Delay in Book Availability

We've just found out that there has been a delay in the availability of our book, Harzfeld's: A Brief History. More updates to come, but it looks as though the first deliveries will be sent out next week.

In the News!

We're excited to share an article written by Rick Hellman, Editor of the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle. We had the pleasure of meeting Rick a few weeks ago for an interview. We greatly appreciate the opportunity.

New book chronicles Harzfeld's


The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle has been published weekly since 1920.

Country Club Plaza, Past and Present

Today's Walt Bodine Show's topic was the history of the Country Club Plaza.
Take a listen!

Diminishing Glass

Still from the film Making of a Mural.
Yep, I (Joe) thought they were one and the same, a magnifying glass and a diminishing glass. They are not. I feel a little diminished, but appreciate learning something new. A diminishing glass has a concave lens that reduces an image and has been a tool for artists such as Thomas Hart Benton in assessing large subjects. Please note that on page 54 of our book, Harzfeld's: A Brief History, the fourth paragraph, second sentence should read: "He would continually step back to look at the work through a diminishing glass."

Also, the first sentence in Chapter 5 on page 53 should start "In the fall of 1946," rather than "In 1947,". The mural was completed in 1947, however the commission would have been in 1946.

We appreciate the friend who alerted us to this and welcome your emails on inaccuracies in our book.

Eventually, you'll be able to see more corrections by clicking here.

Vintage Convertible

It's a big hat box with two ways to carry.

Make it through those revolving doors with ease.

Her Majesty's Closet

(PAST EVENT) We're excited to announce our first to be scheduled book signing, hosted by Her Majesty's Closet, a couture consignment shop. It will be Saturday, December 12, 2009 from 11 a.m — 2 p.m. at 4113 W. 83rd St. in Prairie Village, Kansas. We greatly appreciate Her Majesty's Closet which recently moved to this new location. They offer some wonderful fashions.

Paper Pooches

Another window display, featuring a fashion from Akris, from Michele's New York trip .

We hope to post some local Kansas City window displays in the future.

Grateful

It looks as though our book, Harzfeld's: A Brief History will be available within two weeks. We're grateful to the History Press in helping us to realize this project. They've been very helpful and patient with us.

Yesterday, our friend Ralph at Mpress provided us with a couple spiral bound mock-up copies of the book from our PDF proofs. This really gives us a feel for what the finished product will be like. It all seems to condense down nicely in this format. I think the stories will be enjoyable to everyone, in spite of our writing abilities.

We also celebrate Eva Zeisel's 103rd Birthday today! More information on Eva and her designs can be found at evazeisel.org. There's also a temporary slide show to honor her birthday by Steve Basile of photos taken at the '07 Mingei International Museum exhibit.

Hello Kitty

A tiny box, 3" x 1.5" x 1", is home for this kitty, a pin constructed of fur, rhinestones and pipe cleaners. It may have been a gift for purchasing a "larger" fur from Harzfeld's.

Box Bag

Enid Collin's line of extremely fun wooden "box bags" and accessories were offered by Harzfeld's in the '60s and '70s. You can occasionally find an example with the addition of a Harzfeld's applied label. Michele has been collecting the be-jeweled handbags for years. She even has one with a built-in transistor radio.


More information on the designer can be found at Enid Collins Collection, a site created by Christian Collins, Enid's grandson. Christian's sister, Lara Collins Bobo, along with her husband Tim offer a new line of fashions and accessories with similar playful design sensibilities. Check out their site at enidlifestyle.com. (image to right: Archimedes Wood Ring from enidlifestyle.com)

Reshaping Technology

This is a window from Bergdorf Goodman titled Reshaping Technology. Michele shot this photo and the detail below while in New York last week.

American Beauty Exhibit

American Beauty: Aesthetics and Innovation in Fashion
The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), New York
November 6, 2009 - April 10, 2010

More information at fitnyc.edu/museum.

A catalog is also available.

'30s Box

This box is from the collection of Gary and Elaine Kabrick. From memory, it's approximately 8" x 12". We're guessing that it's from the late '30s since it features a thin line version to the logo introduced going into the '40s.