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.
