Celebrate Winter with a Tomte
A Nordic tradition, Tomte or Gnomes are spirit guardians of the home, farm, and woodlands. They are caretakers of animals both in the home and the wild. They love tidy homes, butter, and laughter.
But Tomte also have a mischievous streak! They love to pull funny pranks & make merriment in the home. But when upset by someone’s rude behavior, disrespect or unkindness to living creatures a Tomte’s pranks and mischief can get a little bit tough….
They will hide or break things, turn object upside down especially glasses of milk, AND are known to love to tie cow’s tails together! Keeping your Tomte happy is as easy as playing joyful music, laughing more, and taking care of your home, garden & family.
You can see Tomte images everywhere from traditional colorful garden gnomes to even cute little DIY ones made from socks. Why there’s even Pinterest boards galore of all things Gnomes… but you can always find them in gardens.
Caring for nature is primarily the purpose of Tomte and why they are so present in our gardens! Considering their caretaking of all wild things I’m guessing they REALLY love a native habitat gardens! There’s so many wildlife and places to hide in a native garden….
I like to leave little treats for them in the woods~ things like small suet cakes for them to give to the birds. I bet Tomte love so many of the native habitat gardening tricks we do in our gardens to support wildlife. Things like brush piles, leaving seed heads & leaves overwinter and providing toad houses and bird baths must make them very happy!
In that spirit I’ve begun creating Winter Gnomes for the garden this year. Each are so unique showing a Tomte’s sense of whimsy & fun! These gnomes are handcrafted with fresh cut evergreens like Northern Pine, American Holly, and Cedar (not trees are cut down for holiday decor, here we let them grow!) All the Gnomes have ‘hats’ made with Cedar, moss, Rosehips and Bittersweet plus a few leaves as ‘feathers in their caps’.
I’ve had so much fun making them!
My old barn has become a Holiday Workshop complete with hot cocoa, music, a fake tree & twinkle lights— it’s a jingle jam of fun time in there!
From 1’ mini up to a 6’ tall one~ these Winter Gnomes are just so darn cute. I even made a few on birch logs but sadly forgot to take their photo before they went to their new home in Adams, NY.
There’s a fun scheme to even make our garden obelisk into a Tomte!
That’s a garden adventure that is going to be so much fun it will have to be seen to believed… look for an upcoming post on Instagram LIVE & Reels for that one!
Here’s a few happy fellas…
The small one I called Murphy~ one of our Lazy Dirt Gang won him in this month’s raffle! That robust fella on the right with the impressive beard is the first one I made. I spent lots of time working on this one! Let’s just say he’s taught me a lot! His name is Herbert.. just seemed to fit him and he sits on our porch and sometimes out in the woods feeding the birds…
Want to give a Winter Gnome a home?
I’m handcrafting these to order so they are fresh to last the Winter outdoors or a few weeks in your home. Greens are cut fresh for each Winter Gnome so they will be ready to come home within a day of your order. Larger gnomes over 3’ require 2 days of creative work.
Here’s the rest of the deets:
Caring for your Winter Gnome
Indoors~ Winter Gnomes are really lovely inside as centerpieces for your holiday decor. To keep the leaves moist simply mist with cool water or give them a gentle ‘shower’ . For longer lasting greenery, place your Winter Gnome outside or in a cold garage in between uses inside.
Outdoors~ place anywhere outside firmly in a pot or snow. Protect your gnome in high winds and snow falling off of eaves. If using a pot be sure its filled with ballast/weight to keep your Winter Gnome standing tall! Give him a mist with water as needed.
Designs— are ‘makers choice’ unless specified at time of order. Each Winter Gnome is a unique design and with the exception of any bells they are 100% compostable. Hats are either festive Winter/Holiday cotton fabrics or a lovely mix of moss & cedar.
And yes~ I can create a custom theme for you! For example if you want your gnome to have little golden stars on his ‘coat’ and a red nose.. I can do that!
PRICING …
Small gnomes for centerpieces 1’ tall are $15
2’ tall Winter Gnomes are $25
3’ tall are $45
6’ GIANT Winter Gnomes are $85 plus local delivery/set up.
Local delivery & Farm Pick Up
Local Delivery: Free local delivery in the town of Mexico. $5 to all other areas of Oswego County. $10 delivery to areas outside of Oswego County.
On Farm Pick Up is free of course but appointment only!
Click here to email your order for a sweet Gnome & bring him home
With the Holidays arriving soon I would like to URGE you to pre-order right away! My little Holiday Workshop for wreaths, swags and more in the barn closes December 20th!
Questions about these sweet Winter Gnomes? Ask them HERE
Looking for more handcrafted holiday decor? See our Holiday Shoppe!
Until next time join in the Winter fun with me over on the ‘Gram!
And if you want a chance to WIN a prize every month join our Lazy Dirt Flower Gang! Next prize drawing is December 3 at the Christmas in Mexico Winter Market by CCE Oswego County! See it in person or LIVE on the ‘Gram
Follow along on the ‘Gram
