Wedding Cake

Lynley sent me photos of her wedding cake with my custom bride and groom. Her groom wanted to be Superman! I matched her dress, his tux, and their hair styles. It was so exciting to see these! Nobody has ever remembered to send me photos of their wedding cake before!

Tall and Slim

Upon a customer request, I tried making a taller, slimmer bride and groom. I hadn't attempted it before because I didn't think they would stand up, and figures are much easier to make without legs and feet! Well, I think they came out really well! I also made the heads a little smaller. I love them! What do you think?

I am definitely going to try making more characters in this new style. I think they will sell better as wedding cake toppers, too, because they are slightly less "cutesy". And guess what- he stands up just fine. I am excited!!

Expanding into Social Media

I just signed up for Instagram! Now if only I could figure out how to link it to my Wee Brigadoon facebook page. I'm now on Twitter, Pinterest, Picsity, Facebook, and Instagram. If I spent as much time as I should keeping those all active and up-to-date, I wouldn't have any time to sculpt! I just completed a custom bride and groom...

Obviously, she is marrying Superman! I've also been hard at work completing my Wizard of Oz and Wee Monsters lines...

I am trying to expand beyond just fairy gardens, into collectibles and ornaments. I am now offering all my wee people as hanging ornaments. I've also been upgrading my cottages. I finally, with my husband's help, figured out how to have doors that open on a hinge!! And I've added vines with flowers. Bob and I went lichen hunting in the mountains nearby, to find Usnea Lichen that I make into wee birds' nests to put on the houses.

I have an appointment next week with a small business consultant to find out what I can do more of, or better to expand my customer base. I am so grateful to everyone who has supported me, bought from me, and who have become faithful customers!

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.