After an amazing holiday to Sweden and Norway, I've had a soft spot for the nordic gnomes!
Since then, I've been enjoying making some of my own varieties.

In Sweden they are referred to as Tomte and the Norwegians refer to them as Nisse.
They are known to be solitary and mischievous domestic spirits and are, traditionally, responsible for the protection and welfare of a farmstead and its buildings.
Tomte literally means ‘homestead man’ and is derived from the word ‘tomt’ which means homestead or building. The Norwegian name Nisse, is derived from the name Nils, which is the Scandinavian form of St. Nicholas.
And did you know, there are different dress codes for the different types of tomtes?
The ones living in the stables with the animals wear mostly grey clothes, while the ones in the main house are dressed more neatly, combining some colour with the grey, such as blue or dark green! I loved reading that fact.