the Otherist

Fledglings leave the nest, puppies are weaned, and children move out of their parents' houses (or should). Realizing that change brings new challenges and rewards, we here at egg mercantile have decided it's time for us to hatch into something different. Happily, not every metamorphosis has to be as brutal or depressing as Kafka's - on the contrary, we're as excited as a fuzzy caterpillar about to break free of the cocoon and spread its wings for the first time. Don't fear, friends and neighbors, we'll still be and have all the great things you've already come to associate with egg mercantile; stunning ceramics, wonderful wool, beautiful bags, wicked wallets and other hard to find treasures that refuse to fall prey to my articulate alliteration. So we continue turning a blind eye to the standard; to the run-of-the-mill; to the mundane and the typical. We want only the exceptional; the memorable; the unconventional; the other.

We're changing our name to reflect this continued focusing of our collection towards merchandise that is anything but ordinary, so effective immediately egg mercantile will be transforming into The Otherist. We also hope that the name change will help clear things up for passersby who just read the sign or those who hear our name in polite conversation. Because in answer to the questions that were on far too many people's lips; no, we do not sell eggs. Nor do we sell everything to do with eggs. Or chickens. No, you can't have yours scrambled sir, and no, ma'am, you cannot have yours poached. And no, 'egg mercantile' is not a special brunch dish or something you can order at the Chinese takeaway. ;-)

Looking forward to seeing you either in the shop, online at www.otherist.com, and at otherist.blogspot.com,
Joshua & Steven
-the Otherist(s)

By the pricking of my thumbs....

"By the pricking of my thumbs
Something wicked this way comes."

Okay, technically I don't think one would call it 'wicked', per se. Unless one were speaking in Bostonian slang (and when one opens the floodgates of slang usage, one might even find oneself unexpectedly using words like 'hella' or 'hecksa'), but we figure using slang is at the very least balanced by quoting Shakespeare. Anyway, nothing evinces a feeling of importance and impending change like serious literary quotation, so in the interest of making it sound even more portentous, we're also quoting Andy Warhol, who said; "They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." And that's exactly what we're doing. Change is on the horizon for egg mercantile, so prepare yourselves for something hecksa new!

Alexa Lixfeld - Metamorphose

My parents were true believers in the theory that hard work builds character and integrity. At least that's what they said... but often I wondered if it was just an easy way for them to to say; "We had to work, so you do, too". Childhood grudges aside, every summer I was sent to work with my father laying concrete foundations (I had switched from Captain Caveman to a G.I.Joe thermos for lunch, while he had the incomparable Stanley vacuum bottle), hauling concrete forms and generally 'helping out' - which I later realized meant 'not getting paid'. (Oh, sorry, grudges aside.) While I can't speak as to whether or not 'helping out' assisted my parents with the monumental task of instilling any staunch moral fiber or tireless work ethic in me, there were other things that I took from those dusty, dirty, drawn-out summer days. One of them was an appreciation for the unsung beauty of concrete. Back then concrete was for driveways and basements, to be utilized only as a foundation, not an aesthetic. Nowadays it's all around us, and there are a multitude of designers and architects who have embraced industrial chic. Pottery pioneer Alexa Lixfield is one of these, and has captured the essence of this aesthetic in her Metamorphose collection, a series of colored porcelain vessels that artfully combine the roughness of concrete with the sophistication of modern form and color.


The interesting seam-work and play between the matte exterior and glazed interior highlight this contrast, transforming a simple shape into a textural triumph that is just as satisfying to hold and feel as it is to gaze upon. And unlike my formative years, appreciating this concrete-inspired crockery won't require any back-breaking labor on your part. See available models in the webshop.

Oohhh... Nesting Boxes - Lok Ming Fung

Whether you collect shoes, books, toys or jewelry, one of the greatest challenges any collector ever faces is answering the Storage Question. Too often our collections end up in attic boxes, stuffed beneath the bed or pushed to the back of a drawer, and this inability to keep them in any accessible order severely limits our ability to enjoy them to their full potential. Marie Antoinette solved the Question as it pertained to her immense jewelry collection by commissioning two monumental cabinets, one of which is still displayed at Versailles and the other at Windsor Castle.


While most of us don't have to answer the Display Question on such a grand scale, it's still rewarding to find solutions that are just as elegant as Madame Antoinette's cabinets but that aren't too large to transport nor barricaded behind velvet stanchions in ancient castles. When we saw Lok Ming Fung's "Oohhh..." ceramic nesting boxes we knew we'd found just such a solution; bedecked with beauteous barnacle-esque bits and equipped with varying numbers of trays and compartments, these handmade works of art will not only provide you with the perfect place for prized possessions, they'll become one. See available boxes in the webshop

made by rENs - kopje kopje

Most people agree that one of the last hurdles in learning a new language is understanding the sense of humor. So you can imagine my sense of accomplishment when I 'got' my very first Dutch play on words - and it was all thanks to Kopje Kopje. For you other nederlandse neophytes, you know (as I now do) that 'kop' means both 'head' and 'cup' in Dutch, and the diminutive (not derogative) -je ending signifies both the small size and big beauty these cups contain.

So whether your eye for beauty runs to traditional dolls or you're someone like salacious Salome and just like heads (that one's for all you Bible readers out there), we've got just your cup of tea...... what, too much? Handcast by Renee Mennen & Stefanie van Keijsteren (collectively know as Made by rENs).

Available in matte black, glazed white porcelain or a combination thereof. You can choose either the crowned princess or the bonnet wearing red riding hood. Come by and check them out, or see them in the webshop.

mid-Winter Sale... egg mercantile!

It's a tale as old as retail; a cycle tied to the seasons just as surely as that of the farmers and their crops. It comes after the holidays have left us unsure as to whether we're sated or exhausted, happy for their passing or sad. When the icy fingers of Winter slither beneath our collars and through cracks in windows, and when the definition of pleasure is a good measure of whiskey in a hot coffee with a dollop of whip cream. Yep, you guessed right; it's mid-winter SALE time!

Knowing that everyone loves a bargain and not wanting to disappoint, egg mercantile is offering up some dashing discounts on select items throughout the store. So whether you need a 2009 calendar to start planning the new year or your favorite color Pantone mug to house that aforementioned coffee (2 for €20!), don't let Winter's clutching fingers intimidate you (because you can shop online, too)!

Fruit is not a dessert... Penkridge Ceramics

One of our greatest joys in life comes at the end of a fine meal when dessert is finally served. And one of our greatest disappointments must be when that dessert is served and it's plain old fruit. Fruit can make a cheese plate complete, provide a necessary component in fondue, or possibly even a salad. But sorry, hosts and hostesses around the world - we don't care what time of year it is, fruit is not dessert. Special dispensation can be granted if one includes whipped cream, pastry, or a sweet little labor-intensive cookie, but we stress that this is only acceptable in the heat of high summer, or if you picked the berries from your own garden (and even then, it's an exception, not a blessing).


What fruit can also be is an amazing piece of decor, as evidenced by the incomparable collection of realistic ceramic fruits and vegetables by Penkridge Ceramics. Founders Lorraine Taylor and Nicky Smart have created a luscious feast of eye candy comprised of unique pieces that are handcrafted to look and feel picture perfect. Through the application of multiple glazes each apple and pear is given brilliant color and rich texture, which combined with distinctive hand painted blemishes and carved wooden stems makes for a finished product almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Unless, that is, one opts for the sophisticated monochromatic variations which showcase the beautiful shape and all of "nature's" imperfections. See what we did there? Anyway, check out our collection in the webshop.

Manos Del Uruguay... Silk Blend!

When we first began knitting, it didn't take us long to fall madly in love with the wonderful wool from Manos del Ururguay. The kettle dyed yarns have the most striking colors and for 100% wool, it is some of the softest that we have ever run through our fingers. It doesn't hurt that the yarn is hand-spun and hand-dyed by a womens' cooperative in Uruguay - so not only is it high quality and beautiful, it's also Fair Trade.

Just recently a loyal customer tipped us off: Manos has gone one better and created a silk and merino blend that is guaranteed to have any knitter coveting multiple skeins and all their friends begging for the fruits of their labors.

See our collection in the webshop. We've added 6 colors of the Silk Blend to our collection, with more coming towards the end of February.

Penguin & Fish .... Kitties!

Due to the holiday rush we are extremely tardy on posting these... but now that things have calmed down we wanted to be sure to get these cuties up.


Cats have been our treasured companions since the earliest days of Egypt, guarding tombs, hunting vermin, playing surrogate child, or just providing a sympathetic ear. While these fetching fabric felines, handmade by Alyssa Thomas of Penguin & Fish, won't be catching any critters, they excel at almost everything else, and there's the added bonus of no litterbox, no allergies, and no hairballs... each is unique and numbered, with embroidered features. See our collection in the webshop

Undergrowth Design - Blaue Blume Tea Set

Blaue Blume, the blue flower, is a central symbol of Romanticism, representing desire, love, and the metaphysical striving for the infinite and unreachable. We can't think of anything more romantic than Undergrowth Design's Blaue Blume Tea set - delicate porcelain with a white lace pattern and a hot pair of legs with dainty gold shoes for the handle? Here at last is a tea set even the men in your life can appreciate!

Our favorite is the 'sugar bath' - a claw foot bathtub where the legs are the spoon. Check out our assortment in the webshop.

Something's Hiding In Here - new arrivals

There are times in your life when a card really doesn't say it all, where the thousand words an image is worth aren't those you're trying to convey, or even when you've asked yourself that most painful of gift-giving queries; "What do you get for the person who has everything?" For these times and more, Shauna Alterio & Stephen Loidolt of Something's Hiding in Here have developed a charmingly eccentric range of sentimental somethings that are sure to pick up where conventional cards and gifts leave off.
Check out our assortment in the webshop.

Ibride - Reversible Double Headed Trays

Martial and Marius, Martha and Madeleine

The relation between predator and prey has always been fascinating to watch, whether it be on Animal Planet or a David Attenborough special. The cycle of life (and death) is compelling and thrilling, all the more so when paired with moving music and driving, disembodied narration. Ibride taps into this fascination with their new reversible portrait trays, artfully rendering a new and inspiring interpretation of what was, until now, only an ecological relationship.


The reversible design calls to mind playing cards, with the animal subjects portrayed in period costumes that would be at home in any 18th century games parlour. The first reversible playing cards were designed so that players were not tempted to turn cards in their hand 'right-side up' and inadvertently give clues to their opponents. With these the effect is exactly the opposite - unless you have two you'll be tempted to turn it over again and again. View our Ibride collection in our webshop.

Frédérique Morrel - Making a case for lace

We've always had a soft spot for re-purposed and recycled items, so when we saw Frédérique Morrel's trays it was love at first sight. Rescuing tapestry, needlework pieces, and patterns and then using them to make one-of-a-kind serving trays? What's not to love?


With her new trays, Madam Morrel hasn't stopped at just saving old tapestries, she's gone one better and added delightful doilies and lace to the mix. Brilliant! Who among us hasn't looked at a needlework pooch portrait or old-school tapestry scene and liked it despite the small worm of shame wiggling in our stomach, unwilling to admit even to our partners that perhaps we're developing septuagenarian sensibilities?


Thanks to Madam Morrel our predilection for petit point can come out of the closet and sit proud beneath a bevy of beverages, your tray riding shotgun on the side table, not just protecting the tabletop but providing transportation for the drinks you're serving to all your friends, who will ooh and aah as they uncover the treasures embedded beneath. We like Manhattans, if you're wondering. See the updated collection in our webshop

Vegan Wall Trophy: Update

Appealing to our love of nature - both our desire to protect it as well as frame it and place it stylishly on our walls - the designers at Cardboard Safari weren't satisfied resting on the laurels of their original collection of Stag, Moose, and Rhino.


This month saw the introduction of the American Bison, another majestic animal to add to our cardboard collection. In the wild, the bison is deceptively docile-looking and despite being an herbivore will attack if provoked. Its mild-mannered movements belie an ability to run faster than a speeding locomotive (we know the Railroad Companies didn't like the competition), and leap fences in a single bound! So if you ever see a real Bison, enjoy it from afar, confident in the knowledge that when you get home - safe and sound - you can get as close as you want to yours. Now available (big and small size) in-store and in our webshop.

Orla Kiely Paper

Who doesn't remember the dreary design days of the 90's, when black and tan were the only acceptable colors for your home, your wardrobe, your car, your bag. Yes, I know what you would say; 'the subdued palette of the 90's was a direct reaction to garish colors representing the glaring commercialism of the 80's.' Whichever way you slice it, 90's fashion tended to be just as boring on the eyes as it was detrimental to one's design spirit.


Happily, not everyone allowed themselves to be led around like beige and black sheep, for the 90's also saw the launch of Orla Kiely's stylishly simple designs. Choosing not to do away with colors (like so many others during those drab days), with her unique design sensibility she instead reframed them using a mixture of geometry and graphic design that was at once fresh and immediately recognizable. Fast forward to present day, and we can all see (and enjoy) just how far ahead Orla was.


One of the most recent additions to her design arsenal is a paper series featuring stationary and notebooks, each sporting one of Orla's signature designs on the cover, with assorted goodies spread throughout. Our favorite is the travel journal, replete with dashing stickers for you to code each of your discoveries while on the road, whether that be a favorite restaurant, museum, or some hidden away spot that only you know. And, if you're feeling generous, perhaps a few close friends. Now available in-store and in our webshop.

House of Animals - Heather Louise

The Houses of Plantagenet, Orange-Nassau and Windsor have all had a major hand in shaping the socio-political landscape of Europe. But a new house is now rising and threatens to eclipse the radiance of them all; Heather Louise's House of Animals! With sensational stylings calling to mind the glories of both the Victorian and Edwardian eras, this collection of avian, amphibian and other forest dwellers are now taking the city and sea (or canal) by storm in fashionable frocks and classy coats that would put the dandiest dandy to shame!


Heather's felt figures are always show stoppers, and this collection will be no exception! Each doll is entirely handmade using Dutch felt, vintage fabrics and beads, and often real snail shells (although Heather assures us no snails were harmed in the process). It's no surprise that these one-of-a-kind creations have personalities all their own that speak volumes without saying a single word, each one crying out for attention and a place in your home.


But how does one choose a favorite when faced with the Swan Sea Captain in his tricorner hat or the Elegant Uncle Platypus with Monocle? And what of the Dapper Squirrel whose coat accents his baby blues perfectly, or the Country Frog Gentleman whispering (sordid?) secrets to his diminutuve Snail Friend?


Unless you have the shop to yourself, it's best to choose quickly. From the safety of the counter we've seen it all, from customers bargaining with each other to the ol' Bait-n-Switch that leaves a disconsolate someone staring at the empty place their doll used to occupy. Fur will fly and feathers fall when it's all said and done, but when finally the melee calms and the air clears, who will you be left holding? See available dolls as we update them in our webshop.

Lola Goldstein - Teapot Friend...Limited Edition

It's the highlight of every plush friend's existence, when their hostess rescues them from the dark recesses of the closet or their perpetual naptime on the bed and takes them out on the back lawn for a tea party. But sadly, every little girl grows out of the stage when they're content to provide all sides of the conversation (at least most do) and prefers real tea and biscuits to water and air, and the stuffed menagerie are given away or forgotten. But not this little friend!

Refusing to go quietly into the night, this friend from Lola Goldstein has given itself a purpose - if it won't be offered the tea, then it will serve it! And thanks to some planning by a knitting relative (Lola's Mom), each friend has its very own hat to keep it and your tea toasty!




Also new to us from Lola: Limited edition handmade ceramic dolls. Each of these dolls come from a limited edition of 150 pieces - each is numbered, decorated with real gold, and signed by Lola. As always, cute overload! See available pieces as we update them in the webshop.

Cardboard Safari, Trophies for Vegans

No self-respecting log cabin or ski lodge would be complete without a roaring fireplace crowned with a huge mounted moose head staring down on cable-knit sweater wearing, smiling, ruddy-faced people with mugs of hot cocoa stuffed into cozy couches. But taxidermy can admittedly be a little morbid, and the more squeamish among us might even call it vulgar. No worries, Snow Bunnies! The folks at Cardboard Safari have created something to satisfy the most avid trophy hunter or hippie vegan in all of us. Not a product made from animals unfortunate enough to find themselves in the crosshairs of some testosterone-addled hunter, these trophy heads are made from environmentally friendly recycled cardboard. Flat packed for easy carriage, they provide both the satisfaction of piecing them together as well as that prized aesthetic to make your very own cozy cabin complete! Check our selection in the webshop.