vds undyed custom hobo weeks cover

Van Der Spek Janet Leather Undyed Custom Codex

Welcome! Below I cover the back story behind my VDS Undyed Hobonichi Weeks cover: (1) custom specifications, (2) reasoning behind my choices for square corners, a regular version, chunky clasp, etc, (3) whether I use a leather protectant, and more! If you have questions or I didn’t cover something, feel free to reach out via IG or email!

In January of 2021, I placed an order for two custom covers for my Hobonichi Weeks: one in Janet Leather (JL) Brown and the other in JL Undyed. Van der Spek (VDS) standard codex is designed for the weeks.

Unlike my prior custom orders that were the result of long email-threads with Petra, the owner of VDS, these two I ordered directly via the VDS website. If you want customizations outside of the options offered on the website, e.g., custom pocket configurations, changes in dimensions, you can email Petra, the owner of VDS. After confirming your requests, Petra will provide a quote and you will pay directly via Paypal. This can be a long process due to the time change between the US and the Netherlands, delays between responses, and working out small details. But, you’ll get the exact planner you dreamed of in the end! Placing a custom order via the website was painless and quick. I plan on using this method again if at all possible!

By ordering via the website, the covers came with the standard pocket configuration which includes: 2 full height slip pockets, 6 horizontal credit card pockets, and one 1 bottom pocket (left side) and 1 full height slip pocket and 1 bottom pocket (right side). There is a pen loop included on the right side. If I were to change anything about the pockets, I would have added a secretarial pocket to the left or right, but decided to forego that to get my planners quicker and ‘cheaper’. (Changing the pockets is pricey!)

I did not get a stiffener and haven’t in any of the customs I’ve ordered. I don’t have a good explanation for why besides that I prefer them without it. I’ve owned VDS covers that did have a stiffener and I didn’t care for the slight amount of added thickness and squishiness beyond that of the leather itself. Hard to explain and it really comes down to personal preference!

my choices: Regular vs. mega?

As many of you know, the Hobonichi Weeks comes in two sizes: regular and mega. The mega has double the amount of notes pages. I’m going on my fourth year of using a weeks and have used both a regular and mega. For this cover, I chose to go with the regular codex. I wanted it to be less bulky, which also explains why I did not get a back pocket.

This cover will hold a mega weeks, but it will not hold two Hobonichi Weeks. My Custom Codex Mega in Parme (blog post), on the other hand, will easily fit two Weeks. Part of me does wish I had ordered the mega for those times in the future that I either want to use a mega/have more space or use two weeks at the same time (I have used 2 simultaneously!).

My Choices: Why Square Corners?

This is the first custom I’ve ordered with square corners. Many other planners in my collection feature square corners (ahem, Gillio). I find the square corners add an extra level of sophistication and classiness to the planner. LOVE this choice despite it adding an extra cost.

Why two covers?

Why not? Ha! No, really - I couldn’t decide between JL Brown and JL Undyed so I ordered both. They had identical specifications, except I added an extra pen loop (so there were two, one on each side) on the JL Brown.

I ended up only keeping the JL Undyed. It just wasn’t ‘love’ with the JL Brown.

Production Time:

I placed my order on January 24th and received a shipping notice on March 25th (just over 8 weeks). I do not recall a delay in receiving my order after it shipped. Production times can increase and decrease. For the current production time, check out the VDS website.