Slowmade: Nourishing Conversations for Jewelry Artists and Metalsmiths

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  David Forshee: Opals, Small Spaces, & the Beauty of Figuring It Out 12.08.2026 1ч 18мин

  David Forshee is the jewelry and lapidary artist behind David Forshee Jewelry.In this episode, David and I talk about the early years of learning a craft and the many small decisions, experiments, tools, and mistakes that slowly shape a maker’s path. David works with mixed metals, opals, and gemstones, and much of his work begins with the stone itself.David shares how jewelry making first found him after he and his wife began looking for a handmade engagement ring, and how that experience opened his eyes to the beauty and presence of handmade jewelry. From there, he started with a simple torch and a few basic tools, learning to set rose-cut stones and slowly building his skills one piece at a time.We talk about working in a small garage studio, the reality of making jewelry without a large or perfect workspace, and the way tools slowly enter our lives as the work asks for them. David shares what led him into lapidary, from adjusting wonky cabochons to cutting opals, and we talk about the heartbreak and wonder that can come with working such delicate, beautiful stones.Our conversation also moves into family, memory, and the tools we inherit. David shares how some of the tools he uses came from his father and grandfather, and how making has become a way of carrying those connections forward. We also talk about the fullness of family life, raising a young child, and finding creative time in the in-between moments.This is a warm conversation about learning as you go, making do with the space you have, honoring the slow parts of the process, and allowing the craft to keep opening new doors.Follow David...David on Instagram: ⁠@davidforsheejewelry⁠David’s Website: ⁠davidforsheejewelry.com⁠Love the Podcast?Support an episode: ⁠⁠Click here to learn more!⁠⁠Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: ⁠⁠@christinemighion⁠⁠Jewelry Website: ⁠⁠christinemighion.com⁠⁠Slowmade: ⁠⁠slowmadepodcast.com
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  Tzipora Hoynik - Beautiful Excess and a Lifetime of Creating in Color 29.07.2026 1ч 5мин

  In this episode of Slowmade, I’m talking with Los Angeles jewelry artist Tzipora Hoynik.Tzipora has been making and selling jewelry for around forty years, but her creative life began long before that. As a little girl, she told her father she wanted to be an artist, even though she didn’t yet know exactly what that meant. Over the years, that pull toward making has taken many forms, from drawing and painting to glass blowing, ceramics, weaving, beads, metalsmithing, and eventually the bold, colorful, deeply textured jewelry she creates today.Tzipora’s work begins with stones. Color is her starting point, and her pieces often feel layered with pattern, texture, movement, and embellishment. In our conversation, she shares how gemstones guide her designs, why she doesn’t like to leave a surface blank, and how her love of color continues to keep the work exciting after so many years.We also talk about the evolution of a long creative career, including her early years making beaded jewelry, her time doing wholesale shows, and the moment production work started to feel more like work than play. Tzipora now focuses mostly on one-of-a-kind pieces, allowing the stones, the process, and her own instincts to lead.Along the way, we talk about her Los Angeles studio, her very practical relationship with tools, her longtime connection to Burning Man, the special jewelry pieces she has made for that community, and her Warrior Women series, a design she returned to after many years and reimagined with more detail, strength, and meaning.This conversation is also about what it means to keep creating over the long arc of a life. Tzipora talks about the need to make things as something deeply innate, something that feeds her and feels woven into who she is. Even after decades of working as an artist, she still finds joy in coming into the studio, playing with stones, and seeing what wants to become.We talk about creative devotion, staying true to your own voice, selling work through Instagram and shows, working with collectors, the reality of pricing handmade jewelry, and why the value of a piece is never only about the materials. It also carries the years of experience, the choices, the eye, the hands, and the voice of the artist who made it.If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to build a life around making, not for a season, but for decades, I think you’ll love this conversation with Tzipora.Follow Tzipora...Tzipora on Instagram: @opalgirlTzipora’s Website: spiraljewelry.etsy.comLove the Podcast?Support an episode: ⁠Click here to learn more!⁠Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com
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  Marie Kappenman: Making Art, Making Money & Letting Go of the Starving Artist Story 15.07.2026 1ч 11мин

  Marie Kappenman is the artist behind Notions of Lovely Jewelry, and she has built a creative business by gathering skills wherever she could find them, trusting her instincts, and refusing to accept the old idea that artists are somehow destined to struggle.In this conversation, Marie shares how she first discovered metalsmithing as a teenager, what she learned from working throughout the jewelry industry, and why so much of her real business education happened outside the classroom. We talk about pricing, custom work, social media, motherhood, creative burnout, and the sometimes messy reality of building a business while continuing to make work that feels like your own.Marie also speaks candidly about the fear of stepping away from a steady job, the moment she realized her jewelry could truly support her, and the importance of letting go of the belief that making art and making money are somehow at odds.This is a thoughtful, funny, and deeply practical conversation about faith, risk, creative ambition, and building a life around the work you feel called to make.Follow Marie...Marie on Instagram: @notionsoflovelyMarie’s Website: notionsoflovely.comLove the Podcast?Support an episode: ⁠Click here to learn more!⁠Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com
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  Kathleen Wille - High Five Lemon and the Gift of Almost Perfect 01.07.2026 1ч 13мин

  In this episode, I’m sitting down with Kathleen Wille, the artist behind High Five Lemon, for a warm and honest conversation about stones, perfectionism, custom work, and the deeply personal nature of making things by hand.Kathleen shares the story behind the name High Five Lemon, which began with her beloved pug, Lemon, and grew into a meaningful reflection on imperfection, handmade work, and the beauty of loving what others might overlook. From there, we talk about Kathleen’s path to metalsmithing, which began with a class many years ago, paused while she built a career in advertising, and returned at exactly the right time in her life.As a creative director by day and a metalsmith on nights and weekends, Kathleen speaks honestly about what jewelry gives her that her other creative work does not. Her work is rooted in stones, often simple and intentional so the stone can lead the design. We talk about trusting your eye, learning your own voice, and the insecurity that can come from comparing a more minimal style to the ornate work of other makers.We also talk about the realities of custom work, including the joy of working with customers who trust the process, the emotional energy of long back-and-forth conversations, and the importance of learning where to set boundaries. We discuss pricing, the pressure of rising material costs, the pieces that don’t immediately find their person, and the vulnerability of sharing work that feels deeply tied to your heart.This conversation is about almost-perfect things, creative trust, honoring the stones that call to us, and the way handmade work asks us to keep listening to what feels true.Follow Kathleen...Instagram: @high5lemonLove the Podcast?Support an episode: ⁠Click here to learn more!⁠Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com
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  Beth Judge - When It's Finally Your Turn to Come Home to Your Creative Self 17.06.2026 59мин

  In this episode, I’m joined by jewelry artist Beth Judge for a conversation about the long and winding creative path, the seasons of life when our own dreams get placed on hold, and what it means to finally come back to the artist within.Beth’s love of jewelry began in high school, where she was lucky enough to have access to a metalsmithing program that introduced her to soldering, sawing, stone setting, and even casting. She went on to study metalsmithing at Tyler School of Art and later became a graduate gemologist through GIA before spending many years working as a bench jeweler. Her path also includes teaching, motherhood, supporting a family restaurant business, opening a brick-and-mortar studio space in Hopewell, New Jersey, and finding her way back to her own creative voice in a deeper and more intentional way.We talk about the pressure so many women feel to put everyone else first, and how easy it can be to move our own creative longings to the side while we take care of children, partners, work, finances, and all the responsibilities of life. Beth shares honestly about what it has meant to finally give herself more permission to play, experiment, and enjoy the process rather than always creating from a place of pressure or practicality.Beth also shares about her beautiful shared studio space, her work as a full-time art teacher, her love of stones, her growing interest in enamel, and the way working in other mediums like fiber and ceramics has begun to cross-pollinate with her jewelry practice. We talk about slowmade as an invitation to enjoy the process, the courage it can take to call yourself an artist, and why making time for the work that feeds your soul matters at every stage of life.This is a warm and honest conversation about creativity, identity, timing, and the part of us that never really disappears, even when life gets full.Follow Beth...Beth on Instagram: ⁠@bethanndesignsBeth’s website: bethannjudge.comLove the Podcast?Support an episode: ⁠Click here to learn more!⁠Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com
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  Leora Coronel - Cutting River Stones & Making Jewelry with a Sense of Place 03.06.2026 49мин

  In this episode of the Slowmade Podcast, I’m talking with jewelry and lapidary artist Leora Coronel.Leora lives in Northern California, where her work is deeply connected to the Yuba River. She collects stones from the river, cuts them herself, and transforms them into jewelry that carries a strong sense of place.Our conversation begins with the long and winding path that led Leora into jewelry. From collecting rocks as a child, to making feather earrings while working at a yoga studio in Los Angeles, to slowly learning metalwork and eventually finding her way into lapidary, Leora shares how working with her hands has always filled a deep need to create.We talk about what it means to work with materials from your own surroundings, and how powerful it can feel to turn something ordinary and often overlooked into something wearable and meaningful. Leora shares how learning to cut her own river stones opened up a whole new world in her work and became one of the most defining parts of her creative path.We also talk about the push and pull so many independent artists feel between making what lights us up and making what sells. Leora speaks honestly about depending on her jewelry for income, the pressure that can put on the work, and the gratitude she feels that much of what she loves to make also connects with her customers.This conversation also moves into teaching, imposter syndrome, and creative confidence. Leora shares how she slowly began offering private lessons and workshops, including lapidary classes, and how rewarding it has been to help other artists experience the excitement of cutting their own stones for the first time.We also get into the current realities of being a working jewelry artist, including slow sales, rising silver prices, shifting away from depending solely on Instagram, and finding ways to diversify income while staying connected to the work.What I loved most about this conversation is Leora’s honesty. She doesn’t make the creative path sound perfectly clear or easy. Instead, she speaks about following one step, then another, staying open to what the materials offer, and continuing to make because the work brings satisfaction, joy, and meaning.Follow along... Leora on Instagram: ⁠@leoracoroneljewelryLeora’s website: leoracoronel.comLove the Podcast?Support an episode: ⁠Click here to learn more!⁠Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com
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  Francesca Kennedy - Making Without Rules: Following Instinct & Creative Curiosity 20.05.2026 57мин

  On this episode of the Slowmade Podcast, I’m joined by artist and jeweler Francesca Kennedy for a deeply thoughtful conversation about creativity, instinct, imagination, and making without rigid rules.Francesca has spent decades creating, first in clothing design in the Bay Area and later in jewelry, and one of the things I loved most about this conversation was her willingness to stay open creatively. Rather than forcing herself into a formula or “brand,” she follows curiosity, experimentation, feeling, and play — allowing the work to evolve naturally over time.Together we talk about growing up “semi-feral,” the importance of imagination and solitude in a creative life, the changing landscape of art and business, one-of-a-kind work, travel, beauty, community, and the freedom that comes from creating work that feels true to who you are.This conversation felt especially meaningful to me because it also marks the 100th episode of the podcast. I walked away feeling inspired, creatively recharged, and reminded that some of the most interesting artists are the ones willing to keep exploring.You can find Francesca’s work and follow along here:Instagram: @flkjewelryLove the Podcast?Support an episode: ⁠Click here to learn more!⁠Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com
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  Norah Payne - Following What Feels Like You & Rebuilding a Life Through Metalsmithing 06.05.2026 1ч 6мин

  Norah Payne first found her way to metalsmithing years ago before stepping away from it for over a decade. When she returned, it wasn’t with a clear plan, but as something to hold onto during a deeply isolated time—something that slowly became the work she couldn’t imagine letting go of.In this episode, we talk about building a body of work over time, following what feels right, and designing intuitively—often letting the stone lead. We also get into the realities many independent jewelry artists are facing right now, from slower sales to rising material costs and staying visible online.Norah also shares about losing her home and studio in a wildfire, what it meant to begin again, and the support she received from the jewelry community as she rebuilt.This is a conversation about returning to what you love, trusting your instincts, and continuing to make… even when the path isn’t clear.Follow Along:Norah on Instagram: ⁠@norahpaynemetalsNorah’s Website: norahpaynemetals.comLove the Podcast?Consider supporting an episode! Learn more at https://www.slowmadepodcast.com/support-the-podcastWithout your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com
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  Cole Rodger - When Is It Time for Professional Jewelry Photography? Why Your Jewelry Photos Might Be Holding You Back. 22.04.2026 1ч 15мин

  If you’ve ever struggled with photographing your jewelry—or wondered if it might be time to invest in professional images—this conversation is going to give you a lot to think about.Today I’m joined by jewelry photographer Cole Rodger, whose work many artists in our industry trust to bring their pieces to life. Cole didn’t start out planning to photograph jewelry, but through years of experience in both photography and running her own product-based business, she’s developed a deep understanding of what it takes to create images that not only look beautiful… but actually help sell the work. In this conversation, Cole shares what goes into creating strong, impactful images—and why photography is often one of the most overlooked (and misunderstood) parts of an artist’s business.We talk about when it makes sense to invest in professional photography, how different types of images serve different purposes, and what artists can do right now to improve their own photos at home.This is one of those episodes that can shift how you see your work—and how you present it to the world.Follow Along:Cole on Instagram: ⁠@coleimage & @colerodgerimageCole’s Website: coleimage.comLove the Podcast?Support an episode: ⁠Click here to learn more!⁠Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com
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  Ray & Amy Bridewell: The Art & Science of Creating Gemstones and Designing Jewelry Around Them 08.04.2026 44мин

  Amy and Ray Bridewell share a creative partnership that brings together two very different backgrounds — metalsmithing and ceramics — in a way that feels both natural and entirely their own.Ray creates the stones, growing crystal gemstones in a kiln through a process shaped by heat, time, and years of experimentation. Amy then takes those one-of-a-kind stones and transforms them into jewelry, focusing on how each piece can best be worn, held, and experienced.In this conversation, we talk about how their work came together, what it looks like to collaborate as both partners and artists, and the reality of working with materials that don’t always behave the way you expect. Ray shares the long path of learning to grow these stones, and the continued sense of discovery that still exists every time the kiln is opened.We also talk about shows, connecting with people in person, and the importance of helping others understand the process behind the work — especially when what they’re seeing challenges what they think they know about stones.This episode is a reflection on patience, experimentation, and the kind of making that asks you to stay curious.Follow Along...Ray & Amy on Instagram: ⁠@bridewell_and_bridewellRay & Amy’s Website: bridewellstone.comLove the Podcast?Support an episode: ⁠Click here to learn more!⁠Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com
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  Kate Weber: Pricing Your Work, Protecting Your Voice, and Staying True to the Craft 25.03.2026 1ч 7мин

  Kate Weber of Night Swim Designs joins me to talk about finding her way to metalsmithing during the uncertainty of 2020 after being furloughed from the travel industry. What began as something to fill the time quickly became a path she couldn’t imagine leaving, and working with metal felt like a language she already understood — a mix of creativity, structure, and problem-solving that finally clicked.In this conversation we talk honestly about what it looks like to build a life as an independent artist right now. We get into rising metal prices, slower sales, pricing handmade work sustainably, and the constant balance between creating what we love and making a living from it. Kate shares her thoughts on trusting your instincts, valuing your time, and why handmade jewelry should be seen as lasting work, not something disposable.We also talk about travel, nature, building a studio from the ground up, and the way working with our hands can bring us back to ourselves when everything else feels uncertain.This episode is a reminder that there isn’t one right way to build a creative life — only the path that feels true to you.Follow Along...Kate on Instagram: ⁠@nightswimdesignsKate’s Website: nightswimdesigns.comLove the Podcast?Support an episode: ⁠Click here to learn more!⁠Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com
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  ENCORE: Kerin Rose - Jewelry as a Bridge Between the Concrete World and the Soul-Based World & the Impact of Selling Art on Your Relationship to Creativity 11.03.2026 1ч 11мин

  Originally aired August 21, 2024, this is not only one of your favorite episodes, it's one of mine!I’m sure you know how it feels when you meet someone new at an event and within a few minutes you feel you’ve found a kindred spirit? Someone who speaks your language.Well, that is how I felt when I met Kerin Rose… and it’s not because Rose was my maiden name. Kerin was a member of a metalsmithing community I belonged to on Etsy. I’m sure if you have listened to the podcast for anything length of time you have heard me talk about EtsyMetal and the positive impact it had on my success as a new business owner. I’ve probably known Kerin for 20 years now, but we’ve never sat down and had a conversation together. We would mostly chat about the business of selling jewelry, in our Etsy group forum, or more recently through DM’s. However, Kerin’s jewelry and ceramic work resonated with me on soul level and I knew that we spoke the same language which is why I was over the moon when she agreed to have a conversation with me on Slowmade.I've personally known Kerin as a wonderful jewelry and clay artist, but I was really surprised to hear her art journey extended far beyond those lines. I think you'll find her story surprising as well.From Kerin's website..."I am an artist  and  beauty hunter..... mostly, I am a believer in 'kinship magic'. It means that a person's personal energy can travel through an object. How  do we connect more deeply to the natural world?  To each other?  To beauty? To the darker side of human existence? What do the spaces between us mean , and what are they actually made of?  Life is beautiful, and it's also hard...we are asked to hold both of those things  in our hands and heart at the same time. Sometimes, you need a tangible object, a ritual, a symbol of being human. That is where I come in."Website: www.kerinrose.comInstagram: @kerinroseIf this podcast means something to you and you would like to support it, please take a a moment to give it a few kinds word with a written review on your favorite podcast listening platform. This helps me share the podcast with others. You can also share a favorite episode or consider joining our Slowmade Podcast Patreon community. You support literally makes this podcast possible. Thank you so much!You can follow along or reach out to Christine on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@christinemighion⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠@slowmadepodcast⁠⁠⁠ or you can send her an email at: info@christinemighion.com
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  Rachel Morris: What’s Waiting in the Box of Unfinished Things 25.02.2026 1ч 5мин

  Rachel Morris is a metalsmith, educator, and business consultant whose creative life has taken many turns — from early metalwork at age eight to theater, teaching, and even circus camp along the way. Through it all, metal has remained the steady thread.In this conversation, Rachel shares how teaching has shaped her own craft, why evolving your work sometimes means stepping outside of cohesion, and how she’s learning to redefine success on her own terms. We talk about impostor syndrome, inventory anxiety, and the humbling experience of watching someone fall in love with a piece you made.Rachel also opens up about her long-running projects — including A Box of Unfinished Things and her upcoming clasp-making book — both of which explore how we think about design, mechanisms, and unfinished work in new ways.This episode is a thoughtful reflection on growth, mentorship, and the courage to keep building what feels true.Follow along with Rachel...Rachel's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@eclecticnaturejewelry    The two playlists we discussed are:        The Cogswell "Creative Stonesetting" Zoom-Along: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkwALzpyEHL2XcLrtliWRiD_cAHGnr7n9        A Box of Unfinished Things: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkwALzpyEHL1fzw_3d0fnniLhCeS1UPiPRachel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EclecticNatureJewelryRachel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eclecticnaturejewelryRachel's Website: https://eclecticnaturejewelry.comAlso mentioned...Josh Simpson, Glass artist - the Infinity Project: ⁠https://www.joshsimpsonglass.com/infinity-project⁠Love the Podcast?Support an episode: ⁠Click here to learn more!⁠Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com
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  Suzanne Schwartz: Stitching a Life Around the Work 11.02.2026 1ч 6мин

  In this episode, I sit down with jewelry artist Suzanne Schwartz. Suzanne shares the story behind her signature stitched metal work and how handwork, memory, and influence quietly shape her designs. We talk about how her grandmother’s love of stitching and textiles left a lasting imprint, and how that thread continues to run through her jewelry today.The conversation also explores the realities of building a sustainable jewelry practice over time — navigating rising material costs, pricing work that takes patience, and continuing to show up year after year. Suzanne reflects on art shows, mentorship, creative doubt, and the ongoing process of making work that feels true as both an artist and a business owner.This episode is about persistence, curiosity, and learning to trust the path you’re on — even when it unfolds slowly.Follow Suzanne...Instagram: @suzanne_schwartz_jewelryWebsite: suzanneschwartzjewelry.comLove the Podcast?Support an episode: ⁠Click here to learn more!⁠Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com
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  Janine DeCresenzo: Playing the Long Game as a Working Artist (Art Shows, Business Shifts, & Sustainability) 28.01.2026 56мин

  In this episode of Slowmade, I’m joined by Janine DeCresenzo, a studio jeweler who has spent more than twenty years supporting herself through her craft — largely on the art show circuit.Janine shares what it’s really been like to build a life around travel, art festivals, and face-to-face connection with customers, and what that path has taught her about community, stamina, safety, and the long game of being a working artist. We talk honestly about the physical and emotional toll of show life, how priorities shift over time, and what it looks like to step back without walking away from the work you’ve built.Our conversation also explores Janine’s recent business shifts — leaning more into custom work, home trunk shows, and creating a model that feels more balanced and sustainable in this season of her life. We spend time talking about learning as an artist, staying curious, and even how Janine is thoughtfully exploring AI as a tool to support the business side of her work, freeing up more time for the studio.This is a grounded, generous conversation about evolving without erasing your past, listening to what your life is asking for now, and trusting that a creative career doesn’t have to stay fixed to remain meaningful.In this episode, we talk about:Building a full-time jewelry career through art shows and travelWhat 20+ years on the art show circuit really looks likeSafety, stamina, and self-care on the roadChoosing a slower, more balanced business modelCustom work and building deeper client relationshipsStaying curious and continuing to learn as an artistUsing AI as a supportive business tool (not a creative replacement)Playing the long game as a working artistConnect with Janine:Website: janinedecresenzojewelry.comInstagram: @decresenzojwlryLove the Podcast?Support an episode: ⁠Click here to learn more!⁠Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com
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  The Question I’m Hearing the Most Right Now: On Choosing Support During Uncertain Times 21.01.2026 12мин

  Lately, I’ve been hearing the same question come up again and again — in DMs, emails, and quiet conversations with other jewelry artists:Should I be working with a coach right now?In this bonus episode, I’m sharing an honest reflection from my own experience — what I’ve learned after investing in courses, coaching, and masterminds over the years, what ultimately felt supportive (and what didn’t), and how my relationship to “business advice” has shifted in this current season.We’ll talk about:why support isn’t one-size-fits-allhow timing and season matter more than formulasthe difference between scaling and sustainingand why being in community with peers can sometimes offer more clarity than expert guidanceThere’s no right answer here — just an invitation to listen inward, trust your own discernment, and choose what genuinely supports you right now.If you’re feeling uncertain, tired, or overwhelmed by the noise, I hope this episode helps you feel a little less alone — and a little more grounded as you consider your next step.Learn more about the Slowmade Collective! My favorite place for support, community, and connection. Love the Podcast?Support an episode: ⁠Click here to learn more!⁠Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com
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  ENCORE: Robin Wade - Breathing Life Into Art to Create Meaningful Talismans & Healing Deep Wounds Through a Personal Art Practice 14.01.2026 1ч 5мин

  My guest today is Robin Wade and I think she has really mastered the art of weaving in story to each one of her pieces imbuing them with life and personality. I’ve loved her jewelry for a long time, but I’ve recently fallen head over heels in love with her ceramic rattles which you will hear us talk about today.Robin’s journey as an artist began in high school, when her art teacher recognized she was going through a difficult time time and helped her work through her emotions with art. Influenced by the healing she received through her art practice and the memory of her supportive teacher, Robin began helping troubled and traumatized children find healing using art as therapy, an experience which has deeply impacted her artistic perspective. We talk about the intuitive process of creating art, balancing the business side of art with creativity, the importance of boundaries with custom work, and much more.Bio:Robin lives near the ocean in Southern California and has been an artist for many years working and teaching primarily in watercolor, sculpture, and jewelry. She grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and has lived in Oregon and Utah. Over the years she worked with mentally ill teenagers, taught art with youth in custody teens, and taught 9th-grade art classes. She also worked for about ten years with abused, abandoned, and neglected children from birth – eighteen years of age. Art has always been important to Robin. It has been a way to work through personal trauma, express feelings, connect with joy, and everything in-between.Robin continues to be moved by the human spirit. The strength and courage it can take to find one’s way through life. She wants her work to touch the heart, make someone laugh, think, and most importantly, remind them of their own inner strength. Robin's Instagram: ⁠@robinwadejewelry⁠Robin on Etsy: ⁠RobinWade⁠Stephanie Gagos Auction for Artists on Facebook
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  ENCORE: Laura Bouton on Metalsmithing - A Family Affair, Finding Empowerment Through Craft, & Designing for Love and Livelihood 31.12.2025 1ч 2мин

  Laura Jane Bouton is one of the metalsmith’s I’ve had the pleasure of being in community with for some time now, but there was so much I really didn't know about Laura. I was simply thrilled when she agreed to share some time with me for a long overdue conversation. Laura’s mother was a metalsmith and her son studied goldsmithing while they lived abroad in Italy, but it wasn’t until she could feel her life as she knew it heading in a different direction that she began exploring the craft. Feeling empowered by the jewelry she was creating, she took a leap to create a business and life that she could be in control of.Laura and I talk about our shared love and emotional connection of creating one of a kind pieces and the personal fulfillment that comes from building a business in the arts. Laura shares how she navigates selling on Etsy as well as Shopify, why she loves teaching others, the unique challenges and rewards of being a self-taught artist, and of course so much more. Follow Laura...Instagram: @lbouton018Website: www.ljbjewelryshop.comEtsy: www.ljbjewelry.etsy.comIf you are enjoying this podcast consider sharing an episode with a friend or give a one time donation. If you would love to be a part of the conversation please join us in the Slowmade Collective. Visit www.slowmadepodcast.com to learn more! Thank you so much!
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  Allison Ford: The Art of Curiosity, Wearable Sculpture, and Creating Beyond Defined Lines 17.12.2025 54мин

  Allison Ford is a studio artist and educator whose work lives in the in-between — between jewelry and sculpture, storytelling and adornment, play and meaning. Based in Indianapolis, she has been part of the Harrison Center community since 2009, building a creative life shaped by curiosity, community, and a deep commitment to handmade work.In this episode, Allison shares her winding path back to making and how her practice has evolved alongside raising her family and later earning her MFA. We talk about the importance of creative community, the role teaching now plays in her life, and why staying playful and curious continues to guide her work.Our conversation also explores the stories behind some of her most recognizable bodies of work, including her Indiana bug series and the folklore-inspired figure Baba Pascha and her bronze spider companion, and how art can serve as a vehicle for empathy and connection.This episode is a thoughtful reflection on building a handmade life over time — one rooted in intention, experimentation, and the freedom to create beyond defined lines.Follow Along:Allison on Instagram: ⁠@studioamfAllison’s Website: studioamfdesign.comLove the Podcast?Consider supporting an episode! Learn more at here.Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com
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  Elisa McLaughlin: Art as a Way Back to Who We Are. 10.12.2025 1ч 1мин

  In this episode, I’m talking with artist and goldsmith Elisa McLaughlin, the creative artist behind Truly Kindred. Elisa’s path has wound through watercolor, music, candle making, and raising five kids — all of which eventually led her to the jewelry bench. Her reflections on finding goldsmithing, navigating her first real creative dry spell, and learning to trust the natural rhythm of inspiration offer such a grounded, honest look at what it means to build a creative life in the real world.We also dig into the realities of working in gold right now, pricing during unpredictable markets, balancing motherhood with making, and the constant negotiation between authenticity and the pressure to present a polished image online. Elisa shares openly about what nourishes her, what drains her, and how she’s learning to protect her own creative spark. It’s a thoughtful, relatable conversation with so many small truths woven in — one I think will stay with you long after you listen.Follow along...Elisa on Instagram: ⁠@trulykindredElisa’s Website: ⁠trulykindred.comLove the Podcast?Support an episode: ⁠Click here to learn more!⁠Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com