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This article was written by Michelle G Brown

I had the privilege of watching an ICE Resin demonstration at CHA in January 2014. I had heard a lot about this product and had listened to an interview by Julie Fei Fan Balzer with Jen Cushman, one of the partners, along with Susan Lenart Kazmer who make up the ICE Resin team. The jewellery I had seen produced by the ICE resin was just gorgeous and it was great to watch the process of using the resin, as well as seeing the elements and bezels up close. And that day the demonstration was done by Susan Walls.

Susan Walls certainly brought a sparkle to that demonstration, stepping us through the process and patiently answering many questions. And, of course, she was wearing AMAZING earrings – I just had to know more about her, so we sat down for a Skype chat, after the CHA rush was subsiding so we could learn a bit more about the charming Susan Walls.

South California is where Susan can be found, hanging out with her husband and two kids. These days she makes jewellery and cool stuff. And while she has always been “creative”, the artistic pathway she is following today took a bit of a detour after collage as she ventured into the restaurant business. Even then Susan would sell the jewellery and clothes she had made and was wearing.

For nearly 20 years, Susan had followed Susan Lenart Kazmer and loved her style and jewelry. Susan began to make her own jewellery through the 1990’s on a part time bases and started playing with resin about 5 years ago, watching the increase in popularity of ICE resin along the way.

Eventually Susan found herself at a cross-roads where having kids and the restaurant business, with it’s long, unsociable hours, just wasn’t working, so she transitioned to a stay at home mom, which, as we all know, has its own challenges! That was when Susan’s artistic business with painting murals started. When that got too busy, Susan shifted again, this time focusing on mixed media jewellery, with painting and a “few other things” also thrown in.

Resin, metal elements and shrink plastic are the key materials Susan likes to include into her pieces. She loves creating charm jewellery pieces, with themes that include humour and words that capture our imaginations.

“I want people to laugh and respond”, Susan says when asked about her style of mixed media jewelry. And Susan’s obsession with these materials continues. She keeps a notebook beside her bed to capture those inspiring ideas in the middle of the night and jot them down so she can remember them in the morning.

While Susan has been attending CHA show for 10 years, 2014 was her second time demonstrating with the ICE Resin team, after joining their Design Team in the middle of 2012.

“CHA is just the best time, catching up with the clan and creative circle”, Susan says. And she left with the fog of creative inspiration in her head, ready to head back to her studio and continuing with her mixed media jewellery making.

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Framed Faces Mixed media bracelet –  made with artists grade shrink plastic, paper, Ice resin

Mona Lisa earrings – made with artists grade shrink plastic, paper, Ice Resin

Part of an ongoing series “Flower People” – made with Artists grade shrink plastic, paper, Ice Resin

This bracelet  “Time” and the one at the top of the article “Butterfly Flight”  went to the Emmy celebrations here in Los Angeles. The Ice Resin Design Team was tasked with making over 100 one of a kind bracelets for the celebrity swag bags given out at the event. It was very exciting!

Each is a combination of Iced enamels, layered vintage papers, and Ice resin with various metal components.

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You can see more of Susan’s whimsical work on her website ~ Susans Art Circus or on her Facebook page ~ Susan’s Charming Trinkets. If you would like to own your own piece of Susan Walls Jewelry, you can visit her Etsy Shop ~ Charming Trinkets

You can find the Julie Fei Fan Balzer Podcast with Jen Cushman, talking more about ICE Resin here ~ Adventures in Arting Podcast

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Michelle G. Brown is passionate about mixed media art and enjoys sharing her knowledge and techniques with you to allow you to express your own creativity. Michelle understands that many of us have an inner need to create. By learning a few basic techniques the amazing world of mixed media art is accessible to everyone!

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