We love cards!

Yes, I am still a fan of snail mail!

Whenever I can I visit and purchase stamps from my little post office out in Whitehall because I am so afraid that one day "Poof!" in this virtual age it will be gone. I love to pull a hand written note from a friend out of my dust covered little mail box, and I get even more excited when it comes from overseas.

Yes, we need less paper in the world... but with all the instant messages and less bulk there also is that moment we forget about because we don't have anything tangible to hold on to and it just evaporates.

But a card! I love a good card. The process of picking it out. There is the thought that went into designing the card that you're passing along. The meaning of what you write inside it. The beauty of it. The sense of humor. Addressing it... sticking it in the mail... someone carrying it off and away... and then having someone on the other side of the country pick up that card again and sharing in what you wrote, connecting with you. Cards can be funny or deep or meaningful -- or just a little "Hello!". And often they can be really artistic. 

I have a whole big box of old cards (or they are displayed on my fridge) and every once in a while I dig around in that box and find people and memories I had put aside somewhere deep inside my busy head.

Cards spread joy. And sometimes you just need to spread some sass.

Or sweetness.

That's why I love carrying cards at LLB. And I've been so excited about what I've found over the past two years. This week I'm adding another wonderful company to our collection.

Cartolina Cards are designed by Fiona Richards in Canada. They are environmentally friendly and really artistic, beautiful and unique (just like our recent addition of Two Trick Pony). 

I mean, sometimes there is just the perfect card that says what you've JUST had on your mind:

Come check them out some time soon: I'm sure you too have someone who's dying to get some snail mail from you! Or, if you're a spring baby like me, everyone's birthday seems to be  happening right now (we like to hang out with other spring babies). We have lots of birthday cards!

We carry

Cartolina

Sheridan Avenue Studios

Pooch Cards

Casati Art Studio

Two Trick Pony

Cavallini

Riveting Notes

Lola & Bella

& more

So see you for some snail-mailin' soon! 

Beate & Titus

PS: You asked what? Of course there are Titus cards!

A day at "La Linea Bella !", photos by Amy Benoit.

Talented C-Ville photographer Amy Benoit spent the day at La Linea Bella last month. Even though she was under the weather, she was as cheerful and creative as always.

If you haven't been to La Linea Bella: It's Charlottesville's latest addition to a very eclectic group of really great framing galleries. We're lucky to have to much creative energy in one spot for all of these creative businesses to do their magic.

LLB opened her doors in May of 2011. I have a long history of love for framing. In fact, I've been framing for 20 years now. I graduated from the Corcoran College of Art & Design in Washington, D.C. in 1991, where I specialized in printmaking. When I returned to Charlottesville from a one year hiatus on the Outer Banks, framing was the perfect profession to sink my teeth into and I received my initial training at the oldest frame shop in Charlottesville.
I ended up managing another creative frame gallery here in Charlottesville, until in 2010 I decided to focus my energy on my own dream venue, La Linea Bella. It's been a great adventurous trip, a lot of diligent work -- and a lot of fun! In January of this year I took over and expanded into the old "Mystery in  Common" place next door to me and I added a light filled gallery in the front of my new space, I am still in the process of hand finishing the floor in the gallery, it's a work of love in progress, just like everything else at LLB.
Atelier ONE @ LLB is to house art by new local or regional talent.
The rear houses my new expanded open workshop, which I am really excited about.

I look forward to the next 20 years of framing and art adventures and hope you'll join me along the way!

(La Linea Bella is now the home of LLB, Casati Art Studio and Atelier ONE @LLB.)

Amy Benoit, who came to follow me around the workshop this past month, has an amazing eye for color and a wonderful warm sense of humor. And she moves so quietly and quickly around you, you don't even know her keen eye is following you along the way.

Amy usually photographs sweet couples and wee ones, which makes working with her so much fun and so much less intimidating and explains her fresh eye and take on things.

It takes a lot for this busy-bee German to hold still long enough for any photograph. I think Amy captured the spirit of the entire venue so well. It's nice to see it from another view like this sometimes. Thank you Amy for a fantastic visit!

Cheers & Cin Cin to everyone else: to a fantastic 2013,

Beate

La Linea Bella !

Atelier ONE @ LLB:

Casati Art Studio:

In the background: my mascot, Luna the goat.

My companion: magical Titus the Teckel, head of security at LLB -- and chief stylist:

See you soon!!!! Thanks for taking a peek!

Copyright 2013 La Linea Bella ! Fantastic Framing & Art, Charlottesville, VA