Book Reviews!!!

Thanks to everyone that pre ordered! Kelli and Linda should have all of the book on their way by Monday. We have begun to get wonderful reviews from many.

This book was a lot of hard work as independents and it seemed every 2 steps forward we took one step back. I did not want to let out book that was anything less of exactly what I had envisioned. I hope that this book will be a contribution to the studio art world.

Jill DeDominicis and Dr. Robert Lui from Ornament magazine told me that they were very impressed. They liked everything from the studio banter style of writing to the illustrations that helped convey the techniques. They thought it was very beautiful and informative. I was very pleased to hear this review since this publication is one of my very favorites!
Ornament has also made a commitment to an article on my work and possibly a formal book review. I will update when an exact issue is pin pointed.

Suzanne Ramljak could not review it for the Metalsmith publication because of the technical/How to orientation. I am very happy to have Nancy Monkman review it on SNAG web site and editorial news. Please look for a book review on April 1st.

I am getting ready for a Colorado workshop and book signing. I am leaving on Wed. I am staying at my friend Mindy's house. Here she is above. She has a piece in the gallery under chapter 5- Staples and Tabs. I loved the way her ring "Tabbed" onto ones finger. Not to my finger, though, I am still awaiting a ring. !!

San Miguel, Mexico

I am just back from San Miguel. I LOVE Mexico. I am especially drawn to areas where there is beautiful colonial Spanish architecture. I went for 5 days and stayed with my friend Hope. Coincidentally, the trip was scheduled on the same day as the release of my new book. I can not wait to hear comments. I think the book is beautiful and informative. Although, I have seen proof's or the book, I am waiting for my hard copies to arrive today.

When I take a trip such as this, I really just roam and soak in the culture, architecture and atmosphere. I really do not have a plan but find many experiences come to me. Not big ones that shake me up and pull me into my physical body but small, inspiring tiny experiences that help form and contribute experiences and layers to my work.

Circus Troop Series- The Ballerina

The Ballerina is the second in the Circus Troop Series- a figure that will disassemble and convert to wearable jewelry. Her adornment consists of 3 rings, 2 bracelets, and 1 necklace.

If I am successful in using my medium as a voice, no written description is needed for my viewer, only the visual impact that this art piece leaves upon us. With her skeletal rib cage and one key word imprinted in her head, Pain, we begin to what she is about. Her dance skirt, a crocheted bracelet sprinkled with charms, Talismans, altered objects and ribbon, bright in color and fun to wear, as if saying, The Show Must go On. She also contains a very practical hoop skirt which is formed with a tight weave of hand hammered sterling silver and converts to a second bracelet.

Her necklace is a tassel of beadwork, text altered ribbon that can be removed and worn by releasing the key from a lock.

Last, the, Letters to my Lover Ring/prayer box sits at the very bottom of this piece and can be removed and worn. This piece, to me, with a fortune sealed inside, seems to have the same concept of prayer boxes I had seen and collected from ancient India. In India, prayers or affirmations written on paper, were inserted into boxes, sealed and worn for protection or to gain the attributes as to what was written on the in scripted paper. Letters to my Lover, ring is composed of my own hand written personal journal notes to my husband that were torn and rendered transparent. The structure is of fabricated silver wire and cold joined.

Circus Troop- New Work

It is snowy and cold out here....very quiet, but very beautiful. ..It is the kind of day that because of the layers of snow on the ground all sound is muffled out. There are no squirrels, birds or bunnies anywhere in sight. It is peaceful and quiet....It is a perfect day or working in the studio.


I began a circus troop series last spring. In my new work I am developing six figures complete with framed shadow box that utilizes light, shadow and sketches. Each figure poses as a jewelry holder. Their adornment is actually detachable and wearable jewelry for the owner. I have two pieces finished at this time, The Fat Lady or Opera Singer and the Ballerina. They each have about 12 pieces of wearable and detachable jewelry that they each hold. The Fat Lady or Opera Singer is pictured above.

Here is the Fat Lady and her story.....
The idea of a Fat Lady being presented for a circus side show is absolutely politically incorrect these days......but once upon a time when I was very young I attended a circus with all of my sisters. We went from room to room looking at all of the side shows. Some were so fake, like "Tom Thumb" who actually was about 3 1/2 foot tall. That was a disappointment. I really wanted to see a cute little miniature person who would be perfect match for my Barbie. When we walked by the Fat Lady she had her "show face" on and was reciting a disgusting script about a life of debauchery. As innocent sensitive children we were captivated....I think we asked her a question about how she can be up there on stage talking about herself like this. Suddenly, I saw her staunch, jovial facial expression crumble. Before my eyes, she turned into a sensitive and real person. I saw hurt, hopelessness and weariness in her eyes. It was overwhelming for me. This vision has remained with me all of those years. Here is my rendition above in visual form.....

Making Connections- A Handbook of Cold Joins for the Jeweler and Mixed Media Artist

The book is in print and copies are arriving in Seattle on Feb. 21st! It is finally here! Making Connections can be ordered from my web site and in a few weeks will be available at Amazon. In the past year and a half I learned what other writers already know.... In writing a book you literally pour out your heart and soul and lay yourself on the line in front of judges and all. One finds, the truth is hard to reach within yourself and to get at it, you must dig deep. For about a year, I literally ate, drank and slept cold joins and connections. When finished, I was left exhausted, depleted and needing to replenish my vital energy.

As a visual artist, in the process of writing it was a surprise for me to find out how creative working with words can actually be. There is the exact word one needs somewhere in the vast English dictionary that expresses EXACTLY what you would like to say. To me, writing this book was the same creative process as building any one of my jewelry pieces. It takes identifying the exact word, technique, etc. and laying myself on the line by using it. In my work, each piece, like a book literally has a beginning, a climax and conclusion. They all have a story.
Here I stand out on a limb shaking in my Ugg boots because I have no one to blame but myself if this book does not succeed. This book is self published. By self published, I mean, I ,(we, Linda, my business partner and I) hired and managed a writer, photographer, lay out person, editor and readers and so on...
A few comments that I have recently received was that "this book is going to raise the bar in the art world!" and "It is not only beautiful but practical as well!". My reasons for self publishing instead of the traditional route was that I wanted a fresh approach. I did not intend to use an existing and tried formula for creating a successful book. I see what my students are looking for and I know my strengths and weaknesses in my work. I did want to share with the world a book that is not only descriptive and practical but very beautiful. It was a huge task to accomplish for all involved including my lay out person. This book includes 9 chapters each expressing a different technique and means of attaching. It is truly beautiful with very descriptive sketches of each piece showing layers of connections. It is packed full with technique and describes in detail any and all ways that I use for attaching outside of soldering.

Susan Lenart Kazmer is an explorer, inventor and maverick who has pioneered the use of found objects in jewelry making. After two decades of working with appropriated materials, Susan has developed dozens of ingenious cold connections using staples, rivets, fibers, resins and other material. Here, Susan shares the insights, creative philosophy and techniques that inspired and helped create her stackable jewelry and kinetic, three-dimensional marionettes. Embellished with stunning photos and dozens of original joining techniques, this book solves many of the problems encountered when connecting delicate mixed media to metals. Susan’s ground-breaking techniques and fresh approach to cold-connections will uncover a world of new options that will inspire mixed-media artists and jewelers.

Over the years, Susan has won many awards and has had her work included in museum exhibits such as the Smithsonian in Washington DC, the Art Institute in New York, and the Huntington Museum of Art, to name a few. The Post Picasso Gallery included Susan’s work in The Best of 2004. Susan is also considered a pioneer in the field of patination. She lives in Ohio with her family.