Close to Me

A quick glance is all a gnome gneeds to see the potential that your tiny soul has in store. Oh my gnomes are you tiny, but already I can see you have a big soul. I am certain that you will be so big in a garden that expects you to be so small, and I am so blessed to be the one who gets to show you the wonders of the garden around you. Oh how I have so many things to show you like the dew drops on the spider webs and how they glisten like diamonds? Or the music that the leaves make as they jingle in the breeze? We're going to climb to the top of mountains so that you can see the entire garden stretch below us. There are a lot of adventures to be had! I want to show you our garden as I see it so that you may know in your heart the things that gneed to be done to make it even more magical than it already is. Where should we go today? What treasures will we find? Snuggle close to me, my love, and we're sure to find something grand!

Spot of Tea?

Such a cute and wonderful couple as these two souls, it's hard to not fall in love. Gno doubt these two love tea parties and I think it's because it gives them a time to imagine and have fun. This might come as a surprise to you but the Tea Party comes from ancient Gnomish tradition. Long ago, the first Gnomish tribes started with the simplest of tea sets one can imagine. As the seasons came and went, and the traditions were passed down to the gnext generation and then to the gnext once more, each tea party got just a wee bit fancier and gnow the gnomes have fun with real fancy tea sets! They love to include special themes like St. Patrick's Day, Christmas, Easter or whatever fun theme they can come up with! After all, there is always a good excuse to celebrate with a good tea party! The Gnomes love an excuse to get dressed up and decorate the table and garden corners. Transforming the garden around them into a magical sight is half the fun! The other half might be the special cookies! It is fun to drink out of fancy cups with real fabric gnapkins and pour fancy drink. After all, gnot all gnomes actually like tea! After all, that's gnot even the point of a good tea party! The only thing more special than such a girly fancy time together is the fun we will have in planning for the gnext party! After all, it's the most special and will require just the right cookies or just the right table cloth. The final magical touch will be the clinking sounds as the teacups go in for a toast! To the good life!

Coloring contest entry by Jenna.

Don't Worry

Just look at all the love this little lady has inside her! Gno doubt she loves to dress up in fancy swirls and sparkles. I bet anything with lots of color makes her want to do a little happy dance. I believe she might be filled with so much love that it's always just waiting to explode out of her! It's a good thing, too, because this lady is certainly surrounded by loved ones. She's really big on family! Every week she gathers all her loved ones and celebrate Gnana's day, which is just a fancy way of saying "let's do dinner with Gnana!" As long as she is with family, it's easy to enjoy the simple things like playing card games or board games. When she's gnot with her family, she loves spending time with the youngest from the Gnomish community. The gnomelings are always so much fun! With as much love as this lady has for everygnome around her, it's gno wonder she is known for being a fun loving, happy, unique free spirit who, without a doubt, brings so much beauty into the garden around her. With a smile always on her face, even the elders know her as a reminder. Don't worry. Life is good.

Coloring contest entry by Karen

Wee Jasmine

They say the strongest memories come from the memory of scent and this little lady has quite the scented story to share! Her fragrant history goes back many Gnomish generations when a loved one picked tiny little white flowers for his young gnomeling. Gno doubt the fragrant scent of the magical flowers left their print on her young soul, for when it came time to pick a gnamesake for the gnext generation, the memory of the flowery scent was still so strong that she knew she had to pass the magic on. Meet Jasmine. She started as the shyest little gnomeling but has blossomed into quite a confident young lady. She's a dancer who moves from her soul, gnot just her body. Her loved ones know her to be loyal, quick to forgive, artistic, sensitive, respectful and fun. With a heart of gold, she strongly believes in 2nd, 3rd even 4th chances when others around her would rather hold a grudge. She is strong and stands for what she believes is right, and gnever fails to to be thoughtful and generous. Wow! All that in one tiny little gnomeling? To say she's a beautiful soul just doesn't do her justice. It's gno wonder that her gname fits her just perfectly. Spend even a moment with her, and like the memory of a fragrant scent, you will gnever forget this wee Jasmine.

Guardian Angel

I’m sure there have been moments in your life where you have felt challenged beyond your control. Sometimes it may seem that your little body is not strong enough to handle the tough tasks it has been given. That’s where this little gnomette comes in. This tiny little guardian has a very big job! And she loves every moment of it! She flutters around looking for just the right person to help, somegnome who needs a word or two of encouragement. The gnomette has now found a beautiful soul in need of her tiny positive thoughts and she doesn’t hesitate to get to work quickly. She whispers so lightly in her new friend’s ear that she is barely audible, but she knows that’s all it takes for a reminder of the spark for life that still grows strong inside. With these tiny little whisperings of love and hope we are reminded that we are stronger than our bodies may seem. Life is good. Life is beautiful, and with this little lady by your side, that’s an easy thing to remember.

Astrea, Guardian of Dreams

It only takes one look at this gnome to know that she has been given quite a special job! She's responsible for guarding the most precious thing a dreamer owns - dreams! Whether it be those from when the dreamer is sleeping or awake, there is gnothing worth more to the garden as a good dream. It's the dreams that give the garden around us such great potential for beauty and magic. Everygnome knows that dreams and goals are worth reaching for, but with this big soul by your side, I'm sure you'll believe exactly as I do. You are brave. You are capable. And you deserve magic in your life. You can do this! Tomorrow marks the beginning of the rest of your journey to greatness! So relax and close your eyse, my Gnomish friend. This girl has you covered!

Coloring contest entry by Lily

Gnome of Means by Gno Means

The Gnomish have been traveling to the ends of the garden for generations and generations. Some might look at their adventurous lives and wonder how one would be able to leave all their belongings behind simply to explore a gnew gnook and crany of the garden, but I'll let you in on a Gnomish secret. These spirited souls bring only what matters most, and as such they are gnever in gneed. As long as they have everything they gneed, they are always ready for a little happy dance if the occasion calls for it. So what are the items with the greatest value that he packs into his gnapsack? Now, that's a secret that gno gnome will give away because it's different for every traveling soul. Whether it be a couple jars of smiles or a box of laughter, a traveling gnome always has the means of making the most of life. Add a handful of courage and self-confidence or even a picture of a loved one to his gnapsack and I'm sure his travels will go down in Gnomish History books. Sometimes it doesn't take fancy belongings to have and inspirational life. A gnome of means by gno means? If you ask me, he might be onto something special!

Coloring contest entry by Debbie

Gnoble Gnellie

Grab any historical book on Gnomish culture and you will learn that the capitol of Gnifferland is located on top of a small Boulder, in the garden known for its Red Colors. It is from here that most gnomes part ways to find their own little gardens to tend to. It is this very Boulder that little Gnoble Gnellie calls home, though every ounce in her body is calling her to travel beyond her little rock garden. There are so many places she has only heard about and she wants to explore as many garden gnooks and crannies as possible! World Atlas so not to get lost? Check. Plane tickets? Check. Passport with a standard photo that you think looks gnothing like you? Check. Her bags are packed, she's ready to go! She's all bubbly with excitement. Where shall her gnext stop be? So many choices... so many adventures!

Gnight Gnight Gnomie

This little gnomie has had a very long day and is so sleepy! It's time to wash up, put on her favorite polka-dotted jammies and head to bed. But wait! Where is her lovie? She absolutely CAN NOT sleep without her beloved lovie. Oh, there he is... as soft and cuddly as he ever was. I'm sure there's no convincing her that anything is softer than her lovie, and by the look of comfort in her eyes it's obvious that there isn't anything she cherishes more. There is nothing better than watching a little gnomeling fall asleep with the look of security and love in her drooping eyes. Gnight gnight, little gnomie. Sweet dreams.

Surly the Coffee Addict

Dwarfs have it so good. Sure they have a job to do, but I hardly call it "work" if they are able to whistle the whole day through! Personally, I think they're almost TOO content in their daily work. It's just gnot right. Gnomes, on the other hand, aren't always quite as content in their work as dwarves are. They would much rather be outside enjoying the warm sun beams or gnice gnap in the shade. Poor Surly. Sadly he lives most of the daylight hours stuck in a drab 8" x 8" cubicle. To make sure his day goes by quicker, he has developed a strong addiction to coffee. It's that first cup of black liquid caffeine that jolts Surly into action. Without it, I'm sure his calculations and programming would be a wee off. On the weekends, though, Surly does not gneed even a drop of coffee to get up and go do whatever it is that strikes his tiny fancy. Be it hiking in the woods, fishing in the stream, skiing down a mole hill or even simply spending time with loved gnomes. It's all good. Life is good. And then there is Monday... Bring it on!