Gnome Week,Day 1: “Make Magic”

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It is not an uncommon practice in Scandinavian countries to talk about the "gnomes" around us. These tales are usually propagated by loving and doting grand-parents. Mine were no exception, and so it was that we would hear of our very own house gnome taking care of the horses,helping in the garden,cleaning up the kitchen at night while we slept (this always seemed to happen on other people's dish days never mine),protecting the chickens,leaving out our rain-boots etc. Gnomes can also be prankster's and persnickety,especially when one has a foul mouth,argues with their siblings,or is disrespectful to nature.

It is at this very special time of year that our house gnomes pull out all the stops. Gnomes, you see, celebrate Jul/Christmas for an entire month and for 6 weeks if you live in the U.S. . They become so jovial and filled with merry making that it spills over into the homes they protect. This darkest time of year signals the coming of the new year, which must be rung in with special blessings. Not to be missed! There isn't a gnome on this planet that would miss this special time nor shall we.

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The Saturday after Thanksgiving everyone in the house wakes up to a bundle,sack, or stuff piled outside their bedroom doors or at the foot of their beds. What's in these sacks you ask?

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Fabric,yarn,thread,buttons,beads,corrugated cardboard,felt,clay,crayons,springs,widgets,wadgets,used cooking utensils, and many sorts of ordinary things.

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The instructions are simple and always the same "Make Magic".

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And so begins our celebration of the final month of the year. It is to make those we love, incredible and heartfelt, created bits of wonder aka "Presents".  Our home is a beehive of creating activity. Many moments are shared as we help each other with "projects', many times in hidden corners of the house or yard.

To create a "Make Magic" sack of your very own follow these very simple instructions.

  • Take a large cloth napkin 22" x 22". Any size will work. I used this size.

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  • Wrong side facing you, fold down 3" inches and sew this into place.

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  • Place the side edges wrong sides together and sew down the side and bottom of the sack. Note: start sewing the sides under the the seam where you folded the top down.

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  • Flip bag right side out.
  • Place safety pin on ribbon and inch through the opening until you get to the otherside. Pull it through and adjust the ribbon to the length you wish it to be.

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Now it's ready to be filled with crafting delights by your very own house gnome ;). Please also visit my friend Mousy who was a great source of inspiration for this year's bundles.

Tomorrow we have a wonderful giveaway for MamaKopp and more Merry Making with our house gnomes. At this time let me introduce to you our house gnome Mr.Lottirsson. Purveyor of Fine Merriment.

Oh and for a chance to win a basket of gnomes of your very own, have a look over at gardenmama.

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Comments

14 responses to “Gnome Week,Day 1: “Make Magic””

  1. I love gnomes…. adore gnomes…. I think they were a key part of choosing Waldorf education for my kids ๐Ÿ˜‰ I am saving this post for next year so I can do this tradition with my own kids…. I know they’ll love it!! And also, the wallpaper in your home is gorgeous!

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  2. what a wonderful idea!!!!!!!!!! i love the make magic sacks!!! thank you for sharing!!!
    what does that amazing windowsill belong to?

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  3. Oh this is sooooo neat. Thank you for sharing. I really think that this might become a new tradition in our home

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  4. Hi Lorena,
    So glad you stopped by. That windowsill belongs to a very old farm house on the island of Gotland in Sweden. These little gnome photos were taken last winter during a snowstorm. Take care.

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  5. The idea of a magic sack is great!
    We also love gnomes here. I think I have knitted thousands:)
    Warm wishes and thank you for sharing.

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  6. I LOVE gnomes…there’s always something so magic about them! ๐Ÿ™‚ Oh and i love your idea of a magic sack!! Your choices of fabrics are gorgeous! I wan a magic sack too hehe
    Have a lovely merry happy week and lots of love to you!

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  7. Oh Valarie, what a wonderful tradition! Those sacks had the most beautiful contents, I would be over the moon to wake up to one on my door! This is definately a tradition I would like to start in our house next year. Looking forward to hearing more about your gnomes – Have a lovely day ๐Ÿ™‚
    Ps Thank you so much for the link, glad you have found inspiration xxx

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  8. Oh thank you for this post I love the magic. I have been crafting gnomes this season and this story adds so much more meaning and magic thank you for sharing.

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  9. I love your gnome week! ๐Ÿ™‚

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  10. Hi sweet lady. Email me your address and I”ll send you one. ๐Ÿ˜‰

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  11. no thank you Mousy. You inspire me so much. Is what you really do is give me courage. I’ve advanced so much as a crafter since knowing you.

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  12. I’m so glad you are having a nice time. I’m having fun too. Really I’m so glad it snowed for you in Sweden.

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  13. Magic indeed.
    I love the colors that you chose and that brown yarn is just beautiful.
    Happy magic to you.

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  14. I think that’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me! Made me smile like a cheshire cat ๐Ÿ™‚ xxx

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