Fine Gifts and Italian Dinnerware | La Bella Vita | Historic Little Italy, Cleveland Ohio

International Tableware event, December 2009

La Bella Vita a hosting an International Tableware event during Little Italy’s December Art Walk, December 4, 5 & 6. Enjoy over 2500 works of art from Italy, France, Turkey, Mexico, Portugal and the United States and be prepared with to shop for the most exclusive gifts on your holiday list! Specialist, Tina Gray will be hosting the Italian Holiday beginning on Friday evening at 5PM. Saturday, specialists Ingrid Nesbit and Cathy Gates will join us hosting beautiful works from Portugal, Mexico and France. Join us for beautiful gifts, delicacies and spirits…holiday spirits at La Bella Vita.

Friday and Saturday Noon to 9PM and Sunday Noon to 6PM.

Experience Historic Little Italy, Cleveland Ohio

Experience Historic Little Italy in Cleveland Ohio. Our fine culinary destinations and eclectic artist galleries make Little Italy the premiere arts neighborhood in Cleveland. Take a walk down Murray Hill and enjoy the sites and sounds of Historic Little Italy with this video I put together!

Salute!

Barbara Strom

Frances Gravely, VIETRI Founder and Principal, hosts Founder Event at La Bella Vita

DATE:  May 1, 2009 - Cleveland, Ohio’s, LA BELLA VITA is proud to announce, Frances Gravely, Founder and Principal of VIETRI, Inc., a wholesale distribution company of  finer Italian handcrafted dinnerware, drinkware, flatware, linens and decorative accessories, will be present at a special VIETRI Founder Event to launch their new VILLA VIETRI store of distinction on Saturday, June 6 from Noon to 3PM during Little Italy’s June Art Walk.

A connoisseur of Italian culture and tabletop style, Frances, along with her sister Susan and mother Lee, formed VIETRI in 1983 after a family trip to the Amalfi Coast where the threesome fell in love with colorful handpainted dinnerware at the famous San Pietro Hotel.  VIETRI has grown from a small company representing one Italian factory to the largest Italian importing company in the American tabletop industry. VIETRI now serves a customer base of over 2,000 of the finest specialty stores and boutiques in all 50 states, plus Canada, England, Mexico, Europe, South America and Asia. Today, VIETRI works with over 40 manufacturers throughout Italy. These manufacturers are involved in ceramic, wood, glass, stainless steel, pewter and terra cotta. Many artisans are from multiple generations of skilled masters. A symbol of fashion forward design and true artistry, VIETRI’s handcrafted Italian products are regularly seen in most major home, gourmet, fashion and style magazines in America as the pick of editors for style, color, pattern and craftsmanship.  VIETRI products have been featured in the following magazines:  Vogue, Oprah, Brides, Martha Stewart Weddings, InStyle Weddings, Bon Appetit, SHOP, Southern Living, Midwest Living, Country Home, Cooking with Paula Dean, Domino, Country Living, and Fine Cooking, among others. There are 13 stores of distinction in the US that are VILLA VIETRI showcase stores and represent the vast product line and have become authorities on Italian Dinnerware.  LA BELLA VITA is proud to be one of the new VILLA VIETRI stores drawing connoisseurs of Italian culture and hand-crafted ceramic art from many states and Canada. Located at 2013 Murray Hill Rd./Cleveland, OH., owner, Barbara Strom can be contacted for details at 216 421-1717 or barbarastrom@gmail.com. You may also visit labellavitacleveland.com for store directions and information.

Come celebrate in the tradition of All Things Italian!

The Birth of a Mural!

At La Bella Vita we create worlds, spaces that envelop you and create escapes into another place, another time. We showcase murals, trompe l’oi, & faux painting techniques in the store and work with home owners and businesses to create total environments.  For our June, 2008 Art Walk, we are featuring the work of Micheal and Kathy Romeo. They have created a new world for us named “The Wine Cellar.”  We begin with the space and an architectural feature such as a fire place, a window, or an archway and design a towering mural integrating these features. In this case, we are creating the mural around a faux painted stone fireplace.  In this area we will display our Italian and European CD collection and “serious wine glasses” and wine racks.

First phase: Blocking in the framework and the large background objects.  Note that the original wall is just gold:

Next Phase: After 20 hours, the paint and the height of the ladder makes Micheal giddy, and he takes a break and dances to the music.  Note:  The blue tape lines mark the internal structural shelves, beams and unseen supports for objects.

Final Work Of ART!  Wow!  Note:  A new world at La Bella Vita!

It will be fun to sip wine and listen to beautiful music in our new wine cellar! Check out more pictures by clicking on the “Tour” bar on the home page.

Ciao Bella,

Barbara Strom

Overall words

Let’s talk.  La Bella Vita means ‘The Beautiful Life’ in Italian.  In Italy so much is centered around food, family and friends getting together. We specialize in creating the beautiful life through entertaining in your home in a casually elegant style.  Whether you have $1,000’s to spend or under $100, let’s talk about how to create settings that will dazzle your guests.

Subjects:

• New products from Italy - This would be pictures and fluff and suggestions on how to use it with other products we have or give as a gift.
• Elements of entertaining in style - This would talk about music, dinnerware, serving pieces, linens etc. and how they come together to create a stage.
• Bridal registry to last a lifetime - This would talk about trends and tips for brides and their registry.
• Heirloom gifts for special occasions - This would give tips on gift giving and change by occasion.
• Local news…What’s new in Little Italy?

Give me your thoughts on this.