New at La Bella Vita

It’s been almost two weeks since we have last posted.  Boy, has this December been a whirlwind!  We know that many of you have been dutifully shopping for your gifts, but many others have been pushing the task off.  Fortunately, we receive new orders regularly, so there is always a fresh, interesting array from which to select presents.  New orders include:

– Aluminum, brass and acrylic jewelry from Christophe Poly.  His innovative, architectural designs are certain to please your recipient with their uniqueness.  Plus, they don’t tarnish!

– Contemporary and transitional wall decor, including several large mirrors with twigs, twine, and metal.  Perfect for the entryway, bathrooms, or anywhere that needs livening.

– Stearin candles from the Austrian Atelier.  These are hot, hot, hot!  We have already reordered several times in the last two months. They are vibrantly colored and strikingly patterned, and make great gifts.

– Texas General soy candles are back in force!  We have a great selection of scents and are happy to ship your order.

We are always happy to gift wrap and consult on gifts.  Happy Holidays!

Upcoming Holiday Events!

Holly Days Open House

Sip, Nibble and Shop

December 3 • 10 – 7 pm   Holiday Tablescaping demonstration by Yvette Kindschi

December 4 & 5 • 10 – 6 pm Register for Door Prizes

December 6 • 12 – 5 pm Camp Shalom Fundraiser, 20% of proceeds donated

GIFT CERTIFICATE BONUS:

Buy a $100 gift certificate and receive an additional $20 gift certificate (Dec 1-5, ‘09)

Join us at the Dane Buy Local Holiday Marketplace!

Dane Buy Local Holiday Marketplace

Friday, November 20, 12 – 7 pm

Kick off the holiday season with fun by shopping local businesses, all in one location, on November 20.

Along with free food and a cash bar, there will be 42 unique shopping experiences in the The Edgewater Ballroom from noon – 7:00 PM.  A time to shop, eat, drink and be merry and win valuable prizes too!  Parking is free and plentiful in the Edgewater’s indoor garage.

Read more about the event at Dane Buy Local’s website, or check out one of their fliers.

Fabulous contemporary decor!

Looking for a sharp, well-designed contemporary piece for your home? Especially a piece that doesn’t break the bank? We are pleased to show off our new collection of home decor from a California company that manufactures their decor in the USA.

New arrivals include lamps, wall art, table sculpture, and more. Feast on these sneak peeks!

Holiday Decor at La Bella Vita

 

Holiday Open House

Friday – Saturday, November 6 – 7, 10 am – 5:30 pm

It’s that time again!  Our store is overflowing with festive and cheery holiday decor, with multiple themed Christmas displays.

Some of our favorites so far include felted animals styled a la Anthropologie.  This year we have penguinsand doves, with hand-stitching and adorable button detailing.  We’re also mad about our glittered present ornaments.  Last year we had similar ornaments that flew out of the store immediately!

Notable this year are the rustic tabletop trees, perfect for dressing up a kitchen counter, side table, or your desk.  They can be decorated or left without – they’re adorable either way.

Don’t miss the festive fused glass holiday platters, also.  These were hot, hot, hot last year, and we have a better selection this season.

An interview with Yvette Kindschi

 

Brava Magazine stopped by last week to interview owner of La Bella Vita, Yvette Kindschi, and you can read the story on Brava Magazine’s blog.

Enjoy!

Hottest Holiday Gifts: $20 to $50

The holidays are drawing near again, and it’s time to start thinking presents!  We’ve compiled a list of our best selling gifts from previous years to help streamline your decisions.  As always, we are happy to professionally gift-wrap your purchase in our beautiful blue and silver paper.  It’s always a delight to see a La Bella Vita present under the tree!

Soy Candle Trio, $20

Fragrant, pleasant, and cheery, these hand-poured soy candles delight customer after customer in our retail store.  A triple holder is perfect for any area of the home that needs an accent.  Available in almost 50 scents.  Our best-selling candle!

………..

………..

Orna Lalo Acrylic Keychains, $23

Another best-seller in the $20 range is Orna Lalo’s line of acrylic keychains.  I can’t find enough praise for these!  They are so, so cute in person, and people often mistake them for glass because the acrylic is quite shiny.  They also wear incredibly well over time, and the author’s personal keychain has not dulled, scratched, frayed, or broken over many months of hard use.  Recently they came out with almost 20 new designs, each cuter than the last!

………..

………..

………..

Big Max Stearin Candle with Holder, $23

………..

These bold, striking stearin candles create a swath of color, perfect for accenting a mantle, shelf, or side table.  Stearin is a type of palm wax, derived from the palm fruit.  Inherently sustainable, biodegradable, clean-burning, and has a 12-hr burn time per wick.  The partially burned silhouette is outstanding.  This is an incredibly popular item with the guys!  This candle ranked in our top five gifts sold last year.

………..

Loop Candelabra, $35

………..

Another fabulous option for gifts is the Loop Candelabra.  These were hot last year, and have been flying out of the store since they arrived again recently.  Great as singles, or looped into a pair, you can choose between matte or chrome finish (or combine them!).  They look fabulous with both our Amabiente and Dadant square candles.

………..

………..

Christophe Poly Jewelry, $34 - $46

Our most popular jewelry designer, Christophe Poly, has a multitude of designs in so many styles that there is a piece for virtually every taste.  His pieces are also affordably priced, and very durable.  We particularly love his geometric and 3D work.  The materials are aluminum, brass, rubber, and acrylic.  None of it will tarnish, nor will aluminum cause an allergic reaction because there is no nickel content.  Choose from necklaces with rubber cords or chains, rubber or metal bracelets, hook or post earrings, and metal rings.

………..

………..

Geo Disc Stearin Candle with Holder, $46

Chic and unusual stearin candles provide interesting visual texture, available in numerous colors.  Stearin is a type of palm wax, derived from the palm fruit.  Inherently sustainable, biodegradable, clean-burning, and has a 12-hr burn time per wick.  The partially burned silhouette is outstanding.  This is an incredibly popular item with the guys!  This candle ranked in our top five gifts sold last year.

………..

………..

Fused Glass Holiday Plate, $46

One of our best-selling gift and party items in past years has been these adorable fused glass plates by Lori Siebert for Silvestri.  They come in a number of designs, with whimsical depictions of holiday cheer.  Perfect for serving yummy seasonal treats.  New this year:  Menorah plates!

………..

Fruit Loop Bowl, $50

This bowl is quite possibly the most chic kitchen accessory we’ve seen this fall. Fill with 3-7 apples, oranges, or a mixture of colorful fruit for optimal effect.  It’s not limited to kitchen use, either, and looks great in a contemporary living room or bedroom, filled with decor balls.  Fabulous!

Thinking Holidays: Sign up now for holiday office parties!

It’s not too early to start planning ahead for December!  For the third year, La Bella Vita is offering lunchtime office parties, designed to ease the burden of your holiday load.  Any office of 10 or more employees is applicable.

With complimentary refreshments, tastes from local restaurants, a festive atmosphere, and a 10% discount during the event, we seek to make your holidays merrier!  We also offer the option of donating 10% to the charity of your choice, instead of a receiving a discount.

Contact us early for prime spots in the holiday schedule!

608.831.3303

Glitzy, elegant pins from Liztech

New in the gallery are fabulous pins by Liztech, just in time for coat and scarf weather.  These are perfect to adorn your winter wear, hold a scarf in place, or just dress up a sweater.  Made by Jill Elizabeth, a Pennsylvania artist, each pin has a mirrored background with 3D effects added.  Each miniature sculpture is signed by the artist.

Jill Elizabeth has been creating jewelry since 1984, when she created Liztech Jewelry.  Many of her pieces feature colored wire, Austrian crystals, glass beads, and cut metal.

Each one is individual in personality and has its own beauty.  The author’s personal favorite is the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz – he is positively adorable.

Orna Lalo: Gentle Mechanics of the</3

La Bella Vita is happy to present selections from the Bulgarian artist Orna Lalo’s new collection, The Gentle Mechanics of the Broken Heart.  This collection introduces the Wheely family of acrylic keychains, with a number of gears, machinery, and tool based designs.  Little robots, gear-birds, and blocky cats make up the family, each cuter than the one before!  We are super-excited about these vivacious, whimsical, and light-weight designs.  Each keychain is under an ounce, and won’t weigh down your keychain or damage your ignition.

Plus, in addition to being incredibly cute, they’re also very durable.  The author has been carrying hers since the first shipment in May, and it’s still looking as good as new.  There’s nothing like purchasing a lovely handmade art gift that will last!

Keep Orna Lalo’s keychains in mind for Christmas presents: they have been our hottest gift under $25 this season, and the holiday rush hasn’t even begun!  We are anticipating great popularity and will be keeping numerous designs in stock.