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.

New Store Hours at La Bella Vita

Monday – Tuesday: 10 – 5:30

Wednesday – Thursday: 10 – 7

Friday – Saturday: 10 – 5:30

We have decided to expand our current hours, and will now be open later on certain evenings!  Take advantage of more time to peruse our wonderful holiday decorations, new home decor, and extensive jewelry collection.

Please note that we’re always happy to gift wrap (complimentary), and provide assistance in selecting the perfect gift.

New: Large Lacquer Sculpture by Hebi

Arriving today is a large shipment of vibrant lacquer sculpture from Hebi Arts; sculptures defined by their unusual, flowing shapes and the reflective quality of their finish.

We have had sculptures from Hebi periodically since the opening of our gallery, and continue to be thrilled with the quality and beauty of the pieces.  Many of our customers have purchased a Hebi piece for their home, and continue to seek out more pieces for themselves and gifts.

The unique finish of Hebi’s sculptures comes from a Vietnamese-inspired tradition of lacquer work.  Artists make molds out of clay, cast them in steel, then create each wood sculpture layer-by-layer inside the steel mold.  Each piece is then finished with multiple layers of lacquer.  Depending on the desired look, artists may incorporate gold, silver or copper leaf, in addition to other metals.  Other times, colored lacquer is used in sections to give more depth.

These pieces really catch the light, and adapt perfectly to a spotlight.  They’re also vibrant enough that they can add a lot of life to an otherwise dark space.

Other available designs range from $150 – $1150, in a multitude of sophisticated colors. Pictured to the left is “Rock,” measuring 11.5″L x 5″W x 26.25″H, in the finish Warm Grey.

Colorful Recycled Bottle Cap Photo Frames

New at La Bella Vita:  Recycled bottle cap photo frames.  Craftspeople in the Phillipines hammered layer upon layer of reclaimed bottle caps into a stunning and colorful frame.  They are available for both 4×6 and 5×7 photographs, and make great gifts for the eco-conscious!

Each is handmade, so expect a different and interesting assortment of bottle caps.

Inspirational art by Kelly Rae Roberts & Leigh Standley

New today: more adorable plaques from Kelly Rae Roberts, an incredibly talented and inspiring artist from Seattle, and new plaques from the artist Leigh Standley of Curly Girl Design.

These cute plaques are perfect for bathrooms, kitchens, and offices – or where ever you’d like a little reminder to smile and enjoy life. 

The sayings of Leigh Standley’s are just precious.  My two favorites are “I am fairly certain that given a Cape and a nice tiara, I could take over the world” and “Since things don’t always go right, it’s nice to have someone like you on my left.”

We have yet more on the way – keep your eyes peeled for more new arrivals!

Luminous, Striking Jozefina Glass from Poland

Over the weekend, we received the largest shipments of glass La Bella Vita has yet to see – over 25 vases and platters of delightful and unusual shapes, sizes and colors.  They’re made in Krosno, Poland, one of the oldest glass and crystal producing areas of Eastern Europe, by Jozefina Glass, founded in 1980.  Jozefina has always worked in colored glass made with the highest quality craftsmanship and created with two things in mind: beauty and function. The glassblowers work in teams. Each piece is hand blown and hand finished. These old and traditional techniques give each piece of Jozefina Glass its wonderful character.

As designers, we love Jozefina Glass for the bold, striking shapes, colors, and designs that they offer.  Swing by our Middleton, Wisconsin store to peruse our extensive collection, or view a smaller collection on our website.  Interior Designer and Owner of La Bella Vita, Yvette Kindschi is happy to create the perfect arrangement for your home or office inside of a Jozefina vase, and help you achieve a distinctive look in your surroundings.  Call 608.813.3303 or email info@lbvgallery.com to set up a consultation.

Join us for Middleton Gallery Night, June 25

Tomorrow night will be our first Gallery Night in our new location, at 6666 University Ave., We’ll be showcasing our lovely new store and our wide array of new product. 

Festivities will run from 5-8 pm, June 25, 200, and refreshments will be served.

Other participants include:

The Bindley Collection – new photography by Steven Price, encaustic by Michael Held 

Passementerie – art and antique resale

Fast Frame – features original photography

Granite Winds – jewelry, crystals, rocks

University Coin & Jewelry – estate jewelry

Visit La Bella Vita, a “hidden gem” in Middleton, WI

Every day we have residents of Madison, Middleton, and surrounding areas stumble upon our eclectic and posh gallery and gift store tucked away in the heart of Middleton, WI, surprised how they had no idea we were here!  Coos of delight follow with the question of how long we have been open (4 years now!) and dismay that they didn’t discover us sooner.

La Bella Vita is an elegant fusion of gallery, gift store, and boutique.  You’ll find alternative wall art, handmade blown glass, decorative objects, a selection of unique candles, gorgeous custom floral arrangements, prints and original work by local artists, sculpture, and more.  We have a stunning selection of jewelry, completely unlike jewelry you find elsewhere, hand-picked from the dizzying array of artists available.  Our handbag selection is bold and trend-setting, paired with exclusively chosen accessories including reading glasses, sunglasses, scarves, headbands, keychains, and more.  We offer the perfect gift at a flexible price, from modest to deluxe.

Owner Yvette Kindschi also offers custom design services, for the home, work, or corporate setting.  Her robust design skills can transform your space into what you’re longed for, whether it involves a completely new look or a subtle makeover incorporating your current decor.

Stop by La Bella Vita, only 7 miles from the Madison capitol, to be delighted and amazed!  For more information, view our website.  A map from Google is also available.

Colorful, eclectic art clocks by David Scherer

David Scherer is a Michigan artist who creates some of the most unique clocks we’ve seen.  They layer,piece-by-piece, contrasting textures, shapes, and colors, resulting in distinctive sculptural timepieces that are perfect for the modern home.  They are highly detailed and much care goes into their creation!

He offers wall clocks and table clocks, and many of his table clocks can also be hung on the wall. 

View clocks by David Scherer on our website, or visit our Middleton, Wisconsin store just outside of Madison.  Or, view all of the clocks we offer!