Slowmade: Nourishing Conversations for Jewelry Artists and Metalsmiths

Each one of us is on our own creative journey. We may be in different places at this time, but I think we can all learn something from each other no matter where we are. I know that each conversation on Slowmade has left me with more clarity and knowledge than I had before, and that is the beauty of community. I’m also deeply grateful to have the opportunity to get to know each artist a little more. Some, from the moment we connect, I feel like I’ve known for years.

Shannon Bundschuh is one of those artists, and talking with her felt like talking to a good friend. Shannon is what I would consider an anomaly in the creative world. Although she began taking some metalsmithing classes in 2016, she took her time to get to know the craft and her market. With that knowledge in hand she intentionally thought through the launch of her business, Carry A Torch, 5 years ago, in 2019. With a background in graphic design, she created a cohesive image that flows seamlessly with her work. And shortly after the pandemic hit, she was able to pivot with her in person teachings at a local retreat center to building beautiful online courses all while raising a family.

Shannon Bundschuh is the owner and creative force behind Carry A Torch. She is a silversmith, designing crushworthy jewelry out of her home studio in Scottsdale, Arizona. Shannon’s background in many other art mediums—including hand-lettering, computer graphics, sculpture, textiles and painting—all contribute to the color, texture and balance in her creations. A passion for trying new materials and challenging herself is what drove Shannon to try her hand at silversmithing, igniting a flame that has her smitten for good. She quite literally and figuratively carries a torch for this medium. And now in her classes, Shannon is sharing the seductive spark of silversmithing with her fellow artists.

You can follow Shannon and see all of her crushworthy jewelry and courses at the links below: 

Instagram: @carry.a.torch

Website: Carry-A-Torch.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: https://www.christinemighion.com

There are few things I find more enjoyable than having a really good conversation with someone who truly understands the magic of creating. That feeling of excitement when you something catches your eye (or your imagination) and you know that is the breadcrumb you need to follow. And of course, then there is the feeling once you have fully birthed your creation and cut the cord to your own soul. 

This week I had the absolute pleasure of talking to Susan Fauman. We talk about the alchemy of creating a piece of jewelry and how we weave our medicine into our work. We talk about the joy of harmoniously blending our lives with our craft and the importance of building a community of peers around you as our work is often solitary. 

There’s a lot I’m still unpacking from this episode, but it just reinforces why I love having these honest conversations… and I hope you are enjoying them too. 

Susan Fauman is a mama and maker of many things, working out of her studio in the NY Hudson Valley. She draws inspiration from her 15+ years working as a yoga instructor, bodyworker and herbalist to bring healing intention to her jewelry and other creations. Her mission is to make people feel connected to something bigger than themselves, with a side of playfulness and wonder.

Website: https://www.susanfauman.com

Instagram: @susanfauman

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

Welcome to our first episode of 2024! Today I'm speaking with Canadian metalsmith, Robin McGauley. Robin shares her journey from leaving a career she loved as an ordained minister in order to follow a deeper longing to create beauty with her hands as well as her heart. We talk about abandoning fear, healing ourselves with the medicine of our work, the link between voice and vocation, deepening the connection to our inner wisdom, and toilets! 

For our final episode of 2023, I'm talking with Carin Jones of Jonesing For Jewelry. Carin talks about the choice to leave her chosen field of zoology to pursue her dreams of owning her own jewelry business only to later build the studio of her dreams and the bigger vision behind this. We talk about our love of the muse and creating one of a kind work, and how her business continues to nourish her creative soul. 

Carin Jones (Kuh-rin) is a Seattle area based artist that derives her inspiration from a zoological background, particularly years of collecting and cataloging specimens. As an architect’s daughter, she obsessively studies shapes and their interactions, notably those of elements not paired in nature.

In her Mineral & Marrow Series, Carin concentrates on an unexpected coupling of discarded bones and high end gemstones. While, at first glance this may seem contradictory, the partnership challenges the audience’s inclination to undervalue one material and overvalue the other. It clarifies the equality of elements - born of stardust and returning to stardust -  and emphasizes the true value of the natural world.  

Crafting materials commonly regarded as disposable into treasured pieces of wearable art challenges society’s perspective and, moreover, assists in realigning the audience’s standpoint.

You can follow along with Carin and see her amazing work at the links below: 

Instagram: @jonesingforjewelry

Website: jonesingforjewelry.com

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

Do you have someone you like to hear on Slowmade? Please connect with Christine on Instagram @christinemighion

. 

Are you really charging enough to support the life you want? Well, after a deep dive into my own pricing recently I'm embarrassed to say that I lost all business sense when it came to my pricing structure. Oh I know better. Believe me I do. I've taken more business courses, tried numerous formulas, and understand the nuances of perceived value, but when I changed direction with my business structure I let fear step in and manage things.

Today I'm doing a solo episode on this very subject because sometime we need a gentle reminder... or kick in the butt!

You can reach out to Christine on Instagram @christinemighion and share your ideas for topic discussion or suggest guests that you would like to hear her interview.

Be a part of the Slowmade Podcast community by joining us on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/SlowmadePodcast

In this technically challenged episode, I had the honor of speaking with Kathy Van Kleeck.  We talk about her transition from successful jewelry designer to slowing down and moving into her vision of "Tending a Handmade Life", how she allows her intuition and spirit to guide her as she creates, how experimentation plays a big role in her craft, and so so much more. I think this is a really valuable conversation for any maker.

Kathy consider herself a Maker. Her business and life revolve around the notion of “Tending a Handmade Life.” She create a wide range of wares in a variety of mediums: fine silver, crystal and gemstone jewelry and Talismans for adorning and spiritual comfort, botanical print silk scarves overdyed with her own homegrown indigo, intuitive blends of perfumes and incense, pottery hand-built with wild clay from her land and fired in a wood kiln. Each piece is spirit guided, heart-centered and grounding, with the goal of helping others in tending a handmade and well-considered life.

You can follow Kathy and view all of her amazing work in the links below.

Instagram: @kathyvankleeck

YouTube: @tendingahandmadelife

Website: KathyVanKleeck.com

Please consider joining our Slowmade Podcast Community on Patreon. Your support makes this podcast possible.

For my first guest interview I'm talking to one of my long time creative crushes, Allison Sattinger. We will be talking about her handcrafted business, Sunny Rising and so much more!

Allison Sattinger wears all of the hats at Sunny Rising. She tools leather, smiths silver, cuts stones and paints portraits in acrylic on canvas. She lives with her family in Sisters, Oregon, outnumbered by cats and obsessed with the smell of ponderosa bark. Allison plays the harp therapeutically in end of life care and also for nervous system support that regular life seems to require these days. Allison believes that love is the answer to most any question a person can ask.  

You can follow along with Allison and see her beautiful offerings in the links below:

Instagram: @sunnyrisingleather

Website: SunnyRising.com

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

Do you have someone you like to hear on Slowmade? Please connect with Christine on Instagram @christinemighion

In this short first episode, Christine shares her struggle with feeling that her work wasn't of value in the eyes of others and the direction she chose to take her business that ultimately led to burnout.

You can reach out to Christine on Instagram @christinemighion and share your ideas for topic discussion or suggest guests that you would like to hear her interview.

Be a part of the Slowmade Podcast community by joining us on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/SlowmadePodcast