Member Benefits 016-2: Health Wellness

Linda, just wanted to say thanks for sharing your inspirational story… art and crafts can heal. I, too, am returning to polymer clay after an long absence due to MS. The great thing about this site is that it’s loaded with “tryin'” folks. Cindy leads the way. LOL! ~Jocelyn >> This comment was originally posted here: Inspiration for Polymer Clay Beads

Hi Cindy….Wow you’re fast like lightning!!!! You answered my problem email almost immediately. How do you do all this? Your husband must really be a great help to you. I have been all over the internet but your site is the very, very, best!!! Your reply was a right on the button. I entered  and played all videos with no problem. You are the greatest!!! But even more than that. I could listen to your voice all day but my husband won’t let me. I have two rooms for crafts but can’t get either one organized. The clay room is in the sun room but I think its too hot for clay. The front room is for sewing  and everything else. I just lost about 20 African Violets because I can’t keep up with everything. I’m 62 years old and have had chronic back pain for years, fibromyalgia and chronic depression. Clay is the only thing that takes my mind off of everything. ENOUGH!!!! Please continue the exciting way you teach. ~Helen >> This comment was originally posted here: How To Make Mobius Beads

Hi Cindy. I’ve been following your blog for a while now.  I haven’t made much with polymer clay, but I have learned a lot and have had fun playing. I’m a crocheter mostly.  I have carpal tunnel and use a sponge to make the hook fatter so I can continue to crochet.  A few weeks ago I broke my favorite hook (just snapped right off near the top of the sponge). I couldn’t find that size locally. I had to order online. (I ordered 2 this time).  In order to continue crocheting, I used polymer clay to put my crochet hook back together.  It was just a quick fix and it’s really ugly, but it may be something I expand into in the future. Thanks to you and your blog, I was able to continue to crochet while waiting for my new hooks to arrive. Crocheting keeps my hands busy and keeps me calm a lot, as well as passing the time.  I’m a flight attendant, so I have lots of down time on planes, in airports, and in hotel rooms. ~Joyce >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Tools

I encounter the same problem here in the US! I am Russian-American and work as an RN in a adult day health center that caters to elderly emigrant Russian Jews. A group of the ladies have become what I affectionately call my “bead-groupies” and are always checking to see what design jewelry I am wearing for that day. (Need to make more stuff! ;) I find it hard to explain to them that this is clay (“gleena”) in Russian because that means pottery clay. Saying it is “plastic” does connote a “tackiness” and the concept of millefiori really eludes them – they are convinced my stuff is painted! Maybe the Russian artists can call it “polimeriya”? ~Maria >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay In Russia

I really appreciate the videos and all I am learning. I just had surgery and will begin the practical phase next week. So far I have just watched and read and amassed tools and clay. Once my husband picks up a 12×12 ceramic tile I will be on my way. I have seen someone make a tree face out of the clay and although I begin this craft wanting to make beads, I can see there is a plethera of things you can do with it. I am truly looking forward to getting started. I purposefully did not start so that I could use it as a distraction during my recovery. Your videos have been very very helpful. ~Lani >> This comment was originally posted here: Slicing Polymer Clay Canes

Without the food processor my time for clay would be very limited as Arthritis visits often and without the pasta machine there would be no level pieces of clay to cut from so being very new to polymer clay these items are really necessary. I think I’ll really enjoy my next purchase which will be the Makins Professional Clay Extruder and that may become a favorite. Love this new hobby and your lessons and videos Cindy. ~JoyceF >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Tools

I love kato clay. It’s strong and bakes well. I hate conditioning clay so I used the softer clays and sandwich kato inside. Usually the crumbling happens inside of the softer clays. By the second or third pass the clay conditions well. I add a little bit of kato at a time. I have arthritis so I don’t condition by hand, my pasta machine does it all. I tried liquid polyclay on it but it was too sticky for me. Hobby Lobby is my supplier for clay, all brands go on sale at .99 every couple of months. If I need clay on an off month I use the 40% off coupon that they have available every 2 to 3 weeks. I can’t ever remember paying full price for clay. I also use the coupon for the larger size bricks. I love the makins clay extruder (40% off) and all your tutorials. THANKS!!! ~Sandra >> This comment was originally posted here: Fimo Clay, Premo, Sculpey

I am fairly new to this chat thing but I love your site. It has given me so much help. Like all of you I am polyclay mad. Made tons of beads and sold some in the local craft shop, but I live in the UK or at least Wales. My children say out in the middle of nowhere.  My question is I have just ordered a beach tumbler as the postage for the Lortone was too expensive. It has a plastic barrel. Is that OK? And what would be river rock in the UK. Is it the same as in the US? I have never seen any to know what it looks like. I am trying to help my pore arthritic fingers with the small beads. ~Ritzs >> This comment was originally posted here: Rock Tumblers for Polishing Polymer Clay

I have a presentation to give in a few days on how using creativity to outsource stress may be very effective. Since my presentation is on creativity I decided to buy some clay to give out to the students to use in class while I present. When I came across this page I was so happy to find that using clay really helps people cope with stress. I will be quoting from this site and sending people here if they are interested. Also I was wondering if there is a certain clay you need for this to be effective of if any clay will suffice? ~Annamarie >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Art Therapy

The colors seem to flow together when I look at them differently now. It.s so amazing. Thank you. Hopefully I am going to become a full member when I can afford the membership. I am still bouncing back from paying for cancer treatment (no insurance) and then no income, ( surprise separation) I am not fishing for pity so please. I feel very blessed to be here. The hard times make the good times so much sweeter. Thank you Cindy for passing your knowledge on and for all the inspiration you give everyone. God bless. ~Lisa >> This comment was originally posted here: Color Inspiration for Polymer Clay Jewelry

A very timely article for me as I was thinking about just this purchase.  I do not fall into any of the the above categories and absolutely do not run enough clay through my machine to justify it.  Besides, my biceps is getting pretty muscular from the cranking.  Only problem is I tend to crank with only my right hand so I am becoming  a bit lopsided. I am having problem with my neck (I am prone to neck strain) because of the position of my machine; it was off to the side and too far from where I was sitting.  So a  reorganization of my work area (YEAH !!) solved that problem.  I was at a workshop where the instructed suggested we stand over the machine while processing clay because working to the side had caused her back problems.   Hey, that will give my legs some exercise too. ~Anna >> This comment was originally posted here: Pasta Machine Motor

Hi all. Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. I know we did. Yay summer! Anyhoo, I hope everyone can use this little tip. But I can’t claim mad scientist rights to it. I saw it posted on another blog some time ago, just cant remember now which one it was, and have been using it since then on the rare occasions I have real silver to work with. I love that its green too, and no more stinky fumes from Liver of Sulfur. When you have breathing issues like I do with COPD, fumes are the enemy. Even perfume can cause me grief. So this is a definite winner in my book, and I’m just glad I could share it.  XOXO ~Jaime >> This comment was originally posted here: Hammered Copper Findings

Dear Cindy ~ I love your site! How do I get the newsletter? I have never done poly clay, but am extremely interested. I have been mainly a visual artist and a beader. I’m home bound, so I’m looking for ways to expand my horizons that I can do at home. Sincerely ~Linda >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Videos

I love the handmade look as well, but I also use a roller somtimes. There are certain “looks” that I feel need a uniform bead shape/size to pull off. Oddly enough, I never make round beads with my roller – only oval or bicone. I always prefer to do round beads by hand. One of the big reasons I got into polymer clay is the tactile aspect of the medium – rolling and shaping by hand is always cathartic and for me is usually the way to go. ~Jackie >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Beads

I truly enjoy your methods of teaching immensely, and you are so (NOT) intimidating as you bring a person through step by step. This is a Blessing in disguise to a majority of us, especially when you are my age (64).  Thank you for your Patience, and also for your Great Work!!!! Your beads are gorgeous, and have to try some marbling too. They make gorgeous round disks!  Will have to do some experimenting with my clay, and check around for some of the goodies you were using.  For myself, being an artist is such a Blessing, and it has encouraged me through some difficult times. It is great therapy!! Thanks again!! ~DianaQM >> This comment was received via email.

REGULAR COLOR RECIPE (A): Orange Lipstick ** B-SERIES COLOR RECIPE (B): Peaceful Garden > Polymer Clay Tutorials Guest List VIDEO: Making a Butterfly Wing Pendant Using a Cutter and Texture Plate