Hi Pip,
No, no secrets and weird stuff:-)
I simply use the spirit leather dyes from Angelus, I love the vibrancy (if that's a word?) they produce. After dying I have some neatsfoot oil on it and let it set for at least 24 hours. Then I have a choice of high gloss, satin or matt acryllic finish (also from Angelus (or leather/satin sheen-Tandy).
When that is dry I have the antiquing on and after a while lightly taking of all the excess with damp paper towels and then another layer of finishing...Done:-) To keep the leather color on this one I used Fiebings Hi-liter as antiquing, only leaves black in the groves and don't stain the leather.
Hope this helsp a we bit:-)