ELK POINT - If there's one thing Jessica Morris knows, it's Scandinavian gnomes.
For the past year-and-a-half she has been delicately sewing hats, scarves, shoes, and other accessories for her creations.
“Every one of them are different, no two are alike. It doesn’t matter how hard you try, not one of them is (exactly the same). Every one is unique,” she said. “They’re just fun-loving little creatures."
She started making them when a friend suggested giving it a try. They followed along with a video that gave step-by-step instructions, and the rest is history.
“We watched the video and made a couple. I just took my business from there,” expressed Morris, who started Jessica's Gnome Addiction shortly after.
“The very first set I took to sell anywhere I made them all out of rice, but I am glad I don’t do that anymore."
Now, she uses polycell and rather than whipping out the glue gun to make clothing for her gnomes, she sews it all by-hand.
From riding a bike and playing hockey, to nursing and Christmas-themed, Morris has tried it all.
Her latest gnome-inspired venture involves terracotta mushrooms. She has been incorporating these into her gnome designs by using them as hats.
“I have made little golfing gnomes, salt and pepper gnomes, dinosaur gnomes, wizard gnomes, little Mexican gnomes,” she chuckled. “I can guarantee you I have probably made over 1,000."
Each piece takes roughly two to four hours.
“I hand sew all of my hats and everything, so I am cutting, tracing, and sewing. There are a lot of little parts in there that you wouldn't think of, so they’re a little time consuming,” detailed Morris.
She admitted she can be a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to her gnomes.
Every Thursday she goes to the Vermillion Farmers' Market where she sells her beloved gnomes. She also has them up for sale at the Elk Point Truck Stop and Array Fashions in Cold Lake.
She is always available through her Facebook Page, Jessica's Gnome Addiction.
“Some people love them and some of them don’t, and some are on the fence until they see one that they really, really love,” Morris expressed, adding her gnomes don't just stay local.
“I have gnomes all across Canada, I don’t think there’s a province in Canada that doesn’t have a Jessica’s Gnome in it."
One of her gnomes has even made it overseas and is now residing somewhere in the UK.
Morris has used her "gnome obsession" to keep herself busy and distracted during the pandemic.
“It definitely takes my mind off of everything else that’s been going on in the world."
Each gnome holds a special place in Morris' heart, which is why she gives each of her creations a heart of their own.
Morris added, "All of my gnomes have a heart, it’s under their beard. The reason I do this is because I put my heart into every gnome I make. To me each one is special."
