Member Benefits 020-1: Health Wellness

Just wanted everyone to know not only is Cindy a fantastic teacher (as you will all agree) she has now become a household name in our family. Since I joined her course in July all I have talked about polymer clay so to the reason Cindy is so talked about. I have been a smoker for 52 years now that is a long long time so when I watched Cindy at work with all those wonderful gadgets I knew if I stopped smoking I could afford some of them and more fab videos. I haven’t had a cigarette for 3 weeks now but I am the proud owner of an extruder, some tissue blades and lots of beautiful polymer clay, so when I think of cigarettes I now say that will be 4 packs of clay. A great big thank you Cindy because of you I’m a NON SMOKER. ~Josie-T >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Canes

June, these are wonderful! I am an occupational therapist and especially interested in collecting stories such as yours, because this is what my field is all about! You found a passion that turned a negative life experience into physical healing AND a new found interest. I agree with Cindy that polymer claying can help with physical healing and stress management and an important part of healing is the support and company of others. I think Cindy has created a community that meets so many needs…learning and fellowship. Thank you for sharing your story,and to Cindy for creating this lovely space for us to meet. ~Sue-W >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Art Therapy – Muscle Shoulder Injury

I have been working with clay for about two months and find it very relaxing. I own a home daycare and need something like this to relax. I used to work with clay back in school and didn’t realize how much I missed it until I purchased some. I am glad that I have ran across your site. ~Brendan-M >> This comment was originally posted here: Conditioning Polymer Clay

I can’t tell you how this helped me! Cindy L., you have created a world to which all of us can come to and relieve stress, become a better person, appreciate art, and a multitude of other good things. I can’t always comment on the blog, but I read constantly, each time I get a chance. Thank you from all of us who benefit from your hard work and dedication! ~Debi-S >> This comment was originally posted here: Mother Daughter Story

Ileana, your work is fabulous!!! I love the simplicity of your necklaces and your beads are exquisite. Selling your work will give you a whole new zest for your craft and so much confidence… you definitely need to do that. I also work in a high stress field and polymer clay has served as my stress relief and my creative outlet. It’s fabulous isn’t it?! ~Melinda-H >> This comment was originally posted here: Making Polymer Clay Jewelry

I am so glad I found this site. My oldest son recently passed away and someone had given me a bracelet and earrings made out of his flowers. I love them and where them just about everywhere. A friend of mine is wanting a bracelet for her daughter made out of the bridal flowers. I was looking for a website of someone locally that made them. I may now consider doing this myself. Thank you. ~Marie-K >> This comment was originally posted here: Keepsake Jewelry

Hi Cindy, I know I don’t usually post a lot but I am one of your biggest fans. I have learned so much from your videos. Recently my husband had noticed how much better my work was and he took a lot of the pieces to work to show the girls in the office. They loved them and he came home with only a couple left, He had sold the others. He also brought back orders for quite a few other things. He was my biggest fan. He would come home every day curious to see what I had done. Well he suddenly became ill with what we thought was the flu. By the time he went to the Doctor he had pneumonia. Two days later on September the 10th, 2009 the love of my life passed away. The reason I am sharing my story is that because of your videos and his confidence in me I hope that I can begin to sell my jewelry again. I had to move from NJ back to my home in Alabama where we are from. We were in NJ working for an Energy company. So now I have my studio finally set back up and I have been trying to get the motivation to get back started with it. It’s hard because like I said he was my biggest fan. I know in my heart that he would want me to do it. So I just wanted to thank you for the absolutely wonderful job that you do, and hopefully I will continue on what my husband knew in his heart that I could do. Thanks, ~Jackie-N >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Tribute

Jackie – as a teenager I lost my grandparents and my mother, then my father, then my guardian – all in the space of 5 years.   However, I believe that the loss in my life was for a purpose and it made me the strong person I am.  I think of them still and now am a Life Coach who enables others to recognize that they can celebrate the lives of their loved ones – and what better way to do it than by creating more and more beautiful pieces of jewelery knowing how Vance could well be watching and, as your best friend who always tells you the truth, will continue to admire your work and encourage you to do more and more. ~Penny-V >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Jewelry

A person very close to me has been imprisoned, I suffer from depression and I am stressed beyond capacity on many levels. I was looking for low cost art therapy of some sort for myself and my son where I live and came across this article which I find very interesting. ~Angel-F >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Art Therapy

Cindy and Doug, Your combined efforts and products marked a turning point for me to the better as a major life improvement. I cannot thank both of you enough and am in your debt. It means the world to me that you both are so professional, caring and supportive. I wish you both the very best that life has to offer. May your business and reputations prosper and grow with daily blessings from me. Every day, each morning, I cannot wait to rise, grab a coffee, and read the latest blog and all the comments. It has been a long time since I have felt that type of motivation and excitement. Each daily blog post, comment and video get better and better, and it is so amazing and enjoyable to watch and participate! I especially appreciate the fact that you both strive so hard to always give credit to those whose ideas and techniques you choose to modify and transform as well. Every link on your site is an adventure, LOL! I wish you both and Willow and Fisher a wonderful Christmas season and a fabulous 2010! Mine will be because of you all. Fondly always, ~Jocelyn-C >> This comment was originally posted here: Handmade Beaded Jewelry

Dear Cindy, I don’t know if this idea will help any of your clayers that like me that have arthritic hands. My husband who I must say is very supportive, thinks I am a little crazy but this works. The pictures  will show you I am make do with what I have a piece of broom handle and a plastic cotton reel I will buy a piece of plastic pipe when I go to town (32 miles round trip) so only once a week for me. If anyone has something better I would love to here. I am a very new member but already have learned so much A massive thank you all. ~Ritzs >> This comment was originally posted here: Clay Extruder

Thanks so much for being patient with me, I did get it working and watched the videos in Vol-1. I will try to make the lentil beads, it looks easy but, I will confess I will be purchasing some canes from Etsy. I do alot of Breast Cancer Jewelry and I wanted a cool bead to work with. ~Mary-N >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Canes

Hi Cindy. I told ya I’d be lurking didnt I? LOL! Anyhoo, have I ever burned any clay? Oh boy, you betcha!! A loooong long time ago, I was making some faux ivory/bone beads and I worked for hours texturing and getting them all just right. Then I popped them in my nice “new” oven, set my timer, and went off to do other things. Well to make a long story short, my timer never got a chance to go off because the cloud of smoke in my kitchen called me first. Whooo what a stink! I pulled the tray out quick and dashed them outside and spent 2 hours airing out my house. That taught me to never trust an oven you havent tested first. Then I inspected the beads and found a strange result. Only one side had really burned badly. All rough and charred looking and very dark brown. But the side facing down to the tray had only turned a darker ivory color with no bubbling. And the pattern of texturing could be seen all around the bead still, even on the burned side. To me they looked very much like carved bone that had been in a fire. Really old and kind of mysterious. So I kept them and made a bracelet that still gets me comments on what they are and where I got them. Not a technique I would recommend repeating though. I too have COPD and asthma, and it was not a good thing to experience at all. Now I have a countertop convection oven dedicated to clay only, and the temp stays right where I set it. Plus I always use an oven thermometer since that day. XOXO ~Jamie-H >> This comment was originally posted here: Baking Sculpey Clay

Yeahhhhhhhhh,,,, I got to see it [Teardrop blend video] finally,,,, all I had to do was shut down and reboot,,,, lol.lol.. don’t know why,, but it worked,,, I am new to this clay and I am enjoying it so much,, being that I am on total disability it really helps me make my day go by fast,,, sometimes too fast… lol.lol. ~Bre-B >> This comment was originally posted here: Quickest Skinner Blend

I’m really enjoying the videos and the blog, feel like I’ve signed up for a bit of info and instead have received a wealth of knowledge in return. With the ideas generated by the members (such a supportive bunch); of course everything you’re offering from basic practical tips to beautiful, current techniques – I’m truly inspired and feel so fortunate to have come across your site. My husband has been battling ALS for several years now so unfortunately creative projects have been slowly pushed aside. I find it’s become difficult to start anything because of the time needed to invest in and complete projects. Our situation now doesn’t allow a lot of time for that. So, I thought polymer clay, beading and jewelry making might be a good way to create (even if it’s a little at a time). It’s been a great outlet so far, and I haven’t even played with clay yet. I’ve had a bit of experience a few years back and loved it. Recently it’s been supply buying; reading and ideas galore…quickly written down and sketched out on paper so I won’t forget. Soon I’ll be able to try out the things I’ve learned and written down, that’s when the real fun begins and I learn even more from my mistakes! Thanks again for the wonderful teaching tool you’ve created. You share your knowledge in such a professional, yet warm way – the care you take in what you offer your members is highlighted through your sense of detail and attention given to every inquiry. This has been just what I needed, what a great experience! Bye for now. ~Danette-K >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay

Tiffany – I have fibromyalgia and my hands and wrists both don’t mix well with sanding. I just recently bought a tumbler and I don’t think it takes the place of sanding by hand but it does cut down on how much you have to do. If you want a really high shine I at least feel you need to do a little hand sanding after you run the beads through the tumbler. I myself just use 600 and 800 grit sometimes 1000 but it will take a lot less sanding time and finish with buffing then SHABAM. So to me it was worth the tumbler. If you don’t want the super shine finish you can do with just tumbling. My opinion is that you will be happy if you buy the tumbler and save on your hands, I sure was. ~Peggy-B >> This comment was originally posted here: Making Faux Turquoise Beads

Wow Alexa, what lovely pieces! I especially like the butterfly, it’s beautiful.   —   I’m currently suffering from clinical depression. I’ve had depression before which was much worse and I worked hard to overcome it and got better, so I know I can beat this depression too, it will just take some time.   —   I also have fibromyalgia which makes me constantly tired and affects my memory and concentration, disturbs my sleep patterns and gives me muscle pain (I’m always at best uncomfortable). I know I’m not as bad as some people, but I’m not able to work at the moment, even part-time.   —   Claying is something I can do, especially since I got a pasta machine so I don’t hurt my hands conditioning clay, and a rock tumbler for sanding. It’s physically easy and my lack of concentration doesn’t seem to matter – I think creative stuff uses a different part of the brain to remembering to clean the bathroom or pick up milk at the shop!   —   When you have any kind of disability I think it’s important to find something you can do, something to give you that sense of achievement, because it’s easy to just think you can’t do anything at all. ~Silverleaf >> This comment was originally posted here: Disabilities, Polymer Clay Therapy

After my husband died in April, I thought my creativity died with him.  Then I was introduced to polymer clay and I’m off and running again.  Cindy’s videos are helping me so much in learning this new art form.  Thanks, Cindy, for your inspiration! ~Carolyn-F >> This comment was originally posted here: Making Polymer Clay and Wire Jewelry

Finally, a few minutes at my computer. Carolyn, I am deeply touched by your story and send warmest wishes for continued healing. Like Jackie, your art will provide a powerful catalyst to continue moving forward through your grief and I hope we here at the site can serve as continued support, too. Joyce, to you I say, thank God that your daughter survived her harrowing experience. What a blessing indeed!  I’m not sure I have a remarkable favorite story. I will share that as gifts for my husband’s staff this year I opted to create hand-made items by covering plain glass ornaments using five different techniques I learned from Cindy. I think I did Cindy proud-they turned out very pretty, each one different and the recipients absolutely loved them. They were some of the most meaningful gifts I gave this year, and I think it was partly because they represented how much I have grown from Cindy’s teaching and from my association with all who are part of this site family. I wish each of you joy in the coming year. ~Elizabeth-S >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay Art Therapy

I would love to join the contest to win Cindy’s beads. I just got home from the hospital  after eight days of a double surgery. One was for a plate in my lower back and back in for a blood clot in my leg. I have a lot of reading to catch up on, but I know I can do it, because I love everything about this site. Cindy, all the friendly girls, and all the great things to learn. Well back to reading. Honey… West Palm Beach, Fl. ~Helen-S >> This comment was originally posted here: Polymer Clay, Recovering From Surgery

REGULAR COLOR RECIPE (A): Salmon Pearls ** B-SERIES COLOR RECIPE (B): Ice Cave > Polymer Clay Tutorials Guest List VIDEO: Using an Extruder Gun to Make a Geometric Design, Tribal Cane