RECENT PROJECTS - Omar, the puppet.

This is Omar.

 He's a very well-dressed puppet, and he's recently visited our workshop to find a suitable (permanent) display in his owner's home. 

Dana (his lucky owner) says: 

"A friend of mine traveled to Burma (now Myanmar) and bought him during her visit.  That was at least 15 years ago (when it was still called Burma).  She brought him back and he's been traveling with me ever since!  Omar has lived in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Sonoma, and now Cville!  Quite a well-traveled puppet!"

The first challenge in this perfect mid-winter-storm project was to find a frame that was tall enough to accommodate his bulging little belly.

I ended up extending/building up the back on this Max Moulding vintage gold speckled 3" shadow box frame and I then re-finished the sides again to match the front.

We decided to let Omar dance inside the box. I chose to raise his arms with the help of some silk wrapped wood blocks, to add a bit more depth and movement to the composition.

I also loosened and flared his garment a bit and stitched it onto the backing, to add some extra interest and to show off the beautiful workmanship and design. He is floating on a chai colored Bainbridge natural silk backing As an extra pop, we decided to add a beautiful Marsala colored silk to line the edges of the interior of the box.

 Above, here he is, happily dancing away...

... and below, in his final new housing, looking at the world with his intense gaze.

Naturally, we used the virtually invisible Museum glass choice.

He will be living on a soft gold and coral striped wallpaper and I cannot wait to see what he will think of his new surroundings.

A great big THANK YOU to Dana for sharing this beautiful piece with everyone!

Keep bringing us your beautiful ideas - working on these special projects is such creative fun!

Thanks for popping by, I hope you are feeling inspired!

Beate

c|2015

La Linea Bella ! Fantastic Framing & Art

Charlottesville, VA

Our Small Business Story

For the annual celebration of the heart of your local business community, Small Business Saturday, I thought I'd answer some questions that I receive again and again by new and older customers alike to show you what this small business is all about.
 Thanks for making La Linea Bella ! what she is today: she'd be nothing without your projects, visions and ideas! Every day our workshop gets to tackle new creative challenges, and every day, we grow a little bit more.

Thank you!

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Hamburg, Germany. I moved to the States when I was 19 and love it!

How did you get into framing?

I have always been interested in art. Printmaking is one of my big passions.

After I graduated from the former Corcoran Gallery and School of Art & Design, framing was a natural fit. It's a balanced combination of using your hands, design, precision, aesthetics, left and right brain activity, a love for creating beauty... and of course the side that preserves artwork for the future.

I've been framing since the early 90's and have seen the industry fluctuate over the years, first up and up, then down - and now back up, which is really exciting.

One thing remains: good framing and design will always prevail and are irreplaceable.

How was La Linea Bella ! born?

I've been fortunate to have worked for the best in the field over the years.

I managed some awesome workshops with fantastic artisans on the team.

When I eventually outgrew those workshops, I decided to set out on my own, both as a working artist and as a framer. Both sides took off right away, but the creative world of framing has kept me so busy, that I've put my own art on hold for now and will pick it up again at a later point in time.

Art by Rachel Bush and Fred Dodson in our gallery.

How did you choose your location?

McIntire Plaza has a really unique and creative energy.

(I really think they should call it McIntire Village!)

It is chock full of independent thinking local artists, businesses and craftsmen, including folks like John Rubino, John D'Earth, Jason McLeod, Fred Dodson, and many more. Many of them have been there for decades. From massage therapists to sculptors, the variety of creative occupations runs the gamut, and you can tell that the minute you set foot there.

It's as local as you can get, and I can feel the creative energy and a special sense of community growing every day.

It was a perfect fit for La Linea Bella !

What's your mission at La Linea Bella?

My mission is to take the sense of functionality out of framing a little, and to put the beauty back into it. Framing is a huge part of your aesthetics and the decor in your home. It's like furniture on your wall.It can enhance a piece of art (or a room) - and it can also kill it if done incorrectly.

Recently I have also united with a few fabulous local photographers on a mission to get your photographs off of your computer and onto your walls to integrate those special moments back into your life instead of letting them vanish.

We have wonderful materials and glass choices these days that can diminish past damage on your inherited family photographs, and that can also preserve those photos for future generations.

Click here for our first feature.


Join us this Saturday, November 29th, and on December 6th and 7th, and help us celebrate the small independent artisan businesses at McIntire Plaza. All gifts, photo frames and art will be 20% off all day on Small Biz Saturday, and we'll be open 10 - 5.

Also visit places like ReThreads Charlottesville | Carpe Donut | Jason McLeod Jewelry | CIRCA | C-Ville Coffee | Fred Dodson Woodworking | Flowers by Natalie | Sandy Motley Catering | Glorious Foods | Great Harvest Charlottesville | Pigment | La Linea Bella ! | Carpet Plus| and more!

Thanks for joining us, happy holiday season!

Beate

La Linea Bella !

Fantastic Framing & Art

1718 Allied Street, McIntire Plaza

Charlottesville, VA 22903

(434) 244-3050

www.LaLineaBella.com