Interview with Etsy Seller mrhanz about his Luxury Leather Goods and Coupon

I recently found this shop on Etsy, mrhanz.  He's from Java Island makes and sells Luxury Leather Goods, wallets, belts, passport holders and more.  They're wonderful. He makes them out of exotic leathers like Python, Cobra, Buffalo and more.  So I asked him a few questions about how and why he got started.  Read on for his interview:
1. How did you get started making your items?   In the beginning, I started making watch straps for my personal use. Then friends started asking me to make other accessories (wallets, key chains, belts,etc).

2. How long have you been making them? And how long have you been selling them?  I've been making my items for a few years, but I only started selling them since last year. I've only started selling on etsy about 2 months ago.
3. Do you make these items yourself?  Yes, I make my items myself, although some of the designs were created by what my friends have requested.
4. About how long does it take you to make an item?  It depends on the designs and the availability of the materials.
5. What pushed you to make your items and sell them?  It was a personal hobby of mine, but I've never thought that other people would like to buy them. I take pride in my products, when I go out, I usually wear my own watch strap, wallets, belts, mobile phone case. That's how I get my sales from local buyers, actually. My friends see them and buy from me. When they wear my products, their friends will also be interested. So, I got a lot of repeat buyers.
6. What prompted you to use the materials you use? The calf leathers, buffalo, python skin, cobra and others?  I personally like leather products. I think they are more durable and can last longer than other materials. I use genuine materials only because I want to present my buyers with quality products. Snakeskin is one of the hottest trends this year, especially for women's products (wallets, purses, shoes).
7. How hard is it to get your materials for your items?  I purchase my materials from trusted suppliers. They have a higher price compared to other suppliers, but I can rest assured because their qualities are genuine. For me, I think it's a bit harder to find calf leather that suit my needs. As I hand-pick each leather and skin myself, I will only purchase the materials that are high qualities, something that I see I can wear myself. Which is why, I have limited products in calf leather.  For snakeskin, it's easier to find, but for some colors, I sometimes have to wait until it's available in my suppliers.
8. Where else do you sell your items?  I sell on etsy for international orders. For local orders, I sell using my facebook page. I also get regular orders from a boutique at a high end mall.  I've also been getting sales from local repeat buyers. 
Here's one of his great Passport holders from Python:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/82230088/python-leather-passport-cover-natural

Now, for my Blog readers, mrhanz is offering a 10% discount code valid until Nov. 7th.  Just use OCTMRHANZ909 for your coupon when you check out.  Be sure to check out all his other great items.  2 more are featured in the Featured Shop of the Day at the top right of my blog.

Bead Soup Blog Party-My Kreationz

There's this wonderful thing I found last spring called the Bead Soup Blog Party (BSBP for short).  It's created by Lori of Pretty Things.  People sign up, are assigned partners, exchange beads and then create something out of the beads they receive.  The partners are supposed to try to find out something about their partner and then something from their Bead stash that would push their partner to create outside their "comfort zone", think "outside the box" so to speak.  The only Bead requirement is you send a Focal and a Clasp, (something other than just a lobster clasp). The creativity of the people that participate is just beyond words.  Anyway, I decided to "play" this time and was assigned Loretta Carstensen, of Designs by Loretta, from California.  Here is the wonderful soup she sent me:

It consisted of Smoky Quartz nuggets, a Dalmation Jasper strand, some pretty little gold seed beads, some 14K gold filled spacers, a 14K Gold filled clasp, and a shell/MOP focal, that I haven't figured out what I want to use for, yet.  Anyway, here's what I created.  A Fan Pull with one of the Smoky Quartz nuggets, a Necklace with the Smoky Quartz Focal and other nuggets and a pair of earrings to go with the necklace.  I wire wrapped the nuggets, made my own link with a bead I had for the Focal, added some other of the same beads as links with the Dalmation Jasper and Gold seed beads and  used Brass wire to bring out the gold as links to attach the Gold filled clasp.  The only thing I'm not sure of is whether I want to leave the Fiber I added in the necklace or not.  Although I like the extra color and texture it adds, I'm not sure I'm really fond of it in this case, since it seems to take away from all the wire work.  Anyway here's my Kreationz.  Hope you like them.  And when you're done looking at them and hopefully leaving me a comment, you can visit the rest of the BSBP participants by clicking on the list below.  (If it's not clickable, please visit Pretty Things Blog for the full list)

This is the one with the fiber. 

Without further ado, go to Pretty Things for the list for you to visit:

Click on each name to go to their blogs. These are the partner pairs.

The Hostess, Lori Anderson and her partner, Manuela Wutschke

I'm so sorry, I had the list here, but it wasn't clickable, so I didn't do something right.  But if you click on Lori Anderson or Pretty Things it will take you to the full list of participants and is clickable. Please visit all the blogs as you have time.  Enjoy.

Soup's On

Stay tuned. Tomorrow the Biggest Bead Soup Blog Party ever starts.  There's over 360 participants this time.  Hopefully (if I did it right)  my list will be clickable so you can just go to the next participant after viewing my 'soup' from my partner, Loretta.  You'll love all the creativity.  We got paired up, traded beads and then had to create something from those beads.  So check back in first thing tomorrow a.m. and see all the wonderful "soups".  Here's a peek at what I was working with.

Beaducation class Winner!

I'm so sorry. I was out of town last weekend and just got home late Monday night.  And I thought I would have internet access to post the winner Saturday or Sunday, but didn't.  Then yesterday we had some friends show up to help us replace our gate and a wildfire started about 10 miles from us.  We had to watch it and start packing up some stuff to put in our Travel trailer in case we needed to get out, so we'd save at least a few things and have a place to live if they didn't get it under control.  So I didn't get this posted yesterday like I was hoping.  So without further ado, the winner of their choice of class from Beaducation is:

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1

Max: 25
Result:


3

TaDa!  It's bwHeather!  Yay!  Congrats for Heather.  She wanted to take the  Pearl Hope Online Class with Dallas Lovett.  So I'll be e-mailing you about your win and Kate at Beaducation.  She'll get in touch with you about what to do.  Stay tuned all.  Hopefully I'll be able to do another giveaway before long.

Beaducation Class-Hammered Textured Metal and Giveaway!

Ever wanted to take a Jewelry class of some kind, but couldn't because there wasn't anyplace within 60-100 miles of you that taught any classes?  Or couldn't because they were so expensive, you couldn't afford the drive and the class?  Then this website is for you.  It's called Beaducation.  And it's wonderful.  I first heard of them when I entered a giveaway for a class on another blog.  I checked them out and they have a multitude of classes.  From free classes on how to make your own ear wires, or even introduction to Chainmaille, to classes you purchase on Metalwork, Chainmaille, Mixed Media, Seed Beads and so much more.  After winning my class, Kate from Beaducation contacted me about doing a review.  I love metal, so I checked out their classes and they put the Hammered Textured Metal class in "My Classes".  After watching the class all the way through (they recommend that so you can become familiar with the class and everything you'll need)  I printed out the PDF sheet which tells you all the steps and all the materials you'll need.  The great thing about the Beaducation classes is, that once you purchase/win your class, it's always yours and you can watch it anytime and as many times as you want.  After gathering all my materials I "took" the class. I have to say, Kim St. Jean is a wonderful teacher!  She explains everything very thoroughly and even gives extra tips.  I LOVED this class!  My hubby says he thinks it's one of his favorite pieces that I've made. And the best part is I can watch it again and again.  Some of their classes even have DVD's you can purchase now to have it right in your home.  I think every time you watch one, you pick up something you may have not caught the first time or that you've forgotten.  The texturing was easy to do. Although I didn't have but 2 texturing hammers, Kim explains very easily how to texture and enough ideas/tips so you can figure out how to use what you have to make do.  Also, I didn't have any LOS (Liver of Sulphur) to patina my piece, so I just left it.  It will patina itself eventually, and I don't mind the bright copper look for the time being.  I'm hoping to use these techniques to add to my Glass Kreationz and Jewelry for my Etsy shop, KayzKreationz, shortly.  So without further ado, here's my Bracelet I made with my Hammered Textured Metal class from Beaducation.  I did make mine a little different.  Being from Texas, I couldn't resist stamping my center piece with "I ♥ Texas" (I love stamping metal too, and they offer the classes and the stamps to do this.)  In fact, I'd love to have some more of their stamps for my metal work.

Now for the good part.  You can win a class of your choosing from Beaducation. 

First, you have to become a follower of my blog, then go to Beaducation and come back and tell me what class you would take if you win.  This step is mandatory.  Leave one comment telling me you're a follower and what name and then your class choice.

For extra entries:  Follow Beaducation on twitter and let me know what name.

Follow KayzKreationz on twitter and let me know what name.

Follow Beaducation's Blog and leave them a comment telling them KayzKreationz sent you.

Share this Giveaway with your friends/family and come back and let me know how you shared it. You can do this once a day till the Giveaway ends.

You can't leave anonymous comments and must leave a way for me to contact you if you win. Make sure you leave separate comments so I can keep track of how many entries you have, Thanks.

This Giveaway will run until Friday, Sept. 9th.  I'll post the giveaway winner soon after that.

I did receive a class from Beaducation to review for this post and giveaway.  I did not receive any other compensation from them.

New Clay Beaded Lily Flower Plant Charmer, Stake, Poke Jewelry

I love decorating my plants, pots, garden.  This is my newest listing in my Etsy shop, KayzKreationz  It is a polymer clay Lily flower, with Yellow, Orange, Green Dyed Howlite beads and Copper wire tendrils on a Copper Wire plant stake.  Some people call them plant stakes, pokes.  I like to call the Plant charmers.  Because they just add "charm" to your plants and pots.  This listing is for both and includes free shipping.  So if you're looking to "accessorize" your plants and pots, check it out here: Lily Beaded Plant charmer  It's jewelry for your plants.
And for more great Stained Glass, Mosaics and Fused Glass items for your Home or Garden, again, visit my shop, KayzKreationz.