Cindy’s 15 year career as a graphic designer is the foundation of her current profession as a jewelry designer / instructor. The moment she set foot in a bead store, the seed beads drew her in. A deep love of the complexity of color is the foundation of her explorations in beading. Cindy enjoys interpreting traditional off-loom stitches in new ways. She is also a certified Master Art Clay Silver In structor, and especially enjoys creating new designs incorporating beading with metal clay.

For the last several years, Cindy has been teaching classes of her own designs in beading and Art Clay several times a week. Cindy was elected founding President of the Art Clay Society of Orange County and held that position for several years. Her goal is to broaden the scope of her techniques and continue designing, teaching and sharing with others every day. She enjoys teaching locally in Fullerton, California and nationally at the Bead and Button Show and other venues.

Cindy has received several awards. Most recently, in 2010, she placed 2^nd in Bead Dreams and was a Finalist in the Toho Emerging Bead Artist competition. Cindy is the author of Beadmaille: Jewelry with Bead Weaving & Metal Rings, and her latest book, The Absolute Beginners Guide to Metal Clay will be released in 2011. Cindy has also been featured in numerous publications, including several recent articles in Bead & Button Magazine.

To see more of her work, visit www.cindypankopf.com .