A Year of Gambling!

Today is mama's birthday!  I want to pay a little tribute to her! As I'm sitting here, at her house waiting to celebrate, my phone rang. I guess the "We will be home in 45 Minutes" text was before the stop off at Indiana Grand Casino. Before she won the bonus. So I sit here with a pile of presents waiting....(and drinking the last of her wine).

So instead of the usual singing of "Happy Birthday", I'm going to suggest we all join in on another song we all know and love.

Kenny Rogers' The Gambler. Mama knows when to hold them and knows when to fold them. Hitting the bonus is not one of those times! You go girl, win big..Coco needs a new pair of shoes  bottle of wine!

This picture of Dolly and Kenny was taken last week at the Grand Ole Opry. JUST KIDDING but I do wonder how much those two have spent on plastic surgeries. Anybody want to guess?

A couple of years ago, my grandparents gave me these old wooden boxes they found in the their barn. Ironically(?!) they are painted barn red.

Remember this from Halloween?

The barn red boxes worked PERFECT for Halloween and I kept them that color for awhile. I was wanting something brighter (of course) and something different.

SOOOO, I painted the boxes my favorite blue/teal/whatever you want to call it color. I had been counting down the days until I could plant flowers for MONTHS!

Sis likes the red showing through, what do you thinking? I also put a fresh coat of paint on Mr. Frog. Lookin' good Mr. Frog.

Earlier this year, I was having cabin fever and gave a new coat of paint to some of my other lawn frogs. The yellow one has recently lost his leg courtesy of my three year old neighbor.

This is my NEWEST obsession! Let's pretend you needed another reason to visit Indie Arts and Vintage Marketplace, you HAVE to check out JunkFx! Stay tuned for my next lawn ornament! I already have one (or more) picked out!

I don't just love frogs, look at this cute little gnome hidden in the strawberries. This picture reminds me of the fact...I need to mulch.

I had both the colander and the sifter to sell at shows. I love and wanted to keep them! When I was painting my frog, I painted the sifter because...well why not!?

Around the flowers is metal that was once a a mirror. Seven years of bad luck later, it looks cute surrounding flowers. Maybe since they look so pretty, I can get back a couple of those years. 

FYI: This is one of the three mirrors I've broken already this year and I'm still buying lottery tickets! 

I had plans to use this tool box for my gardening tools. Sis came outside and had the idea to use it as a planter. We punched holes in the bottom of it so it would drain. We found out later from our good friend, HC-G that we could've just put rocks on the bottom. She learned that from Pinterest. I felt full of shame! Why would I even venture into a new project without consulting Pinterest first?  We were in the moment, that's my only excuse! 

We already had this wooden shelf that we use at shows we just moved it outside. We added another cute little box with flowers in it. We topped it off with this REALLLLLLLLLLLY cool metal bowl sis found, somewhere or the other. I loves it! 

For the record, we don't always have the Almost Gemini sign outside our house but when we do.....It looks AH-MAZE-ING! (and we are taking pictures for this blog and/or to show grandma) 

This is really just a small taste of my obsessive need to plant stuff.  Look forward to a (fingers crossed) summer of flowers and garden pictures. 

CANNNNNN YOU BELIEVE....

Next week, it will be A YEAR ago that I posted our first blog!  I'm going back to the beginning and quote Evelyn again! "I never saw this as your life path, but I love". Ev also said, (after my story of a bird flying into a window and then flying away) "It's a lesson. Sometimes we fail in life but like the bird we have to dust ourselves off and fly again. Blog that". 

It's odd how many times your path can change, yet stay the same. (DEEP, there Coco!?) This past year we have met some AH-MAZE-ING new people and had to move on from some not so amazing people! 

I look just like the girls next door... if you happen to live next door to an amusement park.
Dolly Parton

I do love me some Dolly!

AG

And it's a great day to be alive....

"I know the suns still shinin' when I close my eyes
There's some hard times in the neigborhood
But why can't every day be just this good?"

You know life is good when...for TWO DAYS STRAIGHT you've been humming Travis Tritt's "Great Day To Be Alive". 

Gratuitous mullet/canadian tuxedo/just chilling here on this deck pic of T.T. YOU'RE WELCOME! 

SIDE NOTE: I would like to point out that the sun is no longer shining but the fact I got my garden planted SECONDS before the storm...."I'm doin' alright". 

It might be the blue sky but recently, I've been feeling blue (in a good way).

The day I rode my bike to garage sales (Yep, I did and I won't be doing it again), I found this blue platter at an estate sale. ONLY $2 and it fit in my already over-full basket. It should've been free since they got a comedy show, I had two picnic baskets full of goodies and was trying to balance.

These two swans I found at the SR 38 sales. Mama looked at me like I was CRAY-ZEE. I'm still trying to convinence everyone I know what I'm doing!? Fake it until you make it! 

I put them together with an old yet AH-MAZE-ING cabinet door and it was ON! I found those glasses (glasses only) at the Lion's Club Sale...A NICKLE EACH. I can tell you what I paid because they are keepers!

I think this tin is cool but it didn't make the "final cut". Obviously I tried many ways to make it perfectly imperfect. OHHHH NEW WORD ALERT! Blerfect (Coco for blog perfect). 

SPEAKING OF PERFECT/BLERFECT or just something AH-MAZE-ING that I love....

The before pictures of my garden. It has been tilled and planted but like I mention above it's raining AGAIN! I'm sure it will be in a couple of blogs this summer! I'll try not to be too obsessed but no promises! 

I hope at least some of you will enjoy my "plant and pray" gardening method. Mama and I just throw the seeds down and pray we get something. HA We also coined the term "Surprise Plants."  NEVER A DULL MOMENT in the U house! 

Of course and shiny owl...I mean why not!

Wanna know what we will be up too? (Besides no good) Here is a rundown of what we are working on.

You know we are rocking' at an AH-MAZE-ING store in Noblesville, IN called Whimzy. I'm going to start profiling the vendors! I know! SOOOO MUCH FUN! There is sooo much goodness in there it needs to be shown. Make sure to click HERE and "like" them on Facebook.

THIS SUMMER IS GOING TO BE OUT OF CONTROL! You have no reason not to stop by at least one of our shows!

June:

We are starting the Month off at the Indie Arts and Vintage Marketplace on June 1st

The we are headed to Danville, Il for THE ONE AND ONLY Hobknob Market on June 7th and 8th. Mark your calendars because it's off the hiz-ook!

Another of our favorite shows is in June! ReStyled Barn sale is June 13-15th! Click HERE to like them on Facebook.

In July we will be at Horton's Of Tipton and back to Indie the first week of August.

I'm sure I'm missing stuff, but Sis is the show chick and she is still at work...Stinks to be her! ha

"If you are going to sing, sing loud"-Travis Tritt

Don't think my co-workers would agree with that one....but I'm going to do it anyway!

AG

Project Runaway









I'm and blarty for this party! (blarty: CoCo for blog and tardy). I have a lot of excuses why I missed last weeks blog!  I'll skip that country song, put away my tiny violin and just tell you about my project that ran away!

After my kick brass blog, I thought FUR SURE I knew the topic of my next blog! WOOD! Woodn't that be a delightful blog topic. (Sorry, I can't help myself) I was going through the warehouse grabbing all kinds of wooden objects.    



I started with the circular wooden picture frame in the back. Mama had just gotten it for us and I was in L-O-V-E. The frame wouldn't stand up alone, so I had a wooden window screen that I added. This is an "after picture" but let me try to explain how I got there...If I can.

I (obviously) was looking for wood and I was (obviously) looking for goodies that I already had on hand.



I was thinking about some wooden beads and vintage wooden thread spools we had in the croftice (craft room/office). I had to wait a couple for the next break in "The Voice". Next commerical, I hauled it upstairs and find them. To my surprise, they were actually organized and I could find them right away. THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN! I took my trusty apothecary jars and filled one with the spools and one with the beads. I stepped back, shook my head and thought...I need my "pop" of color.



I remembered I had old thread spools with all kinds of colored thread. I went to the warehouse and found them FIRST TRY. I was on a ROLLLLL! You would think with all my stars being in alignment this blog would've been done on time last week.





There was even more cool thread and sewing paraphernalia in the box o' thread. I found these old swinger sewing needles, Holland silk gimp, and tailoring chalk (not pictured). I brought them all in to see if the would fit with what I was working on. Yep, I thought! (Do you agree?)  I used them on a cute wooden tray. I took a step back and that's when I realized that my project had "ran away" from me. I started to giggle to myself, as I often do, and thought "Project Runway".

Side note:  Project Runway is Lifetime TV channel's hit show were Hedi Klum and a panel of guest, judge what clothing designers have put together. Just click the the link above if you need more info. I do want to point out that I don't think Hedi would have to use her catch phrase "You're out" on my work thus far. I have been channeling Tim Gunn and trying to "make it work"!

 I love that guy! ANYWAAAAAYSSS, that got me thinking...Fashion (something which I know NOTHING about)! With all my "fashion designer" gear I already had on the table, I had yet another idea. This idea didn't go with my original theme, but at this point, I have no theme.

I have very limited modeling experience. I was once in a runway show for my elementary school and I also sat next to the "talent" on a math video in high school. Yes! Yes! Yes! I will sign autographs and you don't even have to pay $20 like Eddie Munster charges.

 I remembered having these two vintage cameras chillin' on a shelf. I added the vintage mirror that is AH-MAZE-ING! There is still the wooden box and the wooden drawer from last two weeks ago. (Seriously, I'm soooo sorry!) Those are two vintage light covers. I happened to have just bought them that day, washed them and they just happened to drying on the counter. Really? Have I mentioned I love my life?

Smile! This camera is pretty cool, not gonna lie!

TAAAAA DAAAAA! I was pretty pumped up with the final project! What do you think? Wood you like it at your house? Ahhhhh I think I am so funny!

“With six pieces of wood, I’m building a life, and my coffin.
”
― Jarod Kintz, This Book Has No Title

AG

Don't for get to come out and see us this Saturday May 04th! The IAVM is back outside (which makes me INCREDIBLY NERVOUS) behind the Glendale Mall! I promise to be more entertaining then this blog!



Brass, Bling or Both?

There has been a recent buzz about brass.  I personally, am not totally sold on it.  It might be because it's to close to yellow gold? I'm a silver/white gold/platinum kind gal! Maybe it's because it looks like what I think pennies taste like? What? Is that odd?  If it's going to be a world wide craze (and I happen to already have some) I'm going to blog about it!

*** I can't stop singing..."BRASS MONKEY, THAT FUNKY MONKEY"! By the AH-MAZE-ING Rock N Roll Hall of Fame's  Beastie Boys! 

FYI: First, while looking for those links, I found out that a "brass monkey" is a 40 oz of Olde English mixed the orange juice. To bad I'm gluten free because I would mix one of those up right now and tell ya what it tastes like!

Second, I'm now on the hunt for a brass monkey! Maybe one that drinks Olde English? hummmm Nahhh, forget about it. A brass monkey sounds scary!

ANYWAYYYYYSSSS, Trophy tops are all the rage right now. While I was going through all of our tops, I noticed a couple that were heavier then others....Dare we say BRASS! (WE DARE) So I pulled those out of the bunch and hid them from sis. I didn't want her to put them in with the plastic ones! She doesn't pay much attention to what I'm talking about and I didn't want her to include them!

I'm in love with the tractor!  I'm self proclaimed "First place farmer", it's a keeper! I should've taken a picture of just him.

Oh well, Rome wasn't built in a day! BABY STEPS COCO! I'm kinda getting better at my camera and I can now hyperlink (Still doesn't make your hyperlink joke funny, Jenny B). Also, I found out how to put www.almostgemini.com on the pictures! I hope you noticed!

Here are some close up pictures of the little brass ladies! The bottom says "Avant Freeman Products 1972" I took a picture of that, but FORGOT a close up of my tractor guy! My priorities are total messed up! :)

I wasn't sure were to put my little brass goddesses. I took a trip out the warehouse and this clear glass beauty was smiling at me. So I grabbed it and very carefully put in the trophy tops. The tops are oddly heavy and the glass was SUPER thin!

I had picked up these brass candle holders over time. I'm not sure where but I'm guessing they weren't to expensive. I would say .50-$2.00 each? The table isn't really shown but its our $2 table from a garage sale last year. It's black with all kinds of white paint dripped over it. It's really cool. (In my opinion at least)

 

Sis had the small wooden box and the tin box on the table for our Easter decor. The other wood "box" is actually an old drawer. It has a really cool knob on the front but it's missing its bottom! If you can't store stuff in it...decorate with it.

 

 



 

I thought this globe looked cool on a brass candle stick. Sis not so much! I told her to leave it, I'll be redecorating this weekend anyway! HA  I "ha"ed that statement but it's true! I already have plans! Can you guess what is next?

 

Bling...Bling...Bling!

  

Mama did NOT raise fools! Us "U" women love the bling! (shiny objects)

 

Our neighbor Amy, came over and asked us if we could use these crystals for anything. UMMMMMM YESSSSSSS!  I knew INSTANTLY what I was going to use them for! 

  









SWEET LAMP EH? (That's a shout out to one of my favorite Crazy Canucks Debbie). I've had this lamp in the warehouse FOREVA! I hadn't totally figured out what/when/how/why I was going to use it. My co-worker Dana had given me these AH-MAZE-ING vintage medicine bottles the same day. The vintage fates had came together to make this beautiful display. We placed the bottles on a super cute mirror! TA DAAAAAA





We have had this chair in our house forever. We had a tulle (I think that's what sis called it? I hope you know what I'm talking about!) chair cover. Sis said, "I wonder what that chair looks like?" I said, "No clue...wanna see?" So sis lifted up the cover to reveal this cute white chair. Now for the record, I would've done it in a more dramatic fashion. I would go all magician on it. Grab a vintage cane, waved it in front of the chair, said "abracadabra" then yanked off the cover.

****Side note 2: I've been re-watching Arrested Development recently. I LOVE Will Arnett as Gob! Since Gob is a magician, until I'm finished watching it, you might get some magical references.

ANYWAYYYYS, I'm sure it's no surprise that we already had those pillows at home! I have NO CLUE where all this stuff comes from!


Captain: How are you?
Gob: Incredible. I'm having an incredible year.
[High Fives the Captain] 


We too are having an incredible year! HIGH FIVES TO EVERYONE!
AG

What to do with it Wednesday! (On Thursday)-Room Makeover

It's been AGES since I've had a "What to do with it Wednesday on Thursday".

FYI: I had all intentions of posting this yesterday, but I didn't have it done yet! Better late then never? The Dadster pointed out that this is MY BLOG and I don't really have deadlines. He told me I can do "What to do with it any day of the week." I pointed out that "What to do with it Wednesday" sounds cute. He rolled his eyes!

The question of the $2 lounge chair has been solved! I have found the most AH-MAZE-ING cover for it.



The question



The Answer











My $5 large metal bin hasn't found it's forever home. Right now it's housing my garden hose. It's not really pretty, but it works! It has potential but I'm not sure what that potential is! I'm still open to suggestions. FYI: Sis wouldn't let me hang it from the house with plants in it! NOOOO FUN, I TELL YA!

It's pretty cool but can it be useful?













So, I have issues...speed dial number 1 for the therapist! JUST KIDDING, my therapy is RE-DECORATING! It's kinda an "obsession" I FOREVER want to switch things up around the house! It's not hard to imagine this would be a problem. We are forever finding new stuff! We always say we buy what we like, so it makes sense that we use it in our home. So out with the old (it's all old, it's VINTAGE for crying out loud) and in the with new (to us)!

Since I heard it was spring, (even though this crappy weather makes me second guess that) I need to revamp something! It's been TWO WHOLE YEARS, since I last redecorated my room! NOW, I have added and subtracted stuff over this time, but it's time to wipe the slate clean and do something different!

I love colors! I love bright and many colors! In 2010, my colors of choice were orange and green. (Still on top of Coco's color spectrum!)

I found these two AH-MAZE-ING fabrics at Joann Fabrics. Love at first sight! I instantly knew I was going to redecorate my room around them!

I'm super embarrassed of the pictures to follow. This was pre-blog, pre-new expensive camera that I'm still not 100% sure how to use. These will just give you an idea for what was, so you can help me figure out what will be!

I bought the lanterns and bottles at Hobby Lobby. Of course they were half off! I'm thinking both were maybe a combined $20! The dresser was mine from when I was little. Mama put a nice fresh coat of white paint! It looks pretty BAD ASS, if I do say so myself.

I used those fabrics to make a headboard. Sadly, that headboard didn't last..but happily sis made me these....

I now have these PERFECT pictures hanging behind my bed!


As you see, my oranges are bright and my "asparagas" paint is a little dark for a such a small room! I thought that I might lighten up my room....GASP. I don't know what has come over me. Since sis owns the house and mama is always saying "neutral colors sell a home"

******SIDENOTE: The house isn't for sale. Her house isn't for sale either. I have no clue why she says it, but she does.

ANYWHOOOO,  I thought to myself, "Self, what if you go back to the basics and then decorate around that".

Now, don't get cray cray, I'm not sure white is the exact color I would want to go. It'll probably take ONE MILLLLLLLLLION coats of light paint to cover it up! Should, I choose to go the lighter route, I've already made a Pinterst board of ideas! SHOCKER I KNOW!

My first love is from Pretty Little World. I just stumbled across this site, I'm thinking I'm going to need to dedicate hours of time to it this weekend.

So this would be painting the walls white, but what i LOVVVVVEEE about this is that I can change the fabric and accents ANYTIME.I.WANT. It would make my desire to redecorate all the time a little easier!

I'm loving the hot pink. It adds the BOLD element that is soooo me!

Let's take white walls off the table for now but still concentrate on LIGHT walls.

This bedroom is from Vintage Wren, another new to me blog that will be consuming my weekend! I love the blue walls which, dare I say, I would take maybe even a little lighter. (What is happening to me?) I love the bright colors of the pillows. Another VERY easy thing to change out when I get board of my room. I love the mirrors on the wall but I wouldn't use that headboard for my room. I guess I'm not sure if I would even use a headboard at all....Things to think about!

Mint is all the rage this year. I love the color but is it something I want to go to bed with every night and wake up to every morning? Nahh, but that doesn't make this bedroom any less AWESOME!

This room from Carbbean Living Blog would be PERRRRFECT for our Condo Re-do.

I'm head over heels in love with this bedspread from Anthropologie.

ARE YOU JOKING? How on earth are you supposed to get out of the fluffy amazingness every morning? IN-SAN-A-TEEE! I'm also digging that paint color and wood floors. I think I'm getting close!

Say, I go with this grey, what would you think with my "pop of bold"  should be?

Grey and purple?

I couldn't get the link for this picture but it is on my pinterest board if you are interested.


OR what about grey and pink. The mirror, lamp, and payphone = BAD ASS!

OR grey and yellow from What's Up Tine? It's bright and beautiful

Or grey with my trusted orange (and some other AH-MAZE-ING colors)...

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this combo from Real Living. Did I mention that I love this?


I guess Coco has settle on grey (a light light grey) and that's about it. I KNOW I'm going to have BOLD elements. I KNOW,  I want a "pop" or "pops" of colors that will make me smile!

What color/colors do you pick?

Now, I just have to find the time to paint, who wants to help? I have a case of beer and a pizza for ya!

Create your own visual style... let it be unique for yourself and yet identifiable for others.
Orson Welles

AG