If being a dad changed Scott Anderson, it was for the good
of the environment.
When daughter Georgia came along in 2004, Anderson quit his
job at a telecommunications firm to become a stay-at-home dad, aware that soon
the family would be moving cross country to settle in the Seattle area. Creating decorations for Georgia's room that Anderson
realized would have to be portable, Hatched Egg'rs came cracking out of the egg.
"After working for a number of years in a corporate
environment I wanted to create my own business, but I also wanted to be
very connected to my kids," Anderson says. "And I thought at the time what
better way to connect with your kids than to draw silly pictures for them. At the same point I never wanted to have to explain to my
kids (when they are older and start asking questions) why I used a material or
a finish that hurt the environment or had the (even if it was small) potential
to hurt people. So everything I designed I tried to incorporate
sustainable practices (local, non-toxic, low impact, and little packaging)."
Hence Melville chairs, toddler-sized wooden seats that flip
over and become chairs again, fulfilling a toddler-style need to make every
side of every structure into something useful. A sizeable seat for a toddler,
they last up until at least age eight as seats for pulling up to the coffee
table for an afternoon of coloring or the conductor's perch on a toddler train.
"They are made from FSC certified wood, finished with
non-toxic, environmentally friendly finishes (recommended for people with
Chemical Sensitivities), and packaged with recycled, minimal packaging,"
Anderson explains. "Not only are the chairs environmentally responsible and
sustainably built (sourced, manufactured and finished here in the Northwest),
but they are really unique with a whole line of customizable images to adorn
them with (customers can pick what colors will work best in every picture I
produce)."
The same images made for Georgia and little brother Jake now
grace not only the chairs but exquisite toyboxes
and wall stickers made to crack kids up without cracking the paint job in the nursery.
"When I am creating new characters, I get out pencils and
blank paper, for me, my daughter, and
my son and we all sit at the kitchen table together and draw,"
Anderson explains. "During that time my kids tell me stories, act silly and
create worlds of their own, and sometimes they look over at what I am drawing
and laugh - that is the favorite part of my work."
Our favorite part of his work? All of it - from the green
start to the grin on our kids.
Image: Hatched Egg'rs
