Bad Gnome Busts Gift Guide

 HGTV's design star, the sweet, fun and very original Emily Henderson has added my Mr Bad Gnome mug to her favorite gifts for the holidays.  Emily's online gift catalogue guide went live this morning and let me tell you, it's simply gorgeous!  238 pages of beautiful decorating ideas, great guest blogger posts, DIY ornaments and gift tags, and of course her hand picked best gifts for the holidays. 

My hand drawn gnome mug is featured a few pages into"Emily's faves" portion of the e-mag, page 64.  I'm honored to be amongst several great etsy items and many big brand names in the guide.

These images are my original designs on an up-cycled mug.  For the catalog, I sourced a style of mug I liked so I could make a large set.  It's now on a matte, stone wear mug that looks like something you would find in a gnome's home.  :-)  When you click on the mug image in the catalogue, it takes you to my page with the NEW mug, beautifully photographed by Lee Rog.

This original green mug is still available in my Bliss Forest etsy shop.  After this one sells, I will be offering more of the new design in blue or black ink.  The perfect gift for the grumpy gnome in your life.  

Gnome Pottery

The gnomes have come up with the idea for me to paint their playful images on mugs and tiny cream pots.

The cream pots are a cheerful addition to the breakfast table or for tea time. They also make a sweet vase for little buds.

I have three new mugs ready to photograph. Watch out for the Bad Gnome making his appearance....

Gnome Tattoo

Isn't this gnome tattoo cute? No it's not mine! I have been working on some hand carved gnome stamps and the thought just occurred to me, "I wonder if anyone has gnome tattoos?" Of course. Anything you can think of has probably been made into a tattoo. LOL.

Anyone else watching L.A. Ink? Their tattoo work is gorgeous! No tiny tattoos there. I find it interesting to learn why people are getting their tattoos. Most folks on the show want an image to represent something they love, or something they have overcome.

Happy New Year!

Here is my dear Water Gnome, ready to help re-open Bliss Forest.

Happy New Year! I had a great holiday season on etsy. I was kept hopping with wholesale orders and all my wonderful customers. I appreciate each of you! It was soooo good, I had to close my shops for the first time in three years on etsy, in order to have a holiday with my children. Well, it was my first holiday with three shops, rather than just one, to keep track of. :-)

I have been so excited to get moving on all my new design plans for BlissMonkeyStudio and Bliss Forest. I have many new gnomes, wrist warmer designs started, and new phone cozies and high flying easter bunnies in the design process.


Oceania in purple and teal.

Today is Jan first and I just reopened my Bliss MOnkey Studio shop with some new wrist warmer designs. It's still winter, but I have an eye for spring as I design. :-)

I wish you a beautiful, new year, full of love, friendship, many handmade treasures and happy days.
Aly


Sweet One Bird Tree with sparkling nest.

Happy Visitors

Nothing quite like the pitter patter and happy giggles of a crew of gnomes......

Holiday Ornaments

Sweet! My Gnome Ornaments is on the front page of the Etsy Holiday Ornaments Gift Guide. How lovely. I wondered why my Bliss Forest shop was having such a run on things, and gnomes were heading out. A happen to have a good supply currently, so it's a good surprise indeed. Click the photo to link to the full Ornament Guide.

Into the Forest

Fall is in the air here in Oregon, though the days are still quite warm. I'm back in the studio full time, ready to stock my shops with goodness and bliss. I have basically taken the past six weeks off for summer with the kids, gardening, camping, canning, swimming, then end of summer de-clutter for home and yard. I see the studio needs that TLC too. It's easy to be a pack rat when one is a designer/crafter/artist because "I will use that one day" is probably true.... however if one can't get into her studio due to all the goodies stored there..... lol. It's not that bad. yet.

Check out this gorgeous etsy treasury. My gnome ornaments are everywhere this season, but haven't sold one pair yet. It's funny that my Bliss Forest shop (gnomes, bunnies, woodland plush) get tons of visits and press, but not many sales. I hope people will be returning for holiday gifting. Ninja Bunnies are the current selling item in BlissForest.

Here's a question: Do you think it a good idea if I were to offer Gnome prints for people to embroider or paint, and sew their own ornaments? It would be the gnome set, printed on cotton, with instruction/inspiration sheet?

Here's to Autumn (clinking coffee cups).
xoxoxo
Aly

Homes for Gnomes

New Gnome Friends

Willow Wildwood

New gnome friends at BlissForest. I love making plush gnomes. I may cut several colors of body shapes out at a time- just based on colors I want to work with, but when I go to make one the personality emerges so fully, I'm unable to go any other way. Each one is unique and special. Their little life stories form in my mind as I sew and stuff. I think I smile a lot.


Treezil

New Gnomes!

Meet Nissa (sold) and Treezel, new gnomes in Bliss Forest. They were so much fun at the photo shoot! Check out their mug shots in my store. Thank you to Tonia for the fantastic paperclay mushroom. :-)

Garden Gnome Brooch

Garden Gnome To-Go Brooch is the latest creation in BlissForest shop. He's handmade by me! I carved a stamp block to create a form to press the polymer clay into. I wanted the look of a hand carved wood pin. He was baked, then painted, distressed, detail painted, given a coat of eco-varnish in gloss, and a pin back. Your companion on the go.

I had a great time photographing him. You can click on the above link to see the other photos and snag one for yourself!

Sunny Morning

The sunshine lured me out of bed this morning. I thought my sniffles could do with a bit of fresh air and surprise sunshine (it's been so grey and rainy here this week) so I wandered out to the back garden.

I stood, mesmerized by the blossoming plum trees, when I heard a low "a-hem" behind me. A little green clad gnome stood on the bamboo pot, smiling up at me.

"Hi, I'm Edvin", he offered. "I've been collecting mushroom in your garden." And he held a big one up for me to see.

I attempted to get over my surprise quickly. Regaining my manners, I also introduced myself. Soon, I was making tea for the two of us, and enjoying Edvin's tales. He sure is a talker!




He told me all about his traveling adventures hunting mushrooms, and his wish to live in a human house. Maybe you would like to have Edvin come to your house? He will bring his fancy mushroom as an ornament for you!




Edvin jumps!!!

Sky Gnome Pillow Doll

Sky Gnomes- the latest in the Spring Gnome collection! ( Both Sky Gnomes have sold, but there are others to be homed.... )
I had so much fun with the photo shoot yesterday, then the sun popped out while it was raining and Sky Gnome jumped out of my arms and raced outside! It's their job, you see, to monitor the weather, and start rainbows with their little rainbow seed. I followed quickly with my camera and was just able to capture this shot of the Sky Gnome starting a rainbow... can you see the hint of the rainbow just above the treeline? I was amazed to see it in action!


xoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Gnome ornaments

These are a few of the new ornaments I made for my family this year. These most excellent mushrooms grew in my front yard. The gnomes took to them right away.

After working with polar fleece (large plush, pillow gnome series currently for sale in BlissMonkeyStudio.etsy.com and soon to be joined by their spring version cousins-reserve yours now, if you like), I was excited to make some in cotton.


A happy gnome trio. The little linen heart trees were for sale, but not these guys. I just LOVE gnomes with their tall red hats. Sitting on faux bos fabric in front of my bamboo...... I wanted to share a few snaps before packing them away till next season.

Treasury on Etsy

Here is the link if you would like to go over to the treasury and actually click on any of the items. It's always fun to find myself in someone's treasury!

Snow storm due in again tonight.... ooooOOOOOoooo, exciting!

Meet Your Maker Dec -Indie craft show

I was really glad I got into the Meet YOur Maker show this month. I had returning customers happy I was there, and people who had seen my write up (along with many other local etsians) in the Eugene Weekly Gift Guide. The show was great for me. Thanks for a great monthly event all year, Amy and Megan.

My crazy-full display table. I had a small spot and was NOT messing around! Bin of big plush gnomes, TREE with ornaments, bin of coffee cozies, bin on wrist warmers, bin of applique wrist warmers...... fun fun fun!


Mushrooms, gnomes, gift giving monsters, and colorful birds.....


Very famous model Scott Cunningham working the runway with my Pebbles and BamBam wrist warmers. Hot hot HOT! And girls, yes, he's single. :-)

Holiday Local Markets

News: I will be at Meet Your Maker show tomorrow after all!
Broadway Winebar, downtown, 5-8 as part of the First Friday Artwalk in Eugene (each month). I am bringing all my cute new ornaments, the big gnomes, wrist warmers, and coffee cozies. See you there!

Photos from Eugene's Holiday Market below..... yes, it's every weekend till xmas, but I was there only last weekend. If you want more of my items before the holidays, email or convo me. Thanks!


Our big Holiday Market three day weekend-- I shared a space in Alley, Pracital Rabbit's booth. It was fun, it was colorful, it was busy.

My display rack with wrist warmers, coffee cozies, and brand new gnome stuffie ornaments. See the big gnomies in the bin below? They were a pretty happening bunch.

Booth front.
Practical Rabbit's amazing display of needle felted gnomes, mushrooms, and monsters.

Gnomies

The debut of the gnomies! These guys are big too! 17" tall and wearing cute fleece snowsuits! They like downhill skiing, snowflake collecting, and stinky cheese.

Hey, wait, who's that dark one in the back? He's got a pale face and sour expression..... is it a gnome gone bad? Past his expiration date, perhaps?

Who's this cute gnomie in green holding Oolin?

Sven and Oolin are available at my etsy store.

I'm off to the Holiday Market this weekend: 10-6 Fri-Sunday. See you there!