Charlene (“Cat”) Therien has been working with polymer clay since 2001. She is interested in a variety of handicrafts, and enjoys incorporating polymer clay designs into wearable art, home decor, and gifts.

She owns and operates C. A. Therien Polymer Clay Arts, an art company with three divisions. The first division is Memorial-Beads.com, where she makes handcrafted keepsakes from funeral and wedding flowers. The second division is FimoNailArtCanes.com, where she makes miniature canes that are sliced paper-thin and used as fingernail art. The third division is CatTherien.etsy.com and her eBay Store, where she provides handmade polymer clay canes for artists and hobbyists, tutorials for using polymer clay, and a small selection of her favorite tools.

Charlene has taught classes, given demonstrations, and written articles for internet and print magazines, such as Bead Unique and PolymerCAFE. Her polymer clay “fabric” was included in the gallery of the book,”Adapting Quilt Patterns to Polymer Clay” by Sarajane Helm and Judith Skinner. She has won multiple awards for her work, both in local and international competitions.

She was the founding president of the CIPCG (Central Illinois Polymer Clay Guild), and current Recording Secretary of the IPCA (International Polymer Clay Association).

She lives with her husband of 27 years in Peoria, Illinois. They have 6 grown children, 3 children-in-law, 2 cats, a grumpy iguana, and a tank full of freshwater fish.