Beginning
Cynthia Thornton grew up in Orlando, Florida. As a child, she spent most of her time creating fantasy worlds for her dolls. She remembers her first box of Sculpey and the army of fairies she created with it, foreshadowing the career she would pursue as an adult. Not all time was spent frolicking and making clay creatures. She was no stranger to hard work. To help out the family, everyday after school she and her siblings mowed lawns and pulled weeds for their father’s landscaping business in the hot Florida sun.

Cynthia graduated from high school , and got a scholarship to go to the Columbus College of Art and Design.

After CCAD, Cynthia spent three years in Toledo doing varieties of freelance drudgery in order to fund the handmade bead business she dreamed about. Green Girl Studios was founded in 1997. The first bead show was in Cincinnati and the product consisted of only five bead designs. Eventually, Cynthia settled down in Columbus, and continued her business full time.

Today
After Cynthia and Greg joined forces in California, they relocated Green Girl Studios to Asheville, North Carolina and were married. Their daughter Azalea was born in August 2004. They attend over 35 shows per year, including the annual Tucson and Bead and Button shows. With over 100 designs, they sell beads all over the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan.