Spring 2008

Best Sellers in Seattle By Adrienne Schofhauser

Urchin

Sea urchin, a pricey dish in Japanese cuisine, is a favorite Karen Cho’s mother often denies herself. Cho’s father, in turn, always orders the delicacy for his wife. Cho says it is this spirit of gift giving that inspires her to embrace life’s little indulgences. It was also the stimulus for her specialty store, Urchin, in downtown Seattle. The store’s name is in keeping with Cho’s vision to “have a place for life’s little luxuries.” After working in the marketing department of local Internet-giant Amazon.com for a little more than six years, Cho decided it was time to pursue her passion for art and design. She noticed a niche to be filled in downtown Seattle and opened Urchin—a specialty store for contemporary gifts and accessories. Organic shapes and patterns mark Urchin’s interior, evoking a sense of peace. The store stocks a variety of leather handbags, gold jewelry, modernist home decor, as well as porcelain tabletop bowls, hip baby knit dolls and handcrafted cards. Many of these come from far-flung places such as Israel, Italy and South East Asia, as well as from local and national designers Cho discovers in her travels.

Best Sellers
Baby: Clothing by Tea Collection, blabla knit dolls and mobiles
Handbags: Mandarina Duck (Italy), Kisim leather totes (designed in Israel)
Home: Coconut shell lamps imported from the Philippines, Alora Ambiance diffusers, Anne Black porcelain accessories (Denmark)
Jewelry: Polli (Australia), Stainless steel jewelry by Karen Konzuk (Canada), Cero Designs’ wood veneer cuff bracelets, Locally made sterling silver jewelry by Jill Renae
Stationery: Cards by Selfish Kitty, Locally handmade cards by Turquoise Creative
Kitchen: Bahari teak and rosewood bowls and servers
Tabletop: Porcelain dishware by Mud Australia

Karen Cho, owner
206.448.5800
UrchinSeattle.com

Adrienne Schofhauser

Adrienne Schofhauser is a sun-kissed, rain-drenched and snow-flecked freelance writer located in Seattle. When not at her 9-5 for a local witty law and politics magazine, she roams the vibrant city searching for high-energy hot spots that hold little stories to tell.