When I sat down to reflect on this week, my first thought was, “I haven’t actually made a bag.”
At first, that felt a little unusual. After all, sewing and creating bags is what Made by Nette is all about. But the more I thought about it, the more I realised that this week has still been full of progress—just a different kind of progress.
Running a handmade business isn’t only about the hours spent behind the sewing machine. It’s also about learning, planning, investing in better materials, refining ideas and creating the foundations for everything that’s still to come.
Some weeks produce a finished bag.
This week produced something just as exciting… possibilities.
New Leather, New Inspiration
The highlight of my week was undoubtedly the arrival of four beautiful leather hides.
I’ve added four gorgeous colours to the studio:
- Rose Pink
- Sage
- Golden Shark
- Cotton Seed
Seeing them all together really reminded me how much colour can influence a design. Each hide has its own personality, and as soon as I unpacked them, my mind was already racing with ideas for future bags.
The Rose Pink is soft and elegant, Sage is calm and timeless, Cotton Seed has a beautiful understated warmth, and then there’s Golden Shark…
I have to admit, Golden Shark is quickly becoming one of my favourites. When you look closely at the grain, it has a wonderful aged character that gives it a real vintage feel. It reminds me of well-loved leather that’s developed its own story over time. I can already picture it becoming beautiful satchels, messenger bags or classic everyday handbags that will only look better with age.
Sometimes it’s amazing how one piece of leather can spark so many ideas.
Building My Leatherworking Skills
This week has also been about expanding my toolkit.
My new leatherworking tools have arrived, and I couldn’t resist laying them all out across the table to admire them. Looking at them together made me realise just how much there is still to learn—and that’s one of the things I love most about this craft.
Every new tool represents another technique to master, another skill to develop and another opportunity to improve the quality of my work.
With my traditional leather tooling retreat coming up later this year, it feels like everything is beginning to come together.
Working Behind the Scenes
Not every improvement is something you can hold in your hands.
This week I’ve also spent time working on my website, refining product pages and making improvements to the shopping experience. These are the jobs that often go unseen, but they’re every bit as important as making the products themselves.
I’ve also been working on the new storage cubes, continuing to organise my studio and create a workspace that inspires creativity and keeps everything within easy reach.
Running a small handmade business means wearing lots of different hats. Some days I’m a maker, other days I’m a photographer, website designer, blogger or organiser.
And honestly… I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Looking Ahead
This week reminded me that success isn’t always measured by what leaves the studio.
Sometimes it’s measured by what arrives instead.
A beautiful leather hide waiting to become something special.
A collection of new tools waiting to teach me new skills.
A website that’s becoming a little better with every update.
Each of these things is another step forward, another investment in the future of Made by Nette.
I’m excited to see where these new materials, new skills and new ideas will take me over the coming months—and I can’t wait to share that journey with you.
Thank you, as always, for following along. Whether you’re here for the finished bags or the story behind them, I’m so grateful you’re part of this adventure.
Filed under: Behind the Seams • Leathercraft • Studio Updates • Handmade Business • Made by Nette
Every stitch tells a story, and I’m so glad you’re part of mine.
Until next time,
Nette 🖤