"Christmas was good. January was really bad and February was just awful," said Zizia owner Anna Vornbrock, who will close the doors to her shop 'Zizia' on April 2nd.

Story by Janet Grella
Photos by Kristen Kerns

If Tuesday was any indication, Zizia will be closed before planned (Saturday, April 2nd).

Anna Vornbrock, owner of Zizia in Olde Burien, said she was “slammed” March 1st, the first day of her going-out-of-business sale. Quite surprisingly, the bulk of her first day sales were her displays, which will remain in place until the store closes.

“I hadn’t planned on going out of business, so I still have new merchandise rolling in,” Anna said. “I’ve got plenty of merchandise to support the sale for a few weeks.”

Going out of business was as much a surprise to Anna as it was to her customers who learned it through an email blast over the weekend as well as voice mail on Zizia’s answering service:

It is with great sadness that I announce the closure of Zizia. I have always loved the quality of handmade products and had hoped that it would translate to my customer base, but with the economy struggling, I have found business slowing down too much to move forward. I have really enjoyed getting to meet all my fabulous customers, watching their families grow up, and spending time with you all.

“Christmas was good. January was really bad and February was just awful,” Anna explained. “Things were going backwards. I just made the decision to close a week ago. I decided to capitalize and get out while I could.”

But she’s going out with a smile.

“I know I should feel sad, but I’ve learned a lot and know a lot of great customers. I wish the economy would be better, but I don’t have the super powers to change it,” she said with a smile.

What’s next for Anna? Well, she’s got a 15-year old son at Mt. Rainier High School who’s involved in band and soon drivers training, so she needs to devote some quality Mom time (a job she proudly held for 13 years before opening Zizia in 2007). She’s going to chill out in Vegas and go to Mother’s Day weekend at WSU with her college-aged son. She hopes to obtain a part-time job in outside sales, where she worked for 15 years before starting her family.

Anna gives ‘hats off’ to her landlord, Lola of the Danish Bakery. She also told us that other folks are lined up for the space, so it won’t be empty long. In her final goodbye to the block she encourages local people to shop local, keep your money local.

In the meantime, she’s still running Zizia, which is located on SW 152nd and 9th in Olde Burien. Here’s Zizia’s going out of business schedule from their email blast to current customers:

After years as a corporate sales person, even more as a stay-at-home mom of two accident prone boys, we asked owner Anna Vornbrock, why Zizia?

“As the child of a marine biologist and artist, I spent many hours immersed in nature, rockhounding, catching butterflies and observing my environment. I devloped a love of bold colors, textures, but most of all stones and jewelry!” When it came time to go back to work, starting a high end gift boutique in Olde Burien was Anna’s only goal.

Zizia owner Anna Vornbrock

Naomi Campos of Yed Omi Jewelry, Zizia’s most popular designer, will be dropping by the store with a large trunk full of jewelry from noon to 5PM. Well maybe not a trunk full of jewelry, but she will have every piece from her collection, including new designs and some one of a kind pieces.

Yed Omi Designer Naomi Campos

According to Yed Omi Jewelry’s website:

Yed Omi was officially started in 2001 with the vision to create unique hand fabricated jewelry. Each piece is hand crafted and often one of a kind… the Ocean and nature are the inspirations behind the designs. Designs are intricate metal work brought to life by adding the beautiful gemstones the earth has created. Yed Omi means “of mother’s hands” in Arabic.

Anna tells us Naomi works in gold, silver, oxidized silver and precious stones. “She’s so stinking creative,” Anna added.

True to her original mission, 70% of Zizia Gifts are made in America. Further she represents 40 artists and over 100 unique retail vendors. Some artists that she pointed out include Houston Llew’s highly collectible “spiritiles”, Sweet Petulas’s Soaps and Lotions, and and PJ Salvage Pajamas.

But the most important designer at Zizia on Saturday November 13th during the holiday open house and trunk show will be Naomi Campos. If you’re in Burien that day do stop by to meet Naomi. Have some spirited refreshments. Plus Anna can start a Christmas list wish for you and make sure your Santa gets the message.

And be sure to watch for Zizia’s upcoming, long awaited website coming to a computer near you in the next few weeks!

Anna Vornbrock of Advertiser Zizia told The B-Town Blog this week that:

“I’d like to say thank you to my super awesome customers by extending 20% OFF all (non sale) merchandise from now through Saturday, October 2nd.

We’ve recently received fresh shipments from the following:

• Jeweler, Naomi Campos
• Houston Llew Spirit Tile
• Papaya art panels, giclees, and 2011 calendar
• Halloween decorations
• PJ Salvage pajamas
  Funky Chunky Chocolate

“This is a perfect time to start your holiday shopping, or just find that unparalleled gift for someone you love.

Again, thank you for your support over the last three years, I am truly grateful,” she added.

Zizia is located in Olde Burien at 827 SW 152nd Street.

They’re hours are:

• Tuesday-Friday: 11am – 6pm
• Saturday 10:30am – 5pm (or 6ish)

Trollbeads are in Des Moines, and where else, but at new B-Town Blog Advertiser Kimberley’s on 7th (in Des Moines)!

Kim Beasly was the first jeweler in the state of Washington to identify the charm and fun of Trollbeads. That was a year ago. Since then she’s sold hundreds of Trollbeads.

This Saturday, Nov. 21st from 10:30am – 6pm, Kim is having a special Trollbeads party complete with food. The Trollbeads representative will be on hand with most of the 500 designs available right at Kimberley’s. To encourage you to start or add to your Trollbeads collection, Kim has a one day only special this Saturday, and that’s buy four Trollbeads charms and receive one free. Charms start at $23.

I was introduced to Trollbeads earlier this week, and fell in love with the charms thick braided necklaces and bracelets. But–WARNING–it’s not your mother’s charm bracelet, er, take it back, my charm bracelet–gold and shiny with soldered-on charms that showed the various aspects of a teenage girls’ life….

These charms are bright, whimsical (I loved the juggler) bright colored hand-crafted Italian Murano glass, precious stones, sterling and gold…the possibilities and combinations are infinite. And one fun thing, when you design your bracelet, there will be no other like it in the world. The bracelets are so beautiful, you can start with one charm and add to on special gift receiving occasions (like an add-a-pearl).

With the holidays coming up, Kim has started a Trollbeads registry to assist your friends and family in finding the ‘perfect’ Trollbeads for your necklace or bracelet.

From the Trollbeads US website:

“Charm” has a whole new meaning. More than 30 years after the first Trollbead was born in Denmark, the Nielsen/Aagard family and their team of designers continue to “charm” collectors with their imaginative jewelry designs.*

Handcrafted from the finest quality raw materials including 18K gold, sterling silver, Italian glass, natural pearls, precious stones and Swarovski crystal, each bead is a treasure to behold. Every irresistible piece has its own story inspired by love, nature, fairytales, mythology, cultures, and the diversity of the world around us.

There are over 500 interchangeable Trollbeads to choose from. New beads in intriguing shapes and colors continue to revitalize the collection. With an infinite number of combinations, the piece of jewelry you design will be completely unique and personal. The possibilities are endless.

Welcome to the “charming” world of Trollbeads, where every bead has a story and every story has a bead T.

*Trollbeads have won international artistic recognition and have been exhibited at Sculpture Objects & Functional Art in Chicago and New York.

So there you have it. Trollbeads show this Saturday at Kimberley’s Exquisite Jewelry at 22221 7th Ave in Des Moines, from 10:30am – 6pm. Bring your daughter, bring your mom, even bring your husband, but come on down.

You’ll love the ‘charm’ of Trollbeads!

[Would you like to have a “Blogvertorial” story, event listing and/or Ad like this on a popular, fast-growing website seen by nearly 40,000 interested Local Readers every month? Email us for more info, or check out our Advertise page!]

The new owners are sisters Laura and Alyssa Stegin.

“We were customers here for about five years,” said Laura. “Then we heard the owners were selling and my sister and I said ‘Let’s look into it.’”

They checked with their father, longtime in the banking business, for advice.

“He’s very good with accounting,” Laura said. “He helped us pencil it out.”

The research and preparation took about four months. Laura and Alyssa officially took over the business in May.

What new customers might find most amazing is that the sisters are not too far out of high school.

“We went to Highline High School right here in Burien.” Laura graduated in ‘05, Alyssa last year.

“Being in business is very exciting,” Laura says. “The best part is getting to know our customers as they come in on a regular basis.”

Fun Time Tanning has eight tanning booths, but “we don’t do nails,” as the previous owners did.

“But we did hire a licensed massage therapist. She starts this Saturday (August 2).”

Customers can also purchase from a collection of purses, jewelry and gift cards.

They are working right now on developing their new Fun Time Tanning website.

They can be reached by phone at 206-241-1117

Summer hours are:

Mon-Thurs  9 to 9
Fri-Sat           9 to 7
Sun                 10 to 4

Please help us welcome Fun Time Tanning by clicking on their ad and checking out their offerings; and be sure to let them know you heard about ‘em on the B-Town Blog!

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