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.

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far, away...

Someone asked for a Yoda gnome, and I got inspired! Star Wars is one of my all-time favorite movies. I remember vividly when it first came out, standing in line to see it again and again. I took a little cassette recorder into the theatre to record it, holding the microphone up, wincing whenever someone coughed. I used to go to science fiction conventions. I didn't dress up myself, but I saw many startroopers and a few wookies. Stay tuned! If these sell, I will making more character!

A gnome inspired by Yoda.

A prince and princess inspired by Han Solo and Princess Leia

Two robots inspired by C3PO and R2D2.

The Adventures of Gnathan Gnome

I've just opened a Twitter account for Gnathan Gnome. Follow his adventures as he escapes from the fairy garden and explores the world. Totally child appropriate! 

@Gnathan Gnome

Seven Dwarfs

I've finally finished creating all seven dwarfs! Available as a set or individually.I'd like to thank Donna for her inspiration and ideas.

Lights in the Deluxe Cottages... videos!

In the deluxe cottages you may choose either Flickering Amber light or Magical Color Changing light. I thought you might like to see them in action, so I figured out how to post videos!

This is the Flickering Amber light that lets you know that someone is home sitting by the hearth warming their toes.

Here is the Magical Color Changing light. You know that there is somebody casting spells in here!

More Dwarfs!

I have completed three more dwarfs! That's five done now, two more to go! They are available individually at weebrigadoon.etsy.com. As soon as I finish all seven, they will also be sold as a set, with the Forest Princess, aka Snow White.

This is the Prof, who is a bit of a know-it-all.

This is Drippy, who has terrible allergies.

 This is Grouchy, who is, well, grouchy!

And here are five of the dwarfs so far, along with their princess. The dwarfs are   1 1/4" tall.

Dwarfs and Princesses

Princesses galore! Any colors. Perfect as cake toppers. 3" tall

The Princess has found her Prince, and they are getting married!

The forest Princess and her friends the Dwarfs! Here are Funny and Jolly.

Funny and Jolly are only 1 1/4" tall! More dwarfs to follow as I create them!

I think I will create, let's see, um... seven!

There are bugs in my fairy garden! Thank you Donna

New bug friends for my gnomes and fairies. This idea came to me from my new good friend, Donna, of Tinybabyshop.etsy.com. She also sells as "Lovelylittlebabies" on ebay. Check out her adorable miniature babies! See some photos of her work below.

Donna's one-of-a-kind tiny babies are made to order, and only about 2-4" long!

How to build a desert fairy garden

A desert fairy garden is the easiest kind to build and maintain, especially if you have a brown thumb like I do! Start with a cactus mix potting soil and a pot. Since you'll be watering it so little, it doesn't need a drainage hole.

 Fill your pot almost full with the potting soil. Pepper is supervising.

 Plant your little cacti and succulents you got at the garden store into small holes and pat down. I like to put them mostly in the corners, so I can put my fairy garden scene in the center, but you may prefer to put taller plants in the back if it will be against a wall.

 Gently cover all the potting soil with at least 1/2" of sand, more is better than less, as when you water, you don't want the soil to show through!

You may be wondering why my table is covered with pinecones. My husband and I just went pinecone collecting. I use them for the roofs of my gnome cottages. They're spread out in the sun, so all the bugs living in them will leave!

 Add rocks, driftwood, or anything else you've collected that fits the theme. I've added a little dry creekbed with gravel.

 Water very gently. If you uncover the soil, add a little more sand. Depending on your climate, and if you keep the garden in the sun or not, you'll only need to water about once a month.

 Then I decorated with my gold mine, prospector gnome, cow skull, rattlesnake, shovel, pickaxe, gold pan, and mining cart. You can make gold nuggets by spray painting some small stones gold, then tossing them in gold glitter.

 The parts of my desert scene are for sale in my etsy shop, etsy.com/shop/weebrigadoon, and as a whole set on ebay!

New Wee Gnomes for Smaller Fairy Gardens

Thanks to a customer request, I now offer Wee Gnomes, at 1 1/2" tall. My regular Gnomes and Fairies are 3" tall. All the same detail and care. They still fit my cottages!

This photo shows the Wee Gnomes next to a regular Gnome.

A Pinterest Page to Visit

Here is a link to a pinterest page you might love! I do! It belongs to Kyle , who has the most beautiful yard full of gardens and fairy gardens. She recently bought my signpost, which is how I found out about her.

http://pinterest.com/sunnypeaches/

Flower Fairies arrive for spring!

I have now created flower fairies. About 2 1/4" tall, blinged out with lots of glitter and a Swarovski crystal. Standing or flying.

I have now created flower fairies. About 2 1/4" tall, blinged out with lots of glitter and a Swarovski crystal.

The elves are here!

Elves have joined my gnome family! They are a little shorter, fatter, with pointed ears, and a big smile! They wear aprons, of course, because, in the wee hours of the morning, elves make shoes for fairies!

Customers Share their Fairy Gardens

Whenever I sell an item, I always ask for a photo of their fairy garden, because I love to see where my gnomes go to live! Here are the pictures that have been sent to me.

Kellie's garden:

Alene's arctic display for Christmas:

Robin's tropical garden:

NEW! LIGHTS in all houses!

Now there are tiny gnomes and fairies at home in my cottages. I have added lights. A waterproof amber LED tealight is inserted through a hole drilled in the floor. It uses 2 lithium 3 V batteries, which are included. The manufacturer says they have 12-16 hours of power. 

 Here is the tealight outside the house. It requires a 1 1/4" hole in the floor. They are waterproof, and turn on by twisting.

 I can just imagine Mr. and Mrs. Gnome warming their feet by the wood stove and enjoying a tiny mug of hot cocoa.

All my cottage designs now include lights, even though I don't have them photographed that way yet. The price is $2 more...$37- $39.