Happy New Gnome Year!

 Indeed another year has come and gone and I must say it has been a wonderful year for PhenomeGnome.com!  The Forum has blossomed with a terrific bunch of folks who all share and understand the magic of the Wee Folk!  We’ve had a lot of fun this year — and as we say goodbye to 2007 let us ring in the 2008 New Year with happiness and joy and….  “Gnomescaping” — of course!

 My wish for you is that you discover the whimsy and magic of the Wee Folk and Give a Gnome a Home in 2008.  A special thank you to all my beloved Forum Members — because without YOU — none of this would be possible! 

I will be in South Dakota visiting my Mom for the next few weeks.  It is my understanding that my very own Mother is also a gnome enthusiast — and seriously I had no idea until my brother Mark told me about her garden gnome!  Can’t wait to see what her “gnome taste” is like and I’ll be sure to snap lots of pictures of my little gnome “TJ” as he travels with me to the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota!

Happy new gnome year!

Gnome Christmas Decorations

Yesterday I showed you pics of our Granddaughter Taylor Ann and her Gnome ornaments we gave her for her very first Christmas.

Well — Taylor has a little sister this year to share in the fun.  This little cutie is our 2nd Granddaughter, Addison Bailey.  Addy was born in August 2007!  And guess what Addison got for her first Christmas ornaments?

And so it begins…  another little Gnomer is born!  Merry Christmas Addy! 

Gnome Christmas Decorations

Gnome Christmas Ornaments

When our first Grandchild (Taylor Ann) was born July 2006 – I told my step daughter Jessica that I wanted to get Taylor a special ornament every Christmas.  This is a tradition that Jessica’s Gramma had done for her so that when she was grown and ready to leave home — she would have all her own special ornaments to decorate her tree with. 

We wanted our Granddaughter to have the same experience as her Mommy did.  I remember Jessica looking forward to seeing what her “this years ornament from Gramma Anne” would be.  I hope that Taylor Ann feels the same way as she gets older.  I was so excited to send off her ornament for 2006 that I forgot to take a picture of it first! 

The kids aren’t able to spend Christmas with us this year - but I asked Jessica to snap a few pics for me to post here.  (((Jessica)))

It should be no surprise to anyone that Taylor’s very first ornament for 2006 was– you guessed it – this little pair of gnomes.  Grandma is starting her out young!  Look she’s a natural Gnomer!  Merry Christmas Taylor!

Gnome on little one!  Gnome on!

Gnome Christmas Ornaments

Fairy Houses for Sale

Previously I was blogging about my fantasy to be an artist.  I still worked my “regular job”…  (webmaster, writer, editor) and when I have some spare time (LOL!) I crank out my little fairy houses.  It was slow going at first.  You have to have a decent number of feedbacks on eBay before anyone will want to buy from you — yadda yadda.  But I did sell every Fairy House I listed — maybe not as quickly as I would have liked or for as much as I would have liked — but they sold.  And my eBay buddies told me that was a good start.

As with anything - you need to stay on top of your market.  It was difficult to work a full time job and try and make sure I had enough items up for auction so that I could build a clientelle.  I made some very dear friends along the way out there who keep encouraging me to continue on and branch out (((Deb, Barb, Liz)))… because there were times when I just wanted to hang it up completely.  For those of you who have never tried to sell anything you have poured your heart into to make — you don’t know how it feels to just put it out there for the whole world to either “accept or reject”.  Lots of mixed feelings — ranging from excitement and adrenaline to reservation and disappointment and everything in between.

Just when I was about ready to ”hang up my Artist hat”…  I get this email from someone who bought one of my fairy houses in the very beginning.  This is what she wrote me:

“Hi Mary -
Just wanted to send you a quick note and tell you how much I love this
little lighted teapot fairy house I got from you a couple of months ago.
Even my husband (an engineer, i.e., not much artistic know-how) commented
that he liked it. I have it in the bathroom as a nightlight with an orange
Christmas bulb in it - looks great. During the daytime I can see the
wonderful purpleish flowers and at night the whole teapot glows.
Thanks again,  Jean Brady”

Sniffles… no, thank YOU Jean Brady — for making me want to “go on”.  I hope you enjoy your fairy house for many years to come.  And just as the sign above your fairy house door reads — I too “Believe”

Fairy Houses for Sale

 Fantasy Artist?

I’ve been crafting since I was a little girl — born with a glue gun in my hand LOL!  I always wanted to be some sort of Artist… but who and what defines when a person actually becomes one?  I can not draw freehand worth a crap and that to me was the “ultimate artist” — someone who could draw what they saw in their heads.  Alas, that was definitely not my thing.

Most of my crafting ability comes from the simple fact that when I was growing up — we did not have a lot of money and therefore it was rare to spend money on “frivolous things”.  I learned at an early age that if I wanted a particular “pretty decoration” of some sort… whether it be a Christmas Wreath or a Flower Arrangement — I had better find a way to make it myself.  And so I did

Anytime there was a birthday, wedding, Holiday or new baby born — everyone knew that the gift I brought would be “home made” and most likely personalized in some way for the person receiving it.  And I am happy to say that my friends and relatives looked forward to receiving my creations over many of the other store bought items they received.

And so I started out on eBay in April of 2007 — making Fairy Houses… all types, all shapes, all sizes.

More to come…

Fantasy Artist

Sir Elton John - Just say Gnome!

It is rumored that Elton John reportedly turned down the honor of having one of the gnome characters modeled after him in a cartoon movie he is producing (Gnomeo & Juliet). 

Apparently Sir Elton was not impressed with the gnome they made in his “supposed likeness” because he did not like the gnome’s hair, rotund curves or its habit of spending a fortune on flowers.

I can’t blame him one bit!  After all, he IS royalty!  You Go Sir Elton! 

The film to be released in 2008, is an animated Miramax backed venture called Gnomeo & Juliet and will be based on an adaptation of Shakespeare’s play. The film is being financed by Rocket Pictures, the production company of Elton John and partner David Furnish.  Elton will write the score for the film in collaboration with fellow musical arist Tim Rice.
 

Sir Elton John - Just say Gnome!

Gnomeo & Juliet - Movie Plot

MissGnomer really had to search high and low for ANY information about the plot of the Gnomeo & Juliet movie (other than the obvious of course).  However, I think I finally have the “scoop”!  Here is what I was able to find out and piece together:

Cast of Characters:
Ewan McGregor …. Gnomeo (voice)
Kate Winslet ….       Juliet (voice)
Judi Dench ….          Nurse (voice)

The cartoon movie takes place in an English garden where statues come to “life”.  Juliet (Kate Winslet) is a Gnome from indoors who falls in love with Gnomeo (Ewan McGregor) a gnome who lives outdoors. 

Dan Hahn, who was Disney’s producer on the project before it was moved over to Miramax Films was quoted as saying:

“It’s the indoor sculptures and figures and things, versus outdoor things that have been out in the rain.

“There are fighting families, flamingo races, and sprinklers, and getting hit by dogs and everything else. It’s a comedy.”

Hahn says the computer-animated fantasy is funny “because gnomes are so low-tech”.  He says: “You’re dealing with these little concrete sculptures in your backyard, little cement squirrels and mushrooms and things, so I think it’s less about creating some splashy new technology and more about something that’s really irreverent*.”

And so there you have it!  Now I can understand why Miramax is looking for pictures from REAL gnome gardens — and the more fanatical the better!  Hmmmm, I’m thinking I need to get busy on my Treasure Chest gnomescape and see if I can get my three little Beach gnomes in the movies!

Don’t they look like Movie Stars already?

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*American Heritage Dictionary’s meaning of “irreverent”
Critical of what is generally accepted or respected; satirical: irreverent humor

Gnomeo & Juliet - Movie Plot

Miramax Greenlights ‘Gnomeo And Juliet’

From an article posted 04/18/06

Elton John’s film project Gnomeo And Juliet has been given the green light by Miramax Films and will star Kate Winslet. The CG-animated feature is a twist on Shakespeare’s classic play and set in the world of garden gnomes.

The film was originally in development and Disney studios and John even made an appearance at a Disney showcase to promote the film’s proposed 2008 release. Sources familiar with the project say it has a Monty Python sensibility and the move to Miramax will give it an edgier, hipper tone.

John said in a statement, “I am very excited about working with Miramax. Gnomeo is an edgy concept and Miramax is the perfect home to push the envelope in animation.”

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

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MissGnomers Observations:

Hmmmm…. sounds to me like Gnomeo & Juliet have found a new home over at Miramax Films.  If the good “Sir Elton John” wants to put his money behind the film, then I suppose it was only a matter of time before someone snapped up his offer!  The above article talks about “Miramax is the perfect home to push the envelope in animation”…  I’m still not too sure about the ending?  More research is necessary

Miramax Greenlights ‘Gnomeo And Juliet’

Disney Execs Drop Gnomeo & Juliet

The following article appeared 03/29/2006

Disney Execs Cancel Elton John’s Animated ‘Gnomeo & Juliet’

Elton John’s latest Disney collaboration has been mysteriously scrapped by movie executives. All animators working on animated musical Gnomeo & Juliet have been reassigned, and the project is no longer in production at Walt Disney Feature Animation, according to a studio release.

John was producing the quirky adaptation of William Shakespeare’s ”Romeo & Juliet” and was slated to write the film’s songs. Gnomeo was set to be Disney’s second collaboration with the rocker following 1994’s The Lion King, which featured John and lyricist Tim Rice’s Oscar-winning “Can You Feel The Love Tonight.”

Further details and reasons for the cancellation of the film have not been released.

 (This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)

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MissGnomer’s Observations:

If Disney did not want to make the Gnomeo & Juliet animated flick, I’m thinking it may have had something to do with the “story line”.  Even though Miramax is also owned by Disney — I believe Disney has a wholesome image to protect.

I mean seriously, watching “Old Yeller” die was pretty traumatic for me when I was a kid (sniffle) and we all remember what happened to poor Bambi’s Mommy (sob)!  Since the “quirky storyline” is based off of Shakespear’s “Romeo & Juliet” — I wonder just how would Disney deal with the double suicide of two Garden Gnomes in love?

I’m hoping the writers have come up with a happier ending to the Gnomish adaptation!  We shall see.

Imposter Gnomes

Yes Virginia… there ARE imposter garden gnomes… and they always seem to come out in droves this time of year.  You can see them mostly on eBay… the poor dears being unfairly labeled and put in the wrong categories on purpose just for people to make a sale.  Don’t fall for it fellow gnomers!

What I am taking about are Santa Claus’s — being — EGAD — passed off as gnomes!  Believe it or not — it happens every year.  This cruel tricker happens most often on places like eBay *sigh*.  Sellers bring out their Santas and start listing them as gnomes.  I have run across SEVERAL of them already — and there will be more as the Christmas Holiday approaches.

BLASPHEMEY!

Santa Claus — is a well known icon in countries across the globe!  While Santa has been around for hundreds of years and while he may SLIGHTLY resemble a gnome… and I DO mean slightly… a gnome he is NOT. 

Actually, our Wee Gnome friends have been around much longer than Santa has — and they have asked MissGnomer to provide some clarification for folks who may still be confused. 

Let’s explore the similarities shall we?

Below is a list of items to help you even further distinguish Gnomes from Santas.

Gnomes & Santas BOTH have:

• White beards
• Boots
• Red hats  

Gnomes do NOT “normally” have:

• Pom poms or bells at the end of their hats
• White fur anywhere on their clothing
• Reindeer & sacks full of toys! 

Santas do NOT “normally” have:

• ANY type of gardening tool in their hand
• “Unmittened” hands
• Mushrooms

While these lists may seem silly to the seasoned Gnomers out there.  There are always upcoming Gnamitures and Gnovices who need a wee bit of guidance! 

Imposter Gnomes