Christmas Rehab Gift Extravaganza! Nine Bags Given Away!

[katev]

These are beautiful and I am sure everyone was happy to receive them. What amazes me the most is how you get them back into the correct shape after they have been stretched out and squished. Do you have to get them wet to do this?
I have to admit that I have been looking at vintage bags lately and thinking about rehab after seeing the miracles that you perform.

Thank you, but beware! Rehabbing is addictive and not every rehab comes out as well as desired!

The only way I know how to reshape a leather bag is to dunk it and get it good and wet and then stuff it with towels during the early stages of drying. Of course, after restoring the bag I always stuff them with tissue and put them in dustbags (or pillow cases!) during storage - to try and maintain the proper shape.

 

[Woodranda]

Wow what a fantastic job you did. That was sooo nice of you to gift your family and friends!

 

[graebelle]

Can i seriously be adopted into your family ??? I would never be upset with receiving such a thoughtful gift (for me doing things such as this has more meaning and shows to true spirit of the giving holiday... Your time, thought, and energy that went into searching for, fixing, cleaning, and then deciding what individual would receive what bag shows that you truly care - hats off to you... fantastic job

 

[ladyash]

I didn't know that, thanks!

I can't get pictures to show up here for the life of me so...
Check these links out

Lots of turnlocks, brass hardware, and simple designs. These are a shoe store brand in Canada too! Nothing special that would make me want to pay more than vintage Coach for. Actually Vintage is way better construction wise, though I know my sister has bought a few of these bags on sale. She bought a messenger bag with a turnlock and it's distressed tan "leather" and it kind of looks like my convertible clutch only hers is much larger to hold school books.

http://www.aldoshoes.com/ca-eng/handbags/cross-body-bags/product/86869232-mcenroe/28

http://www.aldoshoes.com/ca-eng/handbags/leather-bags/product/86014920-stubler/97

http://www.aldoshoes.com/ca-eng/handbags/satchels-messengers/product/85989304-feight/65

 

[katev]

Can i seriously be adopted into your family ??? I would never be upset with receiving such a thoughtful gift (for me doing things such as this has more meaning and shows to true spirit of the giving holiday... Your time, thought, and energy that went into searching for, fixing, cleaning, and then deciding what individual would receive what bag shows that you truly care - hats off to you... fantastic job

That's very nice, thank you!

 

[MedtechCarol]

As always I'm totally blown away by your rehab reveals! Love it- what amazing gifts- what a LUCKY group of ladies to receive such lovely gifts (they must all be lovely as well!) Congrats on such a fabulous job and I hope you had a great holiday with your family and friends passing out those beautiful vintage Coaches!

 

[katev]

I can't get pictures to show up here for the life of me so...
Check these links out

Lots of turnlocks, brass hardware, and simple designs. These are a shoe store brand in Canada too! Nothing special that would make me want to pay more than vintage Coach for. Actually Vintage is way better construction wise, though I know my sister has bought a few of these bags on sale. She bought a messenger bag with a turnlock and it's distressed tan "leather" and it kind of looks like my convertible clutch only hers is much larger to hold school books.

http://www.aldoshoes.com/ca-eng/handbags/cross-body-bags/product/86869232-mcenroe/28

http://www.aldoshoes.com/ca-eng/handbags/leather-bags/product/86014920-stubler/97

http://www.aldoshoes.com/ca-eng/handbags/satchels-messengers/product/85989304-feight/65

You're right! Those new bags look very much like vintage coach bags - and the older Coach bags are probably better made!

Around here you see a lot of logo bags, including signature Coach bags. And I've noticed that Vera Bradley bags are very popular with teenagers. That surprised me because those wild paisley patterns were popular when I was a young "flower child, hippie" many years ago! I have some VB accessories (glasses case, lunch bag, shoe bag, etc.) but I am not too crazy about the bright patterned quilted handbags.

 

[katev]

Wow what a fantastic job you did. That was sooo nice of you to gift your family and friends!

As always I'm totally blown away by your rehab reveals! Love it- what amazing gifts- what a LUCKY group of ladies to receive such lovely gifts (they must all be lovely as well!) Congrats on such a fabulous job and I hope you had a great holiday with your family and friends passing out those beautiful vintage Coaches!

Thank you, and it was fun watching everyone discover and appreciate these bags that were new-to-them!

 

[Jessi319]

At first I was a little shy about giving away "rescued bags" because I didn't know if everyone would appreciate them. I was afraid that they might be insulted by the gift of an old, used bag. I always tell recipients that "not everyone likes vintage, and I understand that.; so it's perfectly okay to give it back to me, I won't be upset. But everyone seems to like the bags and I know of at least 3 people that use my rehabbed gifts often! So that's fun to see.

I love seeing these beautiful bags! and..this is encouraging to read. I have tried to "pre" broach the subject of giving my refurbed bags as gifts. I mostly seem to get "yes" answers, but I worry they are just being nice!! I want to do this next year for sure!!

 

[CashmereFiend]

WOW- I can't believe the results you got with these bags! They look so... NEW!!! Amazing! Congrats!
(and how cool that every time you see a sister or niece wearing their lovely Coach bags, you'll know you brought that bag back to life for someone to enjoy! SO neat)

 

[KatK]

Katev you are so good at rehabbing these beauties into such lovely gift!

 

[champagne_taste]

Bag #1 - Mahogany Willis 9927, made in 1999; this was a gift for my Sister. I have 3 sisters and I had already given bags to 2 of them but not the third. This is a previously revealed rehab. I got the bag at the Salvation Army for $9 and it was authenticated by Hyacinth. The dog-leash strap is a replacement, Willis bags come with a trigger clasp when they are new.

Before:

After:

OMG that looks fabulous!!!!! What wonderful gifts!!!!

 

[katev]

I love seeing these beautiful bags! and..this is encouraging to read. I have tried to "pre" broach the subject of giving my refurbed bags as gifts. I mostly seem to get "yes" answers, but I worry they are just being nice!! I want to do this next year for sure!!

I was also worried that they "were just being nice" but then I learned that one of my sisters uses her bag almost everyday; and I bumped into my friend unexpectedly one day and she was carrying the rehabbed bag that I gave her! So now I think that people really do like them - so go for it!

 

[katev]

WOW- I can't believe the results you got with these bags! They look so... NEW!!! Amazing! Congrats!
(and how cool that every time you see a sister or niece wearing their lovely Coach bags, you'll know you brought that bag back to life for someone to enjoy! SO neat)

It is nice to know that I've rescued a bag so that someone else can enjoy it, thank you!

 

[katev]

OMG that looks fabulous!!!!! What wonderful gifts!!!!

Thank you, the brown Willis was a favorite of mine and my sister was really pleased with it. I also gave her a (new) mahagony wristlet to go with it.

I wanted to make the gift as "special" as possible so I put the bag into a dustbag and wrapped it in Coach tissue and then put it and the wristlet into a large Coach boutique gift box and tied it up with Coach ribbon. When I gave it to her I put the box into a large striped Coach shopping bag.

Whenever I give away a rehab, I always include a card with the care instructions and information about the bag (name, style number, color, and year of manufacture.) For a bag like the Willis that is still available, I also include the original release date. I used one of those fancy cardboard envelopes for receipts from the boutique to hold this info card and I put it inside the bag. I also included a shiny copper penny for good luck! I think that those little touches add something to the gift!