Redding Record-Searchlight

Artist Spotlight

Nov. 7, 2013

Artist Debra Diner brings childhood memories of make believe and fantasy to life by creating personalized fairy gardens. Her handmade polymer clay people, including gnomes, fairies, dwarfs, princesses, and elves, inhabit tiny cottages built of natural materials like stone and pine cone. With Diner’s hand crafted pieces, the young at heart can build an entire fairy village with signposts and koi ponds, or holiday displays. Diner’s themed gardens, such as tropical beach, desert gold mine, and winter wonderland are particularly popular.

So, how did this fantasy adventure start?

I guess I started creating miniature worlds as a child, with little dolls and furniture. I played with my brothers (they played with army men), and we created scenarios in our back yard, making tunnels and walls and little houses. As an adult, I taught kindergarten for eight years, where I got to “play” all the time. When I taught junior high for 14 years, we still “played” with miniature worlds, building dioramas for science and history. Every St. Patrick’s Day, we built “leprechaun traps.” The students built little restaurants and hotels to trick the leprechauns into entering. So many times, we came “this close” to catching one. And yes, even 13-year-olds love to suspend belief and play!

Tell us about the materials you use.

Polymer clay. You knead it until it is pliable, then shape it into whatever you want. You can mix it to make new colors, and it sticks to itself. It stays soft until you bake it at a low temperature. It is a wonderful medium for kids and adults. Many artists make jewelry, dolls, or figurines with it. Then I paint, or glue on glitter or rhinestones, and spray them with spar urethane to protect them from the elements.

How do you craft the tiny houses?

I use cement patch and river stones to build the walls. My husband and I collect pine cones, and he cuts off the scales for me to glue on the roofs. The doors, windows, and chimneys I make from polymer clay. Then I glue on jewelry findings in the colors and styles that the customer wants. I put battery tea lights inside so it looks like someone is home.

Do you make anything special for the holidays?

For Christmas, I make Santa Claus and snowman gnomes, igloos, and gnomes in parkas. I also can make my cottages look like winter by adding icicles. People use my creations not only for their fairy gardens, but also their holiday displays, birthday cakes, and wedding cakes. They like that I will customize everything to their exact specifications.

What is the reaction to your work?

I hope it will take them back to childhood, when they played make-believe. Many fairy garden fans are grandmothers who share them with their grandchildren. Children love to create tiny worlds of their own, and with fairy gardens, adults can join them. Fairy gardens give us an excuse to play.

go now ... Find Debra Diner’s work at Wild Thyme Gifts and Garden, 1272 Oregon Street, Redding or at Weebrigadoon.etsy.com.