Slowmade: Nourishing Conversations for Jewelry Artists and Metalsmiths

These days it feels like so many of us are trying to find new and meaningful ways to connect with our customers. One of the themes that continues to play out during my conversations with other makers is their frustration with Instagram and what to do next. 

Today I’m sitting down with Nicole Conklin and talking about her business, Arrok Jewelry. Nicole shares so many good things and during this interview she talks about how we need to understand that Pinterest is like a Google search engine that we can use to our advantage. By entering key words and phrases into your titles and descriptions it can literally drive traffic to your website or instagram. 

Nicole also shares her journey with building Arrok Jewelry to the business it is today and how fine tuning your artistic voice and overall look and feel of your business can take your business to the next level.

Bio...

Arrok Jewelry is owned and operated by Nicole Conklin.
Established in 2010, Nicole started her jewelry career after attending The Gemological Institute of America. Once she graduated from GIA she opened Arrok Jewelry and hasn't looked back!

Nicole enjoys working with her hands, turning precious and semi precious metals into magical handmade works of art.

Her main medium is Sterling Silver, but she also works with copper and brass as accent metals. Nicole's jewelry is bold and powerful, while also remaining subtly feminine. She creates jewelry that evokes emotion and makes the wearer feel empowered and beautiful.

Life, Death and Rebirth influence much of Nicole’s work, and is a theme often found in her jewelry. Using traditional tattoo flash aesthetic, bold lines and unique stones to help her weave intricate stories in metal, Nicole's designs intertwine juxtaposed imagery, often pairing the macabre with the ultra feminine to highlight the dark/light duality within each of us.

Website: arrokjewelry.com

Instagram: @arrokjewelry

Pinterest: @arrokjewelry

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!

You can follow along or reach out to Christine on Instagram: @christinemighion or send her an email at: [email protected]

I just wanted to bring you an extra mini episode each week on Monday's to give you little something to think about as you start your week off. I want to dive a little deeper into some of the challenges we face as makers and give you some encouragement. And really this is as much for as it is for you. 

The "Big I" is definitely not as fun as the "Big O", right? And can I just tell you that I was noticing that impostery feeling welling up inside of me as I was getting ready to publish this episode. 

I'm not an expert, but I do have some time on my side and maybe a little crone wisdom. I hope as you listen to this, you will think of me more like a friend and know that this is what I would share with you if we were sitting together talking about this very thing. 

If you found this minisode helpful, would you please share it with someone you think might need to hear this too, or post it on Instagram and tag me @christinemighion because I always love reposting.

I will forever be grateful to my sister-in-law, Sandra, who came over every Tuesday without fail to cook dinner and watch our children so I could attend an evening metalsmithing course at our local museum. This opportunity allowed me to not only have some time to myself as my husband was working long hours, but she gave me the gift of being able to follow my dreams of becoming an artist. And a couple years later, it  was this gift that helped me through my grief and anxiety over her sudden death. 

My craft has blessed me in so many ways and I'm so grateful for the wonderful jewelry artists I have come to know. This craft and these relationship continues to ground and calm me, and when I have felt deep sadness and uncertainty it has held me.

My conversation with Cara Wolff was one that brought me right back to my heart and the gratitude I have for my sister-in-law and for this craft. 

Cara began making jewelry full-time in 2018, after the tragedy of losing her sister to cancer and her mother’s new cancer diagnosis shifted the lens through which she saw her life and purpose. She left her 20-year career as a Wildlife Biologist and transformed her pain into healing when she opened her small storefront and studio in southern Vermont. Though she came to her career as a jewelry maker later in life, Cara had been fascinated with jewelry and gemstones since she was a child and has made jewelry as a hobby since her high school years. Cara creates unique and sacred adornment from the Earth's finest gifts – all her jewelry is hand fabricated in silver and gold and often features show-stopping gemstones and reclaimed materials. She is inspired every day by the beauty of the natural world and the enduring spirit of her beloved sister, Melinda.

Instagram: @carawolffjewelry  

Website: carawolff.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!

You can follow along or reach out to Christine on Instagram: @christinemighion or send her an email at [email protected]

When I began making jewelry 20+ years ago, sharing about your craft wasn't a thing unless you had peers close by willing to talk openly. There seemed to be an underlying fear that if you shared information, whether it was on a technique or a stone supplier, you may find this person doing similar work in the future. Does that happen? Well, I'm not going to lie... it's happened to me a handful of times and it really stung, especially since I believe in sharing.  

Thankfully with platforms like Instagram and YouTube information is much more accessible and we can follow and form relationships with our peers. I found April Ottey on Instagram a year or two ago and I saw that she taught classes on organic casting in her area. I reached out to her to see if she did any online teaching because I really was struggling with my own organic casting. Unfortunately for me, she didn't teach online, but I took a chance and asked her if she might be willing to answer a couple questions in exchange for payment. She generously answered my questions while repeatedly ignoring my offer to pay her for her knowledge. 

Although we didn't have many exchanges after that, I sensed April was the kind of person I would love to get to know better, so I was thrilled when she agreed to come on the show. April is so very kind and supportive... and this is what I think of when I think about the value of being in community with others. As artists and makers we can all benefit from a healthy community.

About April...

April Ottey is an artist living in Port Townsend, WA.  She has her studio a stones throw from Discovery Bay where she creates contemporary jewelry inspired by the natural world. Her close up inspection of various stages of birth, growth, death and decay in forests, rivers and beaches has shaped who she is as an artist. She casts, fabricates and incorporates the textures and intricate shapes found in nature to create jewelry that places nature into a new context. 

April’s work can be found in various galleries throughout the Northwest.  She is a member of the Northwest Designer Craftsmen Guild and the Seattle Metals Guild .   She has an MFA from Central Washington University and an undergraduate degree from Montana State University.  She taught jewelry and metal smithing at an alternative high school 10 years until she decided to pursue her own work full time in 2015.

Instagram: @april_ottey_jewelry   

Website: aprilottey.com   

Love the show? Please consider supporting the podcast by joining our Slowmade Community on Patreon. Thank you!

You can find Christine on Instagram @christinemighion

Today I'm chatting with the very talented Nisa Smiley! We touch on so many good things like allowing trust and joy to be your guide in life and your art. I can certainly get caught up in the mind chatter telling me to be mindful that I need to make work that will pay the bills. 

We also talk about the artistic and emotional value of our work to our customers. Although we don't spend a lot of time on this topic, I really think it's worth paying attention to.

About Nisa...

Growing up in northern New England, Nisa spent her early years in the beautiful woods and mountains, but her draw to the seaside has been present all along. At 18, she left her beloved mountains and moved to the coast. Decades later, she is still there, entranced by the inexhaustible abundance of inspiration from her natural surroundings.

Nisa earned her BFA from the Maine College of Art in 2000, and then settled in Downeast Maine soon thereafter to start her family. In 2006 she founded NISA Jewelry, and since then her work has been shown in juried fine craft shows, galleries, private trunk shows, public shows, and published in multiple books and publications. She is also a seasoned teacher, and loves assisting others in their creative pursuits. She has taught countless private and public workshops, for both older children and adults, and is a certified Precious Metal Clay instructor, as well as a Master for the Craft Apprentice Program (Maine).

These days, Nisa can often be found in her sunny studio in downtown Ellsworth, Maine (if it’s summer, she can also be found at the beach, or at the J.McVeigh Jewelry gallery in Stonington, Maine), immersed in a plethora of organic found objects, gemstones, and precious metals. Her studio is not public, but visits by appointment are most welcome. Her latest work can be found in select galleries, as well as on her website and social media accounts (Instagram and Facebook).

Website: nisajewelry.com

Instagram: @nisajewelry

Love the show? Please consider supporting the podcast by joining our Slowmade Community on Patreon. Thank you!

You can find Christine on Instagram @christinemighion

Taylor Saleem has the secret sauce... no she IS the secret sauce when it comes to building a handmade business and Instagram account that just pulls you in. After looking through her Instagram profile for a few minutes I know you will get exactly what I'm saying. She is brings an honest connection to her customers and others in the jewelry community, and that is just what we all need right now.

My conversation with Taylor did not disappoint! She is as exactly as I expected... funny, real, talented, and someone I respect and would love to hang out with. As an introvert, this means I'm at complete ease with that person. 

Our conversation today is full and I know you will learn so much more about Taylor after listening. Enjoy!

Bio:

Taylor is a full-time metalsmith living in St. Louis, Missouri. She began creating jewelry in 2003 as "The Rare Bird", transitioning from beadwork to wire work. Entirely self-taught, she now builds her jewelry by hand from precious metals and gemstones, and preserves organic flora in sterling silver using lost wax casting techniques. Taylor's work has been featured in Step by Step Wire Jewelry Magazine, Easy Wire Magazine, and ArtJewlery Magazine and frequently teaches virtual jewelry-making workshops.

Website: TaylorSaleem.com

Instagram: @taylorsaleem

Love the show? Please consider supporting the podcast by joining our Slowmade Community on Patreon. Thank you!

You can find Christine on Instagram @christinemighion

In this episode I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Jess Guerrieri, or maybe better known by her Instagram name JessJewelry. Jess shares her challenges with balancing creativity, the demands of sustaining a viable business, and the burnout that often comes along with this. We cover so many other good things including building lasting friendships within the jewelry community, collaboration, and organically growing her Instagram follow by connecting with her fans through reels. 

About Jess Guerrieri...

Jess, a committed metalsmith since the early 2000s, calls Palm Harbor, FL, home with her husband, two boys, and Ziggy the dog. Graduating with a BFA in Crafts in jewelry and metalsmithing from the University of the Arts in 2006, she kicked off her career as a goldsmith in a Pennsylvania jewelry store, perfecting her skills in commercial jewelry. By 2009, Jess had relocated to Florida, where she delved into the world of art jewelry, drawing inspiration from the surrounding nature. Her pieces showcase delicate floral forms, brought to life through techniques like enameling, engraving, casting, beading and etching, resulting in truly unique, one-of-a-kind creations.

Instagram: @jessjewelry 

Website: jessguerrieri.com

Love the show? Please consider supporting the podcast by joining our Slowmade Community on Patreon. Thank you!

You can find Christine on Instagram @christinemighion

We spend countless hours in our studios and more behind the screen editing photos, answering emails, listing, and sharing our work. It can feel very solitary for even someone like me who absolutely loves my alone time. Yet I think it is worth the freedom to create businesses that work in our lives and the pleasure of doing something we truly love. 

Today, I’m speaking with my friend, Emily Webster of Mavens Jewelry. Emily reached out to me in a sweet little DM on Instagram and we became fast friends. It’s been a mutually supportive relationship and one that I’m truly grateful. I think we all need supportive friends within our craft, willing to share without the concern of competition. 

Emily grew up in Georgia collecting rocks, shells, feathers and all sorts of other organic ephemera - She considers herself a scavenger who has always loved the tiniest things and most insignificant details.

Mavens Jewelry is how Emily processes and shares this innate wonder of our surroundings through hand-crafted one-of-a-kind pieces.

"Training in lost-wax casting in northern Italy, apprenticing to a Master Goldsmith in New York City, managing a fine jewelry repair shop while mastering the art of stone-setting in New Orleans, and being educated in gemology in California - this breadth of experience has led me to work with all kinds of materials, the 'high' and the 'low', and they are equal in my view, from quartz to diamonds, and from silver fabrication to classical goldsmithing techniques." ~ Emily Webster, Mavens Jewelry

Instagram: @mavensjewelry

Website: mavensjewelry.com

Please consider supporting the podcast by joining our Slowmade Podcast Community on Patreon. Your support makes the podcast possible.

If you have a guest suggestion or topic for the podcast, please reach out to Christine at:

Instagram: @christinemighion

Website: christinemighion.com

Today, I'm talking with Lucy Golden. Lucy and I only recently connected, though when I saw her work it felt familiar. Sure enough, Lucy sells some of her nature inspired jewelry on Uncommon Goods.

Lucy takes us on her 35 year jewelry making journey from high school where she participated in two month-long intensive independent study jewelry classes to working in the fashion jewelry industry in Manhattan, and eventually finding herself living in the White Mountains of New Hampshire on a 350 acre farm where nature ultimately became her muse. 

We talk about many things today including the importance of working with your hands as a life long pursuit, figuring out what works best for you, cultivating community and the pleasure of creating meaningful relationships with your customers. 

About Lucy...

Lucy Golden has been making jewelry in the White Mountains of NH for over 35 years. As an avid naturalist, she feels fortunate to be able to explore her interests in her work. When not in the studio, Lucy can be found exploring the outdoors, by bicycle, hiking boots or skis, depending on season. It is often during these times that creative ideas present. Lucy's interests encompass all facets of the natural world, but she is especially fascinated by caterpillars, moths, butterflies, and mushrooms. She enjoys raising four species of native "giant silk moths" and various species of praying mantises from which she draws inspiration. Lucy incorporates color and detail in her work which pays tribute to all of the life forms that share our world with us. She is passionate about conservation and preservation, and hopes that her work is a reminder of the critical importance of our natural environment.

Lucy started making jewelry in high school, and took jewelry classes at RISD while earning a BA in Semiotics from Brown University. She worked in the fashion jewelry industry in Manhattan before moving to NH. She has been a juried member of the League of NH Craftsmen for over 30 years, and sells her work through most of their galleries and their Sunapee Fair, as well as other events and galleries. She teaches metals and jewelry-making at the Littleton Studio School and is an enthusiastic believer in power of creative expression.

Instagram: @lucygoldenjewelry

Website: lucygoldenjewelry.com

Please consider supporting the podcast by joing our Slowmade Podcast Community on Patreon. Your support literally makes the podcast possible! Thank you!

Follow Christine and the Slowmade Podcast on Instagram @christinemighion.

There’s a lot to talk about when it comes to selling our work and making a living as an artist. I think the more we have honest conversations and share our experiences, the more we can learn and feel supported. Just because you love what you do, doesn’t mean that making a living as an artist is all rainbows and butterflies. Making a living not only means charging enough to cover each and every expense that your business incurs, but that you are also financially prepared to make it through an unexpected emergency or slow time without worry. 

This week, I had a serious, but really fun conversation with jewelry artist, Janine Krantz. Janine has been creating jewelry and running her own handmade business for well over 20 years. We covered a lot of territory about the reality of running a handmade business in this conversation… and you might say we got a little salty along the way. 

Janine Krantz is an art jeweler from New Jersey. She works primarily in sterling silver with one of a kind stones sourced from all over the world. Being a jeweler is a second career for her after working as a cosmetologist for 20 years with a side hustle of making and selling jewelry that entire time. Finally making the career switch to full time jeweler has been a dream come true. When she isn't running her business she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, traveling, cooking, and gardening.

Website: janinekrantz.com

Instagram: @janinekrantz

Please consider supporting the podcast by joining our Slowmade Podcast Community on Patreon. Your support makes the podcast possible.

If you have a guest suggestion or topic for the podcast, please reach out to Christine at:

Instagram: @christinemighion

Website: https://www.christinemighion.com