A Guide to the Best of Southern California : BROWSING : In the Frame

At the suggestion of a friend, Deborah Rhein turned her artistic streak--once played out on the stages of local theaters--and her hobby of designing decorative oak picture frames into a full-time business.

Now, with the help of two assistants, the Los Angeles artist adorns her frames with materials ranging from dried roses and twigs to nuts, berries and peppers. Other designs employ images of the stars and moon in rich Baroque colors or layers of paint that mimic the look of old, finished wood.

“I needed to take control of my life and say to the world this is me,” Rhein says of her decision to start the business. “I didn’t succeed as an actress but found the ability to create in a different form. I equate running my own show to acting.”

The frames range in size from 3 by 5 inches to 8 by 10 inches. Prices run from $28 to $90. Deborah Rhein’s designs are available at A Passing Glimpse, 9219 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, (310) 858-1776; Ferret, 12334 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, (818) 769-2427; Keethlys, 132 W. Colorado Blvd., Suite 7, Pasadena, (818) 793-8334; Mortise & Tenon, 454 S. La Brea, Los Angeles, (213) 937-7654; Room With a View, 1413 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, (310) 394-5224.