Craft Works - Let's Get Creative!

[rocket]

great job, looks really nice…

[van Olzon]

Well … while my Medium Wallet is making a trip to Japan with the lord for repairing and refurbishing I thought I need a substitute ... with a lot of inspiration from IH and some improvements ... praise myself ... this came out ... and thanks to G for the denim

[Giles]

Very cool

[hectic]

shit Van, take all my money now!

[jimmy]

That wallet is fantastic and the belt bag is incredibly well done.

[Seul]

Both items are simply stunning!..

[madmonday]

already said i'm in line waiting for van to start publishing pricing & selling items to the public.

this dude is really talented

[van Olzon]

@madmonday:

already said i'm in line waiting for van to start publishing pricing & selling items to the public.

Thanks, … do you really think I could sell my stuff? I just started leather working early this year more as a hobby. I improved myself since then constantly but I'm always unsatisfied with some details (like stitching, edges etc). As a  costumer I wouldn't accept this things or be willing to pay a lot of money.

[Seul]

That's ok - we'll just pay little money then!..

[van Olzon]

@Seul:

That's ok - we'll just pay little money then!..

less money … pah ... I worked 25h on these little fecker

[rocket]

seriously from the pics its really looks like a great piece of work and this

@van:

Thanks, … do you really think I could sell my stuff? I just started leather working early this year more as a hobby. I improved myself since then constantly but I'm always unsatisfied with some details (like stitching, edges etc). As a  costumer I wouldn't accept this things or be willing to pay a lot of money.

is excactly the right state of mind imo to get to the point to start a business later. If you are able to see the points where your work can be improved, you will be able to make the needed steps to become successful….

[madmonday]

i think you will always see points that can be improved.  i won't push you to sell items, but i will say you should strongly consider making you small hobby into maybe a small venture where you sell items to friends &  folks.  as you improve & get comfortable with materials & such you can always make the leap into an official brand/bizness.

from my narrow view it won't be that big of a leap as your original ideas & the products you produce are really stunning. please put up more images of the watch straps & such you did a while back.

[van Olzon]

thanks for your encouraging words guys …

@madmonday:

where you sell items to friends &  folks.  as you improve & get comfortable with materials & such you can always make the leap into an official brand/bizness.

I'm on the way … already sold some belts to friends and will further improve myself and try different things (like this time with the denim) to show you ...

[Lucifer]

@van:

thanks for your encouraging words guys …

@madmonday:

where you sell items to friends &  folks.  as you improve & get comfortable with materials & such you can always make the leap into an official brand/bizness.

I'm on the way … already sold some belts to friends and will further improve myself and try different things (like this time with the denim) to show you ...

Let me know when you want to sell a watch strap to a new internet friend  

[Jii]

Amazing worksmanship Van! Looks really good!

I know your feelings regarding selling stuff and the feeling that the finishing or other factors aren't up to par with what you think other makers are. I have exactly the same feelings about my stuff, and I've still sold some to friends and family. I've always given full disclosure about the things I've felt lacking and a full money back guarantee if there's anything they don't like about the product. I've also always promised to repair the item for no charge if something goes wrong during use. I've done this for about a year and a half now and I've had no complaints and no repairs so I'm pretty confident in the direction I'm going.

Pricing is always hard because making this stuff is very time-consuming, but I try to price my stuff so that I feel I get compensation for the time spent making it. And no-one has complained about the prices to this day so I guess there's a good balance between the product and the price.

That being said, it's still just a hobby for me, and I'll be keeping things very small scale for the time being especially since other parts of my life keep me pretty busy at the moment. I have promised to make a dog collar for a friend within a couple of weeks but that's about it for this year..

[Lucifer]

Quick question: where do you guys get leather straps for watches and reins etc? Do you buy wider straps and cut them down to size yourself? Using a metal ruler? Or some other tool?

[Jii]

I cut them down myself with the help of a metal ruler and sharp cutting tool (carpet knife usually).

[Lucifer]

@Jii:

I cut them down myself with the help of a metal ruler and sharp cutting tool (carpet knife usually).

Ah, ok. I guess I'll just get myself a metal ruler and a nice knife and try to make a nice watch strap in natural leather.

Do you guys thin down the leather on the edges where you sew? And do you glue at all?

If one of you could snap a few photos of the process next time, I would be eternally grateful

[van Olzon]

I buy the leather as complete skins or necks and cut it for whatever I want.
I use a strap cutter and/or a metal ruler and cutting tools (rotary cutter, scalpel, carpet knife).

@Jii … thanks for the encouraging words ... I guess I try it the same way
@Lucifer ... never made a watch strap so far ... personally I don't wear a watch that's why there is no interest. I'm more into wallets, belts, key straps ...

[madmonday]

er that's my fault.  jii made the watch straps, sorry satan, i mean lucifer 

***yikes