A Year of Gnomes
I always have a BAP on my scroll frame. Right now it is a Marty Bell design and it is full of confetti stitches which Bell designs are famous for. The only way I could ever complete one of these giants is by sprinkling in some littles. It breaks the monotony and gives me the breath I need in between all of that confetti. This year I decided to challenge myself to designing the littles I would stitch and came up with the Year of Gnomes. Every month I will release a new seasonal gnome.
The Story Behind the Gnome
Aside from my stitching, I am also an avid reader and researcher so of course I went in search of the origin of gnomes. Here is their story. Gnomes started showing up in the German and Scandinavian folklore of the 16th century. In fact, an alchemist named Paracelsus of swiss decent is given credit for the little fellows. (female gnomes really don't show up in the beginning) They were considered underground protective spirits. They were also symbols of prosperity and safety. Keep in mind from the 16th century through the 18th century food was a luxury with many barely getting by. There wasn't a Walmart on every corner and often the food that was available depended on personal livestock and more readily gardens. Therefore, the protection of the garden could mean survival. This was also a time of superstition (think of witch trials), therefore believing in entities such as gnomes was very common.