scandinavian thrift

There's no escaping the Scandinavian influence in this part of the world.  If you listen to Garrison Keillor, you know exactly what I mean.
Yesterday, on my three minute run into the thrift store, I found this huge canvas bag.  When I saw the gnome I knew that the bag would be coming home with me.  The curl-up toe shoes, the coy hands behind the back stance, the red hat with zig-zagged-all-over detail.  It was love.
There was also an embroidered message on the bag: "to gnome is to love me".  I thought it was odd and nonsensical, but didn't let it keep me from shelling out three whole dollars for the bag.  When I got into the car I realized the play on words that was going on across my newly beloved bag.  There's something about plays on words that make me cringe.  Deep down shuddering cringe.  I've been picking away with my seam ripper at the machine embroidered message.  I'm down to "gnome love" and I'll keep going until the little guy is on his own.  He's just too sweet to be muddled with words.
And if the satchel wasn't enough, the fabric bin held two yards of this tulip-ed wonder.  Once I find that perfect pair of wooden clogs, I'll make myself a skirt... to wear to the Prairie Home Companion's annual meatloaf feast and street dance, of course.

So many thanks for all of the comments on the cards!  An etsy shop may well be in my near future...

Comments

[Stefani]

AH! A Prairie Home festival???? I'm so jealous! the bag is so sweet... and I think you're right. The gnome is good on his own. No caption necessary :-)

[Grace]

yes, plays on words make me cringe, too, especially that one, which is especially bad.

i'm loving that trim, though! awesome!

you should totally do a shop, too. i'd love to see your beautiful offerings in a shop!

[Bev]

I love the play on words, I do it all the time the cheesiness makes me giggle!

Love the gnome, he is beyond cute!

[Jude]

I love the ribbon - you have to put a picture up when you find those wooden clogs! Just for fun make one of those white kerchief hats too!

[meg]

What a find! But aww, couldn't you just keep "gnome love?"

[molly]

I love that bag. My daughter has a shirt with gnomes that reads, "Get to gnome me". I recently checked out the companion craft book to the Gnome book in hopes of embroidering some of my own gnomes this fall/winter.