Wear What When

Rosanna Warehouse Sale

Get there early to snag the best slightly seasoned or imperfect housewares.

Posted by: Amanda Austin on May 22, 2012 at 03:00PM 0 Comments

Rosanna’s Bon Bon Footed Square Cake Stand

WHERE: Rosanna Warehouse outlet store

WHAT: Northwest-bred houseware designer and tabletop decor expert Rosanna Bowles hosts her bi-annual warehouse sale. Shoppers who share her affinity for clean but feminine cake pedestals, Old World-patterned dish sets, and tabletop accessories in vintage-insipred motifs and colors can sift through an assortment of discontinued and overstocked tableware pieces from the Rosanna line, and check out the antique furniture and other one-of-a-kind treasures that are up for grabs.

A portion of the proceeds benefit the Regina House in South.

Cash and plastic spoken here—no checks please—and do leave the kiddies at home. All sales are final, and parking can be a nightmare. Just a warning.

WHEN: Friday, June 1 from noon to 6; Saturday, June 2 from 9 to noon.

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Tags: Home Decor, Rosanna Inc

Meet the Shopkeeper: Rosanna

Get to know Rosanna before you shop this winter’s December 9 tabletop event.

Posted by: Mattie Stager on Dec 05, 2011 at 07:55AM 0 Comments

Rosanna Bowles, president and owner of Rosanna Inc inside her store.

Each year around this time, Seattle’s leading designer of tableware, Rosanna Bowles of Rosanna, hosts her biannual warehouse sale. This year’s event is Friday, December 9 from noon to 6 at the company’s recently opened warehouse store. Anyone shopping for the holiday season, wedding gifts, or their own perfectly laid table would do well to check it out. Just keep in mind: All sales are final, and cash or credit cards (no checks) are accepted.

Bowles will be there signing copies of her book, Coming Home: A Seasonal Guide to Creating Family Traditions, and she’s here, answering questions about keeping shop.

WWW: What song or album is playing on your store’s sound system right now?
Bowles: We are always listening to music in the office, and it depends on our mood and the future projects we’re designing—it could be jazz, world, classical, or pop.

What was your first job in retail? What did you love or hate about it and how does it compare to what you do now?
My first job in retail was selling costume jewelry at Meier and Frank in Portland, Oregon. I love all kinds of jewelry and I really enjoyed selling costume jewelry. It’s similar to what I do now because I was selling fashion. It was costume jewelry fashion then, now it’s fashion for the home.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
My favorite item in the store right now is my book, Coming Home. It was a labor of love to write. It reflects who I am and who we are as a company.

Where do you shop when you’re not at your store?
I love to visit the Pacific Galleries Antique Mall. I always get great inspiration for new products there. I also like to explore Susan Wheeler Home for great antique and home accessory pieces. They’ve also got a great selection of vintage costume jewelry. (Did I mention I love costume jewelry?) They are in Georgetown near our store, so I’ll stop by sometimes during lunch.

What do you love about your store’s neighborhood? What nearby restaurants, coffee shops, etc do you recommend?
I love being in Georgetown! We just moved here about a year ago. It is such a wonderful neighborhood with many unique and creative stores, not to mention a great farmers market on the weekend. After working late, I’ll stop by Via Tribunali for great pizza, or the Corson Building, which has excellent food that celebrates the communal table and imaginative, fresh Northwest cuisine. For that mid-day caffeine fix, All City Coffee is just up the street and there is this great grocery store called Carleton Avenue Grocery that I frequent when I forget my lunch and need something healthy. It’s the oldest operating grocery store in Seattle (since 1911). They’ve got a great selection of organic food tucked away, and it’s a charming store.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
I’m not sure if this is weird, but each year we have a big warehouse liquidation sale with prices slashed 50 percent or more. At the last sale people were lined up an hour before we opened. Once we unlocked the doors, it was a huge rush; everyone looking for the best deals. It felt like one of those midnight after-Thanksgiving sales, and it was absolutely wonderful to share in that excitement.

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Tags: Home Decor, Georgetown, Meet the Shopkeeper, Rosanna Inc

Ladies Night Out at Rosanna

The dishware maven invites you, and three of her favorite local lines, to her new Georgetown warehouse outlet shop.

Posted by: Seattle Met Staff on Nov 14, 2011 at 02:00PM 1 Comments

You can probably get Butter London nail color to match this Rosanna pattern.

Where: Local dishware designer Rosanna’s newly opened warehouse outlet store at 6755 E Marginal Way. (Just south of where S Michigan St, E Marginal Way S, and Fourth Ave S come together; the store is located in the back building, Building B.)

What: Beauty, jewelry, and tableware under one roof with Rosanna’s party-ready designs, Potluck Paris Jewelry (chunky rings, patterned cuffs, wrist links, hammered metal chokers, chains, and long lariats shopped in France and smuggled back to Seattle), Pearls of Wisdom (freshwater pearl long strands, stretchy bracelets, earrings, and lariats, in all shapes and colors), and three-free locally designed nail lacquer from Butter London.

The event is a billed as a social hour/deal fest; you’re encouraged to bring your friends and a desire to score a few great deals. Refreshments will be served, and the organizers would like to remind you to dress warmly (“warehouse” is almost always code for “extra sweater”).

When: Friday, November 18 from 4 to 7

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Tags: Butter London, Rosanna Inc

Things to Know about Trophy Cupcakes, Rosanna, From the Gown Up, and Cynderellie’s Closet

Important information if you or someone you know is getting married in Seattle anytime soon.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jun 01, 2011 at 06:45AM 0 Comments

Photo: Courtesy Trophy Cupcakes

Have a good time here, now. Trophy Cupcake’s Party Room is open—and don’t miss the adjacent Party Store.

1. The Trophy Cupcakes location in Wallingford now has a party room directly across the hall from its sweets counter. If you’re looking to gather up to 50 of your favorite people to celebrate certain soon-to-be married folk, you should consider doing so inside the sweet old schoolhouse that is the neighborhood’s center. And if you’re just looking for inspiration, the Party Room can fill that request as well. At an opening party for the L-shaped joint last week, founder Jennifer Shea told me they plan to deck the place out in all manner of on-trend and inventive themes; in an effort to unveil the area’s most sought-after specialty decor, they’ll also host installations by local artisans like Patricia Minish and Curtis Steiner (both of whom were in attendance). Worth stopping by to take a look for sure. And don’t miss the Party Store, adjacent to the celebration space. Cake pedestals, vintage toppers, DIY how-tos, and more make up a party girl’s dream spree. I’m told you should direct questions regarding the Party Room to party (@) trophycupcakes.com

2. It’s that time of year again: the bi-annual Rosanna dishware sale is just a few days away. Many of our city’s top event designers and rental houses stock key pieces from the local designer’s party-ready lines; if you’re looking to DIY certain elements of the big day, or just trick out a pre-wedding party table, head to 6755 E Marginal Way S, Seattle, 98108, on Friday June 3 from 12 to 6 or Saturday June 5 from 9 to 3. And then, of course, you’ll want to keep your mind open to ideas for wedding party gifts, the coming holiday season, and more. All sales final; no checks, cards are only accepted for $50 and over sales, cash makes for the quickest transactions. Shop smart, people.

3. Racks of sample gowns are priced to move tomorrow, June 2, from 6 to 9 in Snohomish. From the Gown Up and Cynderellie’s Closet present past-season wedding dresses starting as low as $99. A portion of sales will go to local charities. The proceedings start at 6 with a fall fashion show; drinks and dessert follow. At 7, the sample gowns start flying off the racks. Where, you ask? The Antheia Ballroom, 213 Ave D, Snohomish, 98290. Call 360-563-9900 for more information.

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Tags: Seattle Wedding Gown, Seattle Wedding Details, Cupcakes, Seattle Wedding Venues, Seattle DIY, Seattle Wedding Cake, Rosanna Inc

UPDATED Sale: Rosanna’s Warehouse Clearance

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Nov 22, 2010 at 06:00AM 0 Comments

UPDATED: Received an email on 11/22 regarding new dates for the Rosanna sale; information is below

Where: Rosanna Warehouse, 440 S Holgate St, Seattle, WA 98134

What: The local tableware and event decor queen opens her warehouse for a sale of seconds, slightly imperfects, and past-season merchandise. Each year, scores of Seattle shoppers arrive early and score great holiday gifts — for themselves and others. Plan ahead, think big, and start imagining really pretty tables.

Visa and Mastercard accepted on purchases of $50 and more; otherwise, cash rules. No refunds, no exchanges, and no kids. (This stuff is breakable, c’mon!)

This is actually the first of two upcoming events: Spend $150 or more and—save your receipt—you can receive an additional 10 percent off your purchase at a moving sale slated for later in the month.

When: Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5 from 9 to 5 NEW DATES: Friday, December 10 and Saturday, December 11 from 9 to 5; Sunday, December 12 from 10 to 3.

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Tags: Rosanna Inc

Family Traditions

Rosanna Bowles’ new book celebrates the way we come together at the table

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jun 23, 2010 at 07:00AM 0 Comments

Here’s an idea: Take a break from wedding planning in favor of planning, oh, you know, the rest of your life.

Rosanna Bowles, the Seattle dishware designer better known as simply Rosanna, will be dispensing decor wisdom, entertaining ideas, and dishware common sense while signing copies of her new Coming Home: A Seasonal Guide to Creating Family Traditions at Common Folk in Bellevue on Saturday June 26 from noon to 2.

Though Bowles didn’t necessarily write the book for newlyweds or engaged couples, the book’s just right for people like you. Weddings are all about you and Mr. or Mrs. Wonderful carving out your place on the family tree; they’re the perfect time and place to do something — serve a certain vintage, dance a certain dance, set a certain table — that you can then sort of be known for doing forever more.

As the Rosanna camp puts it: ‘Acknowledging the strong custom of bonding over meals, the book presents over 50 recipes geared with modern sensibility towards healthy, fresh, organic ingredients, coupled with entertaining and decorating ideas to complement the meals.’

Worth noting if you’re still deciding on favors, thank you gifts, reception ideas, and the like: Common Folk is packed to the gills with all manner of finds from glitzy to kitschy and back again.

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Tags: Weddings, Home Decor, Seattle Wedding Details, Wedding Favors, Rosanna Inc

Gift Bag: Set the Table

Rosanna’s bi-annual warehouse sale: this Friday and Saturday

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Dec 03, 2009 at 12:15PM 0 Comments

Seattle-based Rosanna Inc: ceramics, melamine, glass, stoneware, et al for decoration, dinner, and more

Attention shoppers — and hosts, hostess, and holiday travelers: The Seattle-based one-named tableware maven known as Rosanna is hosting the pre-holiday version of her bi-annual warehouse sale this Friday and Saturday, Dec 4 and 5.

Friday’s sale goes from noon to 5 and is open only to those on the email list and members of the Washington Athletic Club. That said, I have no idea how such a population will be policed.

On Saturday, the sale is open to the public from 9am to 5pm. The warehouse is at 440 South Holgate St. Just look for the throngs of tea pot- hungry square plate hunters.

I stopped by the spring version of the sale last May, just to see what all the fuss was about, and even though I arrived in the final hours, there were lots of really sweet and pretty cake stands, vases, pitchers, serving pieces, dishes, and candlesticks.

Prices are equivalent to wholesale or below; basically, you can expect to see discontinued, overstock, and past season items about about 50 to 70% off retail.

To some degree, the event is fairly exclusive; a message goes out to email list subscribers but near as I can tell, it’s not mentioned on the site, and only a brief word was given on Rosanna’s blog.

I don’t expect to get into too much trouble for spreading the word, though. So long as you park on street or in the gravel lot across Holgate and not in the Goodwill lot. Also, don’t line up more than one hour in advance, and, for safety reasons (!) do not bring small children. Visa and Mastercard accepted on purchases over $50. (Hey – these were the warnings/instructions given in the email, I’m just passing along the message.)

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Tags: Rosanna Inc