Showing posts with label Elves. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elves. Show all posts

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Gnome for the Holidays - Folk Art for the Woodland Lover

Oh, there's no place like Gnome for the Holidays....

I have loved Gnomes since I was a child. I remember when I received my first copy of the Gnomes book by Poortvliet and Huygen. I loved flipping through the pages and learning all there was to know about these sweet wee ones. The intricate details about their life, how they dressed, what they ate, and who they were delighted me. This was my first exploration into fantasy art and I was enchanted.

Now as an Art Doll maker I created my own wee Gnomes. They may be my favorites, created from felt and clay, each having their own short story that goes with them. 

Gnome Felt and Clay Art Doll Ornaments by Jeanne Fry

I suppose part of the reason that I love them so has to do with their affiliation with the woodlands, as I am a mountain girl. Maybe it's their bold colors. Maybe it's the magic they carry. Or, maybe it's just the smile they can bring to your face. 

I make several of them near the holidays, but truly I have my own personal collection that I display throughout the entire year. I hang them on curtain ties, fan pulls, set them on bookshelves and near my potted plants. They seem to be tucked away in many little corners of my home, scattered about, enchanting the house. And oh yes....they decorate their very own little woodland Christmas tree every year. They find their place amongst the grapevine, birds, nests, and pine cones, bringing the lore of the forest into the living room. 

This year I have a few up for adoption.
This is Cinnamon Twirl.
You will only see Cinnamon Twirl during Autumn. She scampers about the pumpkin farms, tasting the apple cider, baking pumpkins, and cinnamon candies. Her little gnome home always smells of banana bread, welcoming her visitors with cinnamon kisses.


 This is Flower Power Grandma. 
Spending her life looking through rose colored glasses, makes her a Grandma who teaches her children's children to look for the positive in every situation...to see the glass as half full...and to find a rainbow every day.


 This is Violet. 
Violet is a busy busy little gnome. She spends most of her time in the gardens, tending to the many flowers...pruning...weeding..and watering. She sells them to Monica's Flowers Shop once a week.
Everywhere she walks, flower petals fall from her pockets. She leaves a trail behind her.
Once evening falls, her petal trail leads to a spot under the old oak tree where she sits and delights in a bowl of black raspberry ice cream and a cup of hot mint tea. 


 This is Peanut.
"Peanut" dreams of the carnival, and hopes that one day she can join their caravan. She loves being a gnome and her gnome family, but her desire grows stronger and stronger each day to join the carnival crew and take care of the elephants.
She has been fond of elephants since she was very young. Their majestic size and loving character has always made her heart sing. Her gnome friends try and discourage her from her dream, telling her that it is unrealistic. Her family tells her that she needs to carry on tradition and be a baker as her mother and grandmothers were. But....Peanut knows that some day she WILL join the carnival and live out her dreams.


This is Om Gnome.
Peace and Tranquility surround her. She sits with her friends and leads them in meditation, spreading the joy of peaceful living.


This is Love Button.
Whether the skies are blue or grey...whether you are spending your day alone or with others...sometimes our hearts can feel a little blue. "Love Button" is here to remind you that you are LOVED always and watched over.


This is Martha the Flower Shop Keeper.
Martha Gnome and her husband built their flower shop 50 years ago in their busy little town of Mars Hill, NC. They tended their shop with loving care while raising their 7 children (who all were taught their great wisdom of gardening). Today, Martha's shop has been passed down to her granddaughter Marla, so that she could finally spend time traveling the Appalachian mountains and enjoying her retirement. Yes, she does still call and pop in to make sure that everything is running smoothly, but more out of a sense of habit. She is quite confidant that Marla can take the reigns and will help the shop blossom more beautiful than ever.

This is Radella the Listener
Radella Gnome resides in Colwyn Bay, which is in Conwy, North Wales. Her personality is much like her town, filled with beauty. Radella, since a child, was always an excellent listener, and anyone speaking to her knew that she was as captivated with their words as they were with her raving red hair and sweet eyes. When she grew older it was of course a natural choice that she became a counselor so that she could truly help those that came to share their story with her. She emits serenity, healing, and love to those around her and she is admired by all that meet her. She is often found on the seaside and is always ready to share a story.

And lastly, this is Bea.
Every gnome in the forest has a particular job, and Bea spends her time as the chipmunk keeper. She watches over them and helps them build their homes safely in the woods, protected from bigger animals. She visits their homes each day, covering them with leaves and flowers from the woods, creating a camouflage. She loves to play with the little ones, who run and scamper so quickly, and she herself has learned the skill of swiftness in her movements. 

To see my current inventory of Art Dolls and Gnome Dolls, please visit my Etsy shop here


Monday, September 24, 2012

Bea the Woodland Gnome and Chipmunk Keeper

Every woodland gnome in the forest has a particular job, a job that keeps the families together and the forest running smoothly. Bea spends her time as the Chipmunk Keeper. Now some may not think this is very important job, but to the contrary...it is a sacred job to the little animals that run in the forest.
Bea the Woodland Gnome
Bea watches over the chipmunks and helps them conceal the entrances to their burrow homes. She visits their homes each day, covering them with leaves and flowers creating their camouflage.
She loves to play with the little ones, who run and scamper so quickly, and she herself has learned the skill of swiftness in her movements.
Bea the Woodland Gnome, the Chipmunk Keeper by Jeanne Fry

"Bea" the Woodland Gnome is an art doll ornament created from felt and clay by Jeanne Fry. Her body is hand stitched of felt, wearing a deep brown skirt and light brown shoulder wrap. Her skirt and wrap are adorned with silk fabric leaves and a leaf garland runs down the side of her skirt. Her face is clay and painted with acrylics, with hand dyed wool roving that creates her hairdo. She wears a red cap with a flower and dried botanicals on the front. A leather loop is attached to her back to hang as an ornament. Bea measures 13 inches tall.
SOLD



Friday, July 15, 2011

Naomi the Blue Ridge Mountain Gnome


Naomi the Blue Ridge Mountain Gnome

Naomi

I have always been enchanted by the Wee Ones...gnomes, faeries, elves, brownies...all the wee people that live in the forests. Their stories and their abilities have fascinated me since I was a child.

This is Naomi, who hails from the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Naomi has a very important job in her Gnome community. High up in the mountains of the Blue Ridge, she is a Botanical Gatherer.

Naomi ~ Blue Ridge Mountain Gnome
Early in the mornings you may spot her, walking delicately through the woods and gardens, gathering up dried flowers, herbs, fern sprigs, and twigs for the women's crafts.


If you notice that your gardens look manicured and tidy, it probably means that Naomi was present that morning.



While you are visitng our website, you will also find four other Wisdom Keeper Art Doll that are on sale at half price...So have a look, you may be enchanted. 

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