Gnomes have long been considered good luck symbols with magical powers and protectors of the earth, crops and livestock. More recently Gnomes have taken on the extra duties of protecting the home and children including being Santa at Christmas. Consider this smiling little gnome a perfect ornament for a farmer, gardener or grandchild. Bert’s figurines and ornaments have a sophisticated, yet fun personality and unexpected twist of humor that will delight you. Before there can be a figurine or ornament, there must first be an idea. Bert gets his ideas from “all over.” Memories from childhood or a face in the crowd can spark an idea. “I never start with a finished image in mind,” Bert explains. “I like to let the clay have a say in what the final piece will look like. Sometimes the best ideas seem to jump out of the clay as I’m working.