Hangin' with my Gnomies

Gnomes- You know the ones those tiny, mythical creatures, topped in pointy hats, undoubtedly always up to mischief. They peek around flower stems and garden rocks, their rosy cheeks glowing. I’ve always had a thing for gnomes. A few years ago at a friend’s birthday dinner, I brought some gnomes out of the garden and on top of the dinner table, creating a fun and festive tablescape. That night, we chose a small wine bar in our quaint college town of Granville, Ohio. Not surprisingly, I was greeted with nervous and suspecting glances from the restaurant staff when I arrived early at 3pm with six gnomes gathered in my arms. We used a long strip of sod as a table runner and strategically placed the gnomes in playful positions: hiding behind wine glasses, peeping out from around the bread baskets. Each little gnome has his own personality, and the figures added a uniquely fun and silly flair to what would have otherwise been a plain, unexciting table. By the end of our dinner, all the gnomes had been named and adopted by a new caretaker.
Tablescapes, like my scene of gnomes, are a fantastic way to make a dinner party instantly more exciting. Pick a color, pick a theme…you can create a tablescape out of virtually anything. But if you choose gnomes, be sure to keep one eye on your salt and pepper shakers—those little guys can be quite the trouble-makers!

by Jessica Marzelli