The
Pottery Barn family just got a little bit bigger. Its newest addition is
Threads, a small, boutique-style shop that sells clothing, gifts and accessories for babies aged newborn to three years. With just two stores, one in New York and one recently opened at
Bellevue Square, Threads pays attention to the little things -- and I don't just mean the babies.
By Alison Brownrigg | October 26, 2007
Although she's always been crafty, it was only about a year ago that Seattle designer Jamie Irene merged her love of animals with her creative talent, launching a line of animal-themed backpacks ($150) and pillows ($125) for kids. The menagerie of colorful critters includes Eli the Owl, Arun the Penguin, Agnus the Bunny and Eleanor the Frog.
By Alison Brownrigg | December 28, 2007
It's a common refrain among mothers: "I love cute kids' clothes, but they grow out of them so fast!" In Seattle, budget-conscious moms in the know hit up local consignment stores to outfit their little tykes in gently worn designer duds.
By Alison Brownrigg | February 18, 2008
What if planning your wedding didn't have to be stressful? What if you didn't have to spend hours on the Internet trying to find your dream florist or photographer? Well, if you're a bride- or groom-to-be in Seattle, and you're free the evening of Feb. 21, you don't have to.
By Alison Brownrigg | February 20, 2008
In every Seattle neighborhood, there's at least one shop that seems like it's been around forever -- a place you've driven by a thousand times, always meaning to stop in. The Herbalist in Ravenna is one of those places.
By Alison Brownrigg | February 25, 2008
There's a sweet smell coming from deep in the heart of Seattle's South Park neighborhood. That's the home of Big Dipper Wax Works, where owner Brent Roose, manager Flower Grosskupf and a staff of worker bees melt, dip and scent pure beeswax candles, which end up on the shelves of Whole Foods, Dean & DeLuca and other stores nationwide.
By Alison Brownrigg | February 26, 2008
Tucked into a wee bungalow off California Avenue Southwest in West Seattle is Smallclothes, just about the cutest darn kids' consignment store I've come across. Owned by mother and daughter Ruth and Stephanie Hargrave, Smallclothes carries a combination of gently used clothes and shoes, as well as several thoughtfully chosen lines of new items for ages newborn to 8 years.
By Alison Brownrigg | March 5, 2008
Seattle's newest boutique, Sandylew, which opened March 1 near Pike Place Market, is a refreshing new addition to the downtown shopping scene. Displaying an urbane eye for style, owner Sandy Lew, a local metal artist and jeweler, offers unique clothing and accessories for women of all ages.
By Alison Brownrigg | March 10, 2008
The city of Seattle just got a whole lot sweeter thanks to Michel and Valerie Brotman, owners of The Chocolate Box. This month, the Brotmans launch Tour de Chocolat, a two-and-a-half to three-hour tour of the best chocolate that Seattle has to offer.
By Alison Brownrigg | March 11, 2008
Walking into new Georgetown shop Great Stuff Vintage Furnishings is like sliding down the rabbit hole -- you just never know what you're going to find. On a recent visit, I spied a vibrant yellow 1930s wooden toy duck from a Tacoma shoe store ($625) alongside a breathtaking ornamental column from the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition in Portland ($9,500).
By Alison Brownrigg | March 25, 2008
