The Benefits of Mangosteen

Behold the power of the mangosteen - she is the latest player in a lineup of luscious exotic fruit with the amazing benefits of cancer fighting antioxidants.

This is one of a series of reviews of products featured at LLB.

I recently encountered mangosteen for the first time via SkinOwl, who created these amazing oxygenating beauty drops for a quick and effective overnight treatment of your skin.

(By now you know that these are currently available at LLB!)

Now, obviously these beautiful drops are not edible, but the mangosteen itself is quite delicious and sports some amazing benefits for your health.

About mangosteens: 

From the exotic reaches of Malaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, mangosteens are a bit unfamiliar to many in the U.S., but deliver for anyone looking for lively flavor and the nutritional benefits to go with it. This glossy purple fruit (with a few different colored varieties) is low in calories, high in fiber, and contains powerful antioxidants, including xanthones, vitamin C and B-complex vitamins, such as thiamin, niacin and folate. These and other phytonutrients neutralize harmful free radicals and help the body fight infection. Studies have shown that mangosteens have the potential to slow the growth of cancer cells and may be chemopreventive.

Nutritional benefits:

Low in calories and high in fiber (100 grams equal about 13% of the recommended daily amount), mangosteens have lots of essential nutrients, but no saturated fats or cholesterol. The potassium content helps control heart rate and regulate blood pressure, which in turn aids in stroke and coronary heart disease prevention. Healthy amounts of manganese and magnesium are also present, and new research suggests that xanthones – a powerful antioxidant found almost exclusively in mangosteen – have properties that fight pain, allergies, infections, skin disorders, and fatigue while supporting intestinal health.

Mangosteen’s vitamin C content is another advantage, providing the body with a water-soluble (easily absorbed) antioxidant, while staving off infections and scavenging harmful, pro-inflammatory free radicals. B-complex vitamins such as thiamin, niacin, and folate help the body metabolize carbohydrates, protein, and fats.

But back to our product review of SkinOwl's Mangosteen P.M. Beauty Drops:

These amazing drops by SkinOwl do everything an expensive cream promises to do - but naturally and without the addition of harmful preservatives and chemicals.

They have become a staple in our routine at home, they absorb quickly, never leave your skin feeling greasy, and you wake up the next day with a face that feels totally refreshed.

"An oxygenating, night time oil intended to de-stress dull skin—the ultimate power oil to recharge and reverse signs of fatigue.  
Aromatherapy: The aroma is sweet, fruity, and tart. Helps to bring client into a restful, peaceful state. "

(Sweet dreams!)

For even more about mangosteen (and a delicious recipe) 

visit Skinowl and Dr. Mercola.
For a free sample, pop by LLB this week!

See you soon!

xx

Beate

(Thanks to Dr. Mercola for the nutritional info quoted above.)

c|2015

La Linea Bella ! Fantastic Framing & Art

Charlottesville, VA

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

LUCIA

Lucia

 Organic soy candles and soaps.

Beautifully wrapped, delicious, and new at LLB.

"Our philosophy behind our passion for creating superior quality products is that we, as a society, are constantly being bombarded with stressful life situations : too much traffic, too much pollution, unhealthy foods, lack of exercise, too much sun, too much pressure. We need to focus on the simple and pure pleasures of life; to enjoy a quite moment alone with no interference from the fast paced environment we live in." Lucie Bernier and Andre Pace 

c|2015 La Linea Bella ! Fantastic Framing & Art

Charlottesville, VA

Beautiful Winter Treats at LLB, Part Deux - Skin Owl

 “American products are focused on this idea of acid peels and harsh chemicals,” says Tevelin. “I started researching cultures that use earth-driven methods, and I learned that Southeast Asian women are known for their clear, poreless skin and holistic practices.” With that, she reached into her (pretty skimpy) savings and booked a trip to Vietnam, determined to have what they were having.." Annie Tevelin, Founder of SkinOwl.

Find out more about drop-dead-gorgeous Hollywood makeup artist

Annie Tevelin's

inspiring journey and obsession with the new SKINOWL

Mangosteen

Beautydrops P.M.

-- the perfect chilly-winter skin remedy, available now at LLB!

Read about it here!

copyright La Linea Bella ! Fantastic Framing & Art 2015

Charlottesville, Virginia

Our best Winter treat!

Featured on The Chalkboard this week:

SkinOwl's all natural organic GERANIUM beauty drops, available at LLB.

My mother swears by the Clary Sage drops, these organic Argan infusions are an amazing treat for your tired or dry-ish winter skin!

THE CHALKBOARD writes: "If you’ve never used geranium oil or a geranium-scented product, do yourself a favor and try it out ASAP. The scent is floral like rose, but spicy and dry at the same time. Therapeutically speaking, the scent is totally uplifting, and that’s just what it’ll do for your skin as well. 

These Beauty Drops from SkinOwl make the perfect solution for confusing skin that might be feeling upset and dry at the same time. The oil isn’t too rich, while still fighting signs of aging, and gets skin glowing right away. We love this for a great-smelling night time ritual."

Check out more about LLB's line of SKINOWL products here and stay tuned for an amazing brand new product, arriving next month!

(Or pop by our gallery for a sample.)

Ciao!

Posted by

La Linea Bella !

Fantastic Framing & Art

McIntire Plaza

Charlottesville

www.LaLineaBella.com

Photographers Feature: Print vs. Digital | Rob Garland

“I would like to start by saying that there is no better way to view a photograph than by looking at a tangible print."  Rob Garland

New in our series of local photographers commenting on why (and how) they believe we should frame our photographs.

This week: photographer Rob Garland | Rob Garland Photographers  www.robgarland.com 

"The Tree" by Rob Garland. Framed by us in Roma Moulding's dark ash Tabbacchino with a 3" glass border.

“I would like to start by saying that there is no better way to view a photograph than by looking at a tangible print. Society has become inundated by images on a screen via a computing device. Holding and viewing a print gives one an extremely refreshing experience. 
Black and white images printed in a film darkroom give me timeless photographs. My approach to digital photography is no different. The images needs to be well exposed, have a great center of interest, and speak to the viewer, no matter the medium.

Great photographs are made, not taken. We all TAKE snapshots for casual use, but when it comes to MAKING a photograph and having the image speak to you, there is no better or more tasteful way of showcasing the credibility of one’s fine art than with timeless printing and framing.

Photographing weddings for over twenty years has given me the opportunity to view many framing ideas and approaches from various artists in all fields. Many thoughts come to mind when deciding how to frame. 

When looking at many of the great interior designers, it is common to design a room around a great piece of art, or vice versa. Our company prints our fine art photographic works on archival papers. Our preference is for pieces not to fall under the category of a current trend – we want them to contain classic beauty and be desirable twenty years from now. 

To illustrate: 

One of our most recently completed works is a sixty inch panoramic photograph from my limited edition collection, printed on 100% cotton fiber paper. This allows the piece to be viewed effectively from any angle, with no glare. This one thousand year-old oak, simply titled “The Tree,” is designed to showcase the natural beauty of the world in a subtle warm-tone black and white print. 

The photograph is carefully mounted and floats between two pieces of museum glass with a hand-made Italian wood frame. There is no mat – three inches of open glass surround the print. The image floats and the distance between the print and the wall gives the piece dimension, drawing the eye and making it a focal point it any room. The custom dark ash frame becomes the perfect complement to a piece suited for longevity. “ ~ ROB GARLAND, Rob Garland Photographers.

Rob Garland is the owner of Rob Garland Photographers (www.robgarland.com), a company which specializes in wedding photojournalism and fine art printing. Rob prides himself on a classic, intuitive, heartfelt documentation with the utmost in visual integrity. He has documented many destination weddings throughout the U.S. and abroad as well as Charlottesville weddings at many of our outstanding local venues. Rob loves imagery that fails to go in and out of style and personal touches that make each wedding and event unique.

Thanks to Rob for participating in our featured articles!

See you soon!

Posted by

La Linea Bella !

Fantastic Framing & Art

McIntire Plaza

Charlottesville

www.LaLineaBella.com

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