Boca Mocha Rendering #1+ FOUND Things

Hi All!  I took a little leave of absence from blogville.  Sorry.  Last week was unusually crazy.  Here's a long post.  If this drains you, just realize you can be fueled back up with Boca Mocha from Haiti, here in a few days or two.  

Follow me on twitter, ST_Designs, you'll see that I was busy working on four different photo shoots with @Nathaliebearden {photog/friend who is now moving to Houston, Texas shortly}last week.

Nathalie and I have worked together and clicked so well since last summer. I'm pretty sad that our future jaunts are being cut short, just as we were  forming a good friendship and biz-lady-mom-bonding.  So, to say the least, these have been #bittersweet photo-shoots.  Interiors and Party-Scapes.  One more to go that is going to be so sweet and all Nathalie inspired.  Houston is lucky.

Boca Mocha Project Update:  Here's a rough draft rendering that my wonderful intern,  Danielle, and I have been working on.  Still not sure whether to paint the awkward cabinetry above the countertops.  Any thoughts?  We're two weeks out from deadline, and still have not been awe-struck with lighting/uber cool chandeliers out there.  I'm designing something to be custom made out of coffee bean burlap sacs.  We'll see how goes...

Boca Mocha

In other news, the fam and I went up to St. Louis to see my Louis compete in the State Cup soccer games. We saw the second of his team's game-winning streak, had a mini-mini-vacay, made some work phone calls, kissed Louis good-bye + good-luck to more games, drove home for a "good-to-go" ultra sound, and just now got word that his team won quarter finals!  SO, now I'm heading back up to St. Louis tonight, completely empty-pocketed after hotels, gas, and food, to see the semi-finals game tomorrow. I don't want to miss these next few games. 

I left St. Louis with an awe-inspired appreciation of FOUND style, architectural wander, industrial-wander genius ideas. The City Museum.   The City Museum was incredible.  It's one of the top ten places for family fun in the world.  All genius envisioned by one guy.  Bob Cassilly.  With all it's gears and fancied up junk, I'm in high gear for Boca Mocha project.

Industrial Rack on Wheels {to sell coffee and coffee stuff} Found for $50

FOUND these Hefty-Backed Horses for $10 each




I'm thinking white lacquer on the wood, white vinyl seating, nickel finished tacks all along the edging, and they'll look like million dollar chairs.  Contemplating leaving the back side that's black leather and stenciling on a bold letter to spell out B.O.C.A....

FOUND:  for $12 bucks

We'll use this for either wall art or a fun/funked out light fixture.  The tag said this was yard art.  I think it more like upscale wheelin' and dealin' art work.  Gold spray paint will glam it.

Remember these?

Pizza Hut Ponies

My Little Pony

One of the Boca Mocha owners, Rachel, decided she'd hand-paint chevron stripes on some canvas after we couldn't find an inexpensive fabric that we liked.  A girl after my own heart.  Mom + DIY-er with good tastey ideas.  She has 79 more of these pony seats to go...using an additional weather resistant urethane to protect them from food and coffee spills.  Each one will be different patterned too.  Any suggestions on a graphic stencil that might make it go quicker?  Oh, and luckily, we sourced the best painter that will sand, paint, and re-seat each chair for only $5 a pop!  

This project is turning into mostly all up-cycles, and we didn't even intend for it to be fully so, it was just found that any new furniture we wanted to order, would take six to eight weeks for shipping and delivery.  And the clock was ticking under six weeks when I took this boca.‘km 

I just sent off these double sided monstrosities to be upholstered by one of the three upholsterers we have on the project. 

In the meantime, to fluff up some historic proportions of junk, I fell in love with this room's curtains.  I'd love to do a sweeping 18ft drape at the back of the store.  Just for some good ol' Scarlett O'Hara drama.  You know, I love that Scarlett was a grassroots DIY girl herself.  

anngetty.com/

A little Boho

Lastly, for today, but not least, I sourced a hanging chair {sorta like this one} from a friend who found one for the shop in KC.  Rachel, the shop owner showed me this one from Anthro, and I thought it perfect to hang from the lofty knook.

St

Blogging, Motherhood, biz and LIFE

Happy Saturday, Friends!  I was going to do a post #2 gift guide yesterday, but got so behind on things at the store. Please come into the store today.  I love getting to know you!

The biz:
I'm having so much fun meeting new customers that are coming in daily and bringing with them...the bright, May sunshine that lifts my spirit.  Not to mention all your smiles and ideas.  Thank you for coming into see me!!  By the way, one new customer of mine...gave me a terrific idea this week. More on that to come...

The blog:

*In case you've not noticed, I'm hosting a giveaway in honor of mom's day.  Go here to check it out.  {By the way...I'm a bit perplexed that only three people have signed up!!  Come on sweet-peas!} 

*Okay, and I'm a bit stumped and want to figure out how to make my blog better....While I have lists and lists of ideas for projects I'm working on that are about ten miles long, I'm fresh out of ideas on what you'd like to see here on the blog.  I'm all ears and would really love to have your feedback.  Any new blogs you love out there?  Any suggestions for some weekly features you'd like to see?  More wedding/events?  Interior Inspirations and Room Makeovers?  Flea Market finds?  Design Crushes?  Family features?

*Or, should I just quit? That's not my style, so I don't even know why I just said that.  Some days I think about it, though.  Fitting it in, isn't the easiest thing to do when you have a biz, four kids, an old house and one more bebe on the way.  

I do know this...blog revamp is underway!  I'm going to alleviate the side bar all together and make photos HUGE.  This requires more work than I thought it would.  Hours of decoding and rewriting.

MOTHERHOOD: The biggest gift AND job in life.

How did I get here?  One minute I'm just a girl...and the next I'm pregnant, and the next, here in my arms I hold and let go of one, two, three, and four real beings that are quickly walking out into the  big, scary world.   Equipped with the training I am giving them?  Nothing really prepares us for this job fully.

And my, oh, my, have they ever taught me some things about life? At least I'd like to think I've learned some things while trying my best to raise them. I'm sure they will continue to teach me many more new things as we stumble our way through minute by minute. 


Structure:  Whenever there is a breakdown or chaos within the house, it's usually due to the fact that the daily schedule has fallen apart.  Daily tasks, and schedules MUST be drawn up and seen thru.  Consequences laid out as well {this is so hard to follow thru with for me, but when I don't...things worsen}.
Laugh: I'd be a big, tight mess without it.
Listen: I don't always know EVERYTHING.  Listening gives them a sense of individuality, and a voice. Also, find out what they feel, think, see before and while they are teens with big social lives.


One on One Time:  My mom and dad did this with nine kids!   Bless their hearts in heaven!!  Life is crowded in a big household, and it's hard to get a word in edge-wise with some of the fighting, and the hustle-bustle.  Time out or just a five minute talk one-on-one each night at bed time helps to "build up" a strong realization that this person and all their activities really do matter.
Lead by being Good:  They watch everything and take in all that we do, whether we realize it or not...so, working hard to do everything we can "right"... is a good goal to have.  "Do your best" is what my parents told me everyday..so I like to tell myself and my kids this daily, too. 
Fess-Up:  As a mom, I make mistakes all the time. I think it shows humility and strength to fess up to mistake.  Own them and say, "I shouldn't have done that, I will NOT let that happen again." I WILL do better.
Give High-Fives, Not Lingering Applause:  I won't be a gushing mom, because I think this can make kids have an inflated sense of themselves. I can still let them know I'm proud of them step by step along the way to build the confidence they'll need in the real world.
Honey Time: Keeping a tight, partner relationship is key to keeping the household structure running smoothly and happily too. If we are good partners to each other, the kids will feel good too. Being on the same page will ensure that no loop-holes are discovered.  I like to think of it as a good-business-type partnership with kisses all around.

Me, as the baby girl.

Eleanor, Louis, Charlie, and Sylvie

Eleanor, 16yrs

Louis, 15yrs

Charlie, 11yrs

Syl, 2010

Baby A. due this late summer

Will and Me, 2009

xo
sharon

Havin a Potty on Pickwick

I am so random, but I thought I'd mention that in the midst of our string of birthday bashes and weddings, we've also marched in a few parades. And, not only that, we have begun the potty training, here on Pickwick St. ...AND we're still pottying!!

Wanna join in with us in celebrating? Come eat some cake, and look at some cake with my dream host, David Stark. He breaks all the molds when it comes to his super cool installations. I LOVE him.

I hope you are all having lots of fun this summer! Spill here, what you're doing/celebrating, OR share some of your faves...For example: Back porch reads? How many flies you caught over the weekend?
Inspiring People/Quotes? Outdoor Movie night suggestion?

xo
sharon