Slowmade: Nourishing Conversations for Jewelry Artists and Metalsmiths

When I started my business 20 years ago I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I didn’t go to business school and I never dreamed I would one day have my own business. I was as green as it gets.

Looking back I know I never would have received the level of success and security within my business without the support of a group of incredible mentors and colleagues… often when I needed it the most. 

There were so many times when imposter syndrome led me to undervalue and underprice my work. Times when I said yes to an opportunity that didn’t align with my goals. When I didn’t know how to create a line sheet or how to structure my wholesale terms, or even how to approach a gallery or shop that I wanted to sell to. 

There was just so much I didn’t know and having a community of people to lean into, many whom have remained close friends over the years, was so invaluable. They have been the cornerstone of my success and longevity as an artist.

And this my friends, is why today I’m doing a special solo episode to tell you about the Slowmade Collective and why I have spent the last few months building a virtual home and sanctuary for jewelry artists.

It's a special place and if it feels aligned to your needs I hope you will join us there!

For more information please visit ⁠slowmadepodcast.com/community⁠

If you have questions you can reach out to Christine at [email protected] or on Instagram ⁠@slowmadepodcast⁠ or ⁠@christinemighion⁠

Restless and never really satisfied with the work she was doing as a painter, Julie Mahoney felt the weight of all the painters who better than her and she was often plagued with self doubt.

Julie spent nearly 30 years as a professor of drawing and painting at a local university before retiring in 2019. It was then that she began taking metalsmithing classes and fell in love with the craft. Surprisingly, she never felt the type of self doubt with metals as she did as a painter, and so she put down her paint brush and in lieu of a torch.

I always love hearing how each of our guests come to metal. For some it’s a fairly straight path, but for others it’s an unexpected right turn that leads them to the craft. These are my favorite stories. Perhaps it because my own path had many bends along the way and I’m inspired by the brave choices that so many our guests have made to live a more creative life. A life of authenticity. 

Follow Julie...

Instagram: ⁠@juliemahoneyjewelry⁠

Website: ⁠www.juliemahoneyjewelry.com⁠

If you love the podcast please consider ⁠supporting an episode⁠. And if you would like to be a guest on the show, or would to join the Slowmade Collective please visit ⁠www.slowmadepodcast.com⁠

Andrea & Bryan Ring are the creative duo behind Amuck Design. They met in college and have been collaborating ever since. Finding inspiration in graffiti, their work is known for its cohesive yet diverse styles, incorporating various materials like vintage pieces, license plates, and dice.

In this conversation, Christine sits down with Andrea and her curious cat Victor. They discuss trade shows, how she and Bryan collaborate on designs, their YouTube channel, creative challenges, teaching, and much more. 

Bio...

Andrea and Bryan collect ordinary discarded pieces from city streets and random locales—items like street signs and license plates—and repurposes them into something more. Taking inspiration from the urban jungle and the wild west, they combine the treasured finds with precious metals and stones to create a unique style of fine art jewelry. The past twenty years has been an exploration into the juxtaposition of high end and discarded materials. What would adornment look like if the materials we used were only those we hunted, gathered, or traded for? What is the relationship between costly objects and found objects, and can they hold the same beauty and sentimental value? Andrea and Bryan’s work helps answer these questions and creates a narrative for what fine art jewelry could be.

Follow along with Andrea and Bryan at the links below.

Instagram: ⁠@amuckdesign⁠

Website: ⁠www.amuckdesign.com⁠

YouTube: ⁠Amuck Design⁠

If 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. Thank you so much!

Rebecca Lee (she/they) is a metalsmith interested in sacred adornment and its capacity to provide protection and healing for all intersections of marginalized people. Currently, Lee works primarily with sheet metal, hand piercing intuitive undulating shapes that mimic how water impacts our coastlines incorporating minerals and found objects near or in bodies of water. Rebecca also utilizes wax carving to create talismans featuring sigils and marks with specific and intentional magical purposes.

In this conversation Rebecca and Christine discuss her journey into metal and stone and her focus on sacred adornment. She shares how her background in film and photography led her to explore jewelry making and the spiritual aspects of jewelry. Rebecca talks about her process of creating custom pieces based on tarot readings and her desire to maintain a hands-on approach to her craft.

Together they also explore the balance between creativity and making a profit, the need for play and exploration in the creative process, and the importance of community and mentorship in the jewelry industry.

Follow Rebecca...

Instagram: ⁠@blavkjewelry⁠

Website: ⁠www.blavkjewelry.com⁠

Links mentioned in the episode:

Instagram: @spark_metalartists

BIPOC Smiths Retreat: https://www.inclusiveblacksmiths.com/sparc

If 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. Thank you so much!

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.com

Instagram: @kerinrose

If 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!

Erin harris calls herself a “sentimental metalsmith” because that is what she specializes in: sentimental work in metal. Her work features both literal sentiment via the words and phrases she etches into blooming flowers and hinged butterflies, as well as the more intangible emotions evoked in personalized lockets and memorial reliquary. 

“I’m inspired by both nature and nostalgia, by love and by loss.  I work in metal, taking something cold and hard and imbuing it with warmth and heart.”

Although Erin holds a masters degree in social work, her work for more than a decade has been a different kind of creative social-work, oriented around connecting with others and creating customized, personal, one-of-a-kind jewelry to honor life’s milestones and memories.

Her jewelry-making journey began with the loss of a wonderful dog, as she looked for ways to remember him and process her grief. Creating a piece of jewelry helped her feel a physical connection to his memory, and she’s been helping others make similar journeys ever since.

Erin has worked with renowned metal clay artist and teacher Celie Fago, both as apprentice and assistant, since 2009 and has worked with metalsmith Richard Salley as a workshop assistant. She taught elementary art for grades Pre-K through 8th for several years, and has taught metalsmithing and metal-clay classes to both children and adults since 2008.  Erin lives in Berlin, VT with her spouse and furry companions.

Instagram: @elmharris

Website: www.elmharris.com

If 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!

Tracey Carswell is the founder of Powerful in Pink and co-founder of Queer Metalsmiths. They work with artists, creatives, and small business owners to support their growth and development. Tracey shares their journey into metalsmithing and their passion for creating jewelry. They also discuss the importance of community support and collaboration in their work. Tracey created Queer Metalsmiths to provide a platform for LGBTQIA+ metal smiths and jewelry artists to showcase their work and support each other. They highlight the unique challenges faced by queer, non-binary, and trans artists in the metalsmithing community and discuss ways to recognize and support underrepresented and marginalized artists. Tracey Carswell discusses the importance of creating safe and inclusive spaces, starting with using pronouns and respecting gender identities. They emphasize the need for open conversations and the willingness to make mistakes and learn from them. Tracey also shares their inspiration behind Powerful in Pink, a community organization that supports queer metal smiths, and their vision for the future of the organization. They encourage individuals to find their passion, connect with existing communities, and take the first steps towards building their own community.

Bio...

Tracey Carswell (they/them) is a queer non-binary coach, curator, artist, and educator dedicated to building inclusive communities and promoting equity. They are the founder of Powerful in Pink, a brand that offers coaching, small business support, curation services, and community-building opportunities for artists and entrepreneurs. 
Tracey also co-founded Queer Metalsmiths, a community space that honors, centers, and uplifts 2SLGBTQIA+ jewelers and metalsmiths. Through their work as the founder and former President of the Miami chapter of the Women’s Jewelry Association, as well as their work with PiP and Queer Metalsmiths, they invest in the growth and success of women, femme, queer, transgender, and gender non-conforming leaders in the jewelry and craft industries. 

PiP Website: https://www.traceycarswell.com

PiP Instagram: @powerfulinpinkbytlc

QM Website: https://www.queermetalsmiths.com

QM Instagram: @queermetalsmiths

If 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!

Emily Joyce, an enamelist, sculptor, and jewelry maker, discusses her creative process and balancing her work with being a teacher and a mom. She shares her love for mechanisms and creating playful, nostalgic pieces. Emily talks about her struggles with displaying her work at art festivals and her desire to explore new techniques. She also offers one-on-one classes to teach others and finds inspiration from other metalsmiths. Emily discusses her daily routine and the challenges of marketing and staying consistent on social media. In this conversation, Christine and Emily discuss the challenges of consistency and engagement on Instagram, the struggle to balance creativity with the business side of being an artist, and the importance of finding your own unique style. They also talk about the desire for gallery representation and teaching at craft schools. Emily shares her favorite pieces and her goals for the future.

Bio...

Emily Joyce is a vitreous enamelist, sculptor, and art studio instructor from Cleveland, Ohio. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Enameling from The Cleveland Institute of Art and earned a Master in Arts Education from Case Western Reserve University. Emily’s work is a thoughtful balance of playfulness and humor from her experience as an art teacher and as a student. She is currently interested in exploring the mechanisms of equipment found on playgrounds and how the undermanaged and immensely imaginative time spent on the playgrounds helps to shape us into adults.

Follow Emily...

Instagram: @emilyjoyceofficial

Website: www.emilyejoyce.com

If 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!

Ace McCasland, a metalsmith and jewelry artist, shares her journey and creative process in this conversation with Christine. Ace started Studio Luna Verde and creates unique, eclectic, and out-of-the-box jewelry, which she fittingly describes as "wildcrafted jewelry". She draws inspiration from her travels and the landscapes she has encountered. Ace emphasizes the importance of exploring and seeking new experiences. She also discusses her teaching approach, encouraging students to embrace imperfection and push their boundaries while maintaining good craftsmanship. In this conversation, Christine and Ace discuss the importance of craftsmanship and authenticity in jewelry making. They explore the difference between creating organic and imperfect pieces with intention versus using imperfections as an excuse for poor craftsmanship. Ace shares her journey of starting her jewelry business and the challenges she faced along the way. They also discuss the importance of finding your own voice as an artist and staying true to yourself. Ace offers advice for those starting out in the craft and business of jewelry making.

Bio...

Ace, of Studio Luna Verde, set her roots in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, after many years of exploring and hiking and wandering and driving all over the U.S., especially the west. Experiences have included driving 1950s era tour buses for Green Tortoise Adventure Travel / performing for a year with a three ring circus / hiking into (and out of) the Grand Canyon so many times she’s lost count (at least eight) / living out of a '72 Toyota Landcruiser for three (and a half) years while exploring the U.S. / and failing miserably at surfing on the Sea of Cortez in Baja California.  She loves spicy chocolate, and lightning storms. Her largest creation thus far is having built her own studio, where she currently makes her eclectic jewelry and unabashedly embraces the art of imperfection.

Follow Ace & Studio Luna Verde...

Instagram: @studiolunaverde

Website: www.studiolunaverde.com

If 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!

Kristen Kendrick Bigley, a metalsmith and owner of KKB Metal Studio with a fine arts background, shares her journey to metalsmithing and the influence of her artistic family. She discusses her transition from sculpture to jewelry-making and the challenges of working with different mediums. Kristen also talks about the importance of community and mentorship in her creative process. She shares her experience with imposter syndrome and the balance between her jewelry-making and her full-time job. Kristen emphasizes the value of utilizing available resources and pushing oneself to explore new techniques. Living a creative life means exploring and being curious, regardless of whether it's a full-time profession or a hobby. Embracing the title of 'artist' can be a journey of self-acceptance and finding one's unique artistic voice. The challenges of balancing a creative business with other responsibilities and finding a niche in the market. The importance of community and connections in the metalsmithing and creative community. The value of embracing imperfections and unexpected moments in the creative process. The role of Instagram in building a supportive and inspiring community of artists.

Kristen's Website: kkbmetalstudio.com

Follow Kristen on Instagram: @kkbmetalstudio

If 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!