The Adventures of Jessie and The Grumpy Gnome

Travel Begins in the Imagination

-Ex Libris-

From the Books of our Travel Experiences


Upcoming Events:



The Crystal Library

Follow the link below to view a full list of our available crystals!


It’s a Musical Week! Reflections and Highlights from The Diggity Reunion & Benefit:



Reviews from our ‘Books and Coffee’ Series:


The Enchanted Path: A Travel Podcast, with Jessie Howe


-The Travel Grimoire-


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Welcome to the Campfire.

I’m Jessie, and my beloved travel partner is the elusive, brilliant, endearingly Grumpy Gnome. I am an artist, and he is my reluctant muse. We both live to embrace the journey: to discover treasure, explore new places, follow curiosity, and appreciate the boundless joy in pursuing the mysterious, beautiful, limitless wonders of the world.

It is my hope and intention that our adventures will inspire you to take the leap to create your own. To build a travel dream from the many aspirations and passions unique to you. The very best experiences we’ve had on our travels have been shaped by what genuinely sparks our interest, and inspires us. Travel, ultimately, begins in our imaginations.

I believe that our ability to imagine is one of our greatest gifts. Stories are how we express these gifts, and share the wisdom of our life experience. Through stories we are inspired to learn, grow, listen, reflect—to be evolved by the journey. To be present, and open to see the beauty of the every day.

Discovering the story within is the turning of the key that unlocks the magic of our world.

I am absolutely thrilled to share our adventures with you all, through art, story, and song. Every mishap, wonder, miracle, and stumble along the way. Welcome to the journey, from the books of our life experience.

Ex Libris,

Jessie & The Grumpy Gnome

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Meet The Grumpy Gnome!

Elusive, stylish, charming, crafty, and mysterious…

The Grumpy Gnome loves his independence and personal space. He has highly developed powers of observation, and likes maps. Magical objects, animals, and bizarre occurrences find their way to him with ease.

During his travels, The Grumpy Gnome craves time to hunt for new treasure, occasionally venturing out with Jessie from his familiar forest and into the unknown. The Grumpy Gnome does not like mornings. Nor does he enjoy staircases. In fact, he would say that Jessie tricked him into ascending the one in the photo…

He frequently tells Jessie that stairs are the worst part of travel, as he prefers underground dwellings. She smiles and consistently encourages him to climb mountains, castles, towers, and palaces with her. All in the spirit of adventure.

Jessie & Grumpy Gnome balance each others’ strengths and bring their own unique perspectives in traveling together.

Photo is from Corniglia: The Cinque Terra, Italy

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Meet Jessie!

Hi!! I’m Jessie, a free spirit from the woodlands of Northern Indiana. I love immersing myself in nature, exploring new places, and sharing the stories of my adventures with The Grumpy Gnome through the many forms of art I create.

As an artist, I am elevated by the process of discovery. I love to dream, live for adventure, and embrace creative expression in all its wonderous forms. Whether my inspiration manifests into a painting, a song, or a poem, the love that drives it originates in storytelling.

I am here to share our travel stories with you, in the hope that the many incredible experiences of our journey can inspire you to build adventures of your own.

Photo is from Corniglia: The Cinque Terra, Italy

Sharing Travel Stories through Art, Music, and Handmade Gifts.


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SHOP is OPEN!

Fly on over to our SHOP Page!

Our shop is a compilation of fun, unique items that tell a story, inspired by our travel experiences. We have original artwork, vintage collectibles, handmade gifts, digital and antique prints, and selections from The Crystal Library available. We are thrilled to share our creative process with you through this collection!

Click on the link below to see our featured items:

*Gnome & Owl Illustration is original sketch by Jessie Howe

Featured Treasures in our Shop:


Looking for Musical Inspiration?

Check out our Spotify profile, where we have playlists for every season!

Head over to our Resource Page—a living list of recommended books and helpful references for travel inspiration.

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Help us keep adding to the pages of our Adventure Book!

The Adventures of Jessie and The Grumpy Gnome is an independent publication, created and managed by artist, musician, & travel writer Jessie Howe. All of the content on this site is our own—photography, art, music, stories, and experiences. We would love to keep bringing you the best of what we learn on our journeys, in the hope of inspiring you to create your own!

If you would like to support this beloved endeavor, you can purchase items from our Shop, Commission an original art piece, join our Patreon, and follow us on social media. All proceeds go toward the continuation of this work, and your generosity makes it possible for us to grow.

Thank you for visiting our site and sharing in our stories.

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