Coach Rehab and Rescue Club

[ledobe]

This isn't strictly a bag rehab, but my lovely husband made me a display rack for some of my collection, and I thought I would share it with you. I hope you don't mind me going off topic a little. (And, yes, I also have a thing for shoes and scarves)

I"m loving everything here!! . I actually carried my Cashin Slim tote to work today and just to reminded of how much I love that bag! I Love the colors of yours. And I too have a stash of vintage scarfs and more shoes than any person ever needed! I have to ask, do you use your scarves for bag decoration mostly, or do you actually wear them? I want so badly to stick a scarf on myself- and not just my bags, and then I look at myself and feel like I am one poodle skirt short of a sock hop!!

My husband is not quite so supportive -though he grudgingly appreciates my good deals when they aren't taking over the house.

aww, love seeing those bags displayed! I have some ideas about what I'm going to do with mine, but my son needs to move his darn drum kit out of his old room so I can take it over. lol

and my hubby hasn't really seemed to notice what I'm up to. It kinda cracks me up. I had a bag soaking in the sink once and he threw a dish in in with it! If he did pay attention that I am actually spending money on these things I'd probably hear about it. we've been married a long time though so sometimes I think we both turn a blind eye to stuff we don't want to know about. You know, with in reason.

 

[ledobe]

Hello, everyone! My pictures are way, way overdue, but I've been working long hours lately and haven't had the time to photograph my finished rehabs. I used flash in the following photos, because it helped me capture the true-to-life colors (but normally, I dislike using flash; I almost always opt for natural light). However, the photos will give you a great idea of what my bags look like now.

I don't know the name of my teal/lagoon colored Coach bag, but the before pictures are somewhere in this thread. The main problems I found were a mysterious "water" stain on the back (that I, unfortunately, couldn't completely eliminate), and various (small) coffee colored stains on the inside flap and the bottom. All of the coffee colored stains were fully removed during the bath, and despite the mark on the back, I am so, so satisfied with the results. Being my first rehab, I think I did well! The photos shown are after two applications of Leather CPR and one application of Blackrock.

The second (and most recent) rehab project was a Coach Manor bag, and I am completely in love with it! I didn't take any before pictures, because I was too excited to submerge it in water when I received it, but I purchased it off eBay for $32, and it was in lovely condition, save for a few knicks in the leather on a small area of the front of the bag. Aside from the knicks in the leather, the inside was a little dusty, so I cleaned the interior and the pockets of debris before dunking it. The bath did it a lot of justice, but the thick leather took a long time (longer than expected) to dry. I reshaped it with towels, and finally, I applied one application of Leather CPR and one application of Blackrock. I wore this bag out the other night with a sheer shirt, boyfriend jeans, and ankle boots, and it was the perfect accessory! The structured look is my absolute favorite, and I'm thrilled with the results. Definitely my go-to black bag!

Excuse the largeness of the photos!

aww, I love both of those bags. The Manor bag reminds me of my Sheridan Monticello, I think the construction is similar but it was Coach dabbling in AWL . When I got that bag I seriously played with it for awhile, trying it on different ways, with or without strap-so very cute.

and that shade of green is TDF!

 

[ledobe]

Wow, 7 acres sounds awesome! Lots of space for your beautiful dogs to run. I've had to stop, or at least slow down with my bag rehabs and purchases. I'm starting to feel a little bit embarassed at how many I have. I just have a suspender bag on its way to me, and would love a burgundy stewardess or old style rambler and I am DONE. At least the display rack gives me an opportunity now to enjoy what I do have. They are so pretty!

I had suspender bag in my watch list that I didn't bid on-was it navy spectator? I cleaned up my list and deleted it, but I think that was the one I was recently looking at.

 

[ledobe]

It is, the dogs have alot of room, a have a herd of deer that passes through daily, they have been missing the last few weeks, and then last night 2 of the girls showed up with 2 babies, just the cutest little things. I also have a fox family, 2 or 3 show up every night. The foxes are better behaved than my dogs, I call them and they come running.

I'm jealous, all I ever see are squirrels and bunnies and peacocks! I suspect the bunnies are pets that someone has let loose and now they're all over the neighborhood. One of the peacocks got stuck really high in a tree in our backyard a couple nights ago and was SCREAMING to it's buddies. It was gone when we got up in the morning but I was a little worried.

Sometimes I leave my bags out drying on the patio overnight and wonder if the squirrels have been climbing all over them.

 

[chowlover2]

I'm jealous, all I ever see are squirrels and bunnies and peacocks! I suspect the bunnies are pets that someone has let loose and now they're all over the neighborhood. One of the peacocks got stuck really high in a tree in our backyard a couple nights ago and was SCREAMING to it's buddies. It was gone when we got up in the morning but I was a little worried.

Sometimes I leave my bags out drying on the patio overnight and wonder if the squirrels have been climbing all over them.

I now have a bird nesting in the ceiling fan I have on my front porch! I've see her the last 3 nights, she sleeps in rim above the bowl where the lights are. It's actually a great place, protected from winds and rain, comfier than a nest in a tree.

 

[ledobe]

I now have a bird nesting in the ceiling fan I have on my front porch! I've see her the last 3 nights, she sleeps in rim above the bowl where the lights are. It's actually a great place, protected from winds and rain, comfier than a nest in a tree.

I'm sure I mentioned in here about "our" hawks? I'm always joking that one of them tried to carry away one of our dobermans once, but really what they were doing was attacking my poor baby girl! They took a big chunk of meat out of her right about at her hip bone.

I am so done with them, if I could figure out a way to keep them from nesting on or near our property I'd be all over it. The tree they initally nested in was dying and the limb with their nest came down one winter, when they came back in the spring they just nested in a different tree. They threaten to attack my husband all the time when he's out in the yard, and a lot of the birds who used to nest in our trees have quit doing so. I'd say they've been coming around every spring for close to ten years now.

It is fun to watch when the babies are learning to fly though.

 

[chowlover2]

I'm sure I mentioned in here about "our" hawks? I'm always joking that one of them tried to carry away one of our dobermans once, but really what they were doing was attacking my poor baby girl! They took a big chunk of meat out of her right about at her hip bone.

I am so done with them, if I could figure out a way to keep them from nesting on or near our property I'd be all over it. The tree they initally nested in was dying and the limb with their nest came down one winter, when they came back in the spring they just nested in a different tree. They threaten to attack my husband all the time when he's out in the yard, and a lot of the birds who used to nest in our trees have quit doing so. I'd say they've been coming around every spring for close to ten years now.

It is fun to watch when the babies are learning to fly though.

OMG, how awful. My birds are peaceful. I have some crows, and see and occasional turkey buzzard, but that's it. The crows are a trip. After I walk my dogs in the morning, I throw out any scraps of bread I have. As soon as they see me walk out the back door, 3 crows gather and follow us on our walk. If I don't throw any scraps out they cackle til I do. It's really comical.

 

[Porter4]

I was hoping to pick your brains on my first major rehab. Up until now, the preloved bags I have bought have been in fairly good condition and have not required much work. However, I found this courier pouch for super cheap and decided to go for it....I know it will be tricky. The poor thing feels like it hasn't been conditioned in 20 years and I am wondering if I should try using Lexol cleaner rather than dunking it. I am worried that it couldn't take the drying process. It has some piping issues and already a few "tears".

tear:

and another:

and the dreaded green staining:

small split on the strap:

I bought some Leather CPR for this bag for post cleaning, and found some Blackrocks if that isn't strong enough. As far as the tears/splits, I am still hunting for something. I appreciate any input!

 

[ledobe]

OMG, how awful. My birds are peaceful. I have some crows, and see and occasional turkey buzzard, but that's it. The crows are a trip. After I walk my dogs in the morning, I throw out any scraps of bread I have. As soon as they see me walk out the back door, 3 crows gather and follow us on our walk. If I don't throw any scraps out they cackle til I do. It's really comical.

I went to a trained bird show at the zoo once. It was really cool, I thought i was going to be one of those "sit through it with the kids" things, but I guess because I love animal training/communication stuff, I found it fascinating.

Anyway, the trainer brought an owl out and I can't remember what it did, just some minor little "trick", and he said despite the fact that owls are known for being "wise", they are one of the dumbest birds, but he said crows/ravens are the smartest animals he's ever worked with.

Probably right, sounds like yours have trained you.

 

[chowlover2]

I went to a trained bird show at the zoo once. It was really cool, I thought i was going to be one of those "sit through it with the kids" things, but I guess because I love animal training/communication stuff, I found it fascinating.

Anyway, the trainer brought an owl out and I can't remember what it did, just some minor little "trick", and he said despite the fact that owls are known for being "wise", they are one of the dumbest birds, but he said crows/ravens are the smartest animals he's ever worked with.

Probably right, sounds like yours have trained you.

They definitely have!

 

[Jessi319]

I was hoping to pick your brains on my first major rehab. Up until now, the preloved bags I have bought have been in fairly good condition and have not required much work. However, I found this courier pouch for super cheap and decided to go for it....I know it will be tricky. The poor thing feels like it hasn't been conditioned in 20 years and I am wondering if I should try using Lexol cleaner rather than dunking it. I am worried that it couldn't take the drying process. It has some piping issues and already a few "tears".

tear:

and another:

and the dreaded green staining:

small split on the strap:

I bought some Leather CPR for this bag for post cleaning, and found some Blackrocks if that isn't strong enough. As far as the tears/splits, I am still hunting for something. I appreciate any input!

She's a great old bag !! When I found mine She was pretty dry too, though not splitting leather yet. But I've learned that the splits seem to survive water based on a similar aged Rambler of the same color that did have some worn thru piping. Others have suggested allowing a coat of CPR to absorb before dunking, which may seem counter-productive but can't hurt and might lubricate the fibers and help keep any flaking or dry rot from setting in. I did coats of CpR and finished with a couple applications of Blackrocks....I tend to spread out applications over a 24 hour period on the blackrocks. Here's mine post rehab.

By jessi319 at 2012-07-17

By jessi319 at 2012-07-17

 

[CoachVB]

^In leather CPR is it the cleaner and conditioner I need? Or is there a product that is just a conditioner? Thanks.

 

[Jessi319]

^In leather CPR is it the cleaner and conditioner I need? Or is there a product that is just a conditioner? Thanks.

It comes as the "combo" only, I believe, though I rarely use it as a cleaner since I mostly bathe bags.

 

[Porter4]

She's a great old bag !! When I found mine She was pretty dry too, though not splitting leather yet. But I've learned that the splits seem to survive water based on a similar aged Rambler of the same color that did have some worn thru piping. Others have suggested allowing a coat of CPR to absorb before dunking, which may seem counter-productive but can't hurt and might lubricate the fibers and help keep any flaking or dry rot from setting in. I did coats of CpR and finished with a couple applications of Blackrocks....I tend to spread out applications over a 24 hour period on the blackrocks. Here's mine post rehab.

By jessi319 at 2012-07-17

By jessi319 at 2012-07-17

Oh, your bag is beautiful! Thank you for the tips. I think I will try a coat of CPR before dunking. I also read this online:

"Alas, some of his clients haven't stopped there. In his Bothell repair shop, Boutcher displays a badly cracked and split armrest - victim of a general-purpose household cleaner. But Boutcher says the absolute worst product to use on leather is saddle soap because it's too alkaline, and will cause the leather to dry out and eventually crack. Alkalinity, in fact, is the problem with all soaps because leather has an acid pH. To keep leather conditioned, the leather pros recommend only one product. Called Lexol, it's found in many shoe repair shops and has the correct pH."

This is from an article in the Seattle Times where they interviewed the owners of European Leather Repair. They are supposed to know there stuff, even did repairs for the German Leather Museum. What do you think?

 

[CoachVB]

It comes as the "combo" only, I believe, though I rarely use it as a cleaner since I mostly bathe bags.

Thank you very much. I have some Amazon gift cards and they carry it so will get it there. I have a couple of wallets I want to try it on.