Gnomer: Willow (Carol)

Location: Springfield, IL
Occupation: Interlibrary Loans Librarian in a University Library
Hobbies: Collecting things. Lots of things: Gnomes, Stuffed/Plush Animals, Tall Ships, Globes, Smurfs, Sheep/Lambs, Care Bears. Also enjoy doing hand embroidery, following the NFL (especially the Dallas Cowboys), following the NHL (especially Henrik Lundqvist and the NY Rangers), Animals, spending time with our two nephews (7 and 4), watching lotsa TV.

Total# of Gnomes:
I seem to have trouble getting an exact number. I get a different one each time I count, but it seems to be right around 70 (46 at home and 24 in my office at work.) That includes 9 Yankee Candleholders, which consist of 15 different gnomes within them.

1 sizeable Christmas ornament that I count as a gnome above, 1 poster at work, 2 buttons, 1 zipper pull, 1 Gnome-in-the-Box, 2 Calendars, 1 embroidered wall hanging (and 4 more to do), 1 travel mug, 1 piece of pottery stamped with a gnome, 2 tote bags, 3 T-shirts, Post cards, 1 wall plaque, Slippers, 1 collector plate, 8 books (including 6 of the Huygen/Poortvliet books.)

Total# of Smurfs: 11 (No Fairies)
Gnoming Since: I believe it was 2005.

Gnome Preference: I am especially fond of the Poortvliet Gnomes. I like others as well though. As long as they don't look mean...sometimes they look mean or mischievous. Not a fan of those. I have some of what I call "Amish Gnomes" (the ones with beards only, no moustache.) But I have more of the Santa Claus-looking Gnomes...jolly, white beard and moustache. It depends on the Gnome itself though...if I get a good feeling from it, then I like it.


Reason you started gnoming: I believe the year was 2005. I obsessively played a video game on the Nintendo GameCube called Animal Crossing. In the game, one of the items you could put in your house was a Garden Gnome. I’d never given Garden Gnomes much thought before, but this little guy grew on me. I ended up wanting to have one in every room of my house in the game.

Also around the same time I watched the movie, The Full Monty. There are a few scenes in that movie with Garden Gnomes, and I love those scenes. Gerald had LOTS of Gnomes in his yard, and I was fascinated with them. And the other guys were messing around with some of them, and accidentally broke one. It was a really funny storyline, and I think I fell in love with them at that time.

Then I was in a dollar store called Deals with our niece, who also played Animal Crossing. We saw Garden Gnomes in there for $1, so I got one for her and one for me. I named mine Elvis, and the rest is history. My collection grew slowly at first…but the past couple years it’s exploded. I try not to get too many, especially since I don’t even have a yard or garden to put them in. We live in an apartment, so they either stay in here with us or I take some to work. So I don’t have a lot of space. But if I see one that is quite a bit different than what I already have, I have to get it.


Other "Wee Folk" Hobbies:

Wow! Impressive, Willow!

WELCOME to the forum!

Thank you so much!!! I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here so far, and I'm more excited than I can tell you that I've found you all.