Dishes that are Dear to the Heart

Quite often, we receive emails from Rosanna admirers. They write that they bought dishes from us years ago, and have since broken or misplaced them. They've loved these dishes well, and want to know if we have replacements in our warehouse. I wanted to share one of the most recent messages we were sent:

Hello Rosanna,

I enjoyed reading your biography on your web site and share your passion for Bella Italia.

A few years ago, my wife purchased a coffee mug for me that was made by / for your company. The mug has the image of a post card addressed to Signore Ugo Riso in "Roma." The postmark, "23 7 35 Pesaro" is from a small village in north central Italy on the Adriatic sea named Pesaro. My family has its roots in Pesaro so this imparts a sentimental value to the mug. The mug has a capacity of about 18 ounces.

This mug was damaged during our recent move back to the United States from Portugal. I am in the Navy on active duty and was stationed is Lisbon.

I checked your web site and did not see any items resembling this mug. Is it possible that you may have any of these mugs in your warehouse? I would be interested in purchasing a quantity of these mugs.

Thank you for your assistance.
I look forward to hearing from you.


Unfortunately, the collection in question is no longer in production. However, we scoured our warehouse and were able to find some of the mugs this man asked about.

Stories like these confirm that Rosanna dishes do make a difference in people's lives. The heart and soul we try so hard to communicate with our design does come through. It's wonderful to have our product featured in fashion magazines, but it is responses like the one above that prove we're living up to our mission statement and vision for Rosanna dishes- to create traditions and becoming an integral part of peoples' lives.





www.rosannainc.com

SUMMER WAREHOUSE SALE!

Our annual and much anticipated warehouse sale is fast approaching, and you're invited!

Here are the details:

WHEN:
Friday, June 6th from 1pm to 6pm
Saturday, June 7th from 9am to 6pm



WHERE:
Our warehouse in the SoDo District
440 South Holgate Street
Seattle, WA 98134

On Friday morning we'll be hosting a private shopping event for our email list. To sign up, please email jennifero@rosannainc.com with a request to receive our e-newsletter.

This year, we're also having a dish drive! Bring in your retired and/or mismatched tableware to donate to the Tacoma Housing Authority, and refresh your table with some new Rosanna product. All donated dishes will go to homeless families transitioning into Section 8 housing. It's spring time-- out with the old, and in with the new!

The warehouse sale is always a great bargain, because many dishes are at wholesale pricing. We also still a have a small amount of hand painted Deruta ceramic ware we'll be selling as well as some beautiful antique furniture pieces from Europe.

Our warehouse sale is the perfect spot to find gifts for all occasions and recipients-- teachers, bridal and baby showers, and weddings to name a few. We'll also have everything you need to throw an inspired outdoor summer gathering.

We hope to see you there!

Warmly,




www.rosannainc.com

Rosanna Gift Registry!

Springtime rings in Wedding Season. Fortunately, Rosanna dishes make perfect wedding gifts for a couple that is just starting a life together. As such, we've responded accordingly by adding a new Gift Registry feature to our online store. This feature makes it much easier for your friends and loved ones to let you know which designs you prefer.

To register, just add the items you like to your cart by clicking "I'll Buy It." Then, click on your cart (on the left sidebar of the page) and select the option "save to gift registry." We've also made it easy to search for others' registries. You can enter first name, last name, or e mail address.

Some of my favorite collections to give to newlyweds include:

Cin Cin!
Mondo
Dinner Party Place Settings--always a classic choice

Congratulations!





www.rosannainc.com

Nesting

Last weekend I had an irresistible urge to clean. As a result, I devoted two days to straightening, refreshing, and brightening our home.

These activities, ironing the linens, reorganizing the pantry, clearing away cobwebs, were wonderfully therapeutic. I wondered why I felt so good after accomplishing these relatively simple feats until I realized what I was doing: nesting.

"Nesting" is what we do to make our homes comfortable and happy to live in. Nesting is something I tend to always do in the springtime. A number of activities fall under this umbrella term: cooking, cleaning out the cupboards, donating unwanted things, moving the winter clothes out of your closest. Basically anything that represents a fresh start falls under this category.

I'd like to mention that nesting doesn't necessarily entail a complete overhaul. Start with small things; spring cleaning doesn't have to be top to bottom. No one has the time to take on such a project that large anyway!

I find that my whole family benefits from this seasonal ritual of mine. It's also very gratifying on a personal level to take control of my life by making my environment aesthetically pleasing and welcoming to others.


-Place bouquets of fresh flowers around the house
-Put new candles out and change your table cloth or runner to something bright and springlike
-Change out your daily dishes for a lighter set
-To add a little variety, redesign your mantle displays seasonally








www.rosannainc.com

Have a Happy, Happy Birthday

New birth as rebirth are the hallmarks of springtime. What better moment than now to introduce our new birthday dinnerware!

When I was a little girl, my mother made our birthdays memorable by setting a special table with what we came to call "the birthday dishes." She got out her fine linen, and always used fresh cut flowers as a centerpiece. The care and love my mother put into her children's birthdays inspired me to design dishes expressly for these once-a-year festivities. These dishes, festooned with fantastical cakes aglow with candles, are meant to make the association between happiness and birthday celebration into a family tradition.

When setting a birthday table, I like to use fresh, light colors and a variety of different shapes. I also like to layer patterned dinnerware with basic, single-colored pieces. Placing the cake on a pedestal is also a wonderful way to make a statement that says "Ta Da! Today's your birthday!"

For inspiration, here is a birthday table setting I created using Rosanna product:



Besides our Happy Birthday dishes, here is a list of some other items I used in this shot:
Sweet Dreams ice cream bowls
Dauphine white candlesticks
Dinner Party ice blue plates
White cake pedestals
Napoleon Pearl Pink Flatware (also look at pearlized aqua, ivory, and white)


-When you set the table for a birthday, use the same dishes each year to make the day more of an occasion.
-Create a feeling of familiarity by integrating family heirloom pieces or antiques with newer acquisitions
-Draw inspiration from the season in which the birthday falls- warm colors for autumn, rich hues for winter, light tones for spring, and a vibrant palette for summer.





www.rosannainc.com

The World Is My Muse

Exciting news! We're in today's edition of the New York Times! Pick up a copy and flip to the Business Section to see a piece about the inspiration that strikes during travel. In the article I specifically talk about our Les Bijoux collection which was inspired by my trips to Paris flea markets. The vintage jewelry I saw there did spur me to create this collection, but the truth is all of our collections are inspired by my travels around the world.

Our Dauphine candlesticks, which have appeared at W Hotel in New York and Urban Outfitters, were inspired by Versailles and the court of Marie Antoinette. Before she became queen of France, Marie carried the title "Dauphine." This classically baroque collection was created with the period of Marie Antoinette's reign in mind.


Darjeeling is a collection inspired by the beautiful textiles of India. The gorgeous cashmere scarves, heavily embroidered and decorated with traditional East Indian motifs like paisley, were the jumping off point for this vibrant collection.

The Beach Cottage line is the result of my many trips to the antique markets in London where English transferware is in abundance. I particularly love the time-faded colors of the Asiatica pattern from the Victorian era. The several hues of blue we used in Beach Cottage to represent the passage of time were inspired by the weathered look of the Asiatica pieces I've found over the years.

The photo montage of the Caffe Italia pattern are collections of actual photographs I took in twenty different cafes in Northern Italy last year. This line is my own representation of the Italian cafe experience.


Pasta Italiana is another line derived from my time in Italy. It is most directly associated with the summer month we spend in Italy every year, the delicious food we cook with fresh ingredients, and the irreplaceable ambiance of the Italian countryside.

These examples illustrate just a few of the places I've found inspiration for our dishes. Each line in our collection has its own story and history. Everywhere I go, there are ideas for new collections waiting to be found. I always endeavor to look at the world through fresh eyes and see the hidden prospects waiting to be discovered there.

1. During your travels, observe the culture that surrounds you and take a bit of your travel experience back home with you.

2. Travel expands our horizons and sheds new light on our daily experience. Whether you apply this new realization in your personal lifestyle, business dealings, or daily interactions, it brings a richness that enhances your quality of life. Draw upon it to break out of your staid routines.

3. We are all globally connected now, and being open to other cultures is a very important part of today's world. Fostering tolerance and embracing all types of beauty allows us to better appreciate all different ways of living.


Bon Voyage, wherever your travels may take you,






www.rosannainc.com

Joy In Nature

Finally, the first hints of spring are in the air! To celebrate the world's natural reawakening, this past weekend my daughter Francesca and I took a walk through the new springtime sunshine.

As I wrote in another post, I try to begin every day with a walk through my neighborhood. Sadly, I find that I'm so used to "my territory" that I sometimes forget to be mindful of my surroundings.

So, on this particular walk with Francesca, we made a concerted effort to pay attention to the changes that are happening all over in the natural world. Once we took the time to look, it was amazing what we were able to find. We saw two baby eagles and a bright red woodpecker. We stopped to observe the emerging flora in its first bloom now that the weather is beginning to warm.

Spring is an exceptional time of the year that truly reveals the wonders of our planet. Taking the time to appreciate the beauty of new life is a simple delight that takes next to no effort to enjoy. All you have to do is pause. Then, look and listen to the organic symphony of the spring.


1. Project for a child: Choose an area in your backyard. Observe it for 3 months. Report on the changes. You'll find they are surprisingly numerous!

2. Take a walk through your neighborhood or a large community park.

3. Gather the first blossoming flowers from your garden and bring them inside to infuse your home with fresh new energy.





www.rosannainc.com