Carol and Michael Schwarz are both accomplished goldsmiths, not only living on Maui, but thriving as artists. They are now winding down in their careers and enjoying a slower, more balanced life tending to their land and creating beautiful gold jewelry with the mana of the island running through each piece. 

When I found Carol and Michael I was intrigued by their off grid lifestyle and their ability to thrive as artists living in the most expensive state in the US. We talk about how they’ve been able to build a sustainable living over the years and how the beauty and energy of Maui inspires their work. 

Carol shares her story of having a premonition that led her to Michael, marking the start of a magical journey together. We discuss how they work collaboratively and individually, how they prioritize aesthetic value over monetary value in their pieces, and the expense of have tools and casting investment shipped to the island.

And friends, if you need a momentary break, I recommend that you head to their website after this episode and watch the video on their home page. There you will fly to their beautiful property and off grid studio. You’ll see and hear about their process, a stone collection that I’m sure most of us would be envious of, and of course their beautiful work.

Follow Carol & Michael...

Instagram: @mauischwarzjewelry

Website: cmschwarz.com

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If you’ve ever wished you could create all your jewelry from gemstones you’ve discovered, you’ll love this conversation with my guest today. 

Lisa Carroll is a silversmith and self-proclaimed treasure hunter from Australia who recently joined the Slowmade Collective. She loves incorporating Australia’s beautiful Lightening Ridge opals into work, but an even bigger thrill is going down into the mine that she and her partner own and discovering beautiful opal specimens. I can only imagine. I’m always trying to source gemstones from small family owned mines with ethical mining practices, but honestly that can be really challenging and with so many stone dealers outside of the US, it’s hard to know who you can really trust. I love that Lisa is literally creating jewelry with opals that come from their own mine and I couldn’t wait to chat with Lisa about all of this.

Opal mining is literally in Lisa’s blood. Her grandfather mined opals while her grandmother cut and polished them… and she’s proudly to carrying on this deep rooted family heritage. 

Lisa was an absolute delight to speak with and her energy was infectious. Of course we talk about the unique qualities of Lightning Ridge opals, the intricate process of finding and processing opals and the challenges and dangers that come with mining… including emus and the occasional venomous snake.

Lisa also shares her experiences balancing her work as a hair stylist and salon owner, jewelry artist and miner with family responsibilities, along with the joys and challenges of living a more simple rural life when they are living for extended periods of time at the dig site. 

Follow Lisa...

Instagram: @thesilversmithandheropalminer

Website: thesilversmithandheropalminer.com

I'm sharing an encore of this fan favorite episode on New Year's Day while I take a little break.

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!

I'm sharing an encore of this fan favorite episode during the Christmas holiday while I take a much needed break.

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

When I think of Lisa Crowder’s work, I immediately go to her pop art style enameled hearts, lips, and skull pieces. Playful and artistic, I feel like wearing her jewelry would immediately put me in a great mood.

Lisa has a gorgeous studio and gallery space in Austin, TX, and like so many retailers when Covid hit everything came to a screeching and uncertain halt. But as a seasoned artist, her creativity bloomed and her priorities changed.

As life fell back into balance, she decided it was time to pull back from many of the wholesale accounts she had and some of the more demanding shows. Lisa is enjoying this pivot and she’s thriving as a jewelry artist, using social media to nurture her connection with her fans. 

During our conversation we talk about the time and effort it takes to build strong relationships with customers, navigating burnout and the importance of saying no to opportunities, because more opportunities will continue to come our way.

Follow along with Lisa...

Lisa on Instagram: @lisacrowderjewelry

Lisa’s Website: lisacrowder.com

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Support an episode: Click here to learn more!

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Inspired by the natural beauty of rural Montana, Stacey Curry has been designing jewelry since she was 16. Stacey’s business, Star Hitched Wagon, features thoughtfully handcrafted jewelry and apothecary products reflecting her deep connection to nature, blending the simplicity of the plains with the spirit of the mountains. Each piece encourages individuality while honoring nature and loved ones.

One things that really drew me into Stacey’s work is that she has brilliantly created collections based on female characters who like Stacey, love the outdoors.

In this inspiring episode, Stacey shares how she really values slow growth and has settled into the moment of where she is at so that she can focus on continually improving her products, her customer connections, and sustainability.

Follow Stacey...

Instagram: @starhitchedwagon

Website: www.starhitchedwagon.com

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Support an episode: Click here to learn more!

Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!

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: @lbouton018

Website: www.ljbjewelryshop.com

Etsy: www.ljbjewelry.etsy.com

If 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!

I wouldn’t say I have a love hate relationship with casting, but I would say it’s complicated. On one hand it feels like I really need to gear up for it mentally because each time is an experiment and it’s a long process. But when it works, which thankfully has been more often than not, I’m left with a handful of shiny things to weave into my work. On the days I’ve felt a little more blocked, I’ve sat at my bench and carved crude rings from wax and it’s honestly quite cathartic. Maybe one day I will cast them, but I’m a hand fabricator at heart. 

My guest today is Christina Michie, and she (on the other hand) has wax and molten silver running through her veins. An accomplished metalsmith, her curiosity to learn as much as she could about the craft led her to wax carving and casting. Initially for herself, but she quickly discovered that other jewelers wanted to purchase her castings to incorporate in their work and Creative Casting was born. 

I really enjoyed talking with Christina and her enthusiasm for the craft and for learning. We talk about the impact of personal experiences on creativity and the challenge of balancing multiple creative pursuits. Christina shares her insights on navigating social media, reducing overwhelm with good organization and focus, finding her niche in the jewelry industry, and managing burnout.

Follow Christina...

Instagram: @creative_castings

Website: www.creativecastingsandmore.com

If you are enjoying this podcast and would like to support an episode or join the Slowmade Collective, please visit www.slomadepodcast.com. I'm so grateful for your support!

As a child growing up in Madison WI, Nora Feldman filled her days creatively, filming short movies and TV commercials, writing and performing songs, choreographing dance routines, painting, drawing, and even designing brochures for imaginary businesses. She scrapbooked, wood-burned, rock-tumbled, sewed, and even took up knitting… But above all else, Nora loved making jewelry. 

Surprisingly though, Nora chose a different career path in college worried that she wouldn’t be able to support herself as a jewelry artist.

During our conversation Nora shares how she rather unexpectedly birthed, Metalhead Jewelry when she found herself without a job due to the Covid shut downs. Going all in and dedicating herself to her craft, she quickly built a strong following.

Nora talks about about finding her unique voice, authenticity and social media, the importance of novelty in her designs, and the struggles she faces with being a creative entrepreneur. 

Follow Nora...

Instagram: @metalheadjewelry

Website: www.metalheadjewelry

Today you’ll hear my conversation with Kim Sheridan, maybe better known by her business name Metal Objects. Kim was as delightful to speak with as is her jewelry, which can only be described as colorful, fun, reminiscent of another time, and in her words, perhaps a bit quirky. And fun is one of the things that keeps Kim coming back to her craft again and again. She is curious and enjoys problem solving through the making process. And while she enjoys trying new techniques and creating new designs for the fun of it, she is keenly aware that her collectors expect a certain style from her and she doesn’t share everything she makes. 

Kim and I talk about the importance of craft in our lives, especially when other things unexpectedly demand more of our time and love, like doing the hard work of caring for a family member. Kim openly shares about being a kidney transplant recipient which stirred a fascination for Ex Voto’s and work that has stemmed from that. We talk about the importance of having support from others in your craft while doing this thing called making a living with the things we make. And Kim offers a refreshing perspective on scaling down to the basics of what you really need in your making process making it much more affordable to start up and sustain a creative business. 

Follow Kim...

Instagram: ⁠@metalobjects⁠

Website: ⁠metalobjects.com⁠

On Etsy: ⁠metalobjects.etsy.com⁠