Fall Favorites

A little known but rather wonderful tidbit about life during the Victorian era was a sensitivity to the changing seasons and a corresponding adjustment of interior decor. For each season, Victorian women had different linens, mantle decorations, vases, flower arrangements, and place settings to match the changes of the natural world.


I like to do the same thing in my home, especially with my dinnerware. I love our Famille a Table collection for the fall. Elegant and unusual, yet understated, Famille a Table is extremely versatile. I've used this collection for simple family meals and more elaborate dinner parties alike.




Rotating your plates with the seasons is a simple way to break the visual monotony of seeing the same dinnerware day in and day out. It adds freshness to everday life.

Live Well!





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So long, Summertime

I hate to say it, and I don't want to admit it but here it is:

There are only 11 days left before September 1st.

Summertime is winding down, and we are on the precipice of a new school year and the long, cold months of winter. As the inevitable change of seasons draws nearer, I've been trying to think of ways to hold on to the glorious langour and ease that's associated with summer for the year ahead.

The answer came to me in a jar of fruit preserves.

I imagined how nice it would be to open up a jar of summer peaches in the middle of the cold, drizzly, and- let's be honest- depressing month of January. The fruit would serve as a reminder of the warmth of vibrance that had graced the earth just five months earlier, although all evidence of that time would be long gone. It was then that I realized that not only can we store up on summer foods to get us through those difficult winter months, but that saving up our summer memories can be just as rewarding. When the weather is nasty and life seems like it's become a bit of a slog, drawing on a reserve of special memories is an instantaneous way to lift the spirits and infuse life with a small surge of vibrancy.

An impromptu summer dinner in the backyard, an afternoon spent making a berry pie with the kids, taking a walk as the sun begins to set, s'mores at a bonfire, sleeping outside in the backyard, nights without bedtimes spent gazing at the stars, an afternoon at the lake or the ocean.

Start storing up now. Remembering experiences like these or any others that are special to your family are like balm for the soul, capable of conjuring warm breezes and mellow sunshine in even the bleakest of winter months.





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Adorn Yourself

Another thing I noticed during my month in Italy was the way Italian women, and French women too, wear accessories. Unlike what I usually see in America, these women were decked out in fabulous scarves, bangles, earrings, and necklaces, toting bags in unusual shapes and bold colors. These accents made these women stand out as individuals in a crowd. They were striking, and they were beautiful!


Accessories are fun to shop for. You can find special pieces high and low- either at a chic chic boutique or a Saturday flea market. You never know what will turn up and where.
































To get you started, here are some of my favorite accessory lines:

Pot Luck Paris
La Vie Parisienne
Urban Outfitters
Calypso Celle
Radico
Rocky Mountain Emporium


Have fun!





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Favorite of the Month: August Edition: Beach Bottles!

As August passes me by with an alarming pace, I realize that fall and going back to school is just around the corner. This time of the year always reminds me of the beach.

As I've mentioned here before, for many years Gearhart, Oregon and its beaches have been a retreat of mine and as the dog days of summer disappear, I try to go down there as much as possible to soak up the sunshine. I love going down there with family to savor the warm weather, the salty breeze, and the freedom of summertime. The inspiration that the beach gives me created our collection of five vases, aptly named Beach Bottles.

I decided to feature these as my "Favorite of the Month" for August because they remind me so much of the beach, the ocean, and summer. I group these vases together or place them separately all around my home to bring a bit of the outdoors indoor. Every time I put a blossom in one of the vases, I'm reminded of Gearhart and all of my fond memories.

Warmest Regards,





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Cucina Italiana

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, or even just the past week, you may have picked up on a common theme that runs through the posts. Italy appears rather often. I’ll happily admit that I adore this country- the art and architecture, the people, the culture, the history, the fashion, the landscape, and

THE FOOD.

Italian cooking has been a part of my life since I was a little girl, and my Kansas-born mother learned to make the favorite foods of my father, an authentic Italian New Yorker. In my own home, olive oil, garlic, and parmesan cheese are permanent fixtures in our pantry, and pasta makes an appearance on almost every dinner menu.

Italian cooking doesn’t require obscure ingredients or complex recipes. It’s all about intuition and cooking by feel. However, if you are a cook with ambitions to explore the realm of Italian cooking, I direct you to Marcella Hazan. Marcella is credited with introducing America and Britain to traditional Italian cooking and has published six fabulous cookbooks.


I recommend starting at the beginning with Marcella’s first two, “The Classic Italian Cook Book: The Art of Italian Cooking and the Italian Art of Eating”, and "More Classic Italian Cooking." I also like the later published “Essentials of Classic Italian cooking.”

Good luck, or as they say in Italy, In Boca al Lupo- in the mouth of the wolf!










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Summer Reads

The lazy days of summer. Even for those of us who work, there is something about the warmer weather and the promise of a respite from the usual drudgery that makes us feel a little more free. Tomorrow, August will arrive. However, there is still enough summer left to make good use of that feeling of freedom to dive into a good book. Even if you don't get around to them this summer, here is my short list of favorite reads. Some are a little lighter than others, but I do believe that there's enough variety here to please an array of literary tastes.

Summer At Tiffany by Marjorie Hart
A light memoir in which Ms. Hart relates her experiences during the summer of 1945, which she spent working in Manhattan as one of the two first female sales pages at Tiffany's. Ms. Hart vividly describes glamor of WWII era old New York as seen through the eyes of a small towngirl from Iowa. A light and fun summer read written by a member of, as Tom Brokaw christened them, "The Greatest Generation."

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingslover
This newly released book by novelist Barbara Kingsolver chronicles a year in the life of her family after a collective pledge to eat only foods grown within their county lines. Well written and highly informative, "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" is a pleasure to read, as well as a wealth of information regarding the food we eat, where it comes from, and the enormous amount of effort that goes into growing it. I also love the fact that the book is co-written by Ms. Kingsolver's husband Steven and her 19 year-old daughter Camille. With the bountiful produce that graces this season, summer is the perfect time to read this illuminating book.

The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
I'm a sucker for anything to do with the Tudor family. My daughter teases me, claiming that I keep reading the same story over and over again, just in slightly different wording! That may be true, but of all the books I've read about the usual Tudor history, "The Other Boleyn Girl" is my top pick. It's juicy- filled with intrigue and narrated by Anne Boleyn's sister Mary Boleyn, who was Henry VIII's mistress before her ill-fated sister. The story is so good in fact, that it is actually being made into a motion picture with Scarlett Johansson as Mary and Natalie Portman as Anne. I'm sure it will be highly entertaining. In the meantime, pick up the book to to see what I mean!

Under The Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
This book by an American writer who buys a villa in Tuscany has already been made into a largely successful film starring Diane Lane. However, the similarities between the book and the movie stop there. Well written and easy to read, Frances Mayes' observations on living in Italy and refurnishing her old home in the hills of Cortona will make you want to jump on a plane and do the same.

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris
David Sedaris is actually my daughter Alessandra's contribution to this list. He is one of her favorite authors. They share the same dry wit as well as a knack for zoning in on absurd aspects of a situation and then retelling the events in such a way that has you laughing out loud. "Me Talk Pretty One Day" is a collection of personal essays in which David Sedaris reflects on his struggle with the French language and the dynamics of his offbeat family among other amusing topics.

Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis
"Auntie Mame" is another book containng colorful characters, namely the author's extravagant and dramatic aunt, Mame Dennis. The Plot: As a little boy, Patrick Dennis goes to live with his Auntie Mame in Manhattan during the roaring 20's. Chaos, adventures, misunderstandings, and hilarious circumstances ensue.

French Women Don't Get Fat by Mirele Guiliano
This book is a great guide on how to live a balanced life. It is written by a French woman whose husband is Italian. With this background, it goes without saying that she is a connisseur in la belle vie, or la bella vita. Whichever you prefer.

Tender At The Bone by Ruth Reichl
Another memoir, gorgeously written by the editor of Gourmet magazine. Ms. Reichl gives us the whole story from the beginning of her love affair with food. The book includes some of Ms. Reichl's favorite recipes, and I guarantee she will have your mouth watering within the first 10 pages.

The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham
Although this novel was written in 1925, it is still as evocative today as it was 82 years ago. Kitty Fane is unhappyily living in Hong Kong with her doctor husband when she begins an affair with a wealthy business man. When Kitty's husband finds out, he forces Kitty to accompany him on a medical mission into the heart China, which is being ravaged by a cholera epidemic. After estrangement as a result of Kitty's affair and confrontation of the brutal realities of cholera, Kitty embarks on a journey of self-awakening, a reassesment of her values, finding love and what is truly important in life.

Lady Chatterly's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
The original account of forbidden love between a society lady and her gamekeeper, banned in england until 1960. The novel is infamous for its detailed passages of the pair's sexual encounters, but the story is about so much more than their physical relationship. It is about growth, self-realization, and the stunning transformations we undergo when we fall in love.

The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
This last read is another fluffy one, set in Renaissance Florence during the reign of the Medici family. The city is in tumult as a result the fundamentalist monk Savonarola, who decires the luxury, learning, and art that is Florence's trademark. The main character Alessandra Cecchi, the precicous daughter of a wealthy merchant. She has a talent for drawing and a curiosity about the timid young artist her father has comissioned to paint the frescoes in the family chapel. I won't give anymore anway- you'll have to read the book yourself!

I hope you found something to your liking among my favorites. For me, reading is both a pleasure and an escape, a way to see the world without going anywhere at all.






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Making The Difference

When we hire employees at Rosanna, we look at the entire individual. And as a result, we have cultivated a work place atmosphere in which everyone is supported and celebrated for their diverse beliefs and lifestyles. We function as a family comprised of many different components.

I feel very lucky in our group of employees at Rosanna. All of them are highly competent, hard-working, innovative, and motivated. They also possess strong social consciences that have helped us infuse the company with more awareness of difficulties in the world, both local and international in scale.

The work our employees are doing is admirable and inspiring, and I wanted to share with you the causes they're passionate about, as well as what Rosanna is doing as a company to make a difference.

Volunteering and Community
Our employees are involved in a wide variety of organizations, many of which are based out of the Seattle area.

Natalie, one of our designers, just finished a great project at Children's Hospital. She led a group of young patients in the creation of a painting that was auctioned off to fund uncompensated medical care for families unable to afford the cost of medical treatment. The project was a success, raising a sizable amount for the cause.

Lauren, our PR and Media Coordinator, is an avid volunteer at Eastside Domestic Violence Program as a crisis line advocate, at Broadview Homeless Shelter for Women and Children as a tutor, and is beginning to volunteer at Planned Parenthood as well.

Heather, our operations manager, has channeled her enthusiasm for drill team by starting her own squad for 8-18 year olds, a great community builder and extracurricular activity for girls.

Our accountant Jen does her part by volunteering for Upward Bound, a national program that provides support for low income college bound students, as a motivational speaker and theater instructor.

One of our sales associates Sharon is a regular volunteer at Teen Hope, a homeless shelter located in downtown Seattle for teens from 13-17. She prepares meals, and helps the kids with homework and job applications. She also has an ongoing clothing drive at the office for Teen Hope. However, Sharon is also involved with the crisis in Sudan. She has just returned to the office after completing Bike for Sudan, a two month-long ride across the country, 4000 miles in 51 days. The donations she collected went to the construction of a health clinic and a well in a village in southern Sudan.

Lifestyle
As well as having a group of committed volunteers, Rosanna has growing constituency of vegans and vegetarians. Their choice to abstain from eating meat, or any animal products at all, is socially responsible not only because it promotes animal rights, but because the meat industry in particular is a significant drain of natural resources.

To do their part in keeping the environment as well as their bodies healthy, we have a number of employees who are choosing to use alternative modes of transportation. Another of our designers, Jacqui, rides her bike 3 miles to work everyday. Sharon drives a hybrid Prius, and Heather and our warehouse manager Matt, who are married, use bio-diesel fuel in their car.

In Office
Annice, another of our designers, has started an office-wide recycling campaign. Now, we recycle plastics, glass, and any kind of shopping bags and magazines in addition to plain paper. Annice is also our office-wide food drive organizer. We have two drives a year, with the food we collect donated to Seattle's Northwest Harvest Food Bank.

Profits and Proceeds
In addition to changing our daily habits around the office, we have also begun to donate a portion of our proceeds to various organizations. Currently, a percentage of the profits from our Beach Bottles line goes to the Nature Conservancy. We are also working on a few lines that will be unveiled for next spring with proceeds going to nonprofit organizations that benefit the environment, increase world health, and fight hunger in the United States.

Because our offices are located very near to both of Seattle's major athletic stadiums, we are also looking into renting out our parking lot out for extra parking on game days. If approved, we'll divide the proceeds among the various organizations our employees are involved with for donations.

I am very proud of everyone at this company for their generosity and altruistic spirit. At Rosanna, we are committed not only to creating unique products, but to supporting each other, giving of ourselves, and making a difference in the world.





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