Leerbewerken workshop leathercraft for kids a.k.a. #personalchallenge

For English scroll down

Werken met leer met kinderen. Workshops op de basisschool en een #PersonalChallenge.
Nee, het is dus geen nieuwe collectie maar wel een erg leuk project. Het heet de Talentencarrousel en moet de talenten van ouders verbinden met kinderen op de basisschool. Zeer intensief en daarnaast ook heerlijk om weer eens anders te kunnen denken en creëren, om buiten het kader van de strakke lijnen van mijn collectie te kunnen stappen en .. om dat het leuk is om met je handen te werken. Sorry Dutchies, De tekst is in het engels, na 10 jaar Etsy teksten in het engels gaat dit me echt beter af in het engels.

WORKSHOP New collection? No?!?! Last week I started an intense period of 6 leatherworking workshops in 3 weeks for 2 primary school groups. I spent a few evenings making examples and Pauline did most of the pre-cutting / pre-knotting / pre-punching 💪🏼 This picture shows the phone case which the oldest kids will be making in the following 2 lessons. It is so inspiring to see how handy they already are, if they take the time.. as most of the boys could concentrate for about 4 minutes 🙄 so I will now divide the group into 2. One group will start working on the iPhone case while the others will draw and cut leather feathers for a necklace or keyfob. Now you might wonder -- a phone case? Yes, I asked them (the group of 8-12 years old) what they would like to make after their first leather working trial with a leather bracelet, some carving and handsewing. The main answer was -- phone case. I realized that the kids whithout a phone were quiet, so there will be other projects to make for them.

MODUS OPERANDI // I need to share some words about my experience in that classroom -/ After those 4 minutes the boys became so loud, I could not talk or think anymore. What has happened to habits, to social behaviour? Rules in the classroom? Listen to each other? Boy .... what a job; teacher 🙏🏽 . It was also a reflection on the way I prefer to work, the atmosphere I create when I need to be productive -- CALM is the magic word. I always try to set up a quiet place to work by myself or even with my kids around we have a Modus Operandi all together. In a classroom with this noise it would be impossible for me to produce anything. I realised I am blessed with my 2 calm kiddo's. Or is that DNA ? Well it' s good to know I have a few #PersonalChallenges ahead, at primary school :) // 

DNA And .. back to the leathercraft: Do you recognize our family DNA in these pieces of art? Miss P. made the triangle case in this last picture. 
​
DIY KIT If you are interested in this kind of leather craft or would you like to receive this as a DIY leather craft kit please let me know. I am looking into the possibilities of setting this up as a new product so I'd be happy to hear your thoughts! 
​- Annemieke

Etsy Sales Map and an inward focus.

All over the world! Showing you -once more- a map of my Etsy sales. Such a nice feature. It makes me smile.
People here in this dull little village often wonder what I do - they ask me if I can shorten their curtains "you have a sewing machine don't you"  because the sewing studio nearby is so expensive ..(that one made me cry a little) On the other hand, when people find me through the internet they are amazed with how small my studio is compared to the ​image they get from my website and collection. So it's good, all good. I need the web AND my little countryside village to get the work done. The postoffice and school are nearby and so are all our friends and family. It's the perfect inward focus for my business - I can sell worldwide and I do not need to have a large stock or production spaces. I do not even have to leave the village. Ah such a boring life (not). Looking forward to adding many more orange dots on the map! Yeah! 

Add: To All Etsy sellers: here's the link to the Etsy sales map app:
​http://www.etsysalesmap.com

Christmas gifts and express shipping for the holidays

While you are shopping for christmas presents I was shopping for express shipment options! I am so glad to tell you that I finally found a way to offer worldwide express shipping - for a third of the original price. Transit time for the US is 2 businessdays and for the rest of the world it takes 2-3 businessdays. Yes, it does cost some extra but I can tell you - in the week before christmas I get many request from people all over the world to please deliver on time. And now I can! Express shipping is available as an upgrade for all items purchased in our Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/WestermanBags Please bear in mind that delivery estimates are calculated from the time of despatch, rather than from the moment you place your order. As each product is carefully made and packed by hand, these estimates can vary, particularly during busy times of the year. So if your order isn’t despatched straight away, don’t panic! We’re on it. Are you looking for A Very Personal Gift for That Very Special Person? Did you know that all of our felt cases and bags can be personalized with custom initials? It makes a unique present. The initials will be carved into s small patch of leather and this will then be sewn onto the felt case, in the lower left corner. It is detailed and precise excercise. The leather monogramming is available as a seprate listing. How does this work: You will need to purchase both the item of your choice and the initials. This way you will see 2 items in your shopping cart. The initials listing can be found here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/248510705/monogram-personalise-your-case-customize

Etsy Craft Party Amsterdam 2016

Wil je handgemaakte spullen verkopen? Begin je net met je Etsy shop? Wil je de stap zetten maar heb je nog veel vragen? Kom dan naar de Etsy Craftparty op 2 juli. Dat is aanstaande zaterdag al! Ik ben er ook, als "expert" (uche uche) om vragen te beantwoorden en te luisteren naar je plannen (en om stiekem te genieten van al die inspirerende mensen). Je kan ook workshops volgen van andere Etsy verkopers en er zijn natuurlijk mooie handmade en vintage spullen te zien. De tickets zijn gratis maar een donatie wordt op prijs gesteld.
Voor meer info & ticket reservering:  https://www.eventbrite.nl/e/tickets-craft-party-25778163180
Tot zaterdag! - Annemieke

Kadobon / giftvoucher nu ook te koop bij Westerman Bags!

Inmiddels is onze collectie zo gegroeid dat we best begrijpen dat het moeilijk kiezen is. En helemaal voor iemand anders! Daarom hebben we nu de Westerman Bags cadeaubon gelanceerd. Je kan de bon online afrekenen en direct uitprinten (voor de echte last minute kado's) of plaats een bestelling en dan maken we er echt iets bijzonders van, met voorbeeld materiaal uit de collecties. (Vilt en leer natuurlijk) En je kan ook nog kiezen voor een sfeer: De Colour Collection of New Heritage. 
Klik hier om de vouchers te bekijken en te bestellen!

Summertime - protect your ereader!

With the summer season ahead it's time to protect your ereader from beach sand and moutain dust.. New ebook devices have been released and yes I have the stuff to protect them in style! Both Kobo and Kindle have a new top model: Kindle Voyage and Kobo Aura H2o...of which the case of the latter happens to have a very nice review in our Customer Gallery.
This classic case with leather closure is also available in my Etsy shop.

The cowhide leather of which the leather strap closure is made, is a natural product and it can differ in colour and texture. I now have new stock of this thick natural tanned leather!

My top #10 tips for running a successful Etsy shop.

" Celebrate your succes" I read the other day. Now that's good advice for someone who just keeps on going. With 2000 sales in my Etsy shop, I feel I do have something to celebrate! I want to share my festive mood here, with you. Looking back I think I can share with you my top ten tips for being succesfull on Etsy. I never wrote something like this before, so please ignore my writing skills and read "between the lines" about one happy Etsy entrepeneur, from Holland. I hope this is both helpful and informative.
So much has been written about these subjects already, so I'll be sharing my favorite links.
Comments and likes are much, much appreciated.

#1 PLAN. Make a good solid plan. I believe a businessplan also incorporates your private, personal situation. Where do YOU want to be in 5 years? What is important in your daily life? Do you want to work alone, take care of the kids, make a lot of money? How can you get there.
-- I needed to be able to pick up my work and take it with me in case we would move abroad (or to the Dutch countryside, where we ended up!). Also, after some corporate partnership adventures in the past, I needed to be the sole captain of my creative ship. 
Benefits of an Etsy businessplan by an Etsy entrepeneurHow to write a creative business plan in under an hour.

#2 find your NICHE. With about 1.5 million (!) shops on Etsy you do not want to sell anything "mainstream". You will not be found. Be VERY specific in what you make. Find your audience, find your niche.

Etsy in 5 numbers (video)
Find a niche market for your designs

#3 START . Oh yes, this one seems so easy, but for me it's one of the toughest to get over with. Plans, designs, ideas, hurdles and opportunities, they can all be IN your head. But to get it going, start. Make, do, move.

#4 take stunning PICTURES. Bright, fresh, crisp clean and styled by you. The camera from your smartphone will probably work well, nothing fancy needed. Nothing beats a white background and daylight.
4 Essential Product Shots for Your Etsy ListingsTop Tips for Smartphone Photography

#5 LEARN from other Etsy sellers. Dive into the many, many articles on the Etsy Blog. I loved the 'quit your day job series' .. whilst dreaming of what could be... and now is! become a member of an Etsy team. There may even be a local team to catch up with!

#6 Be PROFESSIONAL . Want to sell like a pro? Act like a pro! Customer service, setting up policies, financial planning. It's not something on the side. Get rid of that "I am doing this out of my basement" feel. Your customers expect the best. And yes... you can. 
Good read from FitsSmallBusiness on how to be successful on Etsy

#7 Find your AUDIENCE. Try tradeshows, craftmarkets, pop up stores etc. Set your goals and learn from experience. I tried it all, and, for WestermanBags, the magic fomrula is ... online selling works best, combined with several handmade markets a year, in the big cities like Amsterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg.

Sunday Market Amsterdam
Markt van Morgen Antwerpen
Hello Handmade Hamburg

#8 Be PREPARED for success. Think big. Find people who can help out during busy times, the holiday season. Work on a vast relationship with your suppliers - who can send you your goods in 24 hours. The tip relates a lot to #6. Be a pro.

#9 LOVE what you do. Big or small, 1 or 25 pieces, a product made by you is the best thing that can happen to .. anyone. Smile and share!

#10 NEDERLAND is klein, met Etsy is de hele wereld je doelgroep! Er zijn meer succesvolle Nederlandse verkopers (..lees en leer!) en er is een Nederlands platform. Je kan zelfs je winkel in het Nederlands en in euro's opzetten. Wat houdt je nu nog tegen?

Nederlandse Etsy Community


**
I hope you enjoyed the first real "read" on my blog. Not to forget .. The reason of all this is my Etsy shop WestermanBags in which I sell felt and leather covers and bags.
Annemieke xo.

Felt Iphone 6 cover wallet

... from our new leather. I am very happy with this new achievement. All cases, closures, bags, labels etc. will be updated in the coming period. The new leather is a little thicker. Here is a first iphone 6 case with the new natural leather. I have been selling this one from the day I posted it so very promising :) Thanks!

In sandbrown ...

In Grey ..

Leather import - leer importeren. A quest for the best.

(Nederlandse tekst onderaan)
Since I bought the full stock (!) of my supplier last year, I was on the lookout for vegetable tanned buffalo calf leather. This is the leather which I have been working with since 2011. I love it. And yes, I dare saying you love it! The warm cognac brown colour and the soft finish make it perfect for detailing and carving. It was a long search but the story got better and better even though we took the long route. Via India actually. Many companies have sent their samples, only one was good enough. the sample was not some scratch from an existing collection. No even the sample was made for me. A small family run tannery has made exactly what I wanted. It is softer and the texture is more even, with less irregularities to the skin.

The process of inquiries, sending, receiving and reviewing samples, took over 4 months. The exiting news is that my order of buffalo leather is underway to the Netherlands as of today! I am importing my custom tanned leather into Holland this week, if DHL is delivering according to promiss. Looking forward to showing you the first new items with this very special material!

 
Sinds ik de volledige voorraad leer had gekocht bij mijn leverancier ben ik op zoek naar nieuw leer. Dat bleek niet makkelijk. In Nederland word bijna geen leer meer gelooid en je kan eigenlijk alleen partijen kopen. Dus op is op. Om door te gaan met mijn collecties wilde ik veel en ik wilde speciaal. (That's me :) Namelijk plantaardig gelooid leer van buffel kalf. Echt waar.
Het leer wat ik tot nu gebruikte kwam uit India, dus ben ik daar gaan "zoeken".
Een leuk en langdurig proces van samples heen en weer sturen en beoordelen was de afgelopen maanden "talk of the day". Vele telefoontjes, emails en appjes uit India en Pakistan later ben ik uiteindelijk in contact gekomen met een kleine looierij in India. Zelfs hun sample was al speciaal voor mij gemaakt, (met foto's van het proces erbij!) dus geen restje van een bestaande collectie oid. Met respect voor de volharding van de eigenaar, hij was overtuigd van zijn kunnen maar ik was de +91 telefoontjes inmiddels al zat.. hij had gelijk.

Vandaag is het dan zover. Mijn zending leer is onderweg naar Nederland. En wel uit India. Een klein familie bedrijf heeft speciaal voor mij plantaardig gelooid buffel leer gemaakt. De huiden worden buiten, in de zon gekleurd. Het is een product, materiaal om trots op te zijn en het past dan ook geweldig goed bij mijn producten en bedrijf. Het leer zelf is soepel en stevig in warm cognac bruin en is perfect te stempelen, zie hieronder.

Ik kijk er naar uit om met dit mooie natuurlijke product te gaan werken, reken maar dat er binnenkort nieuwe hoezen en tassen zijn!

Work in progress - internship results :)

Hallo iedereen,

Ik zit nu in de 4e week van mijn stage bij Annemieke.
Tot nu toe bevalt mij dit super!
Ik leer heel erg veel en het voldoet precies aan mijn verwachtingen.
Wat dat betreft heb ik het niet beter kunnen treffen als 1e stageplek!
Om een paar momenten op onze dagen te vullen hebben wij besloten om een eigen tas te gaan maken.
De patronen heb ik zelfstandig uit getekend en op stof gelegd en uitgeknipt enzovoort..
Met de goede aanwijzingen, steun en aanmoedigingen van Annemieke is dit het eindresultaat geworden!!
Dit is mijn eerste tas en project die ik zelfstandig uitgewerkt heb en ik ben er super trots op natuurlijk!
Ik hoop dat jullie hem ook mooi vinden en ik hoop nog meer van deze leuke projectjes te starten!

Groetjes,
Willem-jan Dekkers

Price cut on international shipping

Yes, the title is right! I have found a way to send most of the large 13 inch cases and covers with a vast price reduction. As the PostNL here in Holland decided last year to take out the tariff of 250 grams - 500 grams, the shipping price of large covers doubled. I was not happy but there was not much I could do.
Now after some thorough investigation and trials I have found a solution! And it is named  Tyvek. This lightweight yet unbreakable envelop fits perfectly around the cases and will also easily slides through your mailbox - even when you are not at home! Yeah!

Lene Risvik Johannessen did a very nice job of picturing a grey felt 13" case on her Fashioninspo Instagram. Crisp and fresh Scandinavian insipration!

Hello nice to meet you!

Hallo allemaal,

Mijn naam is Willem-jan Dekkers en ik zal Annemieke haar stagiair zijn tot aan begin April.
Ik ben 20 jaar en woon in Kampen, en studeer Fashion&Styling op het Landstede te Zwolle.
Ik hoop bij dit bedrijf veel te leren, zoals het omgaan met de verschillende stoffen en technieken en ik hoop hier heel gedetailleerd te werken.
Ik heb in ieder geval heel veel zin in de komende periode!
En ik hoop dat Annemieke tevreden zal zijn met mijn hulp!

Vriendelijke groeten, Willem-jan Dekkers


Hello everyone,

My name is Willem-jan Dekkers and I will be Annemieke her intern until April.
I am 20 years old, I live in Kampen and I study Fashion&Styling at Landstede in Zwolle.
I hope that I'll learn a lot from Annemieke such as the different fabrics we are working with and the different techniques Annemieke uses.
I hope to learn how to work nearly.
In any case, I hope that this coming period will be a lot of fun!
And I hope that Annemieke will be happy with my assistance!

Kind regards, Willem-jan Dekkers