Just a quick update on the fate of my lovely A5 aqua chameleon. After sending it to Filofax to look at, I received it back just 2 days later (very quick!). Unfortunately, they returned my Filofax with a letter to say that there was nothing they could do with it, but I could have a 50% discount off a replacement. I rang them to order another A5 aqua, but there were none left and there would be no more! :(
After a little indecision, I decided to order a red A5 which, with the 50% discount on too of the already discounted price, I got for £22.50!
Now for what to do with my poor aqua. I decided that the only thing to do was to try to fade the rest of e cover to match the white patch. I remembered someone once telling me that alcohol removed dye from leather, so I got some hand sanitising gel, and rubbed it into the leather, left it for a bit, then rubbed off. It worked! I have to say it was a bit of a scary thing to do, but I felt I had nothing to lose as it looked a mess anyway. I have to say that I am rather pleased with the result! It now has a kind of distressed / vintage look to it which is quite nice. Also, it's an original as I would bet no one else has a chameleon like it! Here are the pics,
please comment and let me know what you think ;)
Oh no! What a shame, I thought your aqua Chameleon was gorgeous. It looks almost ghostly and anaemic now!
ReplyDeleteIt's strange you say that they told you there we no aqua A5s left...they have some on their website...
Hi Lucy, yes I said to them when I rang up that the website was showing stock, but they said they definitely have no more, so maybe it just hadn't updated properly yet?
DeleteYeah, it's a shame what happened to it, but at least I still have my lovely personal aqua chameleon :)
Ooh!!! I like that!!! I have an A5 aqua and the colour has started to come off the clasp, but if it gets damaged/scratched or anything then I may try to distress it too, it looks great and there would be no paranoia about scratching it with keys in a bag or anything :o)
ReplyDeleteHi LJ, yeah I kinda like it too. This is my recipe / journal filo, so I have decided that once my new red A5 arrives, that will become my journal and the aqua can become my dedicated recipe filo which I can keep in the kitchen and not worry too much about it getting food splashes on when I'm cooking now. Lol. Still a bit of a shame though, it was beautiful in its undamaged state but what can you do?! Maybe I will fall in love with the red when I see it in the flesh :)
DeleteIt looks great, very vintage!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Alison. It was kind of damage limitation, lol. Bit of a risky last resort, but I think it turned out ok. Better than a big random blotch! :)
DeleteOhh I really like that actually! It almost looks silver. :D
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yes, I suppose it does :)
DeleteDo you think you could take it to a shoe shop that dyes shoes (like the ones they often do for weddings) and let them have a go at it? Since it's nice leather, it would probably take color well.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea - you could make it shades of any colour you like, and have the ultimate personalised binder!
DeleteThat's quite a good idea, I hadn't thought of that. I don't mind it as it is though now, it's kinda grown on me :)
DeleteI like it :)
ReplyDeleteIt kinda reminds me of stonewashed jeans & agree it looks very vintage. Scary thing to do though!
It was sooooo scary!!! Although I felt I had nothing to lose as I hated it as it was with the big white patch.
DeleteI am not a red person but I have to say that I've seen the A5 Red Chameleon online and its gorgeous. There was video of someone's A5 Red Chameleon used as a journal on Philofaxy a month or so ago. In the video it was just gorgeous. So much so that if I spot one on a really good sale I may get one. I also have the Aqua in same size and so far so good.
ReplyDeleteI am still awaiting delivery of my red. I will post pics when it arrives :)
DeleteI remember seeing your Chameleon on 1 Sept, I was very much impressed. I'm sorry that this happened to your binder, have you thought about some sort of light polish, perhaps this would slightly change the colour or maybe you think you might want to have it looking like that. Let us see your new red Chameleon when you've had a chance to take some pics.
ReplyDeleteHi Anthony,
Deleteafter waiting for a week with no sign of my red chameleon, I called Filofax today and they have messed up my order, and now they have no red ones left! My only option was a raspberry. Wouldn't have been my first choice although I have it in the pocket size and it is a nice colour. So, I'm still waiting....I will post pics of it when I get it though.