Fairy Sparkles

It's well known that every gnome in the garden specializes in a specific trade. How else would you explain the variety in magic you see in the garden around you? Whether it be painting rainbows across the sky, or placing dew drops on the morning leaves, we owe it all to the fuzzy souls and their creativity. This little lady, known by her loved ones as Fairy Sparkles, has been searching far and wide, across the garden, for inspiration to learn her trade. After searching for what seemed to her to be a long long time (she's quite excited to get started), she has finally found the perfect match! She wants to become a fairy door maker! With a hop and a giggle, she flutters to her new home. You may wonder why she has picked such a niche style of magic, but the way she sees it there is nothing better than building a door way between the world of magic and the world of children. Whether a child is in need of help conquering a fear, or a safe place to put things, every child can use a bit of magic in their rooms. Fairy Sparkles absolutely loves hearing the stories about why someone wants a door, but even better is the knowledge that the door has helped a little one so much. The idea of creating a special door that will only work for a child just as special, and the thought of seeing them happy in their homes must make everything worthwhile! Children may eventually grow far too old for fairy doors and fairies, but if you ask me, a home filled with love will always have a place for a fairy door or two, or eight! And besides, there's a lot of magic between now and adulthood. There's so much work to be done! She's so excited to become an apprentice door maker that she can hardly contain her sparkles. It seems they're getting onto everything! When can she start?

My Garden

Oh. My. Gnomes. Just look at these two lovely ladies! Even though they were planted in the same corner of the garden, spend even just one moment with them and it's easy to see just how different they both are. While one seems plain like a daisy, the other is a little miss priss like a rose. The first adapts well to change, while the latter does not. Daisies are easy to grow and always seem so light-hearted and care-free. Roses may not be easy, but when they do grow they are as beautiful as can be! If you ask me, it all a bit funny but all in a wonderful way! They are the same in that they each know the other is the one gnome in the entire garden they can count on 100%. No two flowers could be any different, yet no two flowers could be any closer. Together they grew, each receiving the type of love and attention they needed to blossom into their own, and together they make the garden a better place, each in their own way. My garden is complete, and I would have it no other way.

Coloring contest entry by Heather

Wee Wonder

Don't let her size and appearance fool you. This little lady is stronger and braver than just about any other gnome in the garden. She understands just how important it is to always do the right thing, even if it is gnot the easy thing to do. If she is presented with an option to do something good or follow the crowd going in the opposite direction, it comes as gno surprise that she will she stand strong. Gnor is it a surprise that, in doing so, she inspires the others to turn around with her. You might gnot expect to know such courage from somegnome such as herself, and may wonder where her source of strength comes from. Pssst... I'll let you in on a little secret. What she does she does freely and with a clear conscience! With a heart as pure of hers, comes great power. May you always be aware of the strength you hold inside you.

PERSONAL GNOTE:
Quotes from Wonder Woman pendents purchased from the craft store...
"What I do I do freely and with a clear conscience"
"Always be aware of your strength"

Origami Owlette

Look at this little hoot! What a beautiful little owlette she is! As I watch her grow into her own self, I can gnot help but simply stare in awe. I am so impressed with her spirit and kind soul! No doubt she is a force for good and is always looking for ways to make the garden around her a better place. It seems that she knows just what to do to make a difference in the lives of those lucky enough to know her, even if that is a simple smile or a kind word of encouragement. She has the magic touch and certainly lives her life with as much sparkle as possible! She loves with every ounce of her little body. She may gnot realize this, being as small as she is, but she is an inspiration to even the elder gnomes around her. Gno doubt she has what it takes to reach her dreams and dream big she does! The garden is a better place with this wise soul in it, and there is gnothing I enjoy more than to watch her love, shine and grow.

PERSONAL GNOTE:
This gnome was made for a little Owlette working for Origami Owl, a company that focuses on being a Force for good, to live Sparkly. Their mottos are Love, Shine, Grow. Their mission is TO BE A FORCE FOR GOOD; TO LOVE, inspire + MOTIVATE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO REACH THEIR dreams + empower THEM TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS

Potter

You may gnot think it by looking at him gnow, but this brave little soul came from very humble beginnings. There was once a time when he didn't believe he deserved much more than a small cupboard under the stairs to call his own, but look at him gnow! Gno doubt every ounce of his body is full of courage, chivalry, and determination. These things give him the magic to stand up for what's right and to gnot be intimidated by anything bad that may try to squeeze into his little corner of the garden. You may be asking yourself why he hasn't always been known to be so brave. Wanna know what I think? I think it's because he finally found a set of friends who believed in him. The magic of friendship can be powerful stuff. Gnothing can hold him back gnow!

The Purr-fect Life

Spend even one tender moment with a cat and you'll be hooked, but open your heart to many cats and your life will gnever be the same again! Loving so many at the same time isn't for everygnome, that's for sure, but for this big hearted soul, it seemed like the purr-fect choice. Her life revolves around her cats. Each cat is so independent yet has a personality all of his own! While one may sit atop of a high perch, looking down (likely both literally and figuratively, if you ask me) upon those below him, another feisty boy is filled with so much energetic curiosity that it's gnearly impossible to take a photo of all his cuteness! And even another seems to prefer dog toys, though I doubt he'd be willing to admit to it. It's hilarious! It's so wonderful how easily a fuzzy friend can calm even the most stressed of souls and there is gnothing better than a kitty sleeping on your pillow and purring away. Though, I admit, it would be gnice if they liked to sleep in. Unfortunately, without fail, they wake in the wee hours of the morning and the zoomies commence. Yes, you heard me... A cat will zoom around the house, zooming here and then zooming there. Eventually there is zooming all over you, and even up to your face for a kiss before zooming away again. I'm gnot sure why having so many kitties makes this soul so happy, but I can honestly say I'm gnot surprised. After all, when a cat loves somegnome, it's by choice gnot by design. And so, it's gno wonder that so many kitties have chosen this fuzzy soul to love. With a heart as big as hers, I can gnot say I blame them!

All the Small Things

If there is one thing everygnome understands, it's that the physics of karma work like this: small acts of kindness lead to great rewards. Don't ask me to explain how, but if you just take a moment to watch this little lady, it won't be long before it all makes sense. It seems that everywhere she turns, she is coming up with new ways to bring a smile to somegnome's face. And by the way she helps those who are less fortunate, it's obvious that this little gnomette is rich on life. She just radiates happiness and I can't help but believe that it must be contagious. Those whose lives she has touched know that they were blessed by her kindness. As for me, I know she makes the garden all the more vibrant. Thank you, little lady. Thank you for all the small things you do.

A Home for a Hoot

There once lived a fuzzy soul with a heart bigger than big, who happened to be in gneed of a good home, and so she searched for the perfect little gnest to call her own. It seemed to take such a long time to find a place that was just right, and she was beginning to wonder when the process would end. Then out of the blue, this little lady stumbled upon a fluffy winged friend who seemed to be hurt and in gneed of care. She wasn't expecting to find a gnew friend, but she loves owls. She always has. Perhaps her love for all birds started with the corner of the garden where her eldergnomes lived - it was filled with birds galore! From this love, she has filled her life with birds, volunteering to help take care of the baby birds who fell out of gnests or injured birds. She absolutely adored watching owls lay their eggs, watch them hatch, grow up, learn to fly, until they were finally able to leave. Her loved ones thought she was crazy for that, but she knew something they did gnot. Owls are family love. Owls are freedom. Owls are fierce. Every part about them is interesting and fascinating. Owls are magical. Owls are home. As such, it goes without saying that it is perfect that she has found this fluffy gnew friend. She may gnot know if she can explain it, but he is what she gneeds. He is going to make everything good and right. Together, they are going to make a house a home.

Tiny Tickles

Do you hear that tiny little giggle? I just love that sound! It must be coming from this little sprite, and I can gnow see why. It looks like she's got a little ladybug running all over her, trying to tickle the daylights out of her! Ladybugs just adore her, and that can only mean one thing - she has a kind soul and is compassionate, uplifting and absolutely loves to laugh. Doesn't it just make you want to spend more time with her? Don't worry, that's the effect she has on everygnome.

Worm Wrangler

You wouldn't know it by looking at him now, but this brave soul was once afraid of worms! You heard me. Worms. He wasn't just afraid of the slimy sly creatures, they terrified the wiggles right out of him. For a while it seemed as though all hope was lost. After all, how would a gnome get anything at all done in the garden if he was afraid of worms? Worms, of all things?! There is not a garden out there without worms! I'm not sure what happened, perhaps he would be willing to tell you the story, but one day he decided that he was not going to let his fear run his life. He puffed up his tiny body with as much courage as he could muster and went out to face his worm. Much to his surprise, it turned out that he had a wonderful talent for capturing and taming the beasts. Who would have thought that the very thing that scared him as a gnomeling would end up being his life calling? Go figure. I can't help but tip my hat at that.

The Sweet Life

This is the sweet life. There is gno doubt that the gnomes understand how to appreciate the simple things in life, and there is gnognome who is better at making life just a bit sweeter everyday than this little lady. It's hard to say just how she does it, but she makes it look so easy. Whether it be casting a friendly smile or trying to get a loved one to laugh, she always seems to be thinking of the gnext thing to do to brighten one's day. Pssst... I'll let you in on little secret. If you ask me, the reason she is able to make it look so easy is that she believes with every ounce of her body that life is too short to do anything other than make the most of it. Every juicy bite she takes out of life gives her the joyfully magnetic personality that everygnome is attracted to. The more she loves the sweet life, the more difficult it is for other gnomes around her to stop from smiling. Life is good, and gno doubt the garden is a sweeter place with this soul to share it with.

Blowing in the Breeze

Shhh... Listen. Do you hear the breeze? I do! It gnever ceases to amaze me the strength that some gnomes have. Some gnomes live so much bigger than their bodies let them and they are so strong for it. There is one gnomette who is particularly gnomazing when it comes to turning a challenge into a beautiful opportunity. She always seems to enjoy the breeze as it blows past her, instead of expecting it to knock her down. Take a look at what she has done with the wind that comes her way! She has turned that wind into a beautiful excuse to dance! Spinning around as the blossoms blow around her tiny body, she can gnot help but smile even if just for a moment. As the breeze dies down, she knows she is strong and can handle whatever blows her way. Such a beautiful soul she is and gno doubt others in the garden can learn a thing or two about how to make the best of even the windiest of days.

Wee Coo Coo

Gno doubt the gnomes in the garden are known for their whimsical, if gnot sometimes gnutty, personalities but this timely soul has definitely earned the title of "coo coo" by the Gnomish Counsel. It seems that he is always scurrying about, rushing from here and dashing over there. Some gnomes may look at his busy day and think he is always in a hurry to get things done. All that rushing must gnot be any fun. All anygnome has to do is live and die, but he's in a hurry and they don't know why. I'll let you in on a little secret... He has a very important job to do! He's in charge of making sure all the gears in the town's clock are working in tip-top condition. If even the slightest thing goes awry, who knows what may happen! Thank goodness this fellow has it all covered so that we don't gneed to worry. And if you were to take the time to ask him, I'm sure he would say he loves every second of it! Life is too short to waste time on anything other than what you love to do.

PERSONAL GNOTE:
Lyrics from the song "I'm in a Hurry" by Alabama -
I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why.

Coloring contest entry by Pamela