Happy Summer!

If you're on our mailing list, be on the look out for a special offer on its way to you via snail mail!

First peek at the results!

Oscar, the mascot, inspiration & poster child for the event!
See Oscar's story here.

A first peek at the results from our recent fund drive!

Thanks to everyone (furry or not) who participated!

We were able to raise a really nice amount of money for the wonderful 

V.E.T.S.S. Good Sam Fund and managed to have a fantastic time too!

View Oscar's story here as an inspiration why this fund can be helpful. 
Luckily he had so many supporters that he did not need to be helped by this fund, but there are countless critters who are in need of emergency care who do depend on the Good Sam Fund when they are hurt. Thanks to V.E.T.S.S and the many people who have contributed to the fund and who continue to make it grow!

Sweet Nuna 

Thanks to everyone for happily sitting and smiling so well!

Elegant Sophie

We hope to host another event like this some time in the future.

See you all soon and thank you again from all of us!

Beate, Kay and Sara

All images are copyright 2013 Sheridan Avenue Studios and may not be reproduced without our permission. Thanks!

Join our party for Titus and V.E.T.S.S.

Guess who is turning ONE?

Titus!!!

Please join us on 

Saturday, June 22nd, 12:30 - 4 p.m.

for his very own first birthday party!

Well, actually he's sharing: 

we invite you to join us in supporting the V.E.T.S.S. Good Samaritan Fund. 

(More info on our Facebook page.)

-Sip a glass of Dachshund Riesling or chilled champers.

-Nibble on some delicious cupcakes generously baked for us and donated to this cause by Cappellino's Crazy Cakes.

-Enjoy a goody bag stuffed with treats and goodies! 

Provided by us at LLB, our friends at V.E.T.S.S. and 

goodies generously donated by The Animal Connection.

-And if you were one of the lucky ones who signed up in time:

you'll have your furry companion's portrait taken by Kay Taylor of Sheridan Avenue Studios!

Thank you to all of Titus's wonderful friends for their generous support of this wonderful cause.

We all know how valuable V.E.T.S.S. is should something happen to our best friends (whether feathered, scaly or fuzzy). Personally, I am deeply grateful to Dr. Sara Salmon for a whole other reason. She was a great source of inspiration and support during the birth and opening of La Linea Bella!

I know she's made a great impression on so many of you, and I know how much she is revered and loved around here. So all the more reason to be excited that we can support her wonderful cause.

See you all on Saturday: I know Titus is excited, he's been waiting for his cupcake all week!

xo Beate

Summer Gilding

What do you do when it rains every day and it seems that all of your co-townies have fled to the beach? A) You are allowed to be jealous for about 30 minutes. B) You quickly get over it and you start organizing and catching up, and sooner than you know in your rummaging-around you find something that just beckons to be refinished by your idle hands! (Well, at least that happens to me.)

I hang on to old frames and pick them up at antique stores, which are aplenty around here.

A dear client recently brought me his collection of gold leaf from the 60's to play with.

(Collected during his wild years as an abstract/figurative avant garde painter in New York):

So play in the studio I did!

The first frame I tackled was a white ornate 70's "plastique" frame.

I gave him a distressed gold leafed look with some verdigris, specks and chips.

Next this Tibetan carved wood frame. I let the warm wood tones come through the finish in the end, with a light green contrast wash.

Last but not least: these old pressed tin frames found new finishes as well: under-coats of purple, green and Chinese orange were followed by a distressed random gold leaf treatment, showing some of the under-color, followed by an antique wash, verdigris, specks, a light dusting of rottenstone -- and a gentle polish with some steel wool.

"Voila!"

Time well spent, don't you think?

See you soon !

(PS: It's usually not as busy in the summer, so if you have a special project on your agenda, it's a great time to bring it in for us to tackle it creatively.)

Beate

 

Beyond the Gates, 2013

Please join us on June 8th, 10 - 4

at BEYOND THE GATES

Grace Church Historic Farm Tour

in Keswick.

It's a great event, and after you tour the beautiful historic properties on the list, there will be food at the Fair and many family friendly activities as well as many of your favorite local artists -- and it benefits many of your favorite local causes!

I will bring new hand made frames fresh from the studio and new decorative items from the shop.

See you on Saturday! 

(Our own LLB will be closed that day in order to attend!)

Extended! Kay Taylor's "Sheridan Avenue Tails" at Atelier ONE.

We've had such a positive response to Kay's show that I have decided to ask her whether we can extend the show through the end of June! It's been so much fun to have these guys at the gallery, I am excited that I get to host them for another month.

In the mean time, we're working on some very special shots of Titus. You can find those on his Facebook page. If you're not a fan yet, pop over there to see how much fun he's having -- and we are too! Kay's eye and skills with the camera are really amazing. Here is Titus a la Warhol.

If you have not had the chance to pop by and see the show, Atelier ONE is open Tuesdays - Saturdays. 

And Kay has provided us with plenty of her popular note cards too so that you can share the show with your friends.

See you soon and thanks for all of your wonderful comments and compliments on the show.

Keep posting those so that we know how much you love her work!

Beate

Aah: that Titus.

It's LLB's second anniversary, but who's been getting all of the attention?

Titus!

Lately it's been ALL about Titus.

Titus is our chief style consultant and head of security at LLB.

He greets clients with a very (!) imposing "Woof!" (and some of even you get a "Woof-woof!")

and then he inspects you VERY-very carefully.

Stalking you throughout the store, he sniffs and snorts up every scent that lingers on your shoes, toes and pant legs. Dog smells are Mr. T's favorite, because (in case you did not know this yet and  I don't think he always realizes this) he is a dog -- and he LOVES other dogs. Small ones especially. He can sniff them out on you in 30 sec's. His tail starts going and his nose becomes ever so excited. Here goes the tail, back and forth, back and forth. 

At this point, you may look -- but you may not touch. He likes to tease.

Finally (yawn!) he graciously lets you pet him.

SCORE!

Once he is your friend, watch out. He can get VERY excited. 

And when he brings you his treasured stuffed bunny, you're really golden.

Well, he's made such a golden friend in local photographer Kay Taylor this year.

She is the magic eye behind his latest photographs and she coincidentally also met him through Facebook. They have a lot in common. They both love dressing up (dogs, that is), cupcakes and dachshunds, and they both love garden gnomes.

They are best friends now it seems.

Enough to make a mother jealous...

He sits for her like a little star.

He allows her to dress him up in frames....

... and VERY swanky eye wear...

(... and less swanky eye wear...)

... just like her own adorable dogs:

We have big plans for Titus. Stay tuned:)

And don't forget to visit his facebook page off and on, 

he loves new tall fur-less friends and he is always up to new shenanigans! 

See you soon!

xoxo TITUS

(and Beate)

PS: Kay is available to take photos of your dogs as well!

Contact me at LLB for details, or simply visit her website. 

Ciao!