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I know I've been horrible, but

biscuitsmom

Veteran

I really need your help. I truly want to start answering posts much more than I have lately, and am really hoping I get some time soon, but *please* bear with me thru this....I got a pair of Freebird by Steven boots that Angie recommended (they are the rough-looking river short boots in blue) and I fell deeply in love with, spent more $ than I ever had on a item.... loved them except they were blandish in their coloring. So (idiot me) decided to see a local airbrush 'artist' to see if he could add more coloring. WORST MISTAKE *EVER*!!!!! The look sooo awful I literally took a knife to them, trying to scrape off some of the coloring. I told him I wanted a faint spray of color over the dull part, he gave me thick, heavy stripes!!!! They look 'somewhat' better now, but are still awful I cant afford another pair... any suggestions?

17 replies

Latest reply was from biscuitsmom

catgirl

Veteran

Oh I know those boots and I sympathize! Maybe someone here will know what to do.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Thank you! I'm hoping too

MsMary

Veteran

I would go back to the artist and if he really didn't follow your instructions, I'd make him either fix them or pay for a new pair.

AnnieMouse

Veteran

Ack! How awful!

I second MaryK - if he didn't follow your directions/ meet expectations, I would ask him to repair or replace them.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Thanks, ladies... but I don't think I can do that I told him that was NOT what I wanted, and he just shrugged I had nothing in writing, so it's basically my word against his I just would like to know if there is something that would scrape better than a knife? I'm really lucky, I guess, that the boots are meant to look 'distressed' cuz they sure as hell do now....

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Have you tried very fine grit sandpaper? I'd start with the finest grit you can find and if that doesn't work, gradually increase the grit until you're making progress. You might be able to follow that up with a polish using a Magic Eraser to buff them.

unfrumped

Veteran

Would you consider taking them to your local cobbler for an estimate?
O/w I like Ana's approach though you'll have to add some kind of polish finish afterward.

Debbie

Veteran

I like Ana's approach I think that might work.

Anonymous

Could you try wiping them with a solvent instead and then re-polishing or oiling them?

Peri

Veteran

I wonder if a shoe repair place or a leather cleaners could get some of the paint off and then dye them darker?

Isabel

Veteran

Hi BM, I am so sorry about this.

Maybe the artist could split it with you. He sounds very disinterested though.

I like the sand paper idea. Ceit was thinking along the lines of what I thought. There are solvents for shoes, but this was paint for leather. I don't know much about the following product except that some people I know have used it. You might want to research it a bit, but here it is:

http://www.leatherrepairpro.com/stretosttopf.html

You will notice that at the top of the page there is an email contact for them. I would email them to see what they have to say.

Good luck !!!

Caro in Oz

Veteran

You need to find out what paint he used & use the correct solvent for that particular paint.

If it was oil paint then probably a light swipe with turpentine would do it. Do you have an artist supply store nearby? They may be able to help.

amiable

Veteran

Acetone will remove the paint. As well as any paint that was originally used to color the shoe.....

Dharma trading has a leather paint remover that might be gentler. And they have leather paints to redo the job if you want to try your hand at it. I've been intending to order paints from them for forever.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I like the sandpaper idea, but I would actually start with the magic eraser and see if that helps first.

Glory

Veteran

I agree, you need to find the type of paint and buy the right removal product. I am fairly sure you will have success with it.
Once you know, buy the solvent and try a small area in a very well ventilated space. It may take some of the underneath finish off but that can be redyed.

Lisa

Veteran

Sorry to hear about the boots, some great suggestions here, I am crossing my fingers for you!

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Thanks everyone! I tried the sandpaper and it worked pretty well The magic eraser (which we also had handy) didn't do too much, but helped smooth the look. I will try going to an artist's supply store asap, to see if I can get something to touch it up with, but they look SOO much better! I am kinda hesitant to use a solvent cuz I don't want it stripped down to bare leather, as it had a light tannish undercoat and I'm worried if it were oiled I wouldn't be able to change any of the coloring....I'd like to bring it to a cobbler and let a pro work on it, but really cant spend the $ right now and I've heard the sooner you can get unwanted color off, the better....Thanks for all of the answers! You YLF ladies are amazing!!!