After having been to the Congress in Hong Kong, we continued traveling to Australia for another Congress in Sydney.
Next we flew to Melbourne for a weekend at the Grand Hyatt, using our points.
On Saturday, September 4, 1993 we went to an Italian shop, run by an Italian so I was happy being able to chat with her. In the window we'd already eyed a beautiful tan Saddlebag from The Bridge, Italy.
On Saturday, September 4, 1993 we went to an Italian shop, run by an Italian so I was happy being able to chat with her. In the window we'd already eyed a beautiful tan Saddlebag from The Bridge, Italy.
Now I became its happy owner!
Loved the lock and the stitching around the cording.
So did my sister Diny's pet-rabbit, as it managed to chew a hole in it, while we were visiting her on September 18, 1994... 🐇
Screenshot from video taken at the Gardens of the Alhambra in Spain, with the saddlebag.
We had visited Diny prior to that vacation by bus via France, into Spain and Portugal.
April 20, 1997 at The Spa at Norwich Inn in Connecticut where we stayed at one of their villas during our consulting work.
Wearing my saddlebag (left in picture).
The Spa at Norwich Inn where we stayed in a Villa... click it
From there, we also drove to Logee's for some unique plants
Wearing my saddlebag (left in picture).
No, I have NO pictures of that favorite bag before the rabbit took a BITE... 🐇
Yep, the Rabbit took a bite right on the leather piping... 🐇
The Bridge Pellettieri in Firenze, Italy
For 1993 pricing Australian $ 119.00
But what to do about the HOLE?
Found THIS: LeatherNu and ordered it... just click link
Well, I have had it for almost 2 years sitting here before using it 'ONE DAY'
Finally I DID!
Starting out with the Leather Repair Compound...
On New Year's Day, I had filled in the RABBIT HOLE for the first time and let it cure... 🐇
On January 6, the RABBIT HOLE looking like this... 🐇
Hitting BINGO with the matching color brown already inside this package and applying a few coats of leather dye.
Got these sponges to apply the dye from the tiny bottle...
Next a few coats with the Clear Leather Sealer...
Result was GOOD!
And this, after all those years...
Wore my Saddlebag to Church on my Angel Sister's 70th Birthday and feeling happy with it.
Poor Rabbit is long over the Rainbow Bridge... 🐇
It matches well with my Escada jeans and coat.
It matches well with my Escada jeans and coat.
But I still LOVE my Saddlebag from The Bridge with quite a story attached to it, adventures covering three continents!
Being made in Italy, sold in Australia, taken home to the U.S.A., being bitten in The Netherlands and finally restored in the U.S.A.
Matching also nicely my suede/leather boots from Italy, purchased in 1989 when we lived and worked there.
Related links:
Our Weekend at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne Regency Club | previous post by me
From Hong Kong to Sydney, Australia | previous post by me
Lieb Mariette,
ReplyDeleteich freue mich über deinen schönen Post.
Alles Liebe
Elisbeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteJa, danke und ich bin froh mit das Endresultat!
Liebe Grüße,
Mariette
Buon fine settimana.
ReplyDeleteCaro Giancarlo,
DeleteGrazie e altrettanto,
Un abbraccio,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, You and Pieter seem to have trouble with leather handbag/briefcase type items! It's a good thing you are so handy and could fix the damage. Our ordinary accessories and purchases are all the more precious when they represent our adventures around the world, and now this bag has yet another special story attached to it. I have heard of people going "down the rabbit hole" but your experience was more literal than most!
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteYes, you are so right and as for that priceless briefcase, we could not fix all the damage... This I managed and even though not perfect, I labeled it good. It was not easy on that leather piping and guess I could have used e.g. bandaid to kind of centralize it more so it would not run elsewhere. But it did it.
Haha, the literal meaning we experienced indeed!
Hugs,
Mariette
What a great and timeless purchase you made. Years ago a roommate of mine got a pet rabbit...I do remember how he liked to chew on things.
ReplyDeleteDearest Janey,
DeleteThank you and yes, I literally fell in love with this one and still love it.
Rabbits are cuddly and soft fur babies but not quite pets for indoors.
My Dad's younger brother, the one that made all my priceless baby photos, kept a pet rabbit but it stayed out of the living room. Only the balcony and kitchen and it worked!
Hugs,
Mariette
That's a beautiful bag! I'm glad it survived all your travels and the rabbit too, and that you were able to repair it. My goodness, how stylish you were and still are! The best I can do is clean slacks and sweaters. LOL.
ReplyDeleteDearest Kim,
DeleteThank you and one has to love the leather quality from this Italian brand.
We've been into the 'sweater/weather' style for months now and love to wear them!
Confessing that I wear mostly jeans instead of skirts and seldom a dress...
Hugs,
Mariette
I can see why you are so happy with the restoration job that you have done - well done. It is a beautiful bag - good quality leather bags are timeless and like yours they should provide you with years and years of pleasure.
ReplyDeleteNaughty little rabbit, but at least you have successfully managed to eliminate his misdemeanours🐰
Dearest Rosemary,
DeleteYes, I sure did eliminate the naughty rabbit's misdemeanors!
Pleased with the end result too.
Hugs,
Mariette
I like that bag
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteSo do I and glad I could revive it for many more years of usage!
Hugs,
Mariette
Your saddlebag sure has a lot to talk about :-) What a naughty rabbit to make a hole! You did great job repairing the bag, though. I’m amazed with the beautiful work you did! This was such a fun post, Mariette :-)
ReplyDeleteDearest Tamago,
DeleteYes, this bag knows lots of stories!
Glad you enjoyed reading this and I'm happy with the end result.
Hugs,
Mariette
That was a naughty rabbit :)
ReplyDeleteI had no idea about such a product, but it certainly did a great job of repairing that bite.
The bag looks new again and will give you many more years of pleasure Mariette.
Dearest Sami,
DeleteDidn't know about it before but found it and am very pleased with it.
This Saddlebag will last my lifetime, no doubt.
Hugs,
Mariette
Wat fijn dat je de tas zelf zo mooi hebt kunnen repareren. Je ziet er niets meer van. Wel uit de buurt blijven van konijnen. Mooie kledingset draag je op de laatste foto. Die bruine outfit uit 1997 is ook mooi. Heb je die ook nog? Fijne zondag, lieve groet
ReplyDeleteBeste Willy,
DeleteJa, dat Laurèl gewatteerde spijkerjasje met broek heb ik zeker nog! Zulke sets doe je niet gauw weg, mits ze je nog passen natuurlijk.
Liefs en ook nog een fijne zondagmiddag- avond!
Mariette
The bag is like new!
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteYes, good to extend its life for years to come!
Hugs,
Mariette
Beautiful
ReplyDeleteDearest R's Rue,
DeleteThank you, I'm very pleased with it!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteI love your saddlebag and your outfit too! It was nice visiting with you and read the story behind your saddlebag. It looks like new.
Much love,
Wendy
Dearest Wendy,
DeleteWelcome back 'neighbor'!
Thanks for your comment and it is quite a story for this saddlebag but it still gives joy.
Hugs,
Mariette
That is incredible that you were able to fix your bag! Amazing! I have a beautiful leather handbag from Germany that I keep for special occasions. Yes, that was yesterday that the girls went to the dance-hense why one of the girls has the look on her face that she does. It was freezing, but they put on their coats right after the photos.
ReplyDeleteDearest Kelleyin,
DeleteThank you and I'm happy with the results of my bag.
Wow, can't believe those girls went there yesterday. No doubt inside it was warm enough and wearing their coats to get in and out into the freezing air worked.
Hugs,
Mariette
Actually, I have no idea that there are leather compound. I want to try it. My new leather shoes have scratched by the sharp stone several weeks ago. Such a shame I have no idea to repair it.
ReplyDeleteDearest Endah,
DeleteIt is always worth a try and I am very pleased with this product, it served me for two things, this bag and husband Pieter's lambskin leather jacket.
Sending you hugs,
Mariette
Was für einen schönen Anzug Du damals getragen hast, liebe Mariette! Die Tasche passend dazu! Ärgerlich, das mit der Beschädigung. Doch nun ist fast nichts mehr sichtbar! Genial! Ich kenne so etwas nur von Holzreparatur mit "künstlichem Holz", einer Paste. Gut, dass so etwas möglich ist! Es wäre doch schade drum!
ReplyDeleteUnd wahrhaftig, eine Tasche mit Geschichte! Die würde ich auch nicht hergeben!
Alles Liebe
Sara
Liebe Sara,
DeleteJa es tat auch ziemlich Weh um die neue Tasche so abgefressen zu sehen... Aber endlich ist sie wieder repariert worden und ich bin sehr zufrieden damit.
Ganz liebe Grüße,
Mariette