Slowmade: Nourishing Conversations for Jewelry Artists and Metalsmiths

• Renee Ford of Renee Ford Metals - 30 Years at the Bench, Creative Shifts, & Returning to What Feeds the Soul

  Renee Ford, now Renee Busdiecker, has been working in metal for over 30 years, and her path has taken her through so many versions of this life—from grad school to running her own brick-and-mortar fine jewelry store in her twenties, to creating a production line that landed in shops around the world. She’s taught all over the country, mentored students from her studio in Tennessee, and developed tools that many of us use at the bench such as one of my favorites, Hold It.These days, she’s focused on slower, more intentional work—custom pieces, hand engraving, and passing on what she’s learned to others.During our conversation we talked about what it’s like to navigate creative life as we age… the shifting priorities, the toll on our bodies, and the deep satisfaction that can come from making work that feels meaningful and connected. Renee also spoke about the invisible weight of always having to wear all the hats, and the quiet, tender place she’s arrived at—where the work is less about proving something, and more about listening, refining, and creating from a place of truth.Follow along with Renee...Instagram: @reneefordmetalsJewelry: reneefordmetals.comTutorials & Tools: thehammerandanvil.comLove the Podcast?Support an episode: Click here to learn more!Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: @christinemighionJewelry Website: christinemighion.comSlowmade: slowmadepodcast.com

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• SuzAnne Taylor: From Battlefield to Bench, a Metalsmith's Healing Journey

  SuzAnne Taylor is a silversmith and artist whose journey into jewelry began as an act of survival. After serving as a combat medic in Iraq, she returned home carrying invisible wounds and found herself struggling to reconnect with everyday life. It was during a stay at a VA hospital that her psychiatrist encouraged her to find a hobby—something to do with her hands, something to focus her energy. That simple suggestion opened a door.A beginner’s chainmail class led to her first bracelet, and something clicked. The rhythm, the repetition, the quiet demand for presence—each small step helped anchor her in the here and now. Over time, and with the support of a kind and generous mentor, SuzAnne began to build a new life through her work at the bench.Her work, especially her Tuff Gurlz line, honors the imperfect and the scarred, not only in the stones she chooses, but in the stories they represent—stories of survival, strength, and grace.This episode is a beautiful reminder that art often finds us when we need it most—and that making with our hands can bring us back home to ourselves. Follow along with SuzAnne...SuzAnne on Instagram: @stonesandsterlingbytaylorSuzAnne’s longtime Instagram account @taylormadesilver was removed by Meta without explanation and she is currently working to restore it and will return to this account if possible.SuzAnne’s Website: taylormadesilver.comLove the Podcast?Support an episode: Click here to learn more! Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine and Slowmade...Instagram: @christinemighionJewelry Website: christinemighion.comSlowmade: slowmadepodcast.com

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• Jennifer Young - The Intentional Path: Finding Rhythm, Ritual, and Creative Wholeness

  Jennifer Young is one of those multi-talented souls who’s followed a winding, wholehearted path—through fine art, architecture, time living in Japan, and months on the road with her family in an Airstream. She makes soulful jewelry full of story. And in the corner of her studio, she’s created a small but intentional shop curated with beautiful handmade objects from around the world, all rooted in a deep sense of slowness, simplicity, and reverence for craft.During our conversation, we talk about finding your creative rhythm, navigating the pull between all the roles we hold, and what it really means to build a life and business on your own terms. If you’ve ever felt like you had too many passions to pin yourself down—or longed for more intention in your creative practice—I think you’ll really enjoy this episode.We explore the beauty of restraint, the power of ritual, and how letting things unfold—at their own pace—can lead you closer to yourself. If you’re craving a reset or simply want to feel inspired by someone carving out her own quiet, intentional path—this one's for you.Follow Jennifer...Instagram: @wren_atelierWebsite: wrenatelier.comLove the Podcast?Support an episode: Click here to learn more!Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine & Slowmade...Instagram: @christinemighionJewelry website: christinemighion.comSlowmade website: slowmadepodcast.com

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• Julianne Van Buskirk - The Creative's Dance: Flow, Frustration, and the Joy of Making

  If you’ve ever felt that tug-of-war between creativity and business, or struggled with the balance of freedom and financial pressure, you’re going to feel so seen in this episode.Julianne is a maker in the truest sense—her work is soulful, organic, and deeply connected to the natural world. We talk about her journey from teacher to metalsmith, the unexpected start she got thanks to her husband’s old silversmithing tools, and how her creative voice found its way through texture, form, and layers that reflect the landscapes of her life.We also dive into the challenges of building a jewelry business in a rural setting, navigating the rollercoaster of sales, and the ever-present feeling of not doing it ‘right’—even when your heart knows it’s exactly what you’re meant to be doing. Julianne shares how she’s embraced the imperfections of her craft and found freedom in letting go of comparison and self-doubt.If you’ve ever felt the pull to create simply for the joy of it, or if you’ve ever wrestled with the tension between art and livelihood, this conversation will resonate. You’ll walk away with a deeper appreciation for the slow, mindful process of making, and for the ways we can infuse care and intention into not just our work, but our lives.Follow along with Julianne...Instagram: @silverstruckstudioWebsite: etsy.com/shop/silverstruckstudioLove the Podcast?Support an episode: Click here to learn more! Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Follow Christine & Slowmade...Instagram: @christinemighionJewelry website: christinemighion.comSlowmade website: slowmadepodcast.com

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• Doug Napier - Creating Jewelry Wrapped in Story, Finding the Bigger Purpose to Our Work, & More Wisdom from the Jewelry Monk

  In this episode, I sit down with Doug Napier—a thoughtful, seasoned artist with decades of experience in the jewelry world. Doug shares stories from his early days at the bench and how a lifetime of global adventures shaped the way he sees and approaches his craft today.We talk about what it means to stay adaptable in a changing industry, how to balance time-honored techniques with modern tools, and why teaching, mentoring, and storytelling matter so much—especially now. Doug opens up about the spiritual side of making jewelry, the pressures that come with making a living from your art, and how he works to keep joy and curiosity alive in the process.We also explore how platforms like YouTube have helped him pass on hard-earned knowledge, and how his identity as a creator continues to evolve. Doug reminds us that it’s okay to question the old rules, to find your own rhythm, and to think about the legacy you want to leave behind—not just in your work, but in the way you show up for others.It’s a soulful, generous conversation that left me thinking long after we wrapped. I think you’ll feel the same.Follow Doug...Doug on Instagram: @jewelrymonkDoug’s Website: jewelrymonk.comDoug on YouTube: Doug Napier (Jewelry Monk)Love the Podcast?Support an episode: Click here to learn more! Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!Connect with Christine and the Slowmade Podcast:Instagram: @christinemighionEmail: [email protected]

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