Faeries riding unicorns, a herd of quirky hens, whimsical spotted mushrooms, a flock of snowmen with jaunty berets atop their little round heads and a hamlet of happy gnomes all live in Jan Norton’s head.
This becomes enchantingly apparent because they all exist as needle-felted treasures that were recently on display at Dome Creek Rec Centre.
The Train Lady, Linda Campbell, hosted an event that saw a passel of Prince George people travel by rail to Dome Creek for a friendly visit to their rustic community hall followed by a quick hop over to the rec centre where the community hosted a craft fair showcasing the talents of longtime residents.
Norton, who has lived just outside of Dome Creek since 1976, knows that staying busy during those long winter evenings is how best to deal with the cold.
“Because we live in the wilderness I think a lot of us learned to develop our skills,” Norton laughed. “During those long winter months we’ve all turned to hobbies.”
Norton has always been crafty and learned how to needle felt from a neighbour.
She originally learned how to wet felt but because needle felting is much more portable, she focuses her energy on what she can do sitting in her cozy kitchen.
“Felting was new to me about 10 years ago and I think we’ve seen it become more popular,” Norton said.
Norton got her ideas from the world wide web and decided to try making a gnome first.
Well, he was such success she kept him for herself and then quickly her children needed their own and of course, husband, Guy, who is mechanically inclined was gifted his gnome who is holding a couple of wrenches in his hand.
“He was cute and adorable,” Norton said.
“I’ve done a gnome using a chainsaw for my son and a bird watching gnome and even had a commission for a Scottish gnome with his bare bum under his kilt. They’re all so much fun.”
And people’s reactions encouraged her to create more.
“After family and friends saw them it kind of took off and of course we have the wonderful Whistlestop Gallery in McBride where local artwork is sold by commission. So anything I don’t sell at craft fairs I can truck off to the Whistlestop. They support all the local artists in the valley.”
Norton used to come to Prince George to sell her felted characters but more recently has stayed local, in Dome Creek, McBride and Dunster.
“Between family and friends and commissions that keeps me busy because in the summer we farm and garden and hike and go boating and there’s lot of family time,” Norton said. “I have too many other interests that keep me distracted so the odd little craft table at a fair is just perfect.”
One of her more popular characters right now is the tiny forest faerie atop a unicorn.
“They are quite in demand,” Norton said. “But they are intricate – little creatures with faces, legs and ears take more time and more dedication so the gnomes go together much more quickly and they are my favourite.”
Norton created the mushrooms when there was a foraging workshop in Dunster earlier this summer and she was invited to the event.
For Norton it’s all about keeping things affordable because when she sees those little eyes light up when a child finds their creature on her table, the last thing she wants is the price to get in the way of that joy.
“So pricing is a tricky thing for all artists, I think,” Norton said.
She always likes to have a variety of treasures on her table.
“Because it’s such a pleasure to see people’s reactions,” Norton said. “I enjoy making them so much but the other half of that enjoyment is seeing people’s faces light up so I’m not so much interested in the selling but rather sharing the joy.”
For more information email Norton at [email protected] or visit her Instagram @domegnomes.
