Wee Folk and Critters

Just in the knick of time, I finished the last 2 gnomes in our series, Big Gnomes for Little Hands, and was able to take them with me on my trip last week, and give them to The Little Lady. She was quite smitten with them, and spent half her time chewing on their hats (giving them a wonderfully unique look) and half her time holding onto the hat and swinging them around. And, yes, I can speak from experience, it does hurt when you are clobbered in the nose by a 7 month old armed with a gnomie :)

Next summer, Tim and I will be building her a gnome house (and, yes, the summer of 2012 we will FINALLY do a tutorial on how to make a gnome house!). She will then be old enough to play with the smaller gnomes without fearing a choke hazard. In the meantime, she has a set of 6 rainbow gnomes, perfect for little hands.

If you know of a set of pudgy little hands that would enjoy her own set of big gnomes, the tutorials can be found below:


Heart and Cloud Gnomes

Toadstool and Sun Gnomes

Lavender and Apple Gnomes

Here are the next two gnomes in our Big Gnomes for Little Hands series. For instructions on how to make these "big guys", check out the tutorial HERE. The actual pattern for our Sun Gnome and our Toadstool gnome can be found HERE.

 

I know it probably seems like I just got back from visiting Drew, Meghan and the Little Lady in Wisconsin, but, to me it seems like forever! I've got another trip planned mid May, and since it would be impossible for me to go empty handed, I tried to decide what I wanted to make to bring. Although I really wanted to make her some our Waldorf Inspired Peg Gnomes, they still could pose a choke hazzard, so I decided to make bigger gnomes.

 

I am working on a set of rainbow gnomes for the Little Lady. Remember last year I made a set of rainbow gnomes for Pixie's birthday basket? Well, those gnomes are teeny tiny next to these! Basically, I took my standard pattern for the Waldorf Inspired Gnomes and enlarged the pattern 125%. Worked great! But I decided since these were so much larger, I wanted to embellish them with applique and embroidery. Today I am sharing the first two: Heart Gnome and Rain Gnome. Over the next couple weeks I will finish the other 4 and share the patterns as I complete them. 

The directions are very similar to the original directions with a few changes, which, BTW, could be used on the previous gnomes directions. Changes are typed in red. 

Materials:
Large People Body (wooden peg) 3 9/16" x 1 1/8"
Wool/wool blend felt - 2 main colors plus various colors for appliques
embroidery floss
crafting glue
favorite stuffing material
copy of pattern

Important Note: People turnings (wooden pegs) are not all created equal. Even pegs bought from the same company can be slightly different. I highly suggest you make a copy of the pattern, cut it out of paper, and “try it on” your wooden pegs. Make adjusts to the paper pattern before cutting out your felt.

Note: If you are making 6 rainbow gnomes, decide on the colors you will be using before you begin. Then, use only those 12 colors, plus white, when adding appliques.

Directions are the same for both gnomes:

Cut hat and cloak out of color A and body wrap out of color B. For the Heart Gnome, cut the hearts out of pink and the leaves out of green. For the Rain Gnome, cut the raindrops and cloud out of white. 

Glue body wrap to people turning. Match bottom edge of wrapping with bottom edge of turning.

Add appliques to the cloaks and hats using the pattern as a guide. Blanket stitch the outer edge of the cloaks using 6 strands of embroidery floss that matches the body wraps.

Using 2 strands of floss that match the cloak, sew a running stitch close to the neck edge on the cloak.

Gather the running stitch slightly to make it fit around the peg's neck. The back of the cloak should be centered with the back (the seamed edge) of the body wrap. Stitch closed at neck.
Using 6 strands of contrasting floss, satin stitch a closure at the neckline.

Using 2 strands of matching floss, sew the hat together using a running stitch or blanket stitch. (I used a running stitch.)

Blanket stitch the lower edge of the hat using 6 strands of embroidery floss.

Using your favorite stuffing, stuff the inside of the head stopping about 1/2" from the edge.

Place a line of crafting glue on the inside of the hat near the edge. Position the hat on the gnome tilting it slightly backward.

Give your gnome a name and introduce him or her to your household!

The gnome home is finally all decked out for Spring and our wee ones have been busy on adventures with our friends that dwell there. We thought we'd take you on a tour, floor by floor. (BTW... we are in the process making several ladders and an elevator to make getting around in the house easier :)

After cleaning and polishing all the wood, and tucking in roving for foliage, (see HERE) we lay down the rugs.

Crocheted Rag Rug

Spring Rag Rug

Flower Fairy Carpet

Next, using florist tape, we secure flowers to the branches.

Level 5: Sleeping Under the Stars Deck

Spring Sleeping Bags

Felt Flower Garland

Level 4: Dining Al Fresco

Waldorf Style Gnomes

Honey Pot

Level 3: Family's Co-Sleeping Chamber

Little Wooden Birdies

Gnome City Bed and Bedding

Level 2: Family Living Area and Kitchen

Larder Sacks

Gnome and Fairy Books

Flower Fairies

Quilt

Felt Poppies

Level 1: Community Gathering Area

Wooden Pine Forest

Campfire

Wooden Mushrooms

NOTE: Wee Folk Art is on vacation for the next week as we head to Wisconsin to see The Little Lady... and her mommy and daddy, of course :) We will have lots to share when we return. For those of you new to our site in the past year or two, we are resharing our links to our Leprechaun crafts and stories. Hope you enjoy :) I will be checking emails so if you have any questions, comments or concerns, I will be available. Have a great week, and see you back here on Wednesday, February 29... YAY! Leap Year :)

Last year we shared the goings on in the Gnome Thicket when the leprechauns came for a visit. If you are new to Wee Folk Art, you'll want to check out the crafts and the stories. Poor Britta was beside herself. Below is a list of links in the order that they were shared last year.

And, if you have been missing hearing stories from The Thicket, not to worry. There is going to be a wedding there this summer and you are all invited! More info to follow! 

The Leprechauns have returned to The Thicket. If you dare, you can make your own leprechaun... but be warned, Wee Folk Art accepts no responsibility to the havoc they may wreak! An introduction to the gnomes and directions for making your own can be found HERE.

Ever since the Leprechauns returned to The Thicket, Britta has been noticing a few oddities. Jackets and shawls disappear and reappear, the order of the shoes lined up by the backdoor get rearranged, and her bookmark gets moved nightly. Whenever Britta complains to Axel about the leprechauns, he shrugs and chuckles. "No harm done", he always says.

Find out what happens when the pranks affect Axel's breakfast and learn how to stock your gnome's own larder HERE.

Found out why Britta and Axel are sleeping in the middle of The Thicket and learn how to knit this cozy blanket HERE.

Throughout the day, you could hear Britta mumbling... "Eight more days, just eight more days." Read about the leprechon's latest prank HERE!

No one was more surprised than Britta when she awoke St. Patrick's Day morning rather sad to think that the leprechauns would be leaving today. Expecting a final prank, she was delighted to see find a beautiful rainbow banner, and below it, a pot of gold... golden honey that is. Read about Britta's morning adventure and find the directions for the rainbow banner and the pot of honey HERE.