Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[4213jen]

yes, it is a yellowish tan, but is getting a bit more golden/ butter scotch as I work on it. I like the colour and the style is very usable - fits all my stuff easily

this looks like it might be the same color as my crescent bag? Is it kind of a yellowish tan? I love that style!

 

[kimberleyg]

This came out gorgeous!!!!

Thanks angelaira! Thanks again for your help!!!

 

[alex09us]

 

[katev]

Ok, I took pics of my collection... and I must say, I had never pulled them all out at the same time before, and I was a bit shocked...
http://coachbagrehab.blogspot.com/2012/05/family.html

I am not brave enough to pull out my entire collection - including the bags waiting for rehab, but you have a gorgeous collection, congratulations!

 

[katev]

It took some convincing to get my husband to help me with those shelves... they are from Ikea, and built right in our bedroom... we live in a small apartment, and the space is limited.

And what I love most about my collection, is that almost all of them came to me needing work, seriously discounted because of their condition, and I made them all pretty again myself. It makes me happy to see them every day.

I know what you mean, I love restoring a beautiful bag and making it pretty and useful again!

 

[katev]

Greetings from beautiful San Diego, I hope that I get to go to a Coach outlet while I am here!

I'm so jealous, San Diego is a beautiful city, enjoy!

I have not been to the one in San Diego, but my Zoe came from the one in Palm Springs and it is a nice store, lots of good discounts and plenty to look at!! And if you go we want pictures!!!

Have FUN!!!

Thanks, but I didn't make it to the Coach outlet after all!

I had a few hours free on an afternoon but I found out I would have to take 2 trolleys and spend an hour and a half to get to the nearest outlet - so I decided to go to the spa and get a massage instead!

 

[katev]

Thanks!
I am fascinated and fearful of bathing leather goods. Is there a thead showing step-by-step instruction on how to do it?

I was terrified the first time I did it! I bought a black Coach Court bag on e-bay, and that was my first time ever bathing leather. That was almost a year ago exactly. I had read this entire thread, and I had seen all of the photos of before and afters, and I was totally enthralled!
There is nothing to worry about, it is really easy and fun...

You guys rock! I just washed a no-name wallet for a test drive..... Will see how it turns out tomorrow!!!!

I was horrified the first time a Coachie told me to dunk my bag, but now it is my preferred method for rehabbing and restoring bags.

I don't give a bath to every type of bag, but I do not hesitate to dunk a dark-colored, glove-tanned unlined Coach bag!

 

[katev]

Oh guys, I forgot a very important question:
Is leather conditioner like Leather CPR or Blackrock, safe on LAMB skin leather? I have 2 lamb skin bags needing some TLC soon.... Thanks!

I have rehabbed 2 lamb nappa bags. I used lexol and apple (similar to leather cpr) without any problems.

 

[katev]

Today I found this Salvatore Ferragamo wallet at a consignment store. I posted pictures in the authentication thread for Ferragamo and am waiting for a response but after looking at their website Im confident its authentic.

Anyway I digress. Now I know its not a Coach but I thought I could get some of your input...I was wondering what kind of moisturizer I should use on it. Its like a soft calf leather. Also, the brass hardware is starting to rub and turn slightly silver on the corners. Is there anything to fix this? Will Brasso restore the gold color or make it worse?!

What a wonderful find! I am sad to say that I have no experience with Ferragamo products but I have used Lexol safely with many brands and types of leather and I find that Wenol works well on many types of metal.

 

[katev]

My orange satchel is completely dry and CPR conditioned. I am ok with the pen mark, I think. Tell me whether I should use black rocks on it now that it is dry and conditioned.

Also, as a side note, I have collected four of these soft satchels now, they're my new favorite. Let me know if you see any....

Hope you all are enjoying your day - I'm off with my sick son, so hey purse forum it is

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76058330@N03/sets/72157629651203872/

Beautiful bag! I would use blackrocks to deepen and even out the color. It doesn't darken it much, it will keep the beautiful color. I hope your son is feeling better!

 

[katev]

...Advice to everyone just starting out...take katev's advice (and now mine too) and start with a dark colored bag. The results are remarkable and the learning curve is manageable! Then go from there...at your own pace...

Beautiful bag, nice job!

That was hard-learned advice, but it is the safest option and the best way to start and to learn!

 

[whateve]

I tested minwax on the back of the pocket of my slim kisslock tote. What do you think? Should I do the entire bag? Any suggestions on how to get the color on even? The handles of the bag are a lot darker than the rest of the bag. I don't even know why the hangtag is so dark.

 

[4213jen]

The colour of the minwax looks like it would cover up some of the marks on the body of the bag and make it more like the straps. Do you like the colour? Is this dye solid or liquid? Maybe the hangtag is not the original one, and that's why it is darker?

I tested minwax on the back of the pocket of my slim kisslock tote. What do you think? Should I do the entire bag? Any suggestions on how to get the color on even? The handles of the bag are a lot darker than the rest of the bag. I don't even know why the hangtag is so dark.

 

[katev]

Hyacinth authenticated this 1992-93 Megan Bag back in April. I only paid $5.99 at Goodwill in 2003. Years later, found one on ebay...only then did I discover that she was a Coach - and a rather unique one at that!

Although she doesn't get a lot of use, saved for special occasions around holiday time, she was a candidate for another easy rehab. Easy? You bet. Bath, reshape, touch up strap edges and piping, condition with Leather CPR and we're done! She feels like a baby's butt!

You won't see much difference in the pics, but there are 2 before's and 2 after's. You will see a ridge on the front flap just below where it folds, and a kind of round shaped area above the point on the flap. There is a cardboard insert in the flap that creates the ridge and the reinforcement for the magnetic closure creates the round thingy. Sometimes more noticeable than others...don't think there's a cure.

Rehabbing is sooo therapeutic...especially when they're as easy as this!

What a unique bag, I've never seen a Megan bag before! She looks great!

 

[katev]

Thank you for the tip!! I think I will just live with the hardware, its not THAT bad that I would want to kill myself with fumes trying to replate it. Im going to go moisturize it now! Thanks for your help as always

It may just be tarnished. The hardware on my Cashin Small Shopper looked like the plating had worn off in places. It was silvery and dull, but it cleaned right up with very little effort!