Friday, April 29, 2011

Bid on This!


To support NEWH and their mission of education and scholarships, we've donated this original, three-dimensional, memorabilia collage featuring The Breakers Hotel of Palm Beach Florida, to be auctioned off from May 12th through May 23rd. in conjunction with HDExpo in Las Vegas. Show your support by placing a bid on this and many other fun and unique items!


We started with an original 1920's vintage post card recreated as a giclée art print on archival watercolor paper. This one-of-a-kind piece is complemented with a whitewashed, distressed frame, real shells and a print of the post card's reverse side, showing the handwritten message 
posted in 1921. 


Check out this close-up of the back of the original postcard! This iconic property was originally built in 1896 as The Palm Beach Inn, by Standard Oil magnate, Henry Morrison Flagler. During an expansion project The Breakers burned down on June 9, 1903. Less than a year later it reopened on February 1, 1904 to universal acclaim. Rooms started at four dollars a night, including three meals a day. Can you imagine!? Later, another tragic fire on March 18, 1925 destroyed the all-wood building of the hotel. In January of 1926 construction began, once again, with the new building being modeled after the Villa Medici in Rome, Italy.

The Breakers' guest register read like a "who's who" of early twentieth century America—Rockefellers, Vanderbuilts, Astors, Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan vacationed alongside United States presidents and European nobility.

We think "The Breakers" is a lovely tribute to a famous place in hospitality history, plus a glimpse into another era. Check out more items to bid on in support of NEWH and it's scholarship program! 

What historic place or person would you like to see paid tribute to in the form of an original collaged artwork? Let us know!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Friday is Earth Day! Reuse. Repurpose. Recycle.

Our Repurposed Baskets Make For Some Very Chic Lighting Fixtures.





Our multi-talented, artisan Kimmy doing her magic.

Stay tuned for more new designs created with found objects and repurposed items!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Steel, Burlap & Inspiration.


The Arrogant Butcher opened very recently at CityScape in Downtown Phoenix. This is the newest from the prolific restaurateur Sam Fox. His company, Fox Restaurant Concepts creates original boutique restaurants, each one more interesting and inspired than the last.

Through many stages of collaboration we created the final lighting designs. The outcome speaks for itself.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

"Made in America" Bikini Top


Submitted by Ronna Nitzky

I am so lucky to work with such talented and creative people! They envision, design and fabricate the most wonderful ideas. When Kim, our vintage art consultant, showed me this half mannequin with The Made in America Bikini Top I had to ask her how she ever thought to do that.

Kim answered, "I was thinking how I could dress this half naked woman (no pun intended). When Bingo!!…bikini, retro, 70's, rock-n-roll came to mind. So scrounging around for what might work, I discover these "Made in the U.S.A. stickers. How appropriate. But now came the added dilemma…Halter or straps?? Just let it flow, Kim."

Kim Yoder

Another example of good old fashioned American ingenuity by Pentimento. Proudly, "Made in the USA." Visit to see more innovative designs Made in America.

Friday, April 1, 2011

She is a Striking Girl…No?


April Fool!

Gotcha! She's a He! American stage & film actor and female impersonator, Julian Eltinge was famous for fooling his audience. He did not merely present a caricature of women, but presented the illusion of actually being a woman. He toured simply as "Eltinge" which left his sex unknown, while his act included singing and dancing in a variety of female roles including The Crinoline Girl. At the conclusion of his performances, he would remove his wig, revealing his true nature to the surprise of his often unknowing fans.

This giclée print is available from our exclusive line of artworks inspired by vintage items, memorabilia and collectibles. The original black and white advertisement was found in an estate sale in the Hollywood Hills. (Can't say whose estate is was…shhhhhhhhhh!) Our very talented artist and graphic designer, Ana Cordova,  added in the washy, faded tones of color, not to mention the blush on "her" cheeks and a bit of red to "her" lips. Ana worked on this piece before we knew the history of Julian. While doing so, she said, "It's funny, I don't know what it is…but I feel like putting a beard on this lady."

Well, Julian, so many years later, you are still fooling us! Have fun, everyone, on this most humorous day.