It's officially spring! Let's embrace the season and find joy in the small things.

In this list, you will find new ideas that you can add to your daily routine, and make the most out of the longer days.

1/ Go on a forest walk and take pictures of wildflowers. As the weather is warming up one of the most enjoyable things you can do is go on a long forest walk. Spot all the different wildflowers that are blooming and take photos of them.

2/ Visit a local flower farm. April is the season for tulips and daffodils. Even if you don't have the budget to travel to Keukenhof there are local flower farms where you can pick your flowers and enjoy the scents and blooms all around you.

3/ Find a new hobby. Spring is the perfect time to cultivate 

new hobbies. Find a great workshop in your area or a YouTube tutorial and just enjoy the adventures of new creative pursuits.

4/ Have a picnic. Take a blanket some snacks and a great book to your local park enjoy the fresh air, soak in the sunshine and relax.

5/ Bake something with fresh berries. Treat yourself to some amazing blueberry muffins or try a new recipe with fresh berries.

6/ Take a walk under the blooming cherry trees. One of my favorite sites in the spring season is all the beautiful pink blooms on the cherry trees. Find the spots in your local area where you can take a relaxing walk after a long day and enjoy these beautiful blooms.

7/ Go to an outdoor market and enjoy all the fresh produce of the season or find a handmade market where you can meet your local artists and support their crafts.

8/Refresh your spring wardrobe. Shop your closet and find new ways to style your favorite spring clothes.

9/ Spend a weekend in the countryside. There is nothing more relaxing than a weekend getaway to the countryside. Enjoy the nature and the good food.

10/ Visit your local botanical garden. Spring is the best time to visit your local botanical garden and enjoy all the blooming flowers in one place.

Who would have thought that one of the biggest challenges of being a small business owner would be sourcing brown fabric? For months now, I have been looking for a new supplier to get some brown waterproof fabric from, since my last one raised the minimum purchase amount to a point that is no longer sustainable for my small business.

In January I ordered a few meters of waxed cotton canvas from the UK, to see how I like the look and feel of the fabric, how I liked working with it, to see if the extra expense in taxes and shipping is overall worth it.

This is the first sample bag I made by mixing waxed canvas with light brown cork leather. I love the distressed look of the waxed canvas. I have been using this bag for three weeks, and I really love it. It fits all my essentials, such as my wallet, phone, keys, tote bag, tissues, lip balm, and gum, so it is perfect for running errands. I’m really happy with it, and hopefully, you guys will love it too.

I will have 9 of these leaf purses for you in the March shop update on March 22, Saturday at 3 pm CET!

If you are wondering how to properly clean and care for your cork products, you are in the right place.

Cork leather is a plant-based fabric made from the bark of cork oak trees. Our cork material is organic, vegan, sustainable, and non-toxic. It’s also 100% waterproof. Despite coming from a tree, is a very soft material with a versatile texture. Thanks to the honeycomb structure of cork, cork fabric is strong, but like any natural product, it will eventually show signs of aging. Cork bags will develop a beautiful patina over time and some burnishing may occur at structure points, but if you follow the steps below you can be confident your Leafling Bags cork bag will last a long time.

Step 1: Avoid puting your cork bag in situations susceptible to deterioration

One of the most important things when caring for your cork bag is avoid putting your cork bag in situations susceptible to deterioration. Avoid rubbing it on the ground and against harsh surfaces, keep it away from pets. Once scratched, it becomes difficult to repair the damage, so taking care of it regularly is essential to maintain your bag. Avoid exposing the cork fabric to direct sunlight or high heat as this can cause cracking or fading.

Step 2: Clean your bag on a regular basis.

To clean your cork bag or purse, all you need is a soft cloth, mild detergent or soap, warm water, and an adequate size bowl or recipient. 

Fill your bowl with warm water - never boiling, just warm enough to help the cleaning process - and, if your bag is very dirty, add a few drops of soap or mild detergent, the water should not be bubbly as the amount of detergent recommended is minimal. Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive materials as they can damage the cork fabric. If you just need to clean a couple of stains or if you are in a rush, you can use a biodegradable wet wipe and it will be ready to go. 

Use a dry cloth to soak up any excess water and let the bag oair dry (natural position to help to keep its shape) in a well-ventilated area. Avoid exposing the cork fabric to direct sunlight or high heat as this can cause cracking or fading.

Step 3: Apply Cork / Leather Moisturizer

Applying a moisturizing agent is essential for prolonging the lifespan of your cork bag.

For that, use a leather or cork conditioner to moisturize and preserve the supple feel of any Leafling bag.

As a general rule of thumb, you should moisturize a cork cork leather bag every 2 months, or whenever needed. If you use your purse every day, you’ll need to moisturize it more often (once a month) especially if it’s been dry and hot outside. If you notice any cracks forming along the folds or corners of the bag apply “cork renew” to these areas. While the cork leather used for Leafling Bags is naturally water resistant, leather conditioner will moisturize the bag to make it more supple and helps the bag maintain it’s water resistance and generally last longer.

Both leather moisturizer and cork renew are available for a few € on Amazon.

Step 4: How to Store Your Cork Bag

After a long day, it can be tempting to throw your purse by the door and forget about it. However, it’s important to always store it properly. Cork fabric can develop creases if stored folded or in an awkward position so make sure your bag is stored in a natural position, preferably in a dust bag. Avoid storing it in humid or damp areas, as this can cause mould or mildew to grow. Instead, store it in a dry and cool place, such as a closet or drawer. 

Still looking for a cork bag? Discover our collection here.

Cork is a vegan alternative to leather. Cork leather is a plant-based fabric made from the bark of cork oak trees. Despite coming from a tree, is a very soft material with versitile texture. Cork has this unique, soft feel that will convert you from animal leather straight away.

We import our cork leather from Portugal, they are the largest producer of cork in the world and known for their high quality.

Cork is a naturally renewable raw material, the bark of the cork oaks is peeled every nine years withoute harming the trees. The world's cork oaks bind more than 14 million tonnes of CO₂ per year. This corresponds to the annual emissions of almost six million passenger cars. The ability to store these gases is greatest during the growth phase of the tree. Therefore, a just peeled tree, which is in the structure of its new bark, can bind up to five times more CO₂ than an unpeeled oak of this species.

With the purchase of your Leafling Bag, you give Portuguese companies the opportunity to care for and reforest the forests and therefore make an active contribution to climate protection.