Homepage | Artists | Old
Masters | Community
Involvement
In
the News
...
See
Tracy's creative endeavor by visiting DressedUpCat.com
featuring her "eco" friendly - wearable art handbag
projects.
...
We
believe in giving back. Click
here to read about our community involvement.
Rima
Fine Art hosts Buddhist meditation classes
6:30 on most Wednesday evenings.
Check schedules at Clear Light Buddhist Center www.meditationinarizona.com
...
Click
here to read about our community
involvement with Sentinels of Freedom and the upcoming benefit
art auction at Rima Fine Art.
"On
January 24, 2008, you have the chance to welcome our newest
Sentinel to Phoenix, and to bid on some very important works
of art. The special event, at the Rima Fine Art Gallery
in Scottsdale, will benefit Sentinels of Freedom."
Website
for details: www.SentinelsOfFreedomAZ.org | Click
here to view video
...
News
Release
Release Date: May 7, 2008
LOCAL WOMAN NAMED NATIONAL DESIGNER FINALIST
Scottsdale,
AZ: Tracy Penwell, owner of Rima Fine Art in Scottsdale,
has been named a finalist in the Independent Handbag Designer
Awards by Handbag Designer 101, the handbag designer resource.
Over
600 applications were received from around the world ranging
with diverse backgrounds from South Dakota to Lithuania.
It is the only design competition of its kind in the world
to recognize independent handbag designers.
“Each finalist shares a common passion, commitment
and creativity to make a unique handbag while being role-models
for entrepreneurship and small business,” says Emily
Blumenthal, founder of Handbag Designer 101 and the Independent
Handbag Designer Awards.
Among five different categories, Penwell’s design
was selected for “Best Green Handbag” meaning
her handbag was made out of sustainable, recycled or organic
materials. Her submission was for her bag “Summertime”,
featuring a collection of white wrist watches on the face
of a white leather and straw clutch.
Penwell began her hobby of creating handbag art in 2005.
With a background in finance and art, and a sense of humor,
she launched her “intelligent fashion” line
in 2006 with the theme of ‘fashion re-fashioned’.
She named her endeavor “Dressed Up Cat”. Utilizing
existing high quality handbags, she adds unique embellishments
to each bag and gives it a name. The individual histories
of the bags, jewelry and other embellishments of the recycled
materials are their cache’. Each bag is one of a kind
and they are not mass produced.
“Handbags are a avenue for self expression,”
Penwell said. With the current enthusiasm for recycling
and greening, Penwell’s bags also fit perfectly into
the save the environment groundswell.
As
Penwell said, “I don’t know the ‘carbon
footprint’ to produce a new leather handbag –
usually in the Orient – and transport it to a U.S.
retailer, but when you buy a Dressed Up Cat handbag instead,
you contribute that amount to saving your planet!”
Penwell will be in New York City June 11-18 to participate
in a national press conference and awards ceremony. She
will participate in a trunk show with a collection of her
bags at famous retailer Henri Bendel and her entry for the
competition, “Summertime”, will be on display
in a Bendel window.
Proceeds
from the event will be donated to Bottomless Closet, an
organization which helps women transition from public assistance
to economic self-sufficiency.
Dressed
Up Cat handbags are available at Rima Fine Art in Scottsdale
at 7077 E. Main St. or on the web at www.dressedupcat.com
MEDIA
CONTACT:
Rita Sanders
480-967-8714
rita@ritasanders.com
©2009
Rima Fine Art