Not only did I grow up without Christmas, but I was raised in a community where the norm was dumplings and a matinee on that quiet, snowy holiday, and thus traditions that most of this country takes for granted still strike me as intriguingly novel. I had my first cup of nog in college and hung my very first ornament a mere week ago. But nothing can match the starry-eyed fascination I experience when my neighborhood begins decorating the facades of their homes. Across the street, one giant, inflated, rotating snow globe glows frenetically, around the corner, clones of Mary hang from every window. We may not have much grass to call our own in Brooklyn, but the desire for outdoor decor manages to thrive regardless. Let your oddities take in some fresh air; it’s time for Keep It Weird to ornament its lawn.
Check out the Related Items below for more creatures to watch over your chrysanthemums.
Michelle Traub is an editor for Etsy.
96 comments
Sign in to add your ownMegansMenagerie says:
Love the Flamingo!!!
1 year ago
jbeaudet says:
Wow! Your story is really interesting. I grew up with a traditional family doing all the traditional stuff. I have great memories of Christmas' past but somehow I ended up weird anyways! Thanks for sharing :)
1 year ago
KMalinka says:
Great post!
1 year ago
Grafxquest says:
I will never forget seeing my first wooden garden women bent over tending the garden with her polka dotted drawers! I laughed so hard and then I looked around because I was so embarrassed...I was only 8...but have seriously stayed away from the oddities on my lawn because I will never forget that incident. However Holidays don't count! Run amok!
1 year ago
VintageEye says:
All gnomes should be armed!
1 year ago
cartelle says:
LMAO I NEED that combat garden gnome!!!
1 year ago
ArtDecoDame says:
loving the gnome and flamingo!
1 year ago
scarletbegonia11 says:
cute post <3
1 year ago
birdie1 says:
Hilarious! Reminds me of my niece who, after beauty school, props her mannequin heads around the yard. You can see them from the kitchen peeking in the window from the outside. Still scares me.
1 year ago
originalsbyannemarie says:
Maybe I could come up with an idea for my dressform!
1 year ago
NobleTextiles says:
Ha! that gnome is hilarious!
1 year ago
VampedUpCouture says:
So Great!
1 year ago
franstradingpost says:
Here in NC, home of Fort Bragg, Seymore Johnson AFB, and the base at Cherry Point the Combat Gnome would be very appropriate!
1 year ago
BeatificBijoux says:
Two blocks away from mine is a house whose inhabitants think bowling balls balanced atop spray-painted coffe cans are just the thing to adorn their flower beds. They have about 20 of them.
1 year ago
BeatificBijoux says:
And no, I don't live in Baltimore, in case you were wondering.
1 year ago
melida says:
Oooooh, totally getting inspiration for my balcony....
1 year ago
bedouin says:
strange and beautiful ~ The Pod Ring with Birdie Perched by leandogpottery is mesmerizing
1 year ago
snotbooger says:
i love fun yard stuff i like the stair statue and the flamingo
1 year ago
AthenasGown says:
Haha - Wow, I love this! Either that would attract with weirdos or keep them away! ;)
1 year ago
volkerwandering says:
Awesomeness!
1 year ago
MomsCottage says:
ha! I almost spit my drink out when I saw the gnome! too funny!
1 year ago
KKSimpleRegalJewelry says:
Very interesting!! Its fun to celebrate isn't it!! BTW Homemade eggnog is the BEST!!! ~Krista
1 year ago
offbeet says:
This one lady in my town has her lawn adorned with tubs, sinks, and toilets...oh, and a washing machine...one day the scrap guys came by to pick them and she had to chase them off her lawn...now all of the appliances are chained to various trees in her yard.
1 year ago
mynameiskorrine says:
The Head print is Priceless. Love it.
1 year ago
NicoAndMooMoo says:
HAHAHAHAH I love these posts! the combat gnome is so funny!
1 year ago
ladyhawthorne says:
I love the garden gnome!
1 year ago
VintageLancaster says:
Wow this is awesome! So glad to be included!
1 year ago
RetroRevivalBoutique says:
*gigglesnort* Me likey the combat gnome! :0)
1 year ago
availdesign says:
I like the lady's HEAD from the neonmatisse!
1 year ago
availdesign says:
Great lady's Head from neonmatisse!
1 year ago
silverlily786 says:
A HA HA HA HA HA "sigh" Hilarious.
1 year ago
LoveMeOrnamentals says:
Oh my! I love the gnome and Im thrilled I was featured! YAY!
1 year ago
volson1 says:
I love the Garden Gnome... love it!
1 year ago
accentonvintage says:
Love to see lawn ornaments!
1 year ago
damngooddoormats says:
My first Etsy blog! Thanks for including my doormat!
1 year ago
elizasteindesigns says:
I'm a lifelong city dweller, so a lawn is such exotic terrain to me. If I had one, I'm sure I'd stuff it full of gnomes, flamingos, and maybe a scarecrow just for the heck of it.
1 year ago
vinskord says:
Great stuff!! Love the combat gnome!!
1 year ago
peshka says:
Ha ha..Cool!
1 year ago
FullCircleRetro says:
=D
1 year ago
Ficurinia says:
Reminds me of some of the folks who will be at our Christmas Eve dinner this year. Many of them never celebrated Christmas ever and were so excited when we started to invite them over for non-traditional gourmet meals with no children—anywhere! Just a lot of really drunk grown-ups!!! Coming from a traditionally Catholic background it was kind of great to reinvent the holiday with my husband since we also have no kids. No more Mommy Dearest from my mom and dad and way more La Dolce Vita! (In my other life I have a garden store here on etsy and I LOVE LOVE LOVE non-traditional yard decor. Thanks for thinking of this right now.)
1 year ago
JennasRedRhino says:
This stuff is much more exciting than the broken vehicles, abandoned snow-gos, wood piles and 500 gallon oil tanks that populate the yards of rural Alaska where I grew up (nobody has lawns there).
1 year ago
EphemeraAndMore says:
LOVE keep it weird! Always fun and inspirational! Great story too!
1 year ago
FolkArtByDawn says:
I like to decorate my yard too I get some odd looks
1 year ago
AlisaDesign says:
Cool!!! :)
1 year ago
mark13148 says:
Very cool!
1 year ago
AMSkrafts says:
Wow, the flamingo is wonderful! Reminds me of Dia de Los Muertes skulls. Very nice!
1 year ago
casualtatter says:
AHAAHAAHAAHAA1 LOVE the garden gnome! He's just terrific!
1 year ago
PAYSMAGE says:
Love the Bird House Clown !
1 year ago
joankelley says:
I'd like a Gnome but dressed in a Navy uniform!
1 year ago
SchneiderGallery says:
Fun as usual hehe, but I love bird bath print and ring most!
1 year ago
stormboli says:
I love seeing the New Brunswick, Canada flag :) Where exactly was the top photo taken? I'm from New Brunswick living i NY, I haven't gotten my flag hung yet! This post also reminds me that I need to grab my half lady next time I am home haha.
1 year ago
knitfitt says:
I want that tea towel. Great post.
1 year ago
thecityfolklore says:
Hilarious stuff! In Europe people don't go to those extremes, but probably because space isn't abundant. I wonder what some houses secretly stash, though!
1 year ago
BarnshopAntiques says:
Lol, l enjoy your posts. Happy Holidays
1 year ago
princessjainascloset says:
My grandmother had the half-lady with drawers in her garden a fair distance from the road... until family and neighbours starting honking as they drove by thinking Nan was out picking strawberries.
1 year ago
Gamut says:
I am shocked that etsy doesn't have a mass of homeade whirly gig makers.Standard yard fare in small town Kansas. Maybe this will give someone the idea.
1 year ago
Parachute425 says:
Fun
1 year ago
BlueBrushStudio says:
What a great idea...love the hilarious gnome!
1 year ago
OnlyOriginalsByAJ says:
I love the flamingo! Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
1 year ago
afteryourheartart says:
I love the combat garden gnome!!!
1 year ago
EarthSeaWarrior says:
this roolz and that HEAD is awesomely creepy.
1 year ago
VintageZen says:
that gnome is hilarious!
1 year ago
RoughGems says:
Kitschy cool post! This seems fun to do, just need to get myself a lawn.
1 year ago
KnotYourNeedles says:
I live out in the sticks, but I'm filing this away for my old lady years. I cannot wait to yell "Get off my lawn, you hooligans!" when I become a woman of a certain age. Hopefully I'll stop feeling like a goofy teenager by then as well.
1 year ago
myvintagecrush says:
I need that doormat!!
1 year ago
tchaubella says:
That garden gnome is awesome!!!
1 year ago
DogwoodWinter says:
Jennasredrhino knows about what I saw when I was in a fishing village in rural Alaska -- you could put Christmas lights on the stacks of dead vehicles and call it a Christmas "tree." There really aren't a lot of trees in Northern Alaska, either, so it would be welcome. Anyway, my mum has pink flamingos for her yard, but when I get to be a cranky old spinster, I'm going to make everything I can into planters -- wheelbarrows, sinks, toilets, teacups, everything. I'll be planting artichoke plants around them, too, so no one can steal them. XP
1 year ago
Spinarama says:
Great idea with the cosmetology mannequins. I have one I use to display hats. Since I am not using it at the moment, instead of the head looking in windows from the outside, this head is looking out the right side of the window, on the the window sill, with her hat on, tilted in a way that it is facing towards the door. There is also a "no soliciting" sign on the left side of the window. Sure fire way to chase off missionaries.
1 year ago
solocosmo says:
The Flamingo is fantastic!
1 year ago
cupcakegangster says:
omgggggggggg tha gnome is too funny!!! lmao
1 year ago
jojosvintagecupboard says:
Neat stuff here!
1 year ago
pinksnakejewelry says:
Super Post!!! OMG that Combat Garden Gnome.....
1 year ago
QuirkMuseum says:
When I moved into my house there was a 3 foot high stone obelisk in the front yard that was sorta phallic in shape. Not one to mess with karmic forces, it's still there.
1 year ago
steenoneill says:
I sooo need to get the combat garden gnome for my little patio table. It would instantly inspire laughter when guests came over and saw it:)
1 year ago
DominiqueD says:
Is this in New Brunswick, Canada? Its the New Brunswick flag...
1 year ago
andiespecialtysweets says:
Hahha ...I think there is only one thing to do, Michelle. You should buy the Combat Garden Gnome and point it right at the revolving snow globe. And, you should make a "dumpling" ornament for your first tree. First ornament? Really? Welcome.
1 year ago
RossLab says:
crazy!
1 year ago
TrueGemsByPatti says:
Love the gnome!
1 year ago
mazedasastoat says:
I just love that Combat Garden Gnome. Where I live garden gnomes are a kind of traditional feature, although to be truly precise we call them Devon Piskies. There's even a "reserve" for them not far away where there are literally thousands of the pesky little varmints digging, wheeling wheelbarrows, fishing, etc. I've always half hoped one of them would one day go on a rampage with an assault rifle & litter the area with little flakes of plaster...
1 year ago
ShoeClipsOnly says:
My BF would love that garden Gnome! Cute items!
1 year ago
aimeere says:
My husband has limited me to one garden gnome. I'd like to have a whole village of them!! Fun Fun!!
1 year ago
stepbackink says:
Good article.
1 year ago
LeftontheBeach says:
dare to be different, our house is not a home till we decorate it!
1 year ago
BurningHeartArt says:
Love the machine gun gnomie!
1 year ago
LittleWrenPottery says:
Wow amazing finds as always, I love that bird house has so much character!
1 year ago
benarobinson says:
Where are you from that you had dumplings and a matinee on Christmas? I'm just curious. I live in Russia at the moment and I'm really looking forward to New Year here, where I guess we'll eat and drink copious amounts until the morning of the first, and then go outside and stagger around in the snow. I eat dumplings (pelmeni) a lot here, too, so that's why I was curious. The gnome is awesome!
1 year ago
bodicegoddess says:
My housemates keep talking about how much they want a lawn dinosaur - preferably a velociraptor. There's talk of decorating him for each holiday, too. A top hat for fancy ones, wrap him in Christmas lights, put on a cape... So many possibilities! But, for now, we'll have to stick with their two-year-old's "ghost friend" that's been out since Halloween.
1 year ago
StuffByKim says:
I love the Flamingo. The sky is the limit on those.
1 year ago
kathiroussel says:
wow-- combat garden gnome takes the cake-- perfect way to scare off unwanted holiday guests!
1 year ago
UglyBaby says:
There's an artist in Seattle - Kelly Lyles - who has a bunch of rocking horses in her yard. It's super creepy-cool looking at night.
1 year ago
RedFernVintage says:
I sooo look forward to these.
1 year ago
5erg says:
Love the door mat :D Useful
1 year ago
BanglewoodSupplies says:
That is weird!
1 year ago
BigBadBuddha says:
I'm loving that Plastic Flamingo
1 year ago
Mclovebuddy says:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/70284322/peenut-print?ref=v1_other_1
1 year ago
tableclothpad says:
I love this post .
1 year ago