Lawndale Gnome King

08/16/2026

Six years ago, one lonely gnome showed up in our yard… and somehow opened a door into a whole world I never planned to build.

At the beginning of COVID, when everyone was feeling incredibly lonely and disconnected, some neighborhood kids spotted him, decided there must be a “Lawndale Gnome King” living here somewhere, and started sending him letters.

So obviously, I wrote back. 😂

And then it just kept growing… and growing and growing!

More gnomes. More letters. More art. More and more completely ridiculous and magical ideas. Coloring books, painted rocks and shells, surprises hidden around the neighborhood and the world, and eventually this weird, wonderful community that came together so fiercely we somehow ended up taking on a billion-dollar organization and actually SAVING our community. 😂

And now… This magical little world is ready to get a whole lot bigger.

The Lawndale Gnome King will always be where this started. But this isn’t really about one gnome, one neighborhood, or one city anymore!

It’s about noticing the weird little beautiful things! It’s all an about the small magic in the world and spreading it to the most unexpected places. It’s about creating art together and making an ordinary day suddenly feel a little more magical! ✨

So, The Lawndale Gnome King is becoming The Small Wonders Society. 🍄🔎✨

The gnomes are still here. Obviously.
The art is still here.
The community is still the whole point.

But the world is getting MUCH bigger.

New books. New art projects. New places to explore. New things to find. And some completely ridiculous ideas I’m not telling you about yet. 😏

Keep looking. Keep wondering. And get ready… we’re (not just me - you too!) about to make a LOT more magic.

So, with that - Welcome to The Small Wonders Society!

This is just the beginning…

07/18/2026

One of my favorite parts of spending part of our summers in Door County is hiding little painted gnomes and mushrooms for people to find. ❤️🍄

This week, the Door County Rocks community was featured in the Peninsula Pulse Newspaper, and I was honored to be included in the story. It was so fun to share why I love leaving tiny pieces of art for strangers and how something as simple as a painted rock can bring people together.

A huge thank you to Kylie Newton and the Peninsula Pulse for highlighting this incredible community and the kindness and creativity that make it so special.

If you’re in Door County, there are still a handful of my little gnomes hiding out there, waiting to be found. 😊 If you happen to find one, I’d love to see it! Post a photo and tag me so I can celebrate with you.

You can read the article here:

The saying, “A little kindness goes a long way,” is likely proving to be true in Door County. Using anonymous initiatives, residents and visitors are spreading simple acts of compassion […]

07/18/2026

Last week I tucked away about 20 little gnomes around Door County, just waiting to be discovered. ❤️🍄

We just got home, so I figured it was finally time to share a few photos of this year’s hides!

I was also so honored to see the Door County Rocks community featured in the Peninsula Pulse Newspaper this week. Huge thanks to Kylie Newton and the Peninsula Pulse for highlighting this amazing group and the kindness, creativity, and connection it inspires. It’s such a special community to be a tiny part of.

If you’re out exploring Door County, keep your eyes peeled… you never know when a little gnome might be peeking out from behind a tree, along a trail, or waiting on a rock for you to find. 😊

If you find one of mine, I’d love to see where it ended up! Snap a picture, post it, and tag me so I can celebrate the find with you.

Good luck to everyone out hunting for tiny treasures! ❤️🍄🧙‍♂️

01/23/2026

This photo was taken two years ago today. At the time, this outcome felt impossible.

Today, our community did something extraordinary.

Hundreds of neighbors got on buses before sunrise. Hundreds more packed the Metro boardroom. We showed up shoulder to shoulder and proved that when a community stands together, even a David-and-Goliath fight can turn.

Metro was stopped from pushing two additional passenger rail lines and moving freight trains closer to homes. Instead, we secured a unanimous vote to move the project to Hawthorne Boulevard, protecting our neighborhood and our green space.

This would not have happened two years ago.
It would not have happened a month ago.

What changed the outcome was people showing up, speaking up, and standing up for the place they love.

It was powerful. It was emotional. It was beautiful.

Deep gratitude to Holly Mitchell for championing our community, and to James Butts, Art Najarian, Jacqueline Dupont-Walker, Tim Sandoval, and the entire Metro Board for listening and standing with us.

Victories like this don’t happen often these days.
Protecting community like this feels nothing short of a miracle.

And it happened because people showed up.

01/16/2026

I’ve hidden a whoooole bunch of gnomies around the South Bay recently. ❤️ Happy hunting

01/16/2026

Get. On. The. Bus!

01/04/2026

🌊 🐌

12/30/2025

Teeny tiny gnomes and disco snails have been set free in the South Bay! Did you find one??

12/26/2025

Meowy Catmas from our house gargoyle and my half-finished utility box murals! (I promise they’ll be done by the end of Christmas break Destinee!!!)

12/25/2025

Who’s getting a smooch under the mistletoe tonight ?! 💋 😘