Slowmade: Nourishing Conversations for Jewelry Artists and Metalsmiths

On this episode of the Slowmade Podcast, I’m joined by artist and jeweler Francesca Kennedy for a deeply thoughtful conversation about creativity, instinct, imagination, and making without rigid rules.
Francesca has spent decades creating, first in clothing design in the Bay Area and later in jewelry, and one of the things I loved most about this conversation was her willingness to stay open creatively. Rather than forcing herself into a formula or “brand,” she follows curiosity, experimentation, feeling, and play — allowing the work to evolve naturally over time.
Together we talk about growing up “semi-feral,” the importance of imagination and solitude in a creative life, the changing landscape of art and business, one-of-a-kind work, travel, beauty, community, and the freedom that comes from creating work that feels true to who you are.
This conversation felt especially meaningful to me because it also marks the 100th episode of the podcast. I walked away feeling inspired, creatively recharged, and reminded that some of the most interesting artists are the ones willing to keep exploring.

You can find Francesca’s work and follow along here:
Instagram: @flkjewelry

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!

Follow Christine and Slowmade...
Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠
Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠
Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com

Norah Payne first found her way to metalsmithing years ago before stepping away from it for over a decade. When she returned, it wasn’t with a clear plan, but as something to hold onto during a deeply isolated time—something that slowly became the work she couldn’t imagine letting go of.
In this episode, we talk about building a body of work over time, following what feels right, and designing intuitively—often letting the stone lead. We also get into the realities many independent jewelry artists are facing right now, from slower sales to rising material costs and staying visible online.
Norah also shares about losing her home and studio in a wildfire, what it meant to begin again, and the support she received from the jewelry community as she rebuilt.
This is a conversation about returning to what you love, trusting your instincts, and continuing to make… even when the path isn’t clear.

Follow Along:
Norah on Instagram: ⁠@norahpaynemetals
Norah’s Website: norahpaynemetals.com

Love the Podcast?
Consider supporting an episode! Learn more at https://www.slowmadepodcast.com/support-the-podcast
Without your support I couldn’t continue the Slowmade Podcast. Thank you so much!

Follow Christine and Slowmade...
Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠
Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠
Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com

If you’ve ever struggled with photographing your jewelry—or wondered if it might be time to invest in professional images—this conversation is going to give you a lot to think about.
Today I’m joined by jewelry photographer Cole Rodger, whose work many artists in our industry trust to bring their pieces to life. Cole didn’t start out planning to photograph jewelry, but through years of experience in both photography and running her own product-based business, she’s developed a deep understanding of what it takes to create images that not only look beautiful… but actually help sell the work.
In this conversation, Cole shares what goes into creating strong, impactful images—and why photography is often one of the most overlooked (and misunderstood) parts of an artist’s business.
We talk about when it makes sense to invest in professional photography, how different types of images serve different purposes, and what artists can do right now to improve their own photos at home.
This is one of those episodes that can shift how you see your work—and how you present it to the world.

Follow Along:
Cole on Instagram: ⁠@coleimage & @colerodgerimage
Cole’s Website: coleimage.com

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!

Follow Christine and Slowmade...
Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠
Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠
Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com

Amy and Ray Bridewell share a creative partnership that brings together two very different backgrounds — metalsmithing and ceramics — in a way that feels both natural and entirely their own.
Ray creates the stones, growing crystal gemstones in a kiln through a process shaped by heat, time, and years of experimentation. Amy then takes those one-of-a-kind stones and transforms them into jewelry, focusing on how each piece can best be worn, held, and experienced.
In this conversation, we talk about how their work came together, what it looks like to collaborate as both partners and artists, and the reality of working with materials that don’t always behave the way you expect. Ray shares the long path of learning to grow these stones, and the continued sense of discovery that still exists every time the kiln is opened.
We also talk about shows, connecting with people in person, and the importance of helping others understand the process behind the work — especially when what they’re seeing challenges what they think they know about stones.
This episode is a reflection on patience, experimentation, and the kind of making that asks you to stay curious.

Follow Along...
Ray & Amy on Instagram: ⁠@bridewell_and_bridewell
Ray & Amy’s Website: bridewellstone.com

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!

Follow Christine and Slowmade...
Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠
Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠
Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com

Kate Weber of Night Swim Designs joins me to talk about finding her way to metalsmithing during the uncertainty of 2020 after being furloughed from the travel industry. What began as something to fill the time quickly became a path she couldn’t imagine leaving, and working with metal felt like a language she already understood — a mix of creativity, structure, and problem-solving that finally clicked.
In this conversation we talk honestly about what it looks like to build a life as an independent artist right now. We get into rising metal prices, slower sales, pricing handmade work sustainably, and the constant balance between creating what we love and making a living from it. Kate shares her thoughts on trusting your instincts, valuing your time, and why handmade jewelry should be seen as lasting work, not something disposable.
We also talk about travel, nature, building a studio from the ground up, and the way working with our hands can bring us back to ourselves when everything else feels uncertain.
This episode is a reminder that there isn’t one right way to build a creative life — only the path that feels true to you.

Follow Along...
Kate on Instagram: ⁠@nightswimdesigns
Kate’s Website: nightswimdesigns.com

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!

Follow Christine and Slowmade...
Instagram: ⁠@christinemighion⁠
Jewelry Website: ⁠christinemighion.com⁠
Slowmade: ⁠slowmadepodcast.com