Shopping in Welland

The dedicated framers at Ferrante Picture Framing draw on more than 40 years of experience as they outfit works by Ontario artists James Lumbers, Trisha Romance, and George Upper as well as personal photographs and mementos with frames of all shapes and styles. Wood, metal, and matting accent the edges of posters and paintings in picture sandwiches protected by glass; display cases can commemorate a retired licence plate or a toddler's dinner plate scraped clean of its vegetables. Staffers can also create pop art pieces that transform ordinary photos into masterpieces more Warholian than Marilyn Monroe in a tub of Campbell’s tomato soup.

Owner Crista Botticello was only 19 when she opened Ooo La La’s doors to the East Aurora community, but her fashion-forward tastes suggest an intimate acquaintance with trends in America and abroad. That unique sensibility is reflected in her boutique’s selection of casual apparel and formalwear, which includes dresses, jackets, jewelry, and handbags designed by emerging locals or renowned artisans from New York and Los Angeles. Nestled in an idyllic brick storefront, the spacious store often hosts special events, such as fashion shows that benefit local charities or show off the cummerbund’s underappreciated versatility.