Urban Mercantile

What's in the window? Valentine's Day approaches.

So I’m back after a long blog-hiatus. I really regret that I can’t keep up the consistency with this blog. I have several friends who can post something almost every day, but not me. I’m either a complete no-show or I’m slow. My friend Mark has a name for it: slogging. Slam together “slow” and “blogging” and that’s what you get. But don’t confuse it with actual definitions of slogging: arduous or difficult work, or to wildly beat the crap out of something. I rather enjoy it, really!Anyhow, the easiest posts for me are: What’s in the Window? They’re easy because I usually put new merchandise in the window and I try to change the displays frequently. It’s ready-made content. Often, the window displays are themed; like this week with Valentine’s Day approaching. You’ll notice lots of red, the obvious color of love. Everyone loves Valentine’s Day, right? Wrong! But I forged ahead with the display anyway, all the while singing Beyonce’s “All the Single Ladies.”

Some of the newest items in the store are designed by SoCal’s Marla Dawn. The unique objective is to create “service for two” gifts. Specialty pieces like a double spouted teapot with dogwood pattern and coordinating teacups (3pc set $66.00), or a pair of espresso cups on a tray (3pc set $32.00), or a mated pair of vases (small 2pc set $40.00, large 2pc set $50.00) make perfect presents for newlyweds and the sinfully cohabiting.

Also featured in this display are Scandinavian-designed items from Rasmussen Imports. The red “rug” with big white dots is made of recycled plastic material woven for durability and easy care ($215.00), the laminated birch tray ($110.00) and the stools ($172.00) are topped with a sweet red design. To add comfort and personalization to any space, customize a pillow with a monogram, like the one shown from My Perennial; see the “U” shown ($62.00). Any letter printed on several background options can be special ordered. The Circles damask table runner by Bodrum provides the vivid backdrop ($46.00).

The new season David Fussenegger blankets and throws has arrived; the red one in the window is the plushest and brightest ($132.00). We literally have customers who want us to call them when the new designs are in. Continuing on with the Scandinavian accents are hand-silkscreened pillows by Pikku in a punchy red design ($148.00 each). These lovely soft goods are stacked on the Eco-tots stool in flame red ($143.00), which boasts environmentally friendly woods and stains. Tiny, hand-built bud vases by Celia Designs are constant favorites ($32.00).

For those of you who actually have someone to share Valentine’s Day with (don’t go rubbing anyone’s nose in it) which happens to be on Saturday, we also have delicious chocolates on hand. I discovered this tiny boutique chocolatier in Atlanta last month. I literally tripped into the little shop off the beaten track and was immediately smitten with the delectable combinations. I had them packaged in two assortments, one for the ladies and one for the gents.

Don’t hold your breath for a new post anytime soon. I leave for vacation in a few days, but if I’m inspired while I’m away you might just see a new post! As always, big thanks for all of your love and support!

Donate=Discount Event

ANNOUNCING OUR HOLIDAY DONATE=DISCOUNT EVENT!
Download Donatesffoodbank

Dear Holiday Shoppers and Blog Readers,
Thank you for making this year one of the best on record! That said, we realize that for some this will be a rough holiday season. In an effort to help those who might need it most, we’re hosting a food drive for the San Francisco Food Bank. The perk for you? All food donations will add up to discounts on store merchandise! Download the flyer above for all the details.

For every food item you donate you will receive a 5% discount on store merchandise, with a maximum discount of 20% off. So two items saves you 10%, and four items saves you 20%! Feel free to donate as many items as you can. Food must not be beyond its expiration or in glass containers. Your donation must be among the categories specified by the San Francisco Food Bank (see the attached poster), like canned fruits and veggies, rice and beans, soups and cereals, and the like.

This DONATE=DISCOUNT event will only last from Thursday, December 11 through Sunday, December 14. A special “thank you” party will bring the drive to an end on Sunday from 5pm-8pm. We’ll supply the holiday cheer along with wine, cider, and treats as our appreciation for your support. Meet several of our talented artists and mingle with your friends and neighbors.

Be sure to receive a receipt for your food donation from one of our staff. That receipt is your ticket to your discount.

We encourage you to help however you can this holiday season; let us know if you’d rather make your donation to Toys for Tots. We sincerely appreciate your loyalty and support. May the remainder of this year be filled with good things for you and your loved ones, and may the coming year be filled with immeasurable joy and prosperity.

Reminders:
* We are open on Mondays in December prior to Christmas Day.
* We will close at 4pm on Christmas Eve and remain closed for Christmas Day. We will re-open on December 26.
* We will close at 4pm on New Years Eve and remain closed for our annual post-holiday break the beginning of January.
* Our annual post-holiday sale begins Tuesday, January 20.

From all of us here, we hope to see you soon!

egg & the urban mercantile
85 carl street
sfca 94117
p. 415 564 2248

From the depths: Rachel Znerold

Rachel Znerold calls this series "From the Depths," and even the unwitting observer can see why. Her fascination with all things natural and miraculous defines these amazing works on canvas. Be it microscopic, astronomic, oceanic, or geologic her inspiration might be obvious but it's not specific. The images portrayed in the series are bold, organic, and mystic. Her childhood imaginings have now served her well, for she tells the tale of her travels in a universe microscopic, telegraphic, and artistically otherworldly.

When I first laid eyes on this work, massed-out on a big wall in her studio, I thought it looked like an immense sunken treasure. As if a pirate's booty of precious gems, stones, and jewels had come to rest on the sea floor. The closer I looked I was reminded of my time publishing science textbooks, combing through thousands of microscopy slides of organelles and cultured colonies. A little creepy but riveting. Looking again, I saw whole galaxies like Hubble's postcards from the edge or like the--now kind of amusing--background sets from Star Trek. I'm so happy to have Rachel's work in the store, especially during this time of year, as it transform the space into a jewelry box of goodies.

As Rachel puts it, her "artwork becomes a frenetic meditation on one beautiful and miraculous moment, capturing that fleeting sideways glance, that blurred glimmer of emotion deep within the heart of the everyday." It's as if each image is a moment in time, some natural phenomenon suspended and polished to be treasured and revered as impossible and amazing. Rachel's work is acrylic on canvas with china marker. It is dimensional without layers upon layers of paint.  We have 22 of the paintings from the series, available in three sizes, the 6x12in are $300.00, 10x10in are $400.00, and 12x12in are $500.00 each. A 20% discount is given for 2 or more paintings. Come in soon to enjoy them!

A kitchen for the Japanese?

   

As exhausted as I am this evening, I had to put this post together. Many people have often asked what my home is like. They figure that since I have a store and work as a decorator I must have a lavish spread filled with "such beautiful things." Not so much. I've lived in the same apartment for so long now that if bore a child upon moving in I'd be the parent of a ninth-grader. Fortunately, I'm barren. But I do have a small, two bedroom, rent-controlled, comfortable apartment that I wouldn't dream of giving up. This in spite of the fact that I don't have parking and on winter mornings I can actually see my own breath in the kitchen as my water kettle whistles long past being removed from the flame. It's so cold in this place that I promise myself every January that I'm moving to Palm Springs. (The up-side is that I walk to work and can practically fall out my door and land in Golden Gate Park.)

Above are the test shots for the photoshoot of my kitchen. These secured a feature in the San Francisco edition of a Japanese book series illustrating kitchens around the world. Miki from Zakka Publishing, whom I have previously worked with on a couple other projects, contacted me and asked if they could photograph my kitchen. I said,"of course," knowing full well my kitchen (and honestly, all the other rooms in my home) is a work in progress. I told Miki that I had intentions to fix the cracking plaster, paint, buy a new table and chairs, rip up the linoleum, put shutters in the windows (god, I hope my landlords aren't reading this!) and finally get this place pulled together. Well, precisely what I had every intention of changing was exactly what made my kitchen so "cute and charming" to her. All that imperfection, or wabi sabi in Japanese, I guess. Loosely, it translates to "imperfectly perfect in a natural state." So to my embarrassment Mieko, the photographer, took many close cropped pictures of the cracks in the plaster along with the Spackle spread willy-nilly on the walls by my landlord to correct seismic scarring. She also closed in on gashes in the moldings where at least thirty layers of paint could be detected and the original redwood trim revealed. After taking about fifty shots of the whole kitchen, they proceeded to use the linoleum floor as a backdrop for some product shots. This is when I about fainted. That floor is the bane of my existence; never looking clean despite the toil of mop and unsafe chemicals. But alas, here it is. My humble little kitchen, scars and all.

The book is due out in April. Unless you have a Japanese bookstore in your town, you probably will never see it. I flipped through the second Paris edition which is already in print and it's totally amazing. The French know how to live, c'est vrai?! The Zakka team also photographed my store to complement the feature. Although this wasn't the first time my apartment has been photographed for Japanese publications, it's still a little strange to hear "what is the concept for your style?" I still answer, "um, comfort." Check out a few of my peeps, the other "creatives" featured in San Francisco Kitchens by Zakka Publishing.

Jeanine Payer: jewelry designer beyond words

Diana Fayt: ceramist of excellence

Rae Dunn: ceramist superior

A pocket full of posies

Today is a bit chilly in the City compared to the last several days of gloriously sunny and calm weather. Honesty though, I have no complaints. I wasn't exactly in a glum mood this morning, but nothing skyrockets one's disposition like receiving flowers. These bold and disarming blossoms arrived today from Jen at My Perennial and I had to take a picture. They appeared just as you see them above in a massive clump. I removed them from the plastic sleeve by sliding them out on the table. I didn't want to disturb them at all; nearly forgetting that I must display them and sell them. Bummer.

Each blossom is fashioned into a brooch. A small clasp on the backside provides clever attachment to a sweater, a coat, a handbag, a scarf, or a tee. Several layers of brightly coordinated felt are hand assembled, with a bead or two to finish it beautifully. The colors are vivid and clean, aimed at matching up with the rich colors worn during this season. Each brooch is $14.00, making them a terrific birthday, holiday, or just-thinking-of-my-best-peep gift.

What's in the window?

What plummet in retail sales? What staggering depressing economic news? With a heart full-to-the-top with gratitude, I can say that the sad state of affairs is not impacting our loyal shoppers (or at least they're not letting it show). Whew. Our UPS delivery man, Marlon, visits us everyday bringing boxes of new stuff. Today he says, "I'm glad you're still ordering. Keep it up." Sometimes I feel like locking the door when I see him coming because it means I have more deliveries to process and less time for blogging (hearty har har). In my opinion, I think UPS drivers have the inside scoop on the economy. I trust Marlon. So now all the fantastic fall goods are coming in and I'm so excited to share the fun with our shoppers and readers.

In the window this week is a sampling of what's arriving in all categories and price ranges. The bottom layer of plushness is a new rug line. Several fabrications, with dozens of colors available, and made to any size make this line perfect for our customers. This low-pile, super fat loop in green and orange (a combination that I adore, like a little punky patch) is $935.00 for a big 6x6ft rug.

A creative duo out of LA creates these melamine plates. These designs are the richest and most layered of all the melamine lines we carry. They're not whimsical, but they are fun. They're more art-ware than party-ware. With a pair of pirates and a pair of hawks, paratroopers and an octopus; who could ask for more? Several customers have thought to hang them on the wall as decoration (I should have bought plate hangers, drat!). Each are 10in diam, for $18.00.

Teapots are consistent sellers for us. These boldly glazed two-cup beauties are just 10 bones (that's $10.00 in pirate-speak). Also available in marigold and white, not shown. Buy a little yummy loose tea or a short-stemmed bouquet to fill the pot and you've got one sweet gift.

The shelf in the background holds several various goodies (in green, and available in several other colors $363.00). A luxurious cashmere throw in pumpkin ($292.00, a new lower price this year!), a fuzzy cotton blanket in warm tones ($152.00), a snuggly persimmony cotton baby blanket ($52.00), wrapping paper in orange and green ($4.00/sheet, gray and aqua not shown), a hand-made glass dish by a local artist ($24.00), a photo frame ($29.00), and floral wall art (see last post, $39.00).

Thanks for all of your comments and support! I hope to see or hear from you soon!

Graphic goodness from SusyJack

Graphic goodies from SusyJack are back. Our first order of the clips (formerly known as clothes pins) from Susy went really fast. Now we have them again. I can see why people love them; they're cheery and they're helpful organizational aids. Best of all, they make a great gift at a great price. The clips pictured here are shown with her wall art in the background. It's obvious she has a breadth of creativity with mass appeal. Susy's imagery is both poetic and bold. Which is exactly what captured my attention at the Stationery Show.

The Fortune Cookie clips ($6.00/set of 5) offer inspiration while the Day of the Week clips ($8.00/set of 7) offer strategic access to organization for home or office. The Scroll, Zigzag, and Rope designs are just downright preppy goodness (each $6.00/set of 5). The wall art panels are 9.75in square with silkscreened image ($39.00 each).

Wedding invitations: book two

Another joyous occasion to announce. The second book of custom wedding invitations has arrived. Working on these books with local printers was a little like having a baby (from what I've heard). Months of gestation go by, attending to the creative needs of the un-hatched, and then it arrives. Even cuter than you imagined. The second book, created by Melissa of Finelife Press is just as cute as a button. Melissa, just as pleasant as she could be, worked tirelessly on this book while still churning out rush orders for custom clients. I'm thrilled with her efforts.

This book, too, has a modern touch. Which is just what we're going after. Designs range from new-traditional paisleys and caligraphic typefaces to bold and crisp stripes and hip fonts. A few thematic devices are thrown in, too. A mountain wedding? A winery wedding? We got it. The palette is inviting and striking, fitting perfectly with today's stylish weddings. With several designs to choose from and personalization with color and ensemble, I'm sure a bevy of brides-to-be will find the perfect invitations to announce their special day.

Graphic paper tableware

Finally, someone took casual dining seriously. Paradoxical, but true. I mean, how many times have you planned a picnic or a party only to find the most dullsville paper dinnerware? And, sure there's a time for porcelain--you have to show your friends you've grown up and "got some class"--but when there are kids involved or those aforementioned friends have a penchant for heavy drinking, be safe and serve on paper.

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD, not a pretty acronym) started an operation a few years ago, that we've enthusiastically supported since the beginning, launching the designs by its students into production and out into the real world. Working Class Studio, this spin-off from SCAD, brings income to otherwise under appreciated artists and creates marketing and visibility for this talent pool before they even get a chance to call themselves starving artists.

Designed by Brad Baker, and appropriately named "Brad" (a name I'm quite fond of), the collection includes paper plates in two sizes and napkins in two sizes. Thus, making a great conversation starter for any birthday buffet or outdoor feast. Dinner and desert plates come in packs of 12 ($6.50 and $4.50 respectively). And dinner and cocktail napkins come in packs of 24 ($4.50 and 3.50 respectively).

Hot off the press: Printing by Hand and Zakka Sewing

More super-cute books came in the other day. These two, published by Stewart Tabori & Chang, are particularly appropriate for their scandinasian appeal. Printing by Hand (hardcover $27.50) by Lena Corwin illustrates a multitude of printing techniques, like stencils, stamps, and silk screens, for textiles and other surfaces. The projects (see middle photo) seem relatively easy (but remember, I'm a bit crafty), and the patterns range from botanical to abstract. The general style of many of the designs reminds me of mid-last-century Scandinavian motifs. A pocket full of Corwin's full-size designs are included (so no art skills are necessary). Materials, tools, and directions are clearly outlined and the photography and artwork won't leave you confused.

If you're the type sit at your sewing machine workstation on a rainy day, then Zakka Sewing (softcover $24.95) could fill a winter's worth of projects for you. Authors Therese Laskey and Chika Mori carefully plan out 25 Japanese sewing projects "for the household." Zakka means "household goods" in Japanese. On a side note, there's a great magazine in Japan called Zakka Catalogue (in which our store has been featured) that if you're ever able to pick up at some well-stocked newsstand, you'll be endlessly inspired. Hand-making gifts and adornments for the home has become very popular in the States, thanks to influences from Japan. The projects detailed here range from an easy tote to more complicated house shoes (channel your inner cobbler). The photographs will inspire you, but the illustrations might leave the novice scratching her/his head. Have no fear, though. Make yourself a cup of tea and release your impatient mind, soon enough your efforts will pay off and you'll have yourself a darling apron.