Announcing the Winners of Our 8th Annual Tablescape Contest!

I'm so excited to announce the winners of our 8th Annual Tablescape Contest! Before I do, I'd like to thank each and every one of you who entered for your efforts and for sharing your creativity with us. It has been a true pleasure to see all your gorgeous work and to hear your inspiring stores.

As always, it was very difficult to choose winners among the dozens and dozens of entries received. So this year, I’ve decided to award a number of Honorable Mention prizes as well. (Please stay tuned for the announcements of these awards very soon!) And now --- we are thrilled to share with you our winners and their stories.

1st Place Winner - Nazra Knutsen - Seattle, WA 

Nazra, congratulations on a fantastic job! I love how you create such loving and fun traditions for your daughters and nieces. Your tables are not only beautiful but also offer your family whimsical and playful experiences. You are making cherished memories that your girls and nieces will remember their whole lives! I also love how you've creatively used repurposed items on your tables with thrift store finds. -- Rosanna

Nazra's Story
Hello! My name is Nazra...and I absolutely LOVE Rosanna products! (Especially cake stands!) I live in Seattle and am actually working up a portfolio so I can take my passion of party styling into something more of a business.  I am submitting dessert tables that I've done for my own two little girls. A lot of what I'm inspired by comes from them...to try and create magical whimsical moments and memories of them feeling special by what they see and feel!

My first tablescape below is one I set up in our dining room the night before my daughter's birthday so when she woke up - SURPRISE!! ...she'd know it was HER special day! Her cousins and a few friends came over to help celebrate her birthday morning! Everyone came in their jammies and helped themselves to the cereal/breakfast bar!  I love being an inspiration to others...and pretty party tables don't necessarily have to be expensive! Everything but the Rosanna cake stands and the paper/plastic products on the table I found thrifting. I love using old and new with a hint of homemade ~ as you'll see in the rest of my entries here too!

This next dessert table was for my youngest girl who turned ONE in February! We love BlaBla dolls and she got her very first one for her first birthday! I was inspired by all their cozy knit colors and actually used one of the rattles for the cake topper!! I handmade the giant yarn poms and of course put the little balloons together. The (two) Rosanna cake stands I used for this table were perfect! As well as the vintage tin lid - to display the donuts - which brought a little pop of color to the table! Cake was made by Butter and Bloom in Seattle!

The tablescape below was for my two nieces and daughter that turned 2, 3, and 4 within a few months of each other. We celebrated their birthdays with a Lemonade Stand/Picnic in the park...and of COURSE had to have a dessert table!! I actually thrifted every piece and my brother-in-law made the awesome stand. I handmade the fabric flowers, and cakes for this one! It was a lot of work - but SO worth seeing the smiles on the birthday girls' faces!!

2nd Place Winner - Kahly Berg - Woodinville, WA

Kahly, congratulations on your recent nuptials! As an Oregonian myself, I love how you incorporated the quintessential elements of the Pacific Northwest into your wedding reception! The use of reclaimed timber for the cupcake and cake pops pedestals give an elegant but rustic feel to your beautiful dessert table. I also like how you created the fun s'mores table which gives a nod to one of Oregonians favorite past times -- camping. Your wooden fish-shaped labels for the desserts tie delightfully into your fly-fishing theme. Very creative and original! -- Rosanna

Kahly's Story
Hello, I'm Holly and I'm submitting the dessert tables at one of my best friend’s wedding. The bride, Kahly Berg, actually designed the table and wooden stands for her fly-fishing themed wedding down in Camp Sherman, OR. The wedding venue was nestled alongside the beautiful Metolius River. The bride’s sister traveled down from Woodinville with all of her home-baked and decorated sweet treats. While the tablescape is simple, in my opinion in remains elegant and reflective of the newlyweds passions and attention to detail. On the second dessert table, they even set up a table with s’mores fixings, including elevated burners in rock beds and roasting sticks for the guests to toast their home-made marshmallows on.

3rd Place Winner - Annabella Chiocco - Seattle, WA

Annabella, I love how you are sharing your amazing baking talents with your family and friends, as well as for charity. Creating meaning holiday traditions is so important for our children to have a happy life and to strengthen family bonds. Making the beautiful desserts to help your daughter's school shows your daughter how we can use our time and talents to give back to our community. I truly appreciate your being a Rosanna fan and using so many of our pedestals in your tablescapes. Your desserts and presentations are beautiful! -- Rosanna

Annabella's Story
Ever since my daughter was born, Easter has been a staple celebration in our home. Originally, I started small with just a select few friends and family. The plates were simple, the dishes were homely and the celebration was quaint. Over time, it became a special way to show my friends and family what I was working on throughout the year--the specialty desserts and cupcakes I make through my business Sprinkles & Sweets. Soon, the plates were more elaborate, yet still retained their homely beginnings, and the dessert table became the centerpiece of my Easter brunch.

This year, I opted for a simple dessert table and I placed it outside to enjoy the open and blue skies that are longed for in Seattle. My table included individual Vanilla Panna Cotta in ceramic cups covered with Sugar Straw and small candied chocolate ‘rabbit’ eggs, a four tiered Chocolate Cake covered with homemade Salted Caramel Marshmallow Icing, and the centerpiece was a delectable Carrot Cake Basket topped with Sugar Straw and covered entirely with small Individual Sugar Flowers.

For my second tablescape entry, I am sharing the dessert dash fundraiser for my daughter's school. What started as a way to fulfill our obligation for school volunteer hours, soon became my premier event!

Each year, my daughter’s school would ask me for help on planning and preparing for the annual auction to raise much needed money to pay down the school’s debt. After attending a different event fundraiser and experiencing a “dessert dash,” I immediately thought to do the same at our school’s annual fundraiser.

Before I could even start on the first request, the orders just kept coming. I took this photo on the afternoon of the event when I was getting several orders ready for delivery. My display includes a moist Tres Leches Cake topped with fresh strawberries and peaches, a decadent Chocolate Ganache Cake covered with Toasted Coconut shavings, a New York Style Cheesecake topped with Salted Caramel, several presentations of assorted Italian Petifores, a very special Pecan German Chocolate Cake, an Old Fashion Coconut Crème Cake, a Raspberry Chocolate Torte and last, but not least, a Hazelnut Chocolate Mousse cake with fresh berries and Swiss Chocolate Ganache.

Again, a big congratulations to Nazra, Kahly, and Annabella--our winners!

Warmly,
 

R O S A N NA I N C . C O M

Table Wear: Rue du Bac

It's hard to go wrong with classic grey + white, which is why we created our Rue du Bac collection, named after a famous street in Paris known for great shopping. Combining various shades of greys with neutrals is effortlessly chic, both in your wardrobe and the home. 

TOP: Dress | Cardigan | iPhone case | Necklace | Tote | Sandals | Nail polish

BOTTOM: Chair | Duvet | Bench | Polka dot pillow | Grey pillow | Rug | Sheets | Papier-mâché deer

R O S A N N I N C . C O M

5th Annual Tablescape Contest Honorable Mentions

The Tablescape Contest produced so many wonderfully inspiring stories and photos this year that I couldn't let an opportunity pass to share many more of them with you.

Adelle Belnap's Treehouse Teatime is imaginative and provides a touching story.  In her words:
"I spend every day with my children.  We rarely have time apart.  Yet there are days when I find myself watching them but not really seeing them.  I work around my little ones on the tasks I have on my "to do" list and forget that the most important people on my list are being overlooked.

"Over the past few months, my daughter has been asking to use the tea set her Great-Grandma painted for her as a gift when she was born.  My response was always, 'No, not today' or 'Maybe later'.

"After reading the theme for the Tablesetting Competition, something inside me clicked.  I realized that the most important guests that will ever sit at my table can barely see over it right now.  They might not appreciate the beauty of the platters or the symmetry of the centerpiece, but they will feel the love that spending special time together around the table brings.

"So, this time when my daughter asked about the tea set, I dropped everything else and said, "Yes."

One Night With the Queen: a midsummer night's tea by Lisa

When the Queen comes to town, naturally we want to have her over for tea!

Here in our backyard in Hawaii, we have a flowering cactus plant which blooms with a very large white blossom called a Night Queen.  So-called because it opens only in the middle of the night, and by morning, she's gone.

Late last night, we found the one such blossom had just opened, and it was time to celebrate the arrival of the Queen, with a tea party held in her honor.

Kristina Kellett's breakfast in bed reminds us that it's the little moments that count.  There's nothing sweeter than a quiet weekend breakfast in bed; whether it's shared over good conversation with a loved one, or relaxing and unwinding with a beloved book.

Kate Snapp loves a royal wedding.  She invited 7 of her girlfriends to come by for a Royal Wedding Breakfast.  They brought 4 of their little ones to the early morning event., who arrived in tiaras to a thoughtfully decorated "kids table."

Seeing their delightful faces is enough to bring a smile to mine.

Nazra Knutsen's story is another one that reminds us of the impact Spontaneous Gatherings can have on our lives.  In her words:

"My husband's immediate family lives on a small island named, Karmoy, in Norway. It is truly a beautiful place - with rolling hills of snow surrounded by the rolling waves of the ocean.  There are no coffee shops to sit and chat with friends at.  It is also pretty expensive to eat out.  So when we were there visiting, we had MANY spontaneous gatherings at home with friends & family.  It is normal to just "pop" on by for a cup of coffee without notice...and if you do give notice, it's not more than a few hours in advance!  It's very common for people to have cakes or pastries in their freezer or cookies on hand...with the expectation of people dropping by! One (of the many) times that we stopped by for a visit with my husband's grand-mother, she pulled out her finest china, lace tablecloths, the prettiest carafe, and her special silver dessert forks and enjoyed talking over coffee or tea & special dessert cakes. We always felt like the "guests of honor" - as each person we visited always made us feel so special & appreciated that we took the time to visit with them!  What a different mentality we have here in the US!  I'm always making plans a week or two in advance (at least!) and if we have people over to our house, I always give myself plenty of time to make sure my house looks totally put together and that I'm prepared to have guests (are my toilets clean & the floor vacuumed!?) I'd love to always be prepared for someone to drop by for a coffee & some cookies! I'm definitely going to have to work on this." 

Nazra is right!  We've somehow turned a spontaneous visit into an inconvenience in this country, and it's time for all of us to work on bringing back the joy and simplicity of connecting.

Speaking of that, I really liked the American feel of the Tablescape and story submitted by Dawn Grisham.  She mentioned how the oppressive summer heat caused her and her family (including their golden retriever) to wait until dusk to have an evening picnic.  She made a delicious pineapple pie from her late father-in-law's legendary recipe and had a memorable family evening with dinner and games at the park.

When I came across this entry from Vanessa Vanhille, I was moved by how impacted she has been in such a short time.  In her words:

"I first discovered Rosanna last month and have embraced her philosophy and creativity.  I have purchased and read her book, Coming Home, which has helped me establish and plan family traditions with love and wholesome food at its core.  My family now has three evenings a week that are our family "events."  We come together around a beautiful table, eat home-cooked wholesome food and dine (no rushing allowed).  It has been transformative for me.  So, understanding that I am an amateur and new to the Rosanna philosophy, here is my submission:

"I recently returned from a trip to Nice, in southern France.  My next door neighbor wanted to hear all about it.  I invited her to come over to to my front porch to share some hot chocolate.  The tray and its decor are souvenirs I brought home with me that typify that region of France.  I have sprayed some perfume (also a souvenir from the Riviera) on the skewers that are in the vase.  Even the candy has France ties.  I wanted everything about our spontaneous gathering to speak of my recent trip.

Another European-inspired idea came in from Ginger Mokher.  She shares, "An Italian-themed menu and tablescape is one of the easiest to pull together when hosting a sponteanous meal.  Rosanna's Pasta Italiana Collection features recipes for different Italian meals, and was my inspiration to acquire a repertoire of Italian recipes that are easy to prepare in advance with larger quantities.  I usually prepare enough so that at the end of the evening, my guests have not only the fresh memory of rich, relational connections, but also a full take-home container of this soulful meal."

I was thrilled to see more men entering the contest this year as well.  Bryan Harber prepared a beautiful tablescape for entertaining with elegant dishware and the Kings Road Collection.

Again, thank you to everyone who entered this year's Tablescape Contest.  As you can see, choosing the winners announced earlier this week was a very difficult task.

As a result of this contest I hope you've found inspiration in the stories and photos shared, and that you can find your own ways to continue to make family traditions and connect with others through spontaneous gatherings.

SPECIAL INFO FOR FEATURED ENTRIES

Those entries that have been featured on this blog entry will be notified by email by a member our customer service team with details on how to claim a small token of our appreciation.  If you have any questions in the meantime, please email info@rosannainc.com.

www.rosannainc.com

5th Annual Tablescape Winners

When we decided on the theme of the "Spontaneous Gathering" for this year's Tablescape Contest, our hope was that it would inspire people to invite loved-ones by for an improptu dinner, snack, or visit.  We wanted to remind people that it wasn't too long ago that having someone drop in was a celebrated event, and that gatherings didn't need to be planned out weeks in advance.  At Rosanna, we have truly been moved by your stories and elevated by your decor ideas.  As always, it was very difficult to choose winners among the dozens and dozens of entries received.  We are thrilled to share with you our picks and their stories.

FIRST PRIZE

Our First Prize winner is Kendall Weldon, age 11.  There was something about many of the entries this year by young people.  They were so fresh!  Kendall's design design, theme, and story truly moves me to be inspired by the rising generation.

Kendall chose Rosanna's Red Dots and Jolly Holiday
pieces as part of her tablescape.

Kendall's Story

My name is Kendall Weldon and I am 11 years old and have been part of your table setting contest for 3 years. I get together with my mom, aunt, and grandma and your table setting contest has now become a family tradition. I have such a fun time coming up with a table setting and love hanging with my family too! My Spontaneous table setting comes from watching How The Grinch Stole Christmas and thinking it would be fun to have a "WHO" inspired party. I would invite my 3 best friends for tea, dessert, and lots of giggles!

Kendall's tablescape is adorable, and I especially love how the tablescape contest has become a family tradition.  This Oregon family--comprised of matriarch Tresa Nichols, daughters Brooke Weldon and Ashley Nichols Lee, and now granddaughter, Kendall Weldon--truly embody the "Spirit of Rosanna" by making this an annual family ritual.  Husbands and brothers prepare the yard beforehand for the pictures, carry the chosen dishes outside, and do the photography.  As Tresa states, "We laugh, we fuss, we run in and out bringing the dishes outside and have a blast!"  Truly connecting with each other as part of this family tradition earns them this entire family the "Spirit of Rosanna" award.  Other family entries can be seen below.  (Click on the photo to enlarge).

Rosanna's Artist's Loft & Victoriana Noir products are featured.

SECOND PRIZE   
I loved the originality of the Spontaneous Gathering of our Second Prize winner, Andrea Spencer.  The youthfulness and joie de vivre of these young adults sitting down to a table together, without electronic devices, to enjoy each other's company is uplifting.

Andrea's Story
When we heard about the contest we decided to throw an UN-expected UN-birthday party.  Everyone had only days to get their costumes together and then we jumped down the rabbit hole to our own Wonderland.  The tablescape was a fun collaboration; with everyone contributing their tea pots and candlesticks.  The party was a big hit with mini iced-cupcakes with the words "eat me" on them, and a recitation of "The Jabberwocky."


Andrea's party will certainly not be soon forgotten by her guests, or by us here at Rosanna!




THIRD PRIZE
Lisa Moore's entry reminds us to enjoy life and all that surrounds us.  Her spontaneous picnic brunch in the mountains had, in her words, "all the pleasures of the stunning surroundings, quality food, and good hearts.  Picnics are a top passion of mine.  It's a way to escape the rush of our circular lives and step away to appreciate the beauty that is always there, but often forgotten."  You're right Lisa!  Thank you for sharing this reminder, and beautiful tablescape with us!

Lisa showcases Rosanna's La Vie Boho & Parisian Glass Collections

FOURTH PRIZE
With the end of our contest coinciding with the unofficial end of summer, I felt a longing for wanting more time outside near the beach.  Pia Vanhanen's entry really connected with me.  She said, "I have created a natural coastal theme for our table, using rocks from our local beaches as napkin weights in case of light evening winds.  I have collected shells and use them also as personal butter/oil dishes for each guest.  Driftwood and Japanese fishing floats add to the relaxed coastal charm."  Pia's tablescape reminds us all that spontaneous gatherings, like this table, should develop organically.

Pia's tablescape includes Rosanna's original Boho collection.

TABLE OF THE WEEK DRAWING

This year we also featured a Table of the Week on our Facebook and Twitter pages.  We looked through the entries that came in each week and chose one to showcase.  Last week we placed each of those entries in a drawing for a Rosanna Gift Certificate, and Bryn Howell, won the drawing.  

Bryn threw a Bridal Shower recently for her best friend and mixed in some vintage pink depression glasses in with items from the Rococo Noir Collection.  It's evident that the "love" and thought Bryn put into her tablescape made for an enjoyable shower.



INSPIRED GATHERINGS THAT CREATE TRADITIONS
Among the entries, there are quite a few honorable mentions that we know would inspire our readers---possibly in their design, their story, or their beauty.  We will be sharing those in a future blog post later this week.  Congratulations to all our winners, and a special thank you to everyone who entered our contest this year.  I hope that you will continue the tradition of having "Spontaneous Gatherings" with friends and neighbors and continue to truly connect with those around you.

www.rosannainc.com

PRIZE INFO FOR WINNING ENTRIES
Those entries that have been chosen will be notified by email by a member of our customer service team within the next week with details on how to claim their Rosanna Gift Certificate prize.  Please be patient, our website at www.rosannainc.com will be relaunched during this timeframe with an all new look, new shopping experience, and new products as part of our Fall/Winter Collection.  We want to make sure that your Gift Certificate is compatible with our new website.  If you have any questions in the meantime, please email info@rosannainc.com. 

Fifth Annual Tablescape Contest

Years ago, people would invite a neighbor or friend over on the spur of the moment for a cup of coffee, dessert, or for a weekend grill. Our day-to-day lives have become so busy in recent years that dinner parties are planned 3 months out. Part of my belief in creating traditions is to foster relationships and connections through daily rituals and traditions. Much of the joy in my life has come from informal get-togethers. This year’s Tablescape Contest Theme is “The Spontaneous Gathering.” It’s time for you to set your table for the spur of the moment get-together. Use your creativity, mixed with Rosanna collections, and remember spontaneous gatherings don’t necessarily take place at the dining room table. Share with us the story behind your tablescape design. Winners will be chosen by Rosanna herself. So join in for your chance to win a $500 Rosanna gift certificate, and be featured on Rosanna’s Table Talk blog. New This Year Starting on July 11th, we will choose a Table Of The Week to showcase on our Facebook, Twitter, and social media sites. At the end of the contest, all the Tables Of The Week will be entered into a drawing to win an additional prize.    Get Setting Now Our Fifth Annual Table Setting contest will start on July 1, 2011 and end on August 31, 2011. Winners will be announced shortly after. For a little inspiration, take a look at the photographs from our last few contests: 2010 2009 2008 2007

OFFICIAL RULES 1. Anyone with a passion for Rosanna-ware and tablescape design is welcome to compete, regardless of age.  2. Set the table for at least two. No actual food or Rosanna products is required. 3. Contest begins on July 1st, 2011 and ends August 31st, 2011 at 11:59pm PST. 4. Submit up to 2 photos of your tablescape and the story behind the design. Digital submissions must come as jpegs, around 4x5 inches, no less than 72 dpi and no more than 180 dpi. 5. When entering, make sure to include your name, your city, and an email or phone number where we can reach you. We respect your privacy and will not give out any of your information. 6. Photos in hard copy will not be returned. 7. Rosanna Imports, Inc. reserves the right to use and/or publish photos of your table setting submission however we see fit. Photos may be published on social media sites. Publishing does not necessarily constitute a winning entry. By submitting your photo, you agree to these terms. 8. Please email all enteries to info@rosannainc.com. Mailed entries should be sent to: Rosanna Inc Attn: Tablescape Contest 6755 East Marginal Way S. Seattle, WA 98108

www.rosannainc.com

Third Annual Tablesetting Contest Winners!

Here at Rosanna we are touched, moved and inspired by all of the entries in our Third Annual Table Setting Contest. The spirit and soul of our company is rooted in family traditions, coming together, and creating a beautiful life regardless of your circumstances. You'll find this year's winners not only set beautiful tables, but exuded the soul of our message and the heart of our brand. We thank everyone who participated and hope to see you all competing again next year!

Congratulations to our First Prize winner, Brook Weldon of Medford, Oregon. This is Brook's third year as a contestant. With two Honorable Mentions behind her, she finally won our top prize and a $500 www.rosannainc.com shopping spree with her Boho Holiday tablescape.

Brooke couldn't have integrated the Boho dishes better. Her use of pine cones, birds, a bird house, tree foliage and cranberries beautifully captures the spirit of the season. She also incorporated our beautiful Italian Napoleon Flatware in Olive Green. The silverware elegantly framed each place setting, adding that last touch of refinement that everyone agreed showed a masterful demonstration of artistry and spirit.

In addition to setting a winning table, three generations of women in Brooke's family have made a tradition of coming together and entering our contest. For a company that tries to make all our dishes say "our products make traditions," we couldn't be happier about the Weldon family's ritual. All participating members of the family have been recognized for their award winning tables over the past years. You'll see the other ladies of Medford's tables in this year's Honorable Mention section.


Our Second Prize winner, and the winner of a $100 gift certificate is Jamie Boudman of Gilbertsville, PA. Jamie is a mother of 3 children under the age of 8. In recent years she has poured her heart into creating unique birthday and holiday parties for her children. With the encouragement of her family and friends, Jamie recently took her love and passion for entertaining and started her own event planning business, Giggledust Parties. We think the greater Philadelphia area is incredibly lucky to have her.

This is Jamie's "Pink Princess Tea Party" table featuring our Chelsea Flowers collection. She must have intuitively sensed something, as we just refashioned this design into children's tea set called "Garden Party". We love Jamie's tea party, and we agree it is specially designed for princesses.

Tiffany Hammer of Seattle, WA receives "The Spirit of Rosanna Award" and a $50 gift certificate. Her table is inspired by the story "Stone Soup", a children's story about bringing people together. Like the Medford ladies, Tiffany tapped into one of the bedrock beliefs that we think of when creative every dish: coming together as a community.

Taking the lesson from this wonderful story, Tiffany, although currently unemployed, doesn't let her circumstance prevent her from entertaining her friends. Instead, she says it motivates her to be more creative and has inspired a new dinner party tradition. Each friend brings some of the ingredients for the evening's meal, and everyone cooks the meal together. WE LOVE THIS! It's precisely what we try to promote with our company and our products. We also love that Tiffany used the bowl's packaging for a vase, and that all the ingredients for the soup are prettily displayed on the table.

Ebru Bacaksizlar of Turkey also won a $50 gift certificate and is being recognized with our "Bringing The World Together Award". August is a very important month in Turkey because of Ramadan. This table was set to honor Victory Day... celebration of the victory in the final battle in the Turkish War of Independence. Ebru has a "tughra" on the plate which says, "Bismillah", or "In the Name of Allah). She uses evil eye charms on famous Turkish needle lace, and highlights the table with a copper pitcher & pannikins for Ayran, a cold drink made of yoghurt. We must never forget that all around the world families sit down to beautifully set tables, and wonderfully prepared meals. We appreciate Ebru's reminder that setting your table can be an expression of love for your family, your mentors, and even for your country.


Our "Portrait of a Young Artist Award" (for the second year running) goes to another member of the Weldon family, 9 year-old Kendal. Kendal is receiving a $50 gift certificate to help her build her own collection of beautiful things. Kendal writes, "Last year I was given a $50 gift certificate which I used to buy the Portrait of a Young Artist dish set. These are the dishes I used this year in my masterpiece! I had a lot of fun getting together with my mom, grandma, and aunt to create my table setting."

Kendal, we love your use of color and the whimsical pairing of the polka dot with the collection. The handwritten place cards add a lovely touch, and the use of the packaging on the table was very creative. We're thrilled that you enjoy spending time with your family, and we're delighted to think that setting the table will never feel like a chore to you!

And now for some Honorable Mentions...

This lovely summer luncheon table was submitted by Ashley Nichols-Lee of the Weldon family in Medford . Ashley took our top prize in last year's contest. Thank you for your continued participation, we love your unfailingly sophisticated style.



Tresa Nichols, also of Medford, OR created this lovely summer dinnerparty table inspired by our "Secret Garden" collection. The first word from Rosanna was "Fresh", and so we would like to give your Honorable Mention "The Fresh Factor Award." Thank you for your continued participation, Tresa.

The "Romance Ritual Award" is another Honorable Mention that goes to Talia Famiglio of Sarasota, FL. Talia's son is just 20 months, and as we mothers know, making time to spend with your spouse is difficult but very necessary. To make sure the couple has their own time together, Talia and her husband have instituted a weekly date night at the house. He cooks and she sets an elegant table that feels like a little escape, even while sitting in their dining room at home. This romantic ritual suits new parents perfectly. We're so inspired by creative version of on date night.


The "Delicious Award" and Honorable Mention goes to Ann Milar of Sacramento, CA. Your gorgeous Dessert Night table inspired by your every-other-month get together with your girlfriends was a strong contender for top prize. Of course, we adore the idea of a bi-monthly girl's night. Just reading your email we could feel your joy for these events spilling over. Secondly, for everyone reading who can't see, your use of the black lace tablecloth inspired by your favorite skirt is adorable. Rosanna has always been a "Fashion Tableware" company, and we often say, "Dress your table as you would yourself", which is exactly what you've done. We love the "Platinum Chandelier" teapot mixed with the "La Soiree Parisienne" collection. It continues the story of the dress, and alludes to the idea of wearing it somewhere elegant and chic. From your children's table last year to your grown up table this year, we simply adore you!

Kim Mower of St. Louis, MO receives an Honorable Mention for her "Mix and Match Magic". Kim may have had a slight advantage as she owns www.Headofthetablerental.com, a tableware rental boutique in St. Louis. One of the advantages to owning multiple sets of our "Boho Holiday" collection is being able to pull one style plate out of the assorted set. This gives Kim tons of options for using one, two or all six patterns on any given table. Kim has paired the Boho Holiday plate with our Coral "Dinner Party" dinner plate, a brilliant combination that really makes the brown design jump off the table. This table fits perfectly with the season. The bride that hired you for her shower luncheon was very lucky indeed!

"Summer Brunch on the Patio" by Narza K of Seattle, WA wins Honorable Mention for "Fabulous Finds". Narza writes, "I also love that you don't have to spend a lot to make something special! The wine caddy, silver goblets/wine glasses, and silver plate under the center piece l found all at Goodwill for not more than a few dollars. Who would have known? Part of not breaking the bank - when trying to make something special is using what you have on hand. I wanted a low center piece for easy talking - so I just used the Rosanna box I got my dessert plates in and put a shallow bowl in the middle of it and placed the roses carefully inside!". We love your creativity, and your eye for hidden treasure.

Pia VanHanen of Seattle, WA (but originally Finland!) sent in three lovely tables. All the tablescapes were very different proving that Pia has personality to burn. We wanted to honor her "Tribal Traditions" table for it's earthy, sensual glow. We loved the fanciful elegance of the other tables, but all the girls at Rosanna thought this table created a uniquely calming ambiance. Fantastic use of that brilliant turquoise against the crisp white. We also loved the napkin rings and the feathers on the table.

Susan Masci of Foxboro, MA is receiving an Honorable Mention for her elegant stylish spring table. We loved the use of her sterling silver flatware and crystal stemware that sets off the "Parisian Wallpaper" design, and really makes you feel like you're in Paris. We found the tablecloth very appealing, and all agreed we never would of thought of it. Extra kudos for giving us a new idea for using our own products!


Amanda Humann of Sammamish, WA is receiving an Honorable Mention on our blog for her striking pink and black holiday table. We love the drama of the "Rococo Noir" tea set, set off against the whimsical "12 Days of Christmas" plates. Amanda shows us here that Holiday traditions can be bold, glamorous and fun.

We're also giving Amanda's pre-schooler Victoria an Honorable Mention for "Best Dressed at the Table".

When Victoria decided to have a tea party

instead of heading for her favorite princess dress, fairy wings, and silk scarves, she donned scaly wings and a head full of sharp teeth. Then she and her "baby" sat down and enjoyed a light afternoon repast. Even dragon mamas need a little something to quench their fire after a hard day of cleaning the cave and watching the hatchling.

Victoria, you are darling. We hope your plush friends appreciate all the hard work you put into your tea party. All of us here at Rosanna certainly do.


"Royal Safari" by Michon Mullineaux is receiving an Honorable Mention as our "Elegantly Wild" table this year. Michon tells us that working on a super yacht doing service for 10 years with little storage and not being able to just "run to the store" has made her very resourceful. Here she uses mugs as vases, boxes as a candle base and herbs from her garden for greenery. This table is inspired by her husband from South Africa. On special occasions she will set a table that will remind him of home. Our "Uptown Spots" collection has never looked so good!


Gwen Johnson of Gwendolyn G Design in Edmonds, WA also receives an Honorable Mention. Gwen sent in a number of great designs, but Rosanna fell in love with this one. She loves the choice of linen and the beautiful arrangement of ornaments as a centerpiece. It doesn't hurt that "Dottie Baroque" is one of her all time favorite collections. Rosanna loved the way the orange draws the eye to give a very fall feel to a collection that was essentially spring. Gwen, thank you for your continued participation in our contest.

Emily Brummel of Costa Mesa, CA receives an Honorable Mention for her "Going Green" table. Emily is a graduate student on a tight budget, but she makes this environmentally-conscious table work with recycled glass goblets and her fabulous flea market candelabra. Emily was introduced to Rosanna through a feature we had in Real Simple magazine. She checks our website all the time, even though she knows she can't afford anything right now. This isn't a bad idea. You never know what will be on our sale page, or what specials are up for grabs. She's building her wish list (a feature on the site). We believe in the law of attraction, and we think you are doing a great job and attracting those new dishes into your life!

A special Honorable Mention goes out to Lisa & Sherry-Anne of Bellevue & Issaquah, WA who spent an entire day together building their wonderful "Luxe Be a Ladies Luncheon" table. Due to technical difficulties the images aren't available to share with you at this time. We're hoping to post it soon. Lisa and Sherry-Anne's table was another contender for top prize. It featured "Platinum Chandelier" over a white charger set on a Wedgwood blue brocade tablecloth. Their center piece was a bird's nest of burgundy feathers inside a beautiful white porcelain crown. You have to see it to believe it. These ladies put all of their favorite things together and the result was a table you'd never want to leave! The two sent us a lovely joint email honoring their friendship and all of the things they love about each other. The whole office was sighing. We adore you both!

We were not able to feature all of the entries here, but that doesn't mean they weren't amazing. If your table wasn't featured, we hope it won't discourage you from trying again next year. All of the entries were beautifully photographed and exhibited amazing attention to detail. We appreciate everyone's participation and creativity.

If you are a winner you will receive an email before the end of the week with all the information about your prize. Congratulations!

We at Rosanna have certainly learned a few lessons from this year's contestants. They proved to us that even hard times can still be beautiful times, and that sharing and coming together always yields worthwhile results. They also demonstrated that we can honor others by honoring our own self expression. May your traditions old and new live throughout the year and bring joy to your whole family.

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