In the past 3 weeks I have been very busy building my new jewelry line. I am excited to say it is the cutest line I have ever made. It flows with the pastel colors of the season; Spring and Summer. These are my favorite colors. I have a fun time making this line as it is pretty, adorable, gorgeous, whimsical. and lovely. Take a look at some of the latest pictures of my new line.
The making of the faux agates that I used in my bug bodies. It takes several steps to make these bodies. The pictures show below one of the first stages is making the layers of the agates, then turning them into layered canes . Now I can make the cabochons.
I sand and buff each cabochon to bring out a shine resembling tumbled rocks. 
I love making these as no two are a like. When I start to buff them I get so excited on how you can look through and see the layers like a real stone. Then I decide which one will make a cool bug body.
Just look at the shine and the depth. It is so cool.! This was my new year challenge to get a great shine on my polymer, and I DID IT!
My first Love Beetle Rocks turned out great in pink. I decided to use leaves in my design to depict the wings of the beetles. So through out my line you will see leaves, pearls and flowers.
I made green, blue, pink in two shades, marsala, purple, turquoise, and scrap beetle bodies.
Picture below show how I decide on how I want the necklaces to look. Deciding which bug looks good in their body and with their leaf and flower is serious Beetle business.
Of course, this is not the final look for these beetles.
This is how five new necklaces look like for my new line.
Then decided on another look using the leaves a different direction. Below are 4 necklaces with a different twist.
I also wanted my line to have different size beetles so I expanded my line to include a smaller beetle stamping. I am still using my faux stones, leaves, pearls, and flowers. Still striving to keep my new line cohesive. I believe I have accomplished this with my line.
Made from my faux agates on the luscious silverware finish, which is of the highest quality and simply gorgeous. Notice the little silver beetles. Just a hint of Whimsy in these necklaces.
I hope you can tell that I have been seriously thinking about this new line and having fun with the whole design.
NEXT UP …… BRACELETS AS A PART OF “THE LOVE BEETLE ROCKS!”
I am using faux turquoise with Rosy Copper finishes. WOWSER! These bracelets ROCK with faux agates and scrap polymer.
The green and pink agates are with a brass ox finish.
Now you have seen 2 parts of my line of 5
ARE YOU READY FOR SOME MORE
Bring on the earrings. They are still in the making but I wanted to show a sneak peak
I am also working on Brooches and Rings which will conclude my new line. But you will have to wait till March 20th when I reveal my complete new jewelry line. But I will tell you this has been a blast and I even have extended my line out into two more lines that all tie into this line. Will share those pieces between now and March 2oth. So stay tuned….. Thank you for your comments and visiting my blog.
What I have Learned about me…..
This challenge has opened up my creativity to the point that I have my own style that can be recognized by others as my look. I have been able to combine my love of polymer and vintage inspired jewelry. Keeping my flowers and adding the whimsy of the beetles helped me take my line into sub-lines. Something I have been able to accomplish and will share my thoughts and process of these lines before the final blog hop. Interesting that my beetle line has another focus which is my faux polymer stones. The turquoise looks very real and love the technique I learned from a class with Tory Hughes. Tory also taught me the technique for faux agates. The technique has opened up all kinds of possibilities to use with my jewelry line. So I am including the faux stones as much as possible. I included the flower beetles for the women that just wants a little beetle showing. They look like they are in the garden of flowers and are not the focus but adds to the whimsy of the line.
I feel the women who wears my jewelry loves color and are confident to wear whimsical jewelry. They want to make their own statement which will invoke conversation. They love artisan jewelry because it is something you don’t see everywhere.
Finally, I want to thank B’Sue Boutiques for the master class. I am learning more and more everyday from Brenda and the others in the group. This has been a great thought provoking class. I feel like I have already won and will take this experience to the next level. I am more focused and have a direction. Learning the history of jewelry designs and famous designers makes me more knowledgeable and I can educate others. Learning that the finishes I use are important and are high quality US made finishes making my jewelry more desirable shows that I care about my customers.
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My Fellow artists and Jewelry Designers
Please check out their Blogs
Brenda Sue Lansdowne, B’sue Boutiques
Jewelry Making Outside the Box
Marcia Tuzzolino
Jann Tague
Judy King
Linzi Alford
Magpie in the Sky, Spoil Heap Tales
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Marica Zammit
Catherine Shattuck
Michaele Collie
Mary Craig
Lee Koopman
Erin Whitacre
Monica Casady
Leila West
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https://howlingdogjewelry.wordpress.com
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Ingrid Anderson
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The Rose Sword: Artisan and Vintage Collectible Jewelry
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Jan Peters
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Needful Luxuries Occasional Blog
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Howling Dog Jewelry by Cindy Peterson 
Who would have thought that “bugs” could be a design line? I’m in LOVE with everything about this Cindy!! We’ll be taking PC classes from YOU one of these days!!
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Judy I’m hoping to see you again and would love to teach you more about polymer clay it is an awesome medium and it is a chameleon. Thank you so much for your kind wordss. Bugs would be a jewelry line, who would’ve thought! I just had this brilliant idea that polymer clay and bugs would go together and it is been an awesome adventure. I’ve got more to show you’ll have to wait till March twentieth
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What a wonderful blog post, Cindy! I loved following your process, the things you shared about working with clay, and must agree with you: Those beetles rock! Well done!
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Thank you Susan in these beetles do rock LOL! Customers in the past and told me my jewelry is a little whimsical so I must not disappoint them now. I must stay true to whimsy
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You are rocking this challenge Cindy!
Omg you’ve made so many pieces! You have enough stuff for three lines I think 🙂 Everything looks great and very cohesive. I love your bracelets best. Followed closely by your “simple” beetle pendants.
You rock, just like your love beetles 🙂
Bravo!
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Yes I am kind of the jewelry making machine. But I think you can tell I have a passion for making jewelry and my jewelry line. Thank you so much for your kind words. I have learned many things from everyone else things I had never considered. Stay tuned I have more in my creative thinking bank called the brain is I don’t write anything down. I just dream about it wake up and do it
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Cindy, you are running with this in a BIG way. I love the beetles and that you made a smaller beetle line – that will open your faux agate up to an even bigger audience. I can’t get over how beautiful the copper and turquoise bracelets are… but I ADORE the pink one. Yup. A-D-O-R-E it. Well done!
Cheers,
Susan
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Thank you Susan yes I wanted to make smaller beetles and use the smaller beetles for people who don’t want that big statement of the beetle. And I also use the flowers so it looked like the Beetles were crawling out from underneath our so to speak. In my line can go with the faux stone in so many different directions but still look like it’s part of my line with or without a beetle. My mom would like to see me do ladybugs and I have started if you with ladybugs again thank you
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You are truly amazing and very talented. Your polymer pieces are amazing and I am so buying one of your beetles when they are up for sale!~Ingrid
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I I will let you know when I put up my my Beetles for sale on Etsy. I need to bake some brooches now to go with my line. I have two or three made with the faux turquoise on the Aqua copper but I don’t have any made with the other finishes. I will have fun making those as well thank you again
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Definitely a recognizable style 🙂 I love your cabs especially the turquoise and the pinks, they remind me of Rhodachrosite!
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Yes that’s what the pink once reminded me of too. And the turquoise does look very real. I have never used the Rosie copper and it’s fabulous.I’ve been trying to find my style in this challenge has really done it for me I now have a style that’s me.And thank you again
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Cindy you are ON YOUR WAY! We are really looking forward to your demo/teaching session at the B’sue Boutiques Workshop Retreat in May, too!
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Brenda what can I say this challenge has given me the ability to create a line something that I’ve wanted to do. You have helped me and everyone else in figuring out what my style is. Thank you for your kind words and I look forward to teaching you how to make turquoise and everybody else. As you know I love to share.I am also so excited about what I’m doing and how it’s turning out and how things are just falling together because I’m not overthinking it I’m just letting it tell me what it’s going to be. And Rosie quartzs pink is awesome with copper colors. Who knew, oh you probably already knew that. LOL! So now that I have earrings that I need to finish and I think I have a couple of brooches. So now that I have a spring and summer line with the colors of Pantone, I am already thinking about the colors of fall which includes pink.
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I love everything about your line, especially the look of the turquoise/copper pieces.
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Thank you very much Jeanette that is one of my favorite polymer faux stones to create it’s really easy and has an awesome outcome
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Cindy, your Love Beetles are rocking it!! I’m amazed by your polymer work, and think you have some gorgeous pieces, especially your bracelets. You definitely have found your line.
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Thank you Michelle I love those bracelets to they really turned out great and I’m glad I finally have a line. I’ve been working on polymer for three years this is my fourth year and I finally can create something with a beautiful finish without varnishes glazes. I learned that if you sanded well and get all the services really smooth it buffed up in a matter of seconds. That was my other goal was to get really cool finishes on my polymer pieces and I’ve done that
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Awesome Blog Cindy! I love your beetles and am delighted to see what you are making. Your creativity is outstanding as well and your art! I will be waiting to see the full reveal of your Line~ Really enjoyed reading your blog!
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Thank you Nike and of course I love your beetles to. I’ve got more that I’m working on to add to the line and I’m even thinking about how to make it look fall looking. But I heard that pink was the going to be a fall color. I am having a blast making these beetle jewelry pieces I hope you are having the same fun with yours
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Love your beetle bugs!
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Thank you Mama San. I love designing them. It’s really funny that I’m trying to match up the beetle body with the right beetle head yet they’re all the same stamping. LOL!
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Your line is so unique. I love how you are using the pc. Very cool. The “stones” mixed with the beetles really makes it all so pulled together.
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Thank you and by using the faux stones it can take my line in different directions
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Wonderful line. The beetles are whimsical and the polymer clay adds a great pop of color.
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Thank you I’ve been told my jewelry at the craft fairs is a little whimsical. So now this summer I will have new whimsy jewelry pieces. And I love combining the polymer clay with my jewelry
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Cindy, your line is amazing! Your polymer clay cabs are fantastic! You have a truly unique recognizable line!
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Thank you that is with this challenge has taught me is how to make a recognizable line.
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Great blog Cindy, and I love love love the faux agates and faux turquoise. You have a very distinct style now and when I see a post I go oh Cindy’s done something new. Congrats and keep up the great work~! xXx Ne
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Thank you that was my goal when I joined the challenged was to establish a jewelry line that is in represents me
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Cisy your line is just stunning and so very brilliant, colorful, and just drop dead gorgeous. Awesome blog my friend thanks for all our talks. XOXO!
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What can I say my friend I am just a jewelry making machine as you know. Thank you for all of your kind comments and your support in what I’m doing. I work hard on this jewelry every day and love it when things come together.
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Love your designs! Great blog as well!
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Wow. Look at those bugs! You have a huge line going girly. 🙂
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again, I cannot believe how productive some of us are ( that would not be me) I love the beetle with the rhinestones on the body.. I think you should do more with the rhinestones.
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Wow Cindy what a line you’ve amassed. Very impressive!! Great blog post you’ve shared. Hats off to you sweet lady.
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This is a Wonderful post Cindy!!! I love the polymer “agates” those are amazing!!! Your designs and beautiful and your line is very cohesive!!! You have done an amazing job!!! Be Blessed!
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Lookin’ good, you overachiever you! I look forward to seeing the remaining pieces. 🙂 ~Elizabeth
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Thank you Elizabeth I have lots of things going on in my head so I know I’m not done yet. I do have a lot of rings made and I’m working on brooches
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My goodness you have been busy!! These are stunning. Every one of them. I just love the Beetles but you’ve taken them to a new level. They’re splendid. Spectacular! I can’t even think of words to describe how awesome this line is. Hats off to you, my dear. You have ROCKED this challenge!!
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Well I was trying to rock the challenge LOL! I guess I could clean house every day but I live in a townhouse so there isn’t a whole lot to do. It is just my husband and I and my daughter. This is why I can spend 4-5 hours creating jewelry which is my love and keeps me out of trouble. And I get in a zone and can be creating for two hours without even knowing it. I either listen to music or I’ve got the TV on with my favorite shows so I feel like I’m in my own little world the beetle world
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Cindy! You rock! Your faux stones are to die for! Your bugs and beetles RULE! Love the bright colors, love the whimsy. Awesome!
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No I don’t rock the faux stones rock! LOL! I feel humorous this morning. I like the whimsy part of it to and I have been told my jewelry has a little whimsy to it so I guess I’m just adding more of that. Thank you
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Your polymer skills are awesome! The beetles are so fun, but everything you make is great. If this is the beginning can’t wait to see the rest, WOW, you are a working machine!.
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Well Teresa this is my day job he he he he. This is also been my passion and I love being creative. Thank you very much for your support in my jewelry line and I can’t wait to show you the rest of it
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Oh my, Cindy, you have been absolutely prolific! thank you for walking us through your decision making/creating process.
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What can I say Marcia, I’m a jewelry making machine. LOL! Thank you for visiting my blog and I can’t wait to show you the whole jewelry line
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Cindy, what an excellent blog post! Your beetles are super cute. I love what you’ve done with them. Nobody would ever think those rosy copper turquoise pieces are made from “scrap” either. Your blog looks fantastic, too. I love the clean header and the nice font you’ve got there.
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Thank you I tried to make my blog easy to read for me and hopefully easy-to-read for others. And I write like I speak. I had never really use the Rosy copper from B’sue but I absolutely love it and goes great with the turquoise
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I think you win the prize for most pieces completed! I love what you are doing with the polymer clay faux stones, looks great.
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Funny you should say that because when I met Cindy Lietz for the first time and we made a YouTube video she said I got the prize for bringing the most pieces the polymer clay. LOL! They were all my experiments and I wanted to find out if I was on the right track. She got a big kick out of me and my howling dog Misha boy. Thank you so much
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Cindy .. great picture of beautiful work .. Loved your blod ..
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Thank you Jann, I have been having fun and the Beetles are invading my house. There have been days where my desk was filled with beetles and their bodies trying to figure out what body went with what beetle. LOL!
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Well once again you have hit it out of the park. What an inspiration you are. Your line is so cute. I really love your polymer agates and how you used them. What a great line you have created at all levels. love how you put so many pictures in your blog to show what you have created so far. Now i know i really need to get in gear before the last hop & reveal.
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Janet you are so kind I know I think all of you are my inspiration. Sometimes my eyes don’t see things quite the same way as others so I feel great when it all works out the way I had planned. I don’t write anything down it’s all in my headOh and Janet I take pictures of everything good or bad because it is my inventory it is my history and it shows me where I’ve been and where I’m at now. And I can see how much I have improved over the last two years being part of this creative group with Brenda. My jewelry line looks more sophisticated and does not look like a kindergartner made it. My polymer clay finishes this year are awesome I have learned how to sand and buff to a shine. By doing this challenge I have also found my artistic voice in making jewelry. And that is something I’ve struggled with but feel like I’ve accomplished it now so thank you my friend for all your kind words and I love your flowers
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You’ve been a busy lady, Cindy! I love your faux stones, and using them with beetle stampings is so clever. 😉 I love your line!
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Thank you. I work about four hours a day on my jewelry or polymer or taking pictures or posting. I love what I’m doing and I’m hoping my passion is seen. My beetles are fun to make and have endless possibilities
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Cindy, I am so amazed at the look and creativity, thought, and cohesiveness of your look. You can make your cabs to fit the bug bezels you are working with, they look so much like real stones!! I am working with gemstones already cut,and have to work with the size that I am given or have, so what an awesome way to go. I love what you are doing!!
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Gina I love gemstones and I’ve always loved rocks. Polymer clay is a chameleon and allows me to make things look like something real even though it’s not. I still remember when I made chain out of polymer clay because I colored silver people thought it was real chain until they held it. But making these faux stones fools a lot of people till they pick them up. I love that about polymer clay and they make great bodies for my Beetles
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I really love your beetles! That dark striped cab in the bug is my favorite. Very cool!
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Thank you and some of the beetle bodies were made from scrap clay that I turned into a flat Natasha bead and then use the leaf cutter to make the shape. These have UV resin coating over them
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The faux stones are fabulous. The beetles are looking amazing, and the finished designs are spectacular. You are on a roll.
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Thank you Tammy I love make in the faux stones and I finally feel like I have a line that’s on my own
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Cindy, I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again…..your Love Beetles totally rock! The faux rocks are just amazing and I love that you are already branching out with sublines! You are incredibly prolific and are doing an awesome job. Way to go!!!!
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Yes with this choice that I made with the love beetles I could see other possibilities really easy because I’m using those faux stones. And also because I used some flowers as beetle bodies which makes them look like the Beatles are crawling out from under the flowers. And it allows me to add more flowers leaves and faux stones to my designs. In my colors are throughout the line in the sidelines. Thank you very much
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I’m with Judy–I wouldn’t have thought of a line of bugs–and combined with polymer cabs in the gorgeous translucent coloring you’ve created is fab! Using the leaves for wings is genius! Love all the excitement of your bright colors and bursts of creativity! Rock on! :):)
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Well to be truthful after I started working on the bugs I wasn’t sure my idea was going to unfold into lovely jewelry. But maybe it’s because I like cutesy things and that is what helped my Beetles look like art. I think that by using the faux stones made them very unique and I appealing. Now all I hope is it transfers into sales. Thank you very much
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You have come so far in two years, Cindy!! I’ve enjoyed seeing your progress as an artist and LOVE this work!!
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Thank you Judy, when I look back at what I thought was great I now look at it is learning process. I’m real proud of my polymer in the classes with Via Artistica have helped me get better with my polymer creations. But this group is one-of-a-kind and has given me lots of inspiration and I think between you all and Brenda and practicing my skills every day, it is now showing up in my work.
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Love these bug designs! Awesome work!
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LOVE the beetles and you are so clever with your faux polymer “stones” they look very convincing- looking forward to seeing your whole line in a month !
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Great blog, loved looking at all of your photos! You are on a roll with your line, congrats!
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Cindy-your line is so very creative. I love the different ways you’ve created each beetle and piece. It’s really imaginative! Great blog that gives us great insight into your process!
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Cindy,cindy,cindy, You once again knocked it out of the park. What a great body of work and fantastik post. Every since I met you in person you have done nothing but inspire me. You are like a jewelry manufacturing machine, lol!
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Great job as usual, Cindy! You are an amazing clay artist!
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