Slowmade: Nourishing Conversations for Jewelry Artists and Metalsmiths

• Michelle Pajak-Reynolds: Creating Future Heirlooms, Environmentally Sensitive and Ethical Metalsmithing Practices, & Pricing for Success

  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: @michellepajakreynoldsWebsite: michellepajakreynolds.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!

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• Kelly Bussio: When Everything Changes - Finding Love, Craft, and Community After Tragedy

  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.designWebsite: jdkbussiodesign.comKelly's episodes on The 10 Ninety Podcast:Part 1 Part 2Love the Podcast?Support an episode: Click here to learn more!Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!

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• Heather John: Inspired by the Stones, The Therapeutic Nature of Making, & Finding Your People

  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: @heatherjohnjewelryHeather’s Website: heatherjohnjewelry.comSupport an episode: Click here to learn more!Join the Slowmade Collective: Click here to learn more!Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!

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• Robert Thomas Mullen: The Economics of Being an Artist & the Value of Fostering Strong Connections within the Jewelry Community

  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: @robertthomasmullenWebsite: robertthomasmullen.comRobert’s Brooch Collection on Instagram: @my_brooch_collectionLove the Podcast?Support an episode: Click here to learn more!Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!

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• Carrie Haase: The Love of Craft and the Challenges of Being a Solopreneur, Finding Balance, & Prioritizing Self-Care

  In a perfect world we could just sit at our benches and create while someone else handled the business side of things, marketing, and social media. But for most of us, we need to do it all and some days doing it all feels defeating and like we just can’t do enough. Today, you’ll hear my conversation with Carrie Hasse which happened right after she finished a couple of very demanding shows including One of a Kind Chicago. I have been a big fan of Carrie’s work with her rich patinas and bold stone choices, but boy did I fall in love when I got to see it in person at One of a Kind. During our conversation you’ll hear Carrie share that being a working artist and solopreneur isn’t easy, but her love for the craft drives her desire to push through the challenging moments. We talk about balancing work with the things that nourish us, physical challenges that can result or flare up from our metalsmithing, and the importance of self care.Carrie Haase has been designing and creating jewelry for over 20 years. Her jewelry celebrates geometry and geology, and the meeting of the two. When she’s not in her home studio working, she can often be found rummaging for unique gemstones in and around the Chicago area.Follow Carrie...Instagram:@carriehaasejewelryWebsite:carriehaasejewelry.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!

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