Now you will need antique paste or gel. Use any color you like, my favorite is saddle tan. You will also need a pair of gloves, some clean water in a cup, a piece of sheep wool or sponge and paper towel.

Pour some paint on the piece of wool and start rubbing it in the leather gently in circles. Start with carved area and make sure you did not miss any cuts, get under the petals and leaves, too. Add more paint on wool and carry on in circle movements to cover the entire piece of leather.

Without any delay take a piece of paper towel and wipe off excesses of the antique. If it is already dry wet the towel just slightly and wipe the dry paint off. Do not try to remove all antique from the cuts and grooves, only from the surface. If you are planning to dye the flesh side do it with diluted paint. I usually just dip the piece of wool I just used with excesses of paint on it into water and then smudge it on the flesh side.

Dye all parts of the bag in the same way and don't forget about the shoulder strap and the lace!

Leave it to dry a few hours or better overnight. Then take a piece of wool or linen and polish all parts really well removing all the excesses of paint.

I am going to use carnauba cream as finish. Carnauba cream usually takes off some dye no matter what so do not be alarmed when it happens. You can use just ordinary finish but basically ANY finish will take some dye off anyway.

I put some carnauba cream on sponge and rubbed it gently in circles into leather. It dries quite fast and then I polish leather with a piece of wool to give it nice shine (it does not give gloss though). Note that after carnauba dries out there is no more paint on the sponge. It does not come off any more.

Carnauba cream does not waterproof much and I want my bag to have such property, so I will treat it with waterproofing balm. You can buy one of these in the shoe shop or search Internet for it. There are lots and lots of such product around. I use sponge for application. When using balm try to use one without much wax in it otherwise wax will stuck in the cuts in the carved areas. If such thing happens just let it dry and then use a new and clean toothbrush to brush the wax off (don't use your old toothbrush).

Let the balm absorb into leather and dry completely. Do not forget to treat all parts of the bag including the lace.

When it is dry – polish everything again. Notice the nice shine after polishing.