Motto: "We Care About Nature"
Farmer Harry
Nicebottom is a gentleman farmer. He and his wife, Myown
Nicebottom, have
an old farm not far from where the Gnomes of Mushroom Lane reside. After the
splendor of fall winter settled in and Farmer Nicebottom and his wife would sit
by a cozy fireside where they were able to view the old barn from a laced
curtained window.
A group of gnomes would often gather at the Nicebottom's barn to enjoy some farm fun! Although the farmer and his wife knew the gnomes often visited their farm they never actually spoke with any of them but was alerted to their presence by their cat, Nightshade. Nightshade would sit by the door, flicking his whiskers; where he would remain steadfast. On other evenings, the cat would be off prowling about the farm. It seemed as if he was keeping watch.
On certain evenings, Farmer Nicebottom would be rocking gently back and forth gazing out the window at tiny flickering lights; Nightshade would let out low growling sounds and want to go outside. Mrs. Nicebottom would let him out; they were certain that one of the local abandoned felines was in the vicinity. Immediately the multitude of tiny flickering lights around the barn would extinguish.
On one particular evening, the farmer and his wife, heard excited squeals. They peered out their window to see what the noise was all about. Farmer Nicebottom said, "It's the piglets enjoying some playtime." But, Mrs. Nicebottom knew that she also heard squeals of laughter from their little visitors and wondered what they were up to.
Piglet racing was a pastime that both the gnomes and the piggies enjoyed. Round and round the barn they would go...both piglets and gnomes would laugh with joy, while their relatives watched from the old barn. Gnome watchers would sit on the edge of the feeding trough to watch the races. Once Mrs. Nicebottom witnessed one gnome laughing so much that he fell backwards right into the trough and became covered in mash. What a sight! He looked like a ghost as moonbeams filtered through the openings in the old barn.
Harry Nicebottom could only imagine the delights. He knew that on this night, the morning chores would all be done, and his pigs would be resting peacefully. Myown Nicebottom would bake special tiny oatmeal cookies that she would carefully wrap in foil and leave on an old wood cook stove stored out in the barn.
I hope you enjoyed this episode from the new series, The Gnomes of Mushroom Lane. Mushroom Lane© is a registered trademark of Cornish Heritage Farms. The mushroom homes used throughout this series are part of a set marketed as rubber stamps. Each stamp is approximately 4 x 5 inches and can be ordered by contacting liz@cornishheritagefarms.com or by visiting the Cornish Heritage Farms' website at www.cornishheritagefarms.com
The 3-D card was produced using gnome stamps from Yankiwi - check out the Rubber Stamp page for more information on obtaining them.
***
My introduction to the magic of gnomes began around the same time I
discovered the magic of my craft, feltmaking. My young children were attending a
local Waldorf School where gnomes are all about! They appear in stories, the
classroom and are often the answer to frequent mysteries that occur in the
classroom. I began attending a craft circle at the school where we made toys of
natural materials for our children.
I was introduced to needle felting and 5 years later it has become my true passion. I create many different figures with wool fibre as well as landscapes and art with a political spin, which I exhibit in museums and galleries. While this work is very important to me artistically, the gnome world persistently calls to me and brings forth a new enchanted creation!
I do not work from pictures or photos of actual gnomes. They come about all their own. The wool speaks to me and tells me who it is to become. It takes many, many hours of sculpting a gnome out of wool fibres and nothing else.
A single barbed needle is jabbed into cleaned, carded and dyed wool which tangles the scales and creates a non woven fabric, felt! I am currently doing very tiny gnomes that range from three to four inches tall and sport things such as vests, belts, bundles of sticks or ladybug friends with very detailed faces. A couple of times a year I list a few gnomes on Ebay. I also accept commission work depending on my exhibit and teaching schedule. They are each a one of a kind work of art and range in price from $100-$150. Requests, inquires and comments can be sent to me at graham_andrea@cogeco.ca and don't forget to visit my website at www.andrea-graham.con. Enjoy! Andrea Graham
***
“Tales of the Countryside” contains 4 stories, one of which is about
Gnomes.
The Gnomes are named Timmy, Toby and Teddy. They work so hard trying to help everyone in their woodland, but they have no one to help them in their mushroom home. One day, they hear urgent calls for help from a Mr. & Mrs. Cricket and a Miss Ladybird. A beautiful little honey bee has lost her wings and can’t fly any more! The Gnomes make a stretcher of sticks and soft branches so they can carry her to a forest magician. He tells the Gnomes to take the honey bee to a special place deep in the forest. There they will find a flower that has magic petals, and the magician tells them the magic words to use when they find the flower. The Gnomes find the flower, and it has the most beautiful petals that gleam. They say the magic words and gently pick two petals to place on the honey bee’s back. The petals have magnificent colors and spots that make them even more unique than the honey bee’s lost wings. The Gnomes and the honey bee thank the magician on their way back to the mushroom cottage, and the honey bee decides to stay and help the Gnomes. When the Gnomes go off to tend to their daily work in the morning, she cleans their adorable mushroom home and even cooks! She’s so grateful to the kind Gnomes and is most welcome to stay in their home.
All the illustrations are charming, but I really loved the picture of the honey bee flying with her beautiful new wings to give the Gnomes a kiss in their bed.
I don’t know what the author had in mind as the moral of the story, but I think this little story has to do with accepting change, being adaptable, and expressing gratefulness. It’s not always easy to find a way around dilemmas of any sort. Sometimes, others can come up with solutions and are willing to help us if we let them do so … but we must be strong in our faith and refuse to lose sight of optimism. Our dilemmas can often become positive turning points -- just like the sad honey bee with no wings gained new, more beautiful ones … and even found a loving home with three appreciative Gnomes.
The book is large with a hard cover, from Sandle Brothers Limited (Cranford House, Springvale Terrace, London W.14). ISBN is 8541 3243 0 PS 1005; copyright date MCMLXXI; no individual author’s name.
GNOME DEVOTEE G9
***
This month's draw will be for your choice of either a full size, wood mounted, Mushroom Lane© rubber stamp or an embroidered appliqué of Nightshade.
Have you been following the Gnomes of Mushroom Lane series in our monthly
newsletters? In March you will meet Nightshade, the BIG black and white cat, who
resides with a local farmer. He is a very special feline who watches over the
gnomes when they visit the farmer's place to celebrate the Year of the Pig!
Naturally there will be pig races - enjoyed by both gnomes and piggies. The farmer's wife knows the gnomes will be arriving and has left a very special treat for them. What do you suppose she left? Submit your suggestions before February 27th to QueenGnome@foundus.com. Contest draws are open to members only.
| Charles G267 | I am guessing that they will be left a treat loved by both gnomes and pigs like-truffles. |
| Gnome Devotee G9 | I think she left them bits of toast seasoned with cheeses. Pigs like toast ... and that would help their teeth, too. They also like cheese I heard a while ago. I'm sure the goats in the area contribute milk for the cheese! |
| Ailynari G277 WINNER! | The farmer's wife left sugar cookies for the gnomes because they love sugar cookies! |
| Piklei Catsong G303 | I think she left them fudge. Gnomes don't have easy access to chocolate and white sugar so human confections are a real treat for them. |
***
I’m always looking for ways to promote the sweet tenderness and caring ways
of Gnomes. I only have one friend who is a collector (in a different state from
mine).
Lately, I’ve started to add a cute picture to most personal e-Mail messages. From now on, I plan to add a picture to correspondence that I put in the mail, too.
When people get a letter from me, they always enjoy what I frequently attach … so why not do it all the time?
The picture at left was recently put at the beginning of a sympathy letter I sent to a childhood friend. No one could take away her sorrow, of course, but this precious picture conveyed a tenderness that didn’t need too many words. She knows I’m a Gnome collector and appreciated the thoughtful picture at a devastating time.
If all of us endeavored to attach a Gnome picture to our mailings, the Gnomes of the world would so appreciate our efforts.
With too many places in dreadful turmoil, Gnomes are needed now more than ever. We humans also need ever-increasing moments of tenderness that lift our spirits and bring a smile to our faces.
Gnome Devotee G9
***
| Mid March | National Wildlife Week |
| March 17 | Shamrock Day (St. Patrick's Day) |
| March 21 | Spring Leaping Up Day |
***
There is a gnome who teaches letters at the Mushroom Lane©
School House. His name is Lojor. Gnomes are currently learning how to do italic
handwriting. Very few gnomes use the old gnome written symbols. Much like humans
no longer understand, or use, the old hieroglyphics of other centuries.
Uniform letters are very important and everyone must practice neatness. Gnomes are taught to make their own pens. They carve the pens from nice straight hard wood twigs. Nibs are made of good quality steel by Skip the gnome. When first learning to use their pens gnomes will go through several nibs until they master the technique of a light hand. Lojor explains to them that when using their pens they should not hear "scratching" noises. Nibs also must be kept very clean and inks should never be allowed to dry on their nibs.
Gnomes enjoy working with 'dip' pens (straight pens), ink, and parchment paper (vellum) producing elegant works of art. If you are interested in following along with Lojor and learning all about letters, and working with parchment paper, Come and enjoy Lojor's monthly lessons. Practice sheets for each of the letters and monthly project will be available via email to members.
Supplies: drawing dip pen (handle & nib), extra
nibs, ink, practice paper
Here is one of Lojor's sample practice sheets. Upper case letters are known as
'majuscules' or 'capitals' while the lower case letters are 'minuscule'. But
gnomes prefer the simpler terms and Lojor refers to the letters as capitals
and lower case letters.
 |
 |
Next month Lojor will begin by introducing students to
"Roman" letters. Lojor teaches gnomes that Trajan and Rustic capitals
are known to humans chiefly through their use as inscription letters, although
the Rustic was also used as a manuscript hand. The Uncial is of a slightly later
date, the second century A.D. The Square capital, a manuscript hand but deriving
from the inscriptional letter, is later still, from the fourth-fifth century.
Very few examples of this hand survive. So, Lojor thinks that gnomes should
familiarize themselves with ancient Roman script.
Print off Lojor's practice sheets and use them to create words for cards or in scrapbooks. Sometimes it is very difficult to find stamps that fit a project. You will no longer be limited and will be able to create your own beautiful sentiments by tracing the letters directly from your practice sheets. Traced letters can then be beautifully embossed onto parchment or vellum for fantastic results. Gnomes love to draw and most of their creations are centered around nature. Practice sheets can be resized and used under parchment as tracing stencils!
In addition to learning your letters you will also be introduced to techniques for working with parchment to create some wonderful cards. Many of the required supplies may already be found in your craft stashes. QueenGnome uses Pergamano supplies from Europe. This company is dedicated to working with parchment. QueenGnome recommends a visit to www.Pergamano.com to see some astonishing creations.
This Easter Greeting card is a work in progress.
1. First, the gnome (Lojor) and sentiment were traced onto the right side of regular white Pergamano parchment using a straight pen dipped into white water based pigment. I used Pergamano White Tinta. Pergamano parchment is similar to vellum papers sold by rubber stamp company demonstrators and craft stores such as Michaels.
2. Next I traced over the outlines and details of the drawing, on the reverse side, using a stylus. This is called dry embossing and it gives a wonderful raised effect; which doesn't really show well in this picture. When tracing with your stylus you need to have an embossing pad under your work. An embossing pad is made from layers of cardboard, sponge and heavy vinyl or leather. You do not want to press too hard or your stylus will puncture the parchment. The larger the ball on the end of your stylus the less likely you are to puncture your parchment.
3. You do not need to emboss all your lines. Shading was done with a large stylus. The more often you go over an area the whiter the effect will be. Also the firmer your pressure the whiter the result. Use the largest stylus ball possible for the area to avoid having embossing lines and get a more smooth end result.
4. Next I added some water color to certain areas. This was done on the right side of the parchment.
5. I used pink colored, folded cardstock for my card insert. It was affixed with double sided tape along the inside back fold of the card.
TIP: You can put all those wonderful rubber stamps to new uses! Stamp designs and sentiments onto the right side and then dry emboss your creations on the reverse side! A product called Staz-on is available in a white stamp pad and I'm sure it would work great with this technique. If you choose to stamp on parchment have a heat source, to quickly dry your ink, so you do not get any smearing. Parchment or vellum is expensive and not very forgiving!
TIP: Keep a napkin or paper towel under the fingers, of your holding hand, to avoid getting finger marks on your parchment.
The Mushroom Lane© School House is a rubber stamp and can be ordered by contacting liz@cornishheritagefarms.com or by visiting the Cornish Heritage Farms' website at www.cornishheritagefarms.com just imagine stamping it onto vellum and dry embossing parts of it! FANTASTIC!
***
We are currently gathering material for a book about “The world of gnomes”. Do you have a story about your gnome? Do you have a collection of gnomes? Would you like to see them in a book about gnomes? Send us your story and your photographs. email : gnomeland@btinternent.com
***
Hello Jani, I visited your [gnome home] page, it 's great!
But I didn't find what I was looking for; I am looking for a special gnome. See the picture. If you ever can find this one ....................I would love to hear it !
Greetings, Lidy from Holland simonsbakker@home.nl - If anyone can help Lidy locate this gnome email her!
***
Many visitors to my home ask questions about Gnomes. Visitors can’t
possibly not notice them, because they’re scattered everywhere. I decided to
have something printed on hand to give out to interested humans.
A while back, I wrote an article entitled “Just a Bit of Gnome Lore”-- which so many people have enjoyed. I decided to print out a few copies to hand out to visitors.
I just had nasty shoulder surgery, and the nurse and physical therapists who helped me were so interested in my Gnomes. They walked all around my home to look at them. Each inquirer received a print-out of the Gnome Lore.
You can do the same – or find a write-up you favor to make copies of for sharing. We Gnome collectors and lovers should consider ourselves PR souls. It’s up to us to promote the wholesome, caring ways of Gnomes. We can help brighten someone’s day, lighten a burden from their heart and soul – and maybe even encourage them to collect a few !
When people ask how I’ve found my Gnomes, I tell them that Gnomes let you know where they are when you believe in them.
Gnome Devotee G9
***
A friend residing in PA sent an article on a German high school class using Gnomes. Hempfield HS is the school. Forty students converse with their Gnomes and teacher! They became fast students, advancing rapidly. The Gnomes surely helped! If you live close to this school check it out!
***
I have a website www.gnomeland.co.uk and I have been commissioned to write a book about gnomes and their iconic status and their place in the modern world. This will include their history, collections and collectors together with stories of their travels and adventures, illustrated with as many photographs as I can collect. The publisher is very enthusiastic about the project and talks of a worldwide distribution. But what have I got myself into? They want 20,000 words plus pictures!
I already have a lot of information and have the bones of the book but I need some further help. I am sorry to be a nuisance but it would be very nice if I could have a contribution from your point of view as a gnome collector which would add interest to the content of the book. I am going to do it for the gnomes! I will let you see a draft for your approval before I send it to the publisher.
I have made a list of questions you might like to answer for me but would welcome any other suggestions you may have.
Kind regards. Maggie Egleton
Email: gnomeland@btinternet.com
***
Meet "Huggleby" a sweet little gnomish doll recently
acquired by Gnome Devotee G9. Huggleby was made by VICMA, a 1970s Spanish toy
company, and he is absolutely
adorable. He has a small opening in his mouth so that he actually can suck his
thumb; and his eyes open and close! We were not able to find out if this doll is
still available, however understand that there may also have been a matching
little girl doll. Hubbleby is the name given to him by his new owner and not the
manufacturer's name. If anyone can provide more information on these dolls or
know of any for sale contact QueenGnome.
***
Hi Everyone,
Our newsletter is now posted on our website http://www.moore-stuff.com/moore%20news.htm
We've had a professional working on the website to clean it up and teach me how to do a few things. Not all of your suggestions have been implemented yet but we are working on it!
M&M Moore
***
Tidbit is a gorgeous little gnome. Sitting on a rock, holding a lantern. He
is an antique reproduction from the 1950's. Tidbit is handmade from
frost-resistant glazed pottery and may be left outside all year round.
Antique All Weather Matt Glazed Finish
Type: Antique Reproduction, Circa 1950 Germany Composition: 'Outdoor Safe' Stoneware Pottery Dimensions: 8-1/2" Tall
ITEM NUMBER R124$24.00
