Positively Special!! The power of the Upcycle

Positively Special

I never imagined a personal philosophy would be able to manifest itself into inanimate objects. Yet, as I gaze around a nearly completed coffee shop, I see myself on the walls and in the espresso and imbedded in our recipes.  I have spent an entire career searching and encouraging others to find their true potential despite what the world says or does. My greatest moments while working with Special needs adults are always when they discover independence and confidence in themselves. Although often challenging, the rewards far exceeded my expectations. I seek out the positive and special in everyone and everything. So when this new venture presented itself, I knew exactly what I wanted to see. Each and every visual within the walls of Rosetta represents the positive and special of everything I came across. How is that possible??
​     UPCYCLE!!
As we began to collect our equipment, we discovered that many of the “gadgets” Brian and I used within the coffee industry would no longer serve. Did we just discard these pieces that served us well in the past but were unable to transition to the new wave of the coffee industry? I felt a need to do something….find  a way to use this object in a new way, breathe life into a old and tired object. But could I find something positively special in said objects???

Since all our coffee is made fresh in form of a pourover, coffee pots were unnecessary. Yet, transformed into a planter became something fresh and amazing! We now have within the shop a planter and the other coffee pot keeps our chocolates contained and within reach of our guests.  I posed this question to you all before, what will you do with your old coffee pots when they are no longer needed? I would love to see more ideas regarding an object that served us well for so many years.

This is another Upcycle idea. Composed of coffee filters and expired coffee beans. Oh Mr. Coffee filters, I had so many of you yet there in the cabinet you sit. Surely, there can be a better expression of your potential!  These were fun to make and they created a unique feminine flare to our shop.

The pallet…. Such a functional piece that has such amazing potential to transform into a beautiful work of art.  I often overlooked this workhorse piece because when I needed something I found it at the store. Yet, the pallet has the work ethic we strive to reinforce in our chefs and baristas. Get the job done right! As our pallet hangs on our wall, it continues to remind us all that hard work is always worth the effort.

Our condiment bar is a few projects rolled into one. The cart found while antiquing :) It was covered by tons of little things yet I saw something great buried underneath. The photos underneath decoupaged onto an ordinary piece of wood. Individually kind of cool but together WOW!  Even an old dusty bar cart can find new purpose.

As I continued to work and build each of these projects on the side, I often found myself contemplating how much of myself I see in these things. I feel like these things. I was good at my job and functioned properly. Time continued but I remained the same, and when I least expected it, I too had become the Mr. Coffee Coffee Pot. I was unable to catch up with the changing times. My growth potential limited yet I knew there was new life in me yet. Creating this coffee shop from the ground up has given all of us an opportunity to grow and develop our craft. So we stand before you now, almost ready to open and serve. Our philosophy simple make it good, use high quality and top notch standards. Show the world the positive and special elements of coffee. Learn, love and share together, for me, is the ultimate coffee experience.