Care of your Hayden Harnett

[asark]

Here are a few pics to better demonstrate the issue:

[gingeybear]

Gingery, meet me in the Care of HH thread about the Oyster touch-up. I've a plan...

Hi Stormy...your wish is my command. I'm new to the wonders of the HH line, but fell hard and fast. I actually have three questions for you but first things first.


When I went to the physical SS, I bought a Tharpe in Oyster with serious blue rubbing on the bottom, the lovely ladies who ran the SS and who also work at the Brick and Mortar speculated it might be from denim. The price was a steal, and I couldn't pass it up. It doesn't show from the front, but in the back..but I really wanted to make it mine and rescue it from handbag hell.

Please enlighten me, what do you envision? I also bought an Oyster Havana with no discernible damage for an excellent price, but after reading other people's posts, perhaps I might have made a mistake? Again, is there an ounce of preventative care and protection hints that you can provide?

I purchased the Conrad sample in Yam yesterday online. After wearing my Yam leather Ramone Cuff today, I just took it off and realized that perhaps I should also ask you how to prevent spots and water damage to this type of leather. I'm asking because when I washed my hands without taking it off, I noticed that the leather had darkened from where the water spritzed.

Thank you.

"I get by with a little help from my friends"

[asark]

Hey Gingey, do you see any yellowing on the waxy edging of either of your oyster bags?? I'd appreciate it if you could take a peek if you have a sec

Thanks, and I really hope everything turns out well for your abused bags!

[Stormy Heart]

Originally Posted by asark

Dear Stormy, The waxy-ish coating on the edges of my oyster Lorca have turned canary yellow in various places. There is a canary yellow glob of what looks to be glue sticking out (dried) from under a hoop of the strap. I also have found more yellow on the edge of a zipper pull on the front of the bag. To avoid monkeying around with it I spoke to HH and sent it back for cleaning/repair since this was something that I noticed with in a few days of obtaining her. I got it back the other week (they sent it overseas), and it is in EXACTLY the same condition as when I sent her out! HH has now offered to exchange her for a ruby or yam Lorca... but I LOVE the oyster colour and would prefer to remove the yellow. I also do not want to mess up the bag if I end up sending it back. Please help Stormy - I would like to get back to HH asap with my final decision. Thanks! A.

How did they explain why they didn't fix it ? Could it be be nobody noticed,or HH forgot a work order ? I hate that STUFF they use, it's a cheap shortcut GRRRRRR.
I don't know what chemical can remove it, without ruining your leather. The Blobs could be carefully (BARELY TOUCHED) scraped off; I'd use a scalpel. Some adhesives respond better with slight warming. Then touch up with matching metallic acrylic paint topped with clear acrylic, IF you want to "monkey around" ~ otherwise take the exchange, get RUBY, then watch bay for a new Oyster.
Sorry Kiddo. All that carbon footprinting overseas for naught...

[gingeybear]

Originally Posted by asark

Hey Gingey, do you see any yellowing on the waxy edging of either of your oyster bags?? I'd appreciate it if you could take a peek if you have a sec Thanks, and I really hope everything turns out well for your abused bags!

Sorry it took me so long, I had to run upstairs and unearth them from their sleepers. Then I discovered that someone had absconded with one of them and found out the DD had it because she wanted to look at it. (HA! probably thought possession was 9/10 of the law.)

First, the tag on the Havana said that the reason for the rock bottom price was yellowing but I didn't see anything under the florescent lights or upstairs under the halogens and natural lights so I took a chance. Don't see anything now or when I looked at it in sunlight. So perhaps I lucked out and bought a perfect bag for a song. I just scrutized it with a magnifying glass (seriously) where your photos show the yellowing. I see nothing. Maybe it was a fluke or an anomoly. But now you have me worried because it seems (seemed at the sale too) more delicate than some of the other leather colors that have this finish. I leave that up to the resident guru to explain all of this, just reporting.

The Tharpe has serious blue damage on the underside an on the bottom half of the bag (about the lower 1/6) but again, not one bit of yellowing anywhere.

Oyster is a lovely color but I passed on a lot of Oyster bags including a few Spring '09 samples because it just appeared so fragile and I'm death on bags. But for the price I paid for those two, I took a shot.

Does this help or make you feel worse?

[asark]

Gingey - I'm happy for ya! I simply adore the colour and I do have a Tharpe in oyster as well, but the style is just not me. I'm thinking that a closet cleaning in the next few weeks is called for. I don't own a Havana and don't think I recall a IRL pic of one in oyster... so perhaps you could bless us HHH's with some modeling shots??! Thank you so much for checking your bags for me!

Thank you Stormy for your suggestions! I think I will go through the mega hassle and sad surrender of the oyster Lorca... perhaps Gingey will rescue her from the next SS and fix her up as you suggested... *crossing fingers!*. She really needs a loving home that is willing to "monkey" with her . My pref was for the ruby too, even though red generally really does not suit me (outside of nail polish). I guess I'll try a red bag and hope it works and is sans the canary yellow accents.

Thanks again guys!

[gingeybear]

Originally Posted by asark

Gingey - I'm happy for ya! I simply adore the colour and I do have a Tharpe in oyster as well, but the style is just not me. I'm thinking that a closet cleaning in the next few weeks is called for. I don't own a Havana and don't think I recall a IRL pic of one in oyster... so perhaps you could bless us HHH's with some modeling shots??! Thank you so much for checking your bags for me! Thank you Stormy for your suggestions! I think I will go through the mega hassle and sad surrender of the oyster Lorca... perhaps Gingey will rescue her from the next SS and fix her up as you suggested... *crossing fingers!*. My pref was for the ruby too, even though red generally really does not suit me (outside of nail polish). I guess I'll try a red bag and hope it works and is sans the canary yellow accents.

asark and y'all, I know this is off thread but forgive me. Yes, I promise to do some major photo and pic posting as soon as everything arrives, and both of my DDs help me figure all of this out. As far as modeling, as long as my caboose is not in the photos, I'll do my best. The Oyster Havana is really lovely but I really want one in Cordovan and in the elusive eggplant and Prune..and looking at the Spring '09 colors...I wonder???

I remember seeing a few Lorcas in Oyster yesterday on the SS site but alas, not now. If you're totally enamored and want the Lorca in Oyster, perhaps HH is bringing some to SF and you could persuade someone to liberate one from it's packing crate and trade yours for another...I wonder why the bag was returned to you in the same condition???? Alas, I am not in the market for a Lorca in Oyster, I just got one in Goldrush and it doesn't sit right on me for some reason. So someone else will possibly give her a new home.

If not, asark, perhaps you could convince them for one in a Spring '09 shade rather than reluctantly trading for red?

There were a lot of seriously damaged bags at the physical SS, many with crocks, (Stormy, what are crocks, I kept thinking that it was a mispelling of cracks!) or discolorations or fading so you had to be really careful.

Stormy, (BTW IDK why I keep thinking of you as StormyLeather and the old tune's lyrics pass through my brain..) once this poor wounded handbag gets returned to HH and if it doesn't get rescued, would this Lorca benefit from a proposed HH handbag old age home (and perhaps hospice ?)

I looked at the Tharpe and now I wonder what ever possessed me..even at the price????? (It was $35). Can this handbag really be saved?

[Stormy Heart]

Have you posted pictures of this problem child, Gingery ? ~ It is OK to touch up missing or worn bits with well-matched acrylic paint, but don't try to cover Indigo staining. Unless you want to do a Mural or ombre backed-bag, and bring the color around front~ which could be cool !
Get Amodex, and clean her up. (Have you tried soap and a little water yet ?)
Yam likes Wilson's spray for protection.
I've been in my Laboratory cooking up new fixes for Hauties. If you don't find your answers in the thread, check back.
I love the Oyster color, too, but avoid protectant sprays with metallics, as explained earlier. If anyone has done it and NOT ruined her bag, let us know.

*Crocking is the expression for 'losing it' when it comes to leather dye.... 'crocked'
What happens is the dye (pigment) hasn't stablized properly, returns to powder form and works its way out.
This can stain light colored clothing as the bag "fades".
I promise you that Good leather won't do this. Ever.



"

[gingeybear]

Originally Posted by Stormy Heart

Have you posted pictures of this problem child, Gingery ? ~ It is OK to touch up missing or worn bits with well-matched acrylic paint, but don't try to cover Indigo staining. Unless you want to do a Mural or ombre backed-bag, and bring the color around front~ which could be cool ! Get Amodex, and clean her up. (Have you tried soap and a little water yet ?) Yam likes Wilson's spray for protection. I've been in my Laboratory cooking up new fixes for Hauties. If you don't find your answers in the thread, check back. I love the Oyster color, too, but avoid protectant sprays with metallics, as explained earlier. If anyone has done it and NOT ruined her bag, let us know. "

Didn't post pics but will soon. Thanks for explaining crocking...but if good leather doesn't do this why did I see so many at HH sale not bashing HHH..just wondering since their standards are so high.


Stormy, when you say acrylics do you mean those specifically for leather? If so, which particular brand. I was actually thinking that this bag might be perfect to try a bit of rescue and then post the results. But only on the blue parts. I could always cover them up. ( I was thinking of calling Artbag in NYC who repairs and refurbishes bags for designers here for almost half a century with a good rep and asking them what they suggest for cleaning and protection. That is before I got your post to move here.)

Yes, I was thinking of painting some sort of a mural but not carrying it over to the front, but that sounds amazing. I just have to figure out what I want to paint.

I don't want it to look like anything too '70's. Also want the painting to look like a watercolor, given the metallic off white and the blue..I would like the paint to be thinned out like a wash not too tranparent but not opaque either. Thinking of Monet waterlilies or something Louis Comfort Tiffany or perhaps Klimt because of the metallic underbase of the Oyster. It lends itself to Impressionist or Art Noveau...what do you think?

Ombre backed also intrigues me..hmmm.....what about tie dye effect?

I wonder if I should even bother to clean it? Or should I attempt it and post feedback here and THEN paint????:confuse d1:

WOW...thank you so much...I don't feel so bad now. In fact, I'm inspired and just awaiting your answers.

Thank you. Gracias, Danke, A shaynim danke, merci beaucoupe, muchas gracias, molte grazie, todah rabah, etc etc etc....

[Stormy Heart]

Originally Posted by indiaink

^yes please, Stormy. Would love to see before and after pics. What is the product?

Pictures delayed for now: on DS's computer. The new LOML is called Fiebing's Leather Sheen ! Acrylic Leather Finisher
I am using it on worn edges for protection now that I know it saves metallics.*

[jandelvis]

asark- whoa. that is SO freaking bizarre about the edges of your oyster HH... i am speechless!! i have the ruby lorca and there is no similar problem with the edges so hopefully that will be smooth sailing for you!

[NamkhaDrolma]

Originally Posted by asark

Hey Gingey, do you see any yellowing on the waxy edging of either of your oyster bags?? I'd appreciate it if you could take a peek if you have a sec Thanks, and I really hope everything turns out well for your abused bags!

asark, I have the exact same thing happening with my Oyster Lorca. It seems that some kind of discolouration takes place with the seal they use for the edges of the leather.

[asark]

Really Namkha??! Obviously a defect with the line. So freakin' sad - otherwise they are just beautiful. Well, I'm off to email HH about getting the ruby.

[gestapolollipop]

The edge of my Havana handle is starting to crack. What can I do to fix this?

[Stormy Heart]

Originally Posted by gestapolollipop

The edge of my Havana handle is starting to crack. What can I do to fix this?

Nothing.