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.

Trendy, Unique Handbags & Jewelry from Treska

Imagine our delight this morning when FedEx came to our door, loaded with packages bearing Treska‘s name.  We’ve been anticipating their newest handbag line since we fell in love with their original bags debuting in 2008.  Funky, unusual, and unlike any other company’s design, these bags are well-made, reasonably priced, and have thoughtfully placed compartments, pockets, and dividers for the ultimate organization.

Also debuting wallets – a La Bella Vita first.  Our new wallets double as clutches, with a wrist strap for carrying ease, or as clutches, perfect for a night out with just the essentials.  Plenty of colors to select from:  a lovely burnt orange, a deep red, khaki green, animal skin, and more.

Not to mention – we have yet more jewelry from Treska!  They have outdone themselves with their recent selections, creating bold, beautiful, and eye-catching pieces affordably.

Pop into the store to take a look for now – otherwise, some of the handbags are now available online.

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!

La Bella Vita Pictured on Today Show!

This morning we were surprised to find calls and emails pouring in letting us know that we were pictured on the Today Show, during a segment on Money Magazine’s Best Places To Live!  Middleton has ranked number four on their list of best small towns, and they mentioned cute shops in the downtown area.  You can watch the segment on their website.

Many thanks to all who let us know we were mentioned!

***Please note that we have moved to 6666 University Ave., still in Middleton.  We’re by the Branch St. Walgreen’s, diagonally across from Middleton Sports & Fitness, and right next to Granite Winds and Sun & Swim.  Come visit us in our lovely new location!

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.

Funky, chunky jewelry by Jeff Lieb

Chicago-area artist Jeff Lieb of Total Design is an inventor as much as an artist:  he’s invented his own flexible and durable metal called Leibium, his own type of acrylic resin called Leibicite, and a special forming process with resin that allows him to stop curing and shape the resin before it hardens.  Most of his jewelry is made with these materials and techniques.

He also incorporates many other materials, including patterned natural stones, sparkling rhinestones, shells, glass and wood, creating incredibly distinctive jewelry unlike any other designer.  His work has been featured in many fine galleries and boutiques around the world!

You can purchase his work from our website, or in our Middleton, Wisconsin store located at 7466 Hubbard Ave. near the intersection of Parmenter Street.  We invite you to stop by to peruse the new work!