MJSA Podcast

A goldsmith and founder of WEND Jewelry in Seattle, Wendy Woldenberg taught high school jewelry/metals for 22 years while making custom jewelry on school breaks. After a two-week backpacking trip around Mount Rainier, everything changed. She founded WEND Jewelry, a rugged fine jewelry brand focused on ethical sourcing and nature-inspired designs.

Sponsored by: Rio Grande

To see the video edition of this episode and the complete "5 Favorite Tools" series, visit: mjsa.info/5favorites

Melissa Muir is a jewelry artist and teacher who's renowned for her high quality, incisive instructional videos and tool reviews. In this episode, Melissa shares five of her most essential tools and explains the role each plays in making her more efficient and productive at the bench.

Sponsored by: Rio Grande

To see the video edition of this episode and the complete "5 Favorite Tools" series, visit: mjsa.info/5favorites

Lee Krombholz, owner of Cincinnati-based Krombholz Jewelers, longtime member of the MJSA board of directors, and vice chair of the MJSA Education Foundation, is a third-generation jeweler who has won multiple awards for his custom designs. Krombholz blends cutting-edge technology with old-world craftsmanship to achieve heirloom quality results. In this episode, Krombholz explains his go-to techniques for finishing and texturing jewelry, and how he chooses styles to compliment his creations.

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Bette Barnett, owner of Studio Migoto, in La Mesa, California, is recognized for her expertise fusing steel with gold utilizing various techniques. In this episode, Bette discusses her transition from a career working in corporate communications to one in jewelry-making, how she discovered her love for working with steel, and her forthcoming book aimed at passing down the techniques she has developed and honed in the last 13 years.

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David Huycke is an internationally renowned Belgian silversmith, best known for his innovative approach to metalwork, specifically the use of granulation techniques in larger sculptural silverware. In this episode, Huycke discusses his creative process, sources of inspiration, and how he approaches testing and developing new techniques and methods.

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Christina Miller is the founder of Christina T. Miller Sustainable Jewelry Consulting, providing strategy, education, and guidance to small and medium-sized companies in the jewelry and fashion industries. In this episode, Miller, shares her insights and tips for building and supporting a sustainable jewelry business.

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Maarten de Witte is one of the world's premier diamond cutters and experts, renowned as a craftsman, innovator (he created the American Rose Brilliant Cut), and educator. In this episode, de Witte discusses the lessons he's learned during his 50 years in the trade, his approach to art and creativity, the future of man-made diamonds, and the importance of passing skills to the next generation.

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Jewelers tend to be innovators, especially when it comes to altering and creating tools. We spoke with three jewelers—Jeanette Caines, Jayne Redman, and Ronda Coryell—who not only developed their own tools, but successfully brought them to market. In this episode, they share their stories and explain the key factors that inspired their respective journeys from jewels to tools.

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Judy Hoch of Marstal Smithy (author of Tumble Finishing for Handmade Jewelry) discusses the benefits of mass finishing, why it might be right for your shop, and why she considers it the safest most effective way to finish jewelry.

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Bead artist and metalsmith Valerie Hector (Valerie Hector Designs) brings a background in anthropology, deep knowledge of Asian bead styles, and a passion for pushing boundaries to her work. In this episode, Hector discusses her creative approach to design and why she's driven to develop new techniques.

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