Yesterday's images, tomorrow's greeting cards

With multiple weddings coming up and a baby boom taking place among my friends, I stopped at Allusia in Phinney Ridge the other day for cards. I expected to spend a significant amount of time browsing for the perfect greetings, but I immediately stumbled upon Seattle designer Corinda LeClair's eponymous line and needed to look no further. I snatched up more than I needed of the cards, which are among the prettiest I've seen.

A former hotel-industry professional, LeClair reproduces her original prints from vintage postcards, books and magazines gathered from all over the world. With an eye for vibrant colors and a soft sprinkling of sparkles, LeClair (aided by her mother, Ellen Graf, and sister, Janell Briones) assembles the cards and envelopes into small works of art, suitable for framing.

Some of my favorites are her collections of birds, insects and French scenes, but she has dozens to choose from. You can buy her cards individually ($4.50) at Allusia or singly and in themed sets of five on the Web site ($22). One note: Take the time to see the cards in person -- the Web site doesn't do them justice.