway!

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  6. I totally agree! I find it annoying when blogs have promos and such from big companies. I mean, everyone needs to get paid but it makes me doubt the integrity of the blogger... xo m

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  7. Oooh, this is soo much better than fancy sunglasses! I'm crossing my fingers. And happy to discover your sweet corner of the blog world (through Milla)

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  8. hi ~ I love what you are up to here. Congrats for standing up for ethics. Hooray for local crafty goodness!

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  9. What an amazing prize! I never seem to win anything but I'll give it a try.

    I'll be travelling to BC this summer and I'm spending a few days on the island. Do you know any cool stuff to do in Tofino?

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  10. Wow! Crossing my parts as well.

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  11. Fantastic giveaway. This is so much more meaningful and interesting. I live in Texas, but I've always dreamed of traveling to the PNW and BC!

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  12. How thoughtful and lovely this giveaway is. Thank you!!

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  13. What a wonderful giveaway! Thank you so much for the chance to win handmade loveliness. So glad to have found your blog (through Milla)

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  14. Hi! I just found your blog through Milla and I'm so glad. More PNW lovliness. This is a sweet little backpack and I'd love to win it and it's goodies. :o)
    jenergy2004(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  15. Ooh, I could really use a treat like this - thanks for the chance to enter. I found your blog through Milla, too. It's beautiful! I'm glad I stopped by. Big props to you for turning down the sunglass company. I really don't like blogs with sponsored posts - it's usually when I stop following a blog, when that starts to happen. The only exception to that rule is the Soulemama blog. (I've been reading her blog since she started so I can't kick that habit.) I love the ad-free blogs! x Helen

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  16. What a wonderful gift! Thanks for the opportunity! :)

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  17. I found you by way of Milla. I'm so glad I did! What a beautiful little space you have created here. I'm a fellow PNW'er and can't wait to spend an evening scrolling through your words and pictures.

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  18. Hi! Just found you via Milla's blog. What a lovely giveaway--and so much cooler than sunglasses, I think.
    ps the egg tarts on the post before look scrumptious!

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  19. Am I too late to enter?
    The backpack is adorable!
    Keeping my fingers and toes crossed.
    xo, j

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  20. This website and I conceive this internet site is really informative ! Keep on putting up! Timeshare Exit

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