Long time no blog.....

My Brother's Bday

SURPRISES!!

I was on the phone a few weeks ago with my older brother, Les, when he asked me a funny question. "My birthday is coming up...do you know what movie is coming out on that day?" and I said...sure, just let me look in the movie release date section of my brain - NOT!! Well, our conversation wove around this game a bit, before he came out with it. ALICE IN WONDERLAND! He told me of a fond memory he had as a small boy, when my mom took him to the movies to see the Disney version!

It was a fun conversation, because I heard a little boy on the other end of the phone. He couldn't have been cuter.....for an almost 63 year old man - hehehe! Well, my mind got to working around this theme, and how it would be fun to surprise him with something for a change. He is always sending mom presents to try to make her life more enjoyable, and I thought he deserved something from mom and I for being such a good son.


I got on the phone to my good friend, Julie, whom I used to work with at the stamp store years ago. I knew that if anyone would have any stamps of Alice, it would be her.....and I was right! She brought them to the store, and I ran up to borrow them for a couple of days. She runs the ATC at the store, and needed them back to do the coming project they had about Alice, so I had to stamp two, or more, of each one for coloring and cutting out later. Wow, what a job that was!

Well, I had my knee surgery, and couldn't get downstairs to work on the project until three days ago! I finally got it done last night, and sent it overnight mail today, with money for the tickets to see the new movie. Here are some (not-so-great) photos of the outcome, hope he really likes it!!


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These three photos are the whole tri-fold card, I just didn't get a good shot of it opened out.







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I tried to add some dimension with layering. I used pop-dots, and diamond glaze and glitter (of course). I used the colored permanent markers from Sharpie, and I used some new blending markers as well.





On the glitter paper above, I embossed with an old embossing powder and was surprised that it took as well as it did. This last one is my favorite, but I wasn't able to capture it the way I saw it with my naked eye :(. All the other background stamps were mine....I have hundreds!




I cannot WAIT for the phone to ring sometime tomorrow!!!

Maybe I need my oil changed.

So, I can't sleep again....I don't know what to think about this whole knee thing. I am only 51 people!! I should be able to go up and down the stairs as many times as I want to! But do I want a replacement? I have to admit that I am scared {:(







My 86 yr old mother is the healthiest one in the house right now!





I know that I am ranting, but isn't that the point of a blog? Okay, sorry blog.....I'll try not to verbally vomit on you any more.

I have had a physically challenging week....maybe more Gnomerabilia will help me get back in the swing of things again!






This is my favorite picture in this book. I love watching someone enjoying their work, don't you?







Here is the whole two-page spread!


I LOVE IT!! Watching parades, while eating good food and listening to the marching bands is always one of my favorite summer activities! It doesn't look like anyone is sweating in this Gnomedom though, I think I want to live there!

LOOK..... It's a Gnomeluck!! Who's bringing the tater-tot hotdish, and are we sure we have enough jello?
I hate to see this little Gnomella come to an end, but at least it is comforting to know that we can come visit anytime. I love to go for walks in the forest, and I can't wait to find a little Gnome at home. Will they still have those blackberries, do you think?









Sweet dreams, my Gnome friends!

Back to the Gnomelings

Sorry this has taken so long.....life can just get in the way of our fun!



How sweet it would be to have such a simple life, I envy these Gnomes, and all of their little friends!








Even a snake's house looks like inviting to another snake!





Can you believe how helpful these Gnomes are? I wonder if they ever have any bad job reviews!!!




I am giving serious thought to donning a red felt hat, and finding a mushroom somewhere in northern Minnesota....could be a sweet existence!

Fear not my fellow Gnomaldings, there are still a few more pages in the book! Until then, always remember to treat your neighbors like you would like to be treated!
XXXOOO....Faith Lynn

Well, talk about your pressure!!!

I am sweating just thinking about anyone actually reading this besides Paula! But the Gnome must go on!

I didn't know that Gnomes were a violent bunch, and maybe that is an unjust assumption, but on closer inspection of the first page I spotted a weapon!! Yes, it's true! The little guard has a sharp-looking spear, and I don't mean sharp as in a dapper dresser! Well, in spite of my feelings about violence, I will continue to share this story...so now, for your entertainment here's page number two.



Look little Gnomekins! It's like they are at an Altered Insect Retreat!

I don't know about any of the rest of you, but I would love an outfit as lovely as that butterfly is wearing... and did you notice? She has on heels!










I will have to admit, that coming up is the is the least favorite page of mine. Maybe it is because of the slave wages those poor, miserable ants are probably getting. It is enough to make a Gnomeketeer not want to "come and long... and sing a song... and join the jamboree"!!
Maybe it is just because, yellow is not my favorite color. I mean, I wll admit that I can be very vocal when I see injustice, so in the spirit of the original call to Gnomecoming Days, I will reserve my judgement until further investigation. Thank you for your patience.

Now for the final installment tonight, a page where I do actually see the spirit of giving, gratitude, and showing that ALL are welcomed in the home of a Gnome with a heart filled with justice, peace and Gnomeberry Cobler! AHHHHHHHHH...I feel some much better, and will say a prayer of thankfulness for the lessons that I have learned today. Hey...maybe we could fashion our veryown Gnome-cone to wear on our heads when we are following up on all of the other woodland activities...what do you think?



Don't worry my Gnomaquitas.... There will be more pages, but for right now, I need to go to bed. You see, my dearest friend, Paula (and you know who you are) and I spent the night away, just trying to get caught up. I don't know how long it will take to make up for 35+ years of separation, but you can bet we're having an E-Gnormeous lot of fun!!

I see the moon
and the moon sees me.
The moon sees the one
that I want to see.
So, God bless the moon
and God bless me...
and God bless the one that I want to see......

G'Night Old and New Friends
Faith Lynn

I caught a "LIL DUDE" of MAGNITUDE!

Okay... so I was out cruising the second hand stores, when what do my eyes spot??!! A children's book called Summer In The Enchanted Forest, and you'll never guess what was on the cover???








A GNOME!!!






Alright...this isn't the front cover of the book, but it was so cute I had to show you this one first! I have been so sad, because I didn't have any Gnominess, or Gnomeware in my home at all! Now, for only 99 cents, I have a plethera (12 pages) of Gnomerabilia to share with you!!!! See.....
I did some research, and there are at least three other books, that were illustrated by Fritz Baumgarten, of this series; Winter, Spring and Autumn in The Enchanted Forest. They run anywhere from $1.83-$15.00 on websites selling used and vintage books, I think I got a pretty good deal! Here is the full page from which I cropped the first photo, and they are called "elves" in the book....but we all KNOW that they are Gnomes! (They are even described as such by the old publisher.)






What do you mean, See The Rest???? Hold on my little Gnomella, all in good time!

TTFN,
Bunches of Love!
Faith Lynn