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I make toys for kids who don't want to grow up. I'm on the lookout for new projects. If you're interested in commissioning me to build something ridiculous, shoot me an email.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Help Me Choose the Next Pose for Combat Garden Gnomes

I'm finally getting caught up on a couple of other projects, so it's time to start sculpting the next variation of my Combat Garden Gnomes.  Here's the options I'm considering:

To weigh in, look for the poll in the upper left side of this page and cast your vote.  Voting ends in the middle of July.  I should be ready to start sculpting by then.

In the meantime, if you'd like to pick up one of the existing poses, you can see what I have in stock by visiting my Etsy shop at http://etsy.com/shop/thorssoli.

If you've got other suggestions, please add them in the comments section.

27 comments:

  1. Ooh, that's tough. Mortar Launcher or Radioman...hmmm...

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  2. Shooting from the hip, M60, MG34 or Japanese 99 LMG or 97 Trench Gun - Rambo gnome...

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    1. I was actually thinking I'd do the M249 SAW for the guy shooting from the hip.

      Rambo gnome is on my list, but not until I finish all of the green plastic guy poses.

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  3. Think you'll have an "Army Set" where you can get a reduced cost for all the different poses?

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    1. Until I find some dismal overseas factory to make these for me for cheap, I really can't afford to make the prices any lower.

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  4. My girls love your gnomes but been asking why no ladies? My girls love shooting and action movies and between the knife throwing and martial arts classes, well, I feel bad for their first boyfriends. Actually no,no I don't. How about action girl gnome with m-4, load bearing harness and oakleys? Jessica Biel in the A-team comes to mind. Keep up the amazing work. Thanks Bill

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    1. I get this question a lot. Often it's from someone who assumes that there's some sort of chauvinistic or misogynistic motive behind my (so far) all male gnomes.

      The fact of the matter is that I have yet to see any female garden gnomes I want to emulate.

      A very distant secondary reason is that I'm still sticking with the designs from the little green plastic army men. None of these Vietnam-era toys were female either.

      This isn't intended as a statement of disrespect for the many amazing women with whom I've had the pleasure of serving in the military. The same goes for my little sister who has done three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan so far in her fascinating career as a US Marine and my ex-wife who is still on active duty with the Coast Guard. I just have a hard time reconciling my impressions of those powerful, capable, dynamic ladies with the stereotypical female garden gnomes with their huge bellies, aprons, and skirts.

      Female gnome combatants are on my to-do list, but they'll have to wait until I can get them right.

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    2. Love this response. Very cool.

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    3. I believe you have a challenge on your hands with that one. I love seeing what artists come up with, but have yet to see any version of a female gnome that I like. The aspects that give gnomes their charm (imo) don't translate well into a female gnome. The only way I could imagine a female gnome with the characteristics that I like would be a freak show, bearded woman gnome. Take away the beard, rounded figure, pants, etc. and put it in a skirt with feminine features, and it is just too far away from being a gnome. It just becomes a short, female statue with a pointy hat...just my opinion.

      (Yes, I know this is an old post. This happened to be the window into your blog that google gave me.)

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  5. Sniper gnome would be fantastic. Failing that, either mortar gnome or radio gnome.

    Eventually, I'll have the whole set.

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  6. Shooting from the hip

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  7. I wish you lived in Virginia. You are my fantasy crafty dude. I like the crawling gnome because it reminds me of Wayne's World..."guys, wait up, i landed on my keys!" -Garth

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  8. Airborne gnome, to hang from porch/tree.
    I voted for crawling rifleman, but a sniper gnome would be awesome too.
    Or...gnome with minigun, like in the Predator movies.

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  9. Bayonet guy to go with the other bayonet position!

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  10. SEAL in Drager gear and Rifle. Gnomes would look cool in SCUBA Mask

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  11. Mortar Launcher Gnome FTW!

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  12. I vote for a mortar gnome, but have the top of the round look like a yard flamingo.

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  13. How about a sniper with a Barrett .50 :)

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  14. Crawling Rifleman or Charging w/ Bayonet Lowered

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  15. Looking at the available gnome MTOE and considering the terrain, I plan to base my garden defense around the .50 cal gnome sited to control the high speed avenue of approach to my neighborhood. Since the topography around my town home does not allow for line of sight communication over engagement ranges suitable for a light mortar gnome (as I would have to site them in behind my neighbor's Azalea bush), I would require a radio gnome to properly execute a call for fire. Unobserved fire is not approved in most cul de sac (what the hell IS plural for cul de sac?). While I'm pretty sure the flamethrower gnome could solve the Azalea problem, the neighbors Warsaw Pact gnomes may take umbrage with that approach, as they apparently have an attachment to shrubbery rivaling the Knights of Ni. It's complicated. As such, I highly recommend a radio gnome to keep things coordinated.

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    1. "Culs-de-sac".

      I'd say go with any but the bayonet guy next, since you already have one such.

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  16. Gotta go with a Seal Team member with flippers in hand and an MP5 and black harness with knife. But if it has to be regular Army, The Mortar Gnome, but possibly in camo.

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  17. After doing the "classic little green army men" in traditional gnome attire do a 5 man special operator team in modern garb.. black or camo; helmets, bandanas, or floppys; short beards or clean shaven; all modern gear.

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  18. Charging with bayonet

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  19. I am building a oven for my vacuum former similar to yours. Can I buy the plans on the wiring and the layout of the nichrome wire?
    Richard
    richardallen1@hotmail.com

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  20. I think you should eventually do all of them, but I really think you should also do a vehicle, like a jeep and/or a bunker or command center. Maybe done out of mushrooms or tree stumps.

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