Inside The Gnome House

Several years ago we decided to build a workshop for my husband. While we were at it, we decided to add a bonus room above the workshop.

The Gnome House

When the framing went up, I was standing across the street chatting with a friend. She commented on the interesting roof line.  With two dormers and two blunted peaks, the framing did look most unusual. I looked up and blurted, "It looks like a gnome house!"

Thereafter, I fondly referred to it as "the gnome house" in conversation. Everyone else played along, too.

Shortly after we started using it, wee gnomes began to appear!

They would be waiting by the door for me to discover. Even with a skiff of snow on the ground, there was never a footprint left behind. I was mystified!

Gnomes love nature, music, books...a creative and lively lot!

I collected each one, marveled at the whole puzzling affair, and enjoyed the magic of the experience.

For a while.

Then curiosity began to eat at me. Who was behind this? I considered my husband. I considered my friends and neighbours. I considered each of my children. The gnomes showed up every day, yet the culprit was undetectable.



This friendly fellow (below) marked the end of the parade of charming characters, but I still had no clues.

Sadly, this jolly fellow has since been kidnapped (yes, stolen).
Wouldn't it be lovely if he turned up on my doorstep one day?

That Christmas a strange, lumpy looking bag (addressed to me) appeared under the tree. In it I found "Gnomes World" where these delightful creatures gather to sing, read, play, and craft (and live happily ever after).


 The card was unsigned.

Argh!

So, now you know how the Gnome House came to be.

Guided Tour

Come on up!

I'm greeted by wee, happy gnomes every day.
My daughter eventually fessed up.
That they came from her makes me smile even more.


This saves many trips up and down the stairs!


My frame is set up in between the dormer windows.
Quilts waiting for attention hang on a rolling rack behind the machine.
Under the window is a little desk, and a TV keeps me entertained as I stitch.


Beyond the frame is our home gym. I love my treadmill. My husband prefers his bike.
To the left of the frame is my tool chest, which I adore!
It's perfect for long arm tools & supplies.


When I'm working, the top two drawers of the tool chest are always open!


Hope you enjoyed the tour!

Oh, hey......I finished Irish Lass today!!!

NOT finished here, I just think this is a pretty shot!

After she's bound and the blue ink is removed, I'll take some beauty shots to share. (So exciting!)

I still had energy left, so I quilted my first customer quilt!!!

What an exciting day, I tell ya!

First customer quilt!

Linking up with:
Anything Goes Mondays, at Stitch by Stitch
Show and Tell Tuesday, at i have to say
Let's Bee Social, at Sew Fresh Quilts
WIP Wednesday, at Freshly Pieced
Fabric Tuesday!, at Quilt Story
Linky Tuesday, at Freemotion by the River

Happy Easter, folks!

Try, Learn, Grow!
Carole

Comments are welcome. Thanks for looking around!

Comments

  1. Ladyquiltsalot20 April 2014 at 08:05

    I love being your first customer! Can't wait to get it back and bind it!!!! Thanks!

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    1. Carole @ Fresh off the Frame20 April 2014 at 22:23

      I very much enjoyed working on your quilt, Margaret. It practically glows, and I'm a sucker for beautiful batiks. See you next week!

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  2. Hannele20 April 2014 at 09:43

    Nice to take a guided tour :) And great job with Irish Lassie! And thank you fo ryour kind advice the other day!

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    1. Carole @ Fresh off the Frame20 April 2014 at 22:29

      Thanks! I really love all the texture on Irish Lass. You are most welcome, it was my pleasure to talk about quilting with you, Hannele. Glad to help.

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  3. Marsha Cochrane20 April 2014 at 20:08

    Thanks for the tour Carole, what a great space for your quilting. Love your quilting on Irish Lass, you've really grown beautifully!

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    1. Carole @ Fresh off the Frame20 April 2014 at 22:43

      The Gnome House has daylight from every direction, which helps my eyesight enormously. (and since Chuck wired it, there's great lighting at night, too!) It is a comfy, serene space to work, and when I need a change of pace I just hop on the treadmill.
      Thank you! Irish Lass was a great learning experience, for sure.

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    2. Jo Ferguson21 April 2014 at 10:53

      Thank you for the tour of the Gnome House....it's lovely and your quilting room is so bright and beautiful. You're right, that was a lovely shot of Irish Lass. Congrats on your first customer quilt.......also.....Congrats to your customer for choosing you to, quilt it.

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    3. Carole @ Fresh off the Frame21 April 2014 at 21:46

      Thank you, Jo! The day flies by when I'm out there. Must mean I'm having fun. :-)

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  4. Barb Neiwert22 April 2014 at 07:49

    How special of your daughter to deliver those surprise gnomes for you! And I love your quilting - excellent! Congrats on having your first customer order under your belt. Kinda scary to just jump in and start stitching all over someone else's quilt, eh?

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    1. Carole @ Fresh off the Frame22 April 2014 at 23:24

      Ha! It was a bit scary, but it was also fun. I got to enjoy the beautiful quilt without doing the work of piecing it! About the gnomes...I'm still not sure how she planted them without being seen. Must have done it under cover of darkness! She has a great sense of humour, and we have fun together. Priceless.

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  5. Unknown23 April 2014 at 19:26

    Yes, what an exciting day for you! What a great quilting space. Bathroom included! Both quilts are absolutely beautiful - Congrats on your first customer quilt!

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    1. Carole @ Fresh off the Frame23 April 2014 at 22:16

      Thanks, Julie! It felt soooo GREAT to finish Irish Lass, and I'm happy with how Margaret's quilt turned out, too. I do appreciate and enjoy my quilting space, and in the winter I'm particularly happy to have that bathroom!

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  6. Lorna McMahon23 April 2014 at 20:20

    The Gnome house is grand! Love the lighting. And the tool box! How sweet of your daughter to plant those little people on your step each day. And now they keep you company!

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    1. Carole @ Fresh off the Frame23 April 2014 at 22:43

      I'm so happy to have four generous windows. All that daylight keeps my eyes from getting too fatigued during quilting marathons. Yup. My daughter is one of a kind, and so delightful. Smiles and songs to you, Lorna.

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  7. Lisa in Port Hope23 April 2014 at 20:28

    Oh, thank you for sharing the tour of your lovely studio and your gnome companions. Your irish lass quilt has given me some great ideas for an upcoming quilt too.

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    1. Carole @ Fresh off the Frame23 April 2014 at 22:47

      Thanks for visiting! It's so great to be able to glean ideas from one another in the quilty blogosphere, isn't it? Now I want to know what you will be doing!!!

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  8. momiji23 April 2014 at 20:45

    Thanks for the lively tour of your creative space, and the delightful story to go with it. What a happy tale!

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    1. Carole @ Fresh off the Frame23 April 2014 at 23:04

      Thanks for stopping by! I'm glad you enjoyed my story. It was quite magical for me at the time, so I love sharing it with people. Have a wonderful week!

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  9. Sweet Pea23 April 2014 at 22:30

    What a lovely story! My gnome collection amounts to 2! One of them, whom we've name Guthrie Grey Gnomad travelled around Australia with us in 2010.
    I love the quilting on the Irish Lass by the way (and we also have a sort of Gnome House which I secretly covet for my craft)!
    Dropping by from Freshly Pieced WIP Wed. xx

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    1. Carole @ Fresh off the Frame23 April 2014 at 23:30

      Did you take photos of GG Gnomad (ha! great name!) on his adventure? I'm sure he had a fantastic journey! My gnomes are home bodies, so haven't gone anywhere with me. Out of curiosity, what is stopping you from moving in to your coveted space? Say your secret out loud and see what happens! Thanks for stopping in. :-)

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  10. Jasmine24 April 2014 at 00:37

    I loved reading the story about your Gnome house. Glad you could finally solve the mystery. ;) Your quilting is so beautiful, and congrats on your customer quilt.

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    1. Carole @ Fresh off the Frame24 April 2014 at 11:37

      Delighted you stopped in, Jasmine! Thank you for the compliment and the congrats. It's been exciting to dive into the deep end of the quilting pool!

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  11. Rachel24 April 2014 at 11:39

    Irish Lass is such a pretty quilt. Nice work! Love the story about the gnomes. I agree, I would be so frustrated by the mystery of it all. I'm glad you found your source after all!

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    1. Carole @ Fresh off the Frame24 April 2014 at 18:49

      Thanks, I'm happy with how Irish Lass turned out. About the gnomes...I did enjoy the mystery for a while, but then I reeeeeally wanted to know! Meanwhile, my daughter was quite amused by my curiosity...the brat! (Ha! She gets that from me.)
      :-)

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  12. Connie Kresin Campbell24 April 2014 at 17:56

    Wow what a beautiful room and your Irish Lass quilt is so neat! Thanks for sharing.
    Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

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    1. Carole @ Fresh off the Frame24 April 2014 at 19:02

      Thank you, Connie, I'm pleased you dropped by. Irish Lass is one of Judi Madsen's designs that I made as a learning and practice quilt...which worked rather well. There was so much repetition and so many hours of stitching that I couldn't help but improve my skills!

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  13. Val's Quilting Studio23 February 2015 at 18:42

    Thanks for the tour Carole. I love your little gnomes!!! It's like your own little piece of heaven on earth and I'm jealous of your natural light!! Now I didn't see a sewing machine...is there another sewing room in your house??

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  14. MegsAnn24 February 2015 at 04:13

    Such a cool gnome house! Your secret prezzie story is so sweet. I love your studio and the fact that there's a bathroom nearby. You never have to leave! Well, maybe to sleep and eat... but who needs to do those things when you can sew!?! www.quiltartbymegan.com

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  15. Dogwood Lane Rambles24 February 2015 at 15:41

    came to see the Gnome House from Val's Studio and smiled at your story. Your quilting is awesome - truly!

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