Eloise & the Seven Dwarves (err, gnomes)

**** Gnome Photo of the Week *****

Eloise gets dressed up annually for a calendar photo shoot (remember her from loldogs?!). Her owner, who crafted these fine gnomes, is a BIG fan of this blog (tut tut) and submitted this photo of Eloise dressed up as snow white for the "fairy tale" themed calendar. LOVE IT! Thanks Bird!

World's Tallest Concrete Gnome Unveiling Soon!

One of the world's tallest gnomes will be officially unveiled at Iowa State University's Reiman Gardens on April 22. Only second in size to Poland's 18ft fiberglass gnome, this concrete fellow measures in at 15ft tall, weighing 3,500lbs! Maybe he isn't the tallest, but perhaps he is the heaviest?!

I wonder what this stout sir's name will be? You can email reimangardens@iastate.edu to submit your gnome gname suggestions. I for one vote for gnaming him Remus!

Full story and video footage here from KCCI news.

Your Gnomes could be STARS!

The Today Show says, "Show us your garden gnomes!"

They want to know, "Do gnomes roam your garden? Are they whimsical, wacky, or just plain weird?"
Send in your pictures or video of your handsomest (or ugliest) garden gnomes, and they could become stars on TODAYshow.com!"

I am sending them this picture of my most favorite gnome in my collection - my garden gnome on a swing music box!

Garden Gnome Park!

**** Gnome Photo of the Week *****

Due to technical difficulties (ie. my home computer is broken), I have been neglecting the gnome world and this blog. However, Jen Meyers of the AP posted some pictures today of the Garden Gnome Park in Trusetal, Germany and it is easy enough for me to share these from the wonders of my iPhone! To see  all four AP photos, click here.

 Also, Lehighvalleylive.com invites you to caption this image of a gnome being cleaned for the park's opening on their news site!

Plush Gnome Giveaway!

ArtTales is giving away a plush garden gnome. You can enter between now and Feb. 7th. Such a gneat little gnome; but I wonder what happened to his eye?

Hans, the body building gnome.

Um, anyone going to the NPC National Bodybuilding Championship?

Happy Gnew Year!

Happy Gnoel!

Hope you have a great holiday!

Cairn Christmas by Tom Clark

You GNEED a gnome calendar!

2010 is coming a your home gneeds a gnome calendar. There are many to choose from this year. Here are a few select choices:

"There's No Place Like Gnome 2010 Wall Calendar"

"It's a Gnomes World 2010 Wall Calendar"

"2010 Gnomes Wall Calendar"

I'll be Gnome for Christmas!

Here is a fantastic rendition of a holiday favorite, by the Gnome Tones!




 

Gnome Habitat Ornament - Make your own!

My Paper Crane has crafty directions on making cute gnome habitat ornaments! These would be great hanging from the tree, or placed on your holiday themed mantle or table. Check it out here.

Imposters!

Since last Super Bowl, sports gnomes have become all the rage. There are NFL Gnomes, MLB Gnomes, NCAA Gnomes, NHL Gnomes, NASCAR Gnomes, and FA Gnomes. There are even sporting gnome Christmas ornaments. This year they are making it to the tops of many Holiday "Gift Guides", including Dave Barry's.

Well, enough is enough, I am calling foul! I am glad that the sports community is embracing gnomes, but these slender wee men look more like wizards than sporting garden gnomes! What is with their wizard staffs and where are their gardening tools and portly bellies?!
These guys need to gain some weight and lose the staff, or change their names to Sports Wizards Lawn Decor. Anyone else with me on this?

Stolen Gnomes Recovered!

The News Tribune reported today on the saga of missing garden gnomes recovered in Burlington, WA.

It all started when Lisa Soneda’s fence fell down, revealing in her gnaughty gneighbors yard, "gnomes, lots of them." Being a good samaritan and friend of gnomes, Sonata posted fliers about the 60+ found ornaments and recovered several items for her friendly neighbors. Finally, the sheriff's deputies showed up on Thursday and knocked on the door of the gnome gnappers house. The thieves then tried to escape with their loot of wee men; they were thankfully caught in the act.

Read full story here.

***Dec. 16 video and story update by Komo News***

Make a Mini-Gnome - Holiday Tutorial!

The folks at Lune Vintage are in the holiday spirit, and for the occasion they have shared a holiday tutorial on how to make mini-cone-gnomes. So cute! Thanks for spreading the holiday cheer Lune Vintage!

Sock it to me gnomes!

Okay, I make it a habit to not buy most of the things I post; I would be totally broke and I would become the "creepy neighbor." However, I just caved, and as an early Christmas present bought myself these socks! The gnomes will keep my feet gnice and toasty through the winter and holiday season. Hopefully, the washer/dryer gnomes won't run off with one of them!

Doughy Gnomes Present Toppers

Evencleveland over at Etsy made these cute little ornaments out of salt dough and food dye. I adore them, and it is inspiring me to make some gnome cookies!

Make Your Own Pine Cone Christmas Gnome!

The crafty folks over at Duo Fiberworks have posted an easy to follow tutorial on making Pine-Gnomes Christmas ornaments! All you gneed to make your own little xmas treasures is a wooden ball, felt, pine cones, glue, fleece (or cotton balls), pipe cleaners and some scissors. See full tutorial here.

My Favorite Christmas Ornament!

Today kicks off more Christmas Gnome posts! My tree is finally trimmed and I thought I would share my favorite Christmas ornament with you all - a garden gnome carting a tree!

Don't forget to check out Christmas Gnome posts from last year, including the story of Santa's early roots stemming from gnomes from Scandinavia (Tomte, Nisse, and Tonttu).

Boing Boing Scooped Me!

Ahhh! This is what happens when I get behind in my blog (I have had Garden Noam Chomsky in my drafts for months!); Big wig fancy bloggers at BoingBoing scoop me! Anyway, if you haven't heard from them, there is a Garden Noam Chomsky. Some of them are being auctioned off for The Nation's charity fundraiser.

They have also been available for quite awhile through Just Say Gnome and come already painted (for aprox. $155), or for maximum gnome fun-ness you can paint your own (for aprox.$57)! Just Say Gnome will also place a sign in his right hand with the political slogan of your choosing.

Gnomes Cause "Health and Safety" panic!!!!!!!

Two garden gnomes were BANNED from their home of 9 years on Miss Langford's front porch in Tipton, UK because authorities said they posed "health and safety" threat.


Obviously, gnomes are entrusted to diligantly patrol yards and gaurd the safety of homes and neighborhoods around the world and thus these two gnomes have now been issued an official apology by the local Council who banned them.

Read the full story here.

Gnome is Innocent Pawn in Car Vandalism

Last week, a garden gnome was used as an innocent pawn in the vandalization of Andy Burton's Audi in Devon, UK. Police say, "[the]garden gnome was used to dent a side panel and wing before the ornament was thrown through the car's back window." Poor gnome was just as much a victim as Mr. Burton - I wonder if he was stolen from someone's home? If so, I hope he is returned to his rightful owner or is headed to a gnice gnome sanctuary. Read full story here.

What in the gnome is going on here?!!!!!!

So, a group(?) called Poems for Gnomes has been posting videos on YouTube. I don't understand the purpose, although I am obviously mesmerized because I love gnomes and there are lots of flashing lights. This weekend I finally went to their website and they are advertising a book that claims, "the search for truth is within this books pages." What the gnome?!?! I don't know what this means, but the hypnotizing gnomes are making me awfully curious to find out more! Can anyone explain to me what is going on here? Go to their website and check it out and let me know what you think: http://poemsforgnomes.com/

I think this video below shows glimpses of the book's contents:

Professional Gnome Photographer

Photographer James Spicer has done an entire collection of gnome photographs. So colorful and fun! I especially enjoy the photos, such as this one, that put the gnomes in their natural habitats. Check them out at his website or shop around on his Etsy! He also has many fun pictures of miniature urban scenes and houses, I wonder if any gnomes live there . . .

Cheeky Gnomes!

Megan from Santa Barbara sent in these fantastic pics. of her and her friends' garden gnome Halloween costumes. I especially like the use of tights and shorts rather than long pants and boots! Thanks for the pics and good costume ideas!

Also, I love the garden poses!

Missing Gnome Alert in Connecticut!

One by one, over the period of a week, six antique and hand painted garden gnomes (treasures any gnome lover would appreciate!) have gone missing from Sharon Bixler's yard in Darien, Connecticut. Sharon says in a recent article, "I’m really hoping that this was just a prank and maybe they are visiting other gnomes, and that they will find their way back to their own home again." I hope so too! There have been no reports of the missing gnomes return since the original story was published just before Thanksgiving. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of these wee lawn folk, please contact the Darien Police!

Recent photos of the three of the gnapped gnomes