2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 300

This tiny little gnomeling arrived after a full weekend of inspiration. I found this particular gnomeling to be quiet but feisty and funny.....

This gnomeling was made October 27, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 298

It's been another whirlwind of activity around these parts because of (yet another) another birthday. 

This fellow is a little shy. I think he tends to want to say more than he actually does and he hides a bit when there is a lot going on. He is friendly, he just needs things to be rather calm before he come out for some conversation........

This gnome was made October, 25, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 297

Today is Friday and sometimes, okay, most of the time, Fridays feel like a giant "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

-- As in letting go and relaxing- not as in "Oh-my-goodness-I'm-freaking-out-because-the-cat-is-on-fire!" (I cannot confirm nor deny that this may or may not be the reason why we don't like candles here at the Gnomestead but that's another story- and the cat is fine and never noticed- only his doting humans were traumatized- there was no bald spot or scarring and no rushing to the vet as everything was fine). 

Just to be clear.

The rain and wind of yesterday has eased off and, in some cases, ceased entirely, and I am left restless. I want to have a bunch of people over to rearrange the house and drink wine and make art and listen to music and laugh. I'm still building community so we shall see how this develops. There was a time not so long ago where all it took was an activation of the personal "phone tree" and suddenly our tiny cottage in PDX was full to the brim with love and laughter and friends...

This gnome, as you may guess, is a community gnome. He's ready to build community and have fun and spend time with people and open his heart- and he has a rather big heart, I suspect....

This gnome was made October 24, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 296

I have a thing about those polka dots- I do! 

Today is one of those stormy days in Maine where the wind blows mightily and you are inevitably surprised that your house does not shake and rock like a boat on waves or leave its foundation behind with some of those powerful gusts. The rain is quite heavy but the energy that surges around with this kind of storm is undeniable. I feel torn between donning the flowered rubber boots my mother handed down to me and running willy-nilly through the gales laughing and yelling- and settling in with my spinning wheel (or felting supplies) next to our Kitchen Queen cook stove while the cats take refuge in the warmth below the stove and the children read and work on their Main Lesson Books.

But, instead, I am doing neither- at least for now. Instead I am in the studio at the tip top of the house where I spend portions of my days working on custom orders, gnomes, wool paintings and more. Sometimes a cat will wander up to look at me and sometimes a child will join me but I have precious time up here in this, my very first real studio. I am still planning out the storage for all this wool that is not only practical and wards off any wayward wool moths that may wander this way but storage that is also aesthetically pleasing. I have a few ideas but will need to manifest the funding (isn't that so often the case?). 

Anyway, in this studio where I hope to invite many friends and children up to make oodles of art some day, I made an afternoon gnome. Even as I type this, I can hear the wind whipping around and the rain on the roof.

Today's gnome has some serious power about him. He is fueled by that wind and rain and the storm but in a beautiful and positive way. He is ready to go out and do good things and help change the world into a better place. Can anyone really ask for more?

This gnome was made October 23, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 295

Okay so there's been a bit of a girl gnome-kick going on here in the studio but today that ends- okay, not really. After all, girls rock! But I had to make a boy this time. I just did. I've been fighting headaches and digestive issues that seem to have appeared out of no where so I've been struggling to make that gnome of the day as well as finding a diet (the true meaning of the word- not weight loss) that can help settle my whole body into a better, healthier place.

This fellow came along and I couldn't help but smile. There is something about him that says, "Drink a cup of tea. Take a deep breath. All will be well." And, quite frankly, I need that right now. 

All will be well is something that we all need to hear sometimes so perhaps, this fellow is the All-Will-Be-Well Gnome....

This gnome was made October 22, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 294

This girl is a bit of a button-pusher. She pushes and pulls and challenges things and makes people look twice at themselves- that is quite a power......

This gnome was made October 21, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 293

I had the good luck to visit with all those fabulous people this weekend and one of them was a photographer! Hooray! Let me tell you, taking photos is a challenge for me. I struggle with lighting and then there are all those settings and abbreviations on the camera and I push and click and try different things and then I want to cry. Because the light is too dark or too orange or too bright or the gnome is blurry or the camera only wants to focus on a leaf in the corner and I can't seem to get it right BUT thanks to a certain V.T. I may be able to make some improvements. Only time will tell.

Here is a sweet girl gnome- in pants because I couldn't help it. She just seemed like she wouldn't want a dress or skirt on. I believe her to be outspoken and strong willed. Someone who will fight for her beliefs and study carefully always seeking to know more about this world.....

This gnome was made October 20, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 291 (a no show)

You'd think after the previous day I would jump on that gnome BUT- yes, more adventure arrived and I went with the flow. First a local parent weekend and then cleaning for the happy arrival of wonderful friends from Acadia National Park. So, it was time to make chicken makhani and Thai coconut curry soup with lemon grass (not made by me, mind you- that would surely be a disaster!) and make sure we had enough beds set up and ready.

There was quite a whirlwind and then they arrived!! So then it was soaking in all that wonderful conversation and energy before everyone left this afternoon. Up late playing Dix It and laughing and then watching The Story of Stuff to re-inspire creativity and consciousness.

Wonderful souls to share time with, all of them ready to set off on new adventures after a summer spent rehabilitating the amazingly gorgeous trails in Acadia National Park. 

Next time you visit the park, please note that those granite steps and lovely trails were created by hand and placed by hand by people who were deeply invested in the reality that their work would be there for generations to come. Such works of art nestled into the even more amazing works of art that Mother Nature provides with such overwhelming grace.....

There is no gnome for October 18, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 290 (a no show)

I was on the fence here- I really was. I had worked the morning and then I came home to appointments and driving all over the place. Then there was cleaning and when the quiet time rolled around, it was time to go out. Yes, I got to actually go out! Wahoo! We were able to go and see a very well done performance of The Addams Family. It was a musical about Wednesday Addams all grown up deciding to get married. We laughed and enjoyed the well orchestrated performances and details. Then we came home, very tired and I opted for rest- lots of rest.

There is no gnome for October 17, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 289

Another girl. For so long I went with girls in pants- perhaps it was because it is practical and I live on a homestead so I was of the mind that pants are the way to go BUT then I realized that sometimes a girl (and sometimes a guy) is going to get a craving to wear a skirt so I need to go ahead and diversify the clothing a bit. So, here's a skirted girl. She is a tough cookie this one. I have a feeling she is strong and forward thinking and staunch and outspoken on the topics that are important to her, not one to shy from an important conversation....

This gnome was made October 16, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 288

A recent request was made for holiday themed gnomes- specifically girls! So, I began to think holiday thoughts and along came this girl. I get the feeling that she is a singer with a lovely soft voice that floats delicately on the air.....

This gnome was made on October 15, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 287

It was another day of being a busy workin' momma and somewhere in there this little fellow came about. I have a feeling that he is rather quiet and delicate, a gentle soul....

This gnome was made October 14, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 286

One thing that has constantly amazed me since we moved to Maine is the sky here. I'm not kidding when I say it is truly remarkable! This morning's sunrise wasn't unusual- it was exquisite- as it is every single day. After two years, I am still not used to how beautiful those sunrises (and sunsets!) are. So, this morning I decided to use that inspiration to create the day's gnome.

This is a gnome wearing the colors of sunrise. He is bright and happy and sunny and full of good energy on this lovely fall day.....

This gnome was made October 13, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 285

Today there was a birthday in our home. My youngest celebrated her birth over a decade ago now (where did the time go?) and as I usually do on birthdays, I asked her what colors I should make her gnome. She thought about this for a while- she is a rather thoughtful sort of soul- and said, "Momma, I want red, orange and yellow- in whatever order you choose." And when I asked if it should be a boy or a girl, she quickly said, "Oh, a girl!" and so it is.

This is the little girl gnome that I tried to cram light and fun and love and joy and smiles and sunshine into when I created her. So, here she is, a bright little birthday gnome for a bright little birthday girl......

This gnome was made October 12, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 284

3,800 miles from here, there was a wonderful wedding yesterday. A dear relative got married and to commemorate this big event, I made the newlywed gnomes on that day of new beginnings. Of course that means that the wedding gift will be late but there really wasn't any other way of going about it. So, here are the Pacific Northwest Newlyweds walking their path together- oh what a marvelous adventure is in store for them!

These gnomes were made October 11, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 283

This fellow is the kind of gnome who you often find digging around in your garden and in your houseplants. He's weeding or checking for new growth or making sure that there is enough light and water. In short, he is a plant-tending gnome....

This gnome was made October 10, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 282

This little gnomeling came along at the end of a nice but rather long day. He is bubbly and silly and impish and I am sure these traits will only grow as he gets older....

This gnome was made October 9, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 281

Oh my! I do love a gnome with a sense of impishness. This wise gnome has a wonderful sense of humor and loves to play games and spend time with friends.....

This gnome was made October 8, 2014

2014 A Gnome A Day- Day 280

There have been some late nights of felting going on around these parts! I do love that.

Along came this fellow and I suspect that he is rather timid and too softly spoken to be heard by many. I think he's likely to be the kind of gnome who needs everything be truly silent before he can be heard- and yet some things in this world are like that.....

This gnome was made October 7, 2014

The GNOMES ARE COMING!! May 2015!!

The GNOMES are coming!!

It's true!!

 The new book:

 THE GNOME PROJECT: One Woman's Wild & Wooly Adventure 

will be released May 2015!!

I am so excited to share the story about how making one gnome a day changed everything. Who knew?!?

You can read more about the book, check out my artwork and read up on classes and other happenings at www.themoongoat.com