NEWSFLASH NEWSFLASH

Uncle Ukki received a tip from Marita ( http://maritapollicina.blogspot.com/ ) : She told him she was in the Dolomites Italy and there was lots and lots of snow !

Aha ! Maybe Mother Holle ( aka Mother Hulda ) is in Italy !

He rushed over there with Suzanne but it was fruitless, no Mother Holle

The snow was gone . . . . . .  well, the search goes on.

Thank you Marita, Uncle Ukki appreciates every tip !


p.s.  we just received another tip, stay tuned!

Hatchoo. . . . . .hatchoo

It's that time of year again. . . . sneezing, coughing, running nose. 

You wouldn't say it if you look outside , it feels like early spring. I even heard the birds sing like springtime!

Although we've had 2 stormy days with "dijk-alert" the temperature is ridiculous. 

Well, my body must have thought we are in the heart of Winter so I have to catch a cold :-(

Can't work unless I tie a hanky under my nose but then I won't be able to breath at all so better to sit up and write a bit.

Mr. Sandman and Suzanne had a very good New-Years night. Suzanne did her job as if there were no fireworks at all and Uncle Ukki is very pleased with his training. 

He is considering training the poor geese who are flying around in panic on this night but it will takes time to organize such a big enterprise. He is hoping to get a hold of Nils Holgersson.

The Sandman is staying with Uncle Ukki for a while, he is in between the sprinkling of magical sand and working on a special mission.

As we know, when it snows, they say: Mother Holle is making her bed.

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/2591/2591-h/2591-h.htm#2H_4_0022

Well there is no snow and if there is, it's in unusual places and  Mother Holle is missing so the Sandman is spending his free time to look for her and for as long that takes he stays with Uncle Ukki. Mainly because Uncle Ukki has connections in several worlds and is using all of his powers to get information.

Mmmmm this could be a major adventure. . . . . 

For now :

The Sandman and Suzanne are saying goodbye and stay tuned !

The sad Snowman ......and a happy ending

SNOW SNOW  ! ! 

Arthur and Ginny hurried outside with their new sleigh !

Wow Arthur, look at this white world, it's a pity Higgins couldn't join us, he had to help Uncle Ukki.

Wait Arthur ! Do you hear that ?

They heard a woefully sound, it was like a sad song. 

They listened carefully and yes the sound came out of a cave nearby .

Oh my goodness ! There stood a Snowman singing a very very sad song. . .
What's the matter mister Snowman ?
And then he started to tell his story. . . . . .

♫ I came from the heavens as snow

                                             you know

    I fell on the ground, just looking at the sky

    Then a little boy passes by

♫ He made me, I think it was yesterday

    when he was finished, he ran away

♫ If snow becomes a snowman

    you are born again

   Now I have eyes for sight

    to see this world's delight

♫ But I wish I was in another place

    instead of this tiny space

♫ I'm standing in this little hole

    I might just have been snow under someone's sole

♫ I'm all alone, nothing to see

    Even the stars can't smile down on me

♫ I have never seen the moon

    And I will be melting soon

♫ So, no memories to share with Mother Earth

   What has my life been worth ?
The poor Snowman cried a big icicle  
His head and arms hang down 

 Oh mister Snowman, I know what to do !

Wait a sec, I'll be right back ! 
They ran and ran as fast as their little legs could carry them. 
Before the Snowman could blow his carrot nose he saw a merry parade coming his way !

Mister Snowman, here is something beautiful to look at and we brought you a little friend of us to keep you company.

His name is Duff and he is a bear so he likes being in a cave and don't mind snow.

He will be your friend until you melt !

The Snowman couldn't believe his little charcoal eyes.

That was the most beautiful tree to see ! And this little bear wants to be friends !

When Arthur and Ginny went back home the Snowman had a big smile and he and Duff waved them goodbye .

Little Duff is made by Sharon:
http://folksy.com/shops/riamelin


Little mice by Barby Anderson : 
http://www.etsy.com/shop/barby303?ref=seller_info 

Frightening discovery !!!!!

One morning, Ginny, Arthur and Higgins were up very early and decided to watch the geese flying over.

But My Oh My what is this !!!

It looks like a Stork baby!

Higgins speaks the bird-language, but no response from the bird.

They quickly ran inside to get Uncle Ukki.

Uncle Ukki stumbled out of bed ( forgot to put on his slippers) and ran with the children outside

They managed to get him inside and on the kitchen table,

Well Uncle Ukki's  vision wasn't good but there was nothing wrong with his nose ! SUDDENLY !!!!

 The bird changed into something horrible! Uncle Ukki fell over and the little ones screamed !!!

Oh my oh my what was this! Arthur ran to get some dates!

Little ones, this is an Uldra!
I know now what happened with my glasses, he did something with it.
He knows that a gnome recognize an Uldra in disguise immediately and you little ones have no experience with them.
He disguises himself to get into the house, at night he will check the house of innocent people and if he likes it he wants to be invited in.
Of course no one lets him in as soon as they see it's an Uldra and that is why he disguises himself.
When he is invited in, he won't leave.
When he is not invited in he can't stay in the house ( there are other creatures who have these rules)


An Uldra is a creature who originally lives way up North but these days you find them more and more all over the world.
They have one light coloured eye and one dark coloured eye, so they can see during the day and at night.
You see the leash on his neck? When Uldra's are born the mother gives them a leash right away!
They are not too bright and they will forget who their mother is so they are kept on a leash.
The mother of course is also not so bright and she will forget which child is hers if it's not on a leash.
The creatures are quite harmless but because they are a bit ( very ) stupid, they see no harm in harming animals or humans.
They just doesn't understand hurt ( unless it's themselves who's hurt)
Well I will come up of a way to get rid of him and in the meanwhile we keep him busy with fruit, he is a vegetarian and loves dates and prunes!


To be continued. . . . . .

A letter from Mama !

Children, come sit with me !

I've got a letter from your Mama

This is what she writes :

Dear Ukki, little ones and children,

I know I promised to be with you last week.

I couldn't come home because there was a little colony of fruit bats that called for my help.

They were driven away from their territory and needed a new place to live.

The gnomes and I found a perfect spot for them but the little bats needed a little time adjusting and comforting.

I\ll be home this week, the fruit bats are doing great now !

Many hugs and kisses,

Mama 

p.s. I include some  photos of the little bats

Oh how sweet of your Mama, look here are the photos:

The fruit bats are made with the Mouse Needle Felting Class of Barby Anderson

Barby's Etsy shop : http://www.etsy.com/listing/77364052/dressed-mousebunny-class-combined-needle

Telling a story.. . . . . .

Introduction: 

The gnome's name is  Lumikello, that means "snowdrop" in Finland. He is born in Finland but he has been travelling around the world for ages.

He asked the little critters to call him Ukki, that means Grandpa in Finnish.

He is settled in here and has a room of his own which he happily shares with the little ones. 


Okay you sweeties, are you ready for a story? 

 

 Well, some years ago I had to go far away for a meeting with some other gnomes.
I was in Siberia,it was Winter and very cold, there was this huge Blizzard and I couldn't see more then a foot ahead.

Suddenly, without making a sound , this large Barn Owl landed in front of me.
Wheew! Who are you, beautiful bird? 
My name is Alba and I will lead you through this blizzard she said.

And so she did, she flew in front of me until I was at the right place.
So, little ones, this is what people say about the Owl :
Barn owls are the ones who see without seeing and hear without hearing; the ones who can hear what is not spoken and ones
that see things without physical sight.

 She knew I was lost and had to go to that meeting, but no one has told her.

In Siberia they say the Owl is a helpful Spirit.

Goodnight little ones. . . .  



The Barn Owl is in my Etsy shop

The cutest little critters are made by Barby Anderson

Found !

And then I fell out of the nest and then I walked around a bit and then I was lost and then all of them helped me and  and and HERE YOU ARE DAD !!

 ( I love the way little Arthur is trying to hold hands with the Gnome-lady)

bubo bubo

So far so good. . . . . 

Work in progress

I thought the little hungry guy needed a Mom or Dad , well, this 14 inch tall Owl is going well this far

He needs more shoulder I see now

PHEEEP

Oh my ! Look what I found !

The little guy is hungry! 
Someone has to take care of him!

Last Gnome

This will be the last Gnome in a row, I think, maybe, or maybe just one more Gnome girl. . . . . . . .
Mmmmm, I start on his outfit tomorrow.

Proud !

I just love her

♫ Isn't she lovely ♪ ♪

What can I say, she is the most perfect little Gnome woman !

She even has boobs. . . . 

It took some work but I'm pleased with the result. Now I have to make her a nice dress with a nice neckline, a vest and shoes.

Okay a "nude" picture.. . . 

. . .

He is in love ......

He said he would marry her instantly. . . 

Gnome

I love Gnomes, when I was about 16 years old I dicovered the book : Gnomes. It was illustrated by Rien Poortvliet.
He is worldwide known for this book but there are not many people who know that he actually was one of the worlds best Wild life painters.

Because of his realistic style of painting in combination with the fantastic story of the Gnome book, I was convinced he really experienced this close encounter with the Gnomes.
I still am .......

There is another artist I admire a lot.

He is French and his name is Jean Baptiste Monge.

He is one of today's best Fantasy Artists I've seen.
I'm very inspired by his Gnomes.

This is his Blog : http://www.jbmonge.com/

Okay, so once in a while I have to make a Gnome and these two Artists are my inspiration. 

He is hiding behind the little Owl because he is naked, but I'm working on his clothes.