I kept it you know. I said I was going to keep it and I did. My little Elinor half moon bag from Toast. And I listened to what you said about getting a cobbler to take a look at the overly long strap and I did.
I did consider it in the first instance but I was worried that I wouldn't find anyone who would do the job as well as I would want it done (me fussy? YES), so I was a bit reluctant to go down that route but after you all said it, I thought - yep - that's the only way to go.
And I found a cobbler. A nice man. A polite man. A friendly man. A man who knows about good old fashioned customer service. And he did my bag for me. I knew I didn't want extra holes punching in the strap as that would still leave me with an overly long strap with extra holes - we definitely needed the strap cutting down. So we did - by 10 inches believe it or not. And didn't he do well? I did tell him that it was my birthday present - so no pressure then ;o)
Before (smooth domed rivet)
After (front of strap)
Well actually he did pretty good but I made it better because I'm like that. I smoothed off the end of the straps with the obligatory nail file (yes that toolbox essential we all know so well) so they were a fraction neater and then touched up the raw leather with a little dark brown polish.
Looks good - yes? How much do you reckon this little job cost me? Go on - have a guess.
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Looks good - yes? How much do you reckon this little job cost me? Go on - have a guess.
What a difference 10 inches make!
Jack Wills Breton (old)
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£3.50!
Whoop whoop! Guess who's a happy bunny?
Well done you and cobbler! Looks excellent no wonder you're happy. Love the ochre breton!
ReplyDeleteYes, I have to say I was positively beaming when it was all done just so. It's amazing what 10 inches difference can make :o)
DeleteHe and you have done a great job! I need a good cobbler for a broken Louis Vuitton that they refused to repair in about circa 2010! Not that was not good customer service and I nearly got thrown out of the Bond St store, I think I need your man! xx
ReplyDeleteI think you do indeed. What needed mending?
DeleteWow can't believe how little it cost Sue! Definitely £3.50 well spent & you did a great finishing job too :-)
ReplyDeleteJane xx
www.mymidlifefashion.com
Oh you know me and my crafty ways - I can't leave anything well alone. Even when something is good, I have to make it better. But yes, one of the best £3.50's I've spent in a long time.
DeleteWow - great result as it's a gorgeous bag that you're going to use so much. And now you DEFINITELY cannot take it back...so does that make it the first kept purchase of 2014?! x
ReplyDeleteNo, I knew this wasn't going back which is why I needed to make it work. Sometimes you're prepared to work with something to make it right for yourself. That means you really like/love it.
DeleteAnd no ... this isn't the first purchase of the year that I've kept. I've only told you about the returns. Not the keeps :o)
Brilliant - so much neater - I bet you are over the (half) moon:) xx
ReplyDeleteI am over the (half) moon! Thanks for pushing me to do the deed.
DeleteIt looks much better and that's easily the best £3.50 spent. You and @bonjourtristesse make me want a teeny purse as well!
ReplyDeleteGo on - I reckon you could stretch to a little purse. They are kind of minimalist aren't they?
DeleteAn excellent result and a bargain too. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you - I am rather pleased with the result. If a job's worth doing - it's got to be done absolutely perfectly in my books.
DeleteWhat a fabulous cobbler you have found Sue!! He has done a brilliant job....a great investment for £3.50!! xx
ReplyDeleteYes but that means I'm going round the house now looking for other things which might need "cobbling". I've started something here .....
DeleteWow amazing. The bag is definitely a better length now x
ReplyDeleteThe bag wasn't far off where I wanted it when it was fastened on the last hole on the strap but removing the excess means I no longer having it flapping down the front. All neat and tidy now (not OCD at all).
DeleteI love a good old fashion cobbler and old fashioned tailors - looks a lot neater - well done you! You are such a perfectionist - I bet your school books were backed perfectly in beautiful tasteful paper. x
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness Anne Marie - have you been talking to my old school buddies? How did you know? But yes, I was a bit of a perfectionist at wrapping my school books and all my pencils were arranged just so. Arghghg - it's all coming out now.
DeleteResult! Perfection now, Sue! Lynne x
ReplyDeleteThank you Lynne! Like Goldilocks said "It's just right!".
DeleteHere is a concrete example of the importance of details! It doesn't look like much but it definitely changes it all. I wonder why they make such long straps though - I got a pouch a few weeks back (to be used as a "bag inside the bag" for travel, but which has a strap to use as a satchel too), and even on the shortest hole it was at least 20cm too long. Or is it because we're small folks? Are we THAT small though?
ReplyDeleteDetails always matter - to me at least and more so because I am small. Like I can't handle sleeves which are a fraction too long (except on my one parka which I make an exception for) but I think if clothes don't fit properly, they can really upset the balance of how you look and even make you look a little unkempt. I know not everyone is good with a needle and thread but where sleeves are too long, folding them up a little or shrugging them up makes a whole lot of difference to how something looks on.
DeleteAnd I think we're smallish but not that small. I think we just had the freak strap bags. What will you do with the strap on your bag? Will you shorten it somehow if its possible?
For now I have mainly used the pouch as a book & toiletries holder for the plane, so I haven't used the strap much. Since it's a removable one I have used the shorter strap from another bag to be honest. I have asked a belt craftsman to poke a few more holes in it, but I still definitely need to shorten it. If it's that cheap I might do it soon! I also thought of having a new strap made in another colour to play around a little. The perks of removable straps :)
DeleteIt's all in the detail and you are a master (mistress even) H x
ReplyDeleteThank you Helen. You're right about it being all in the detail. These things matter :o)
DeleteCobbler - oh how I miss that word! They don't use it round these parts!
ReplyDeleteI haven't used it for ages till Joanna mentioned it on a previous post. It's kind of nice re-instating it.
DeleteNice bag!
ReplyDeletewww.agoprime.it
Thank you Laura :o)
DeleteI may need this man's number!
ReplyDeleteOMG! I'm back !!!! Yey Sue I've missed you!
ReplyDeleteHi ya girl! Got your OS7 sorted then?
Deletenice job! man, everything in australia is so expensive by comparison! haha. if you wanted to take it a step further i'd recommend a leather edge sealer or a burnishing tool, i've never thought of using nail polish for the edges when i work with leather, actually sounds like a really clever idea!
ReplyDeletesteph / absolutely-fuzzy.com
Now then - baby steps baby steps. You're talking dangerous tools there which are not for the like so little old me. Nail files are as tough as it gets for me ... only because I don't have any fine grade sandpaper lying around. They're just good for taking off the little stragglers.
DeleteBrilliant! Good old fashioned trades like that are sadly few & far between these days aren't they?! Ax
ReplyDelete