Slowmade: Nourishing Conversations for Jewelry Artists and Metalsmiths

Karin Luvaas creates one-of-a-kind jewelry that highlights the natural beauty of hand-cut gemstones. Inspired by the rich hues, patterns, and textures of the earth, she carefully selects rare and unexpected stones to showcase in her designs. With a focus on color, craftsmanship, and refined simplicity, her work transforms organic materials into modern, elegant pieces that spark curiosity and joy.

“The heart of every piece I make starts with the stone. Natural gemstones — in all their wild, weird, and wonderful forms — are what pull me in and push my work forward. I’m constantly chasing that “holy sh*t, look at this one” moment, whether it’s at a gem show or deep in the dust at a small mine.”

As you listen to our conversation, you’ll feel her enthusiasm for learning—about stones, about the craft, about all of it. And she’s just as passionate about sharing what she’s learned with others.

If you are a stone geek like me, you’ll feel seen after this conversation. But if you’re not, I know you’re going to get so much out of this. We touch on sourcing materials responsibly, finding what lights you up, balancing business with craft, participating in well known shows, and so much more. 

Follow Karin...

Instagram: @karinluvaasjewelry

Website: karinluvaas.com

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Instagram: @christinemighion

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In this engaging conversation, Christine Mighion interviews Beth Aimee, a talented jeweler who shares her journey from childhood experiences in the Appalachian mountains to her current work in jewelry design. Beth discusses her transition from a career in neurobiology to teaching and eventually to metalsmithing, highlighting the influence of nature on her artistic process.

The conversation delves into the importance of community in the creative process, the daily life of a jeweler, and the joy of creating unique pieces.

Beth reflects on her design process, the recurring themes in her work, and the evolution of her artistic voice.

Beth and Christine delve into the world of jewelry making, exploring the joys of gemstone mining, the challenges of selling at art shows, and the rewarding experience of teaching. They discuss the emotional connections formed through crafting and the importance of integrity in business. The conversation highlights the significance of finding purpose in artistic endeavors and the impact of creating beauty in the world.

Follow Beth...

Instagram: @bethaimeejewelry

Website: bethaimeejewelry.com

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In this conversation, Christine Mighion interviews Rebecca Connell, a metal clay artist known for her work with MopTop Jewelry. They discuss Rebecca's journey into jewelry making, her creative process, the importance of photography in presenting her work, and the challenges she faced transitioning to full-time jewelry making.

The conversation also touches on health issues, including perimenopause and ADHD, and how these have impacted her creativity and business management.

Rebecca and Christine also discuss the challenges of balancing personal health, creative processes, and the realities of running a jewelry business. They explore the importance of self-discipline, the impact of social media on sales, and the creative blocks artists face. Rebecca shares her journey in jewelry making, her design approach, and offers valuable advice for new artists entering the field. She also shares her insights on managing inventory and pricing, emphasizing the importance of community and support in the creative process.

About Rebecca...

Rebecca is a full-time metal clay artist, silversmith, lapidarist, tool maker, and instructor who specializes in capturing the beauty of nature in precious metals. She collects natural textures and imprints from her surroundings—from her mother’s gardens to her travels abroad, including a recent trip to Scotland. Rebecca began making jewelry at 13 and has grown her skills alongside the evolution of metal clay. Since purchasing her first kiln in 2013, she’s expanded into traditional goldsmithing, lapidary arts, 3D printing, laser etching, graphic design, and photography. With prior careers in the Air Force and accounting, she brings a unique blend of creativity and precision to her work. Rebecca is based in Winston Salem, NC, where she lives with her husband and their beloved pets, Jimmie and Charlie.

Follow Rebecca...

Instagram: @moptopjewelry

Website: moptopjewelry.com

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Brittany Foster shares her journey from being a custom jeweler in Minneapolis to finding her artistic voice in the serene woods of northern Minnesota. She discusses the challenges and joys of transitioning from commissioned work to personal expression, the inspiration she draws from nature and science, and the importance of creating a supportive environment for creativity.

Brittany also reflects on her creative process, the evolution of her artistic style, and the emotional aspects of being an artist.

The conversation highlights the balance between the business of art and the need for personal fulfillment in creative endeavors.

In this conversation, Brittany Foster and Christine explore the journey of self-discovery, the challenges of creativity, and the importance of community in the world of handcrafted jewelry.

They discuss navigating creative blocks, adapting to new business realities post-pandemic, and the balance between production and creativity.

The conversation emphasizes the value of handcrafted work, personal growth, and the need for kindness towards oneself in the artistic process.

Follow Brittany...

Instagram: @bmfjewelry

Website: bmfjewelry.com

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Have you ever thought about writing a book, or perhaps even creating a community studio to teach and work from? If so, I think you will love this conversation with my guest Amy Schmidt. 

Amy shares her journey into the world of metalsmithing, her passion for the craft, falling in love with teaching and then eventually establishing Salt City Smithery - a teaching and working studio. 

Amy also reflects on the challenges and rewards of writing her book, “The Bench Book, a Companion for Metalsmiths”. It is a book I have personally found very valuable and you’ll hear me speak about this. 

Although teaching has now become the primary focus of Amy’s career, she is still eager to sit down at the bench when she can and maintain a hands on connection to her craft.

Follow Amy:

Instagram: @thesilverschmidt

Website: saltcitysmithery.com

Buy The Bench Book: A Companion for Metalsmiths here.

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Lynn Samis is a talented fine arts portrait painter with a modern, abstract, and colorful approach to her work. Her work bridges between cultures as a reminder of our common ground. It speaks to those who believe everyone deserves a place and a voice, especially in today’s divided world. Her desire is that when viewing her paintings, you can reflect, connect, and maybe even see a bit of yourself in their stories.

I first met Lynn in an artist's mastermind we both were a part of and we quickly became friends. During one of our conversations, Lynn told me how much she enjoys Slowmade. Even though she didn’t always understand some of the jewelry-specific topics, she loved hearing each artist’s story. She said her love for painting was the same as my love for metalsmithing so of course I had to have her on as a guest to discuss this more.

I really loved this conversation for so many reasons, mostly because it touches on that unexplainable desire we have as artists to create. With every finished piece, there’s that exhale—that blissful moment of satisfaction and sometimes even awe at what we’ve just brought into existence.

You’ll hear Lynn talk about the joy of finding her unique voice, stepping into the third act of her life as a successful artist, and how she feels her paintings almost guide her—revealing the story they want to tell. She also shares the importance of being in community with other artists and not letting fear hold you back.

Follow Lynn...

Instagram: @lynnsamisfineart

Website: lynnsamisart.com

Mentioned in the podcast: Miriam Schulman & The Inspiration Place

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Michelle Pajak Reynolds quite literally began creating jewelry as a young girl, inspired by the tiara and cuff bracelets she saw Linda Carter wear while playing Wonder Woman. She carried that passion through high school, eventually earning a BFA in Jewelry/Metals from Kent State and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Baldwin-Wallace University.

We cover a lot of ground in this interview, including the time and thoughtfulness Michelle pours into each collection. She meticulously researches her inspirations, documents her process, and carefully sources ethically mined stones. You can truly hear her passion for her craft as she shares this journey.

We also dive into resources and information about ethically mined gemstones and metals—something Michelle has spent years researching. She emphasizes the importance of pricing your work for long-term sustainability and truly understanding your value as a craftsperson. We talk about her experience at NY Fashion Week, the rewards of nurturing strong client relationships, the challenges of balancing motherhood and family life with running a business, and so much more.

Follow Michelle...

Instagram: @michellepajakreynolds

Website: michellepajakreynolds.com

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Kelly Bussio was critically injured in an airplane crash 28 years ago where her husband, Brent, and a dear friend were both killed. She became paralyzed from the armpits down and spent many months laying flat on her back grieving.

Not too long after, Kelly retired from her fast paced corporate job and began metalsmithing classes. It was there she fell in love with metal and stone. Kelly has adapted her life to fit her body abilities and has created a lovely, fully accessible jewelry studio in her basement, including a glass elevator. 

Kelly creates silver and gold custom jewelry for the love of her loyal customers and makes each piece with gratitude that she has the means and ability to work every day in a medium she loves. She has curated a beautiful circle of friends who build each other up through kindness and love and considers her family and friends her “small circle.”

She is currently the president of the Utah Metal Arts Guild, a developing organization with a mission to help its members grow and thrive in the metalsmith arts. 

She has remarried the love of her life, J.D. Bussio. They have six children, 20 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. They have two yellow labs and two cats. Kelly is a volunteer and two-time graduate of Canine Companions, an organization that provides service dogs to people with disabilities, at no cost. Torie is her service dog, and Kipper is her studio partner.

Follow Kelly:

Instagram: @j.d.k.design

Website: jdkbussiodesign.com

Kelly's episodes on The 10 Ninety Podcast:

Part 1

Part 2

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I met Heather John when she joined the Slowmade Collective many months ago and have really enjoyed getting to know her during our events. Her work is a beautiful marriage of organic and modern design, with masculine and feminine elements, and show stopping gemstones. 

Today we discuss Heather's journey into jewelry making not that long ago, finding inspiration from the gemstones she uses, and the therapeutic nature of crafting. Heather talks about her creative process and the joy of working with her hands, highlighting the balance between structure and creativity in art, as well as the challenges and rewards of being a maker. We also discuss the challenges of creating an online presence today while trying to find creative ways to connect with our audience.

Heather on Instagram: @heatherjohnjewelry

Heather’s Website: heatherjohnjewelry.com

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I have to say that I was a little nervous initially when I thought of sitting down with Robert Thomas Mullen. He has a list of artistic accomplishments that would make many of us feel a bit “impostery” as artists. However, it didn’t take long for me to relax into our conversation and see that Robert, though extremely talented, had times when he doubted his own work, felt blocked, and experienced many of the same things we all feel but often keep to ourselves. He was honest, introspective, and humble, and I liked him immediately.

Robert shares that having a full-time job helps him be a better artist allowing him the freedom to make for himself first. He talks about his amazing collection of brooches acquired over the years from other jewelry artists, the importance of fostering strong connections within the jewelry community, and his life long passion for collecting interesting objects from nature that one day may find their way into his work.

Follow Robert:

Instagram: @robertthomasmullen

Website: robertthomasmullen.com

Robert’s Brooch Collection on Instagram: @my_brooch_collection

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