Slowmade: Nourishing Conversations for Jewelry Artists and Metalsmiths

Josselin Soto Machuca creates wearable art rooted in memory, family, and cultural heritage. Her work often begins with a story, whether it’s one she remembers herself or one passed down through her family, and becomes a way of making those memories tangible. As Josselin says in our conversation, she often finds herself asking, how can I make this memory into something I can hold?
In this episode, Josselin shares how she found metalsmithing almost by accident while studying art education. We talk about reconnecting with her culture through her work, the influence of her grandfather and family, and why looking back has become such an important part of the way she creates.
We also dig into the stories behind two of her most meaningful pieces: an incredible copper floral shawl honoring the women in her family and a heart-shaped scorpion belt buckle inspired by a story about her grandparents. Both are beautiful examples of how an object can hold far more than what we see on the surface.
We also talk about what success means when you're building a creative life, the reality of doing all the jobs that come with being a working artist, and Josselin's hope that she can continue making work and still find joy in the process.

Follow Josselin:
Instagram: ⁠@josselin.soto.machuca
Website: josselinsotomachuca.com

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

What does it really mean to live a creative life that’s true — not tidy, not performative, but real?
In this conversation, jewelry artist Susan Wachler shares her journey from a multi-generational family of jewelers to her own late-in-life return to the bench after decades as a psychotherapist. Her work carries the weight of both lineage and lived experience — raw, textural, and deeply human.
We talk about redefining success, creating without proof, and how honesty — both emotional and artistic — can become a kind of freedom. Susan also reflects on what it means to make art in uncertain times, to let intuition lead, and to find joy in the alchemy of the studio.
It’s a conversation about resilience, honesty, and the quiet courage it takes to keep showing up for your craft simply because you love it.

Follow Susan...
Instagram: @susanwachlerjewelry
Website: susanwachlerjewelry.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!

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

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: @silverstruckstudio
Website: etsy.com/shop/silverstruckstudio

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 & Slowmade...
Instagram: @christinemighion
Jewelry website: christinemighion.com
Slowmade website: slowmadepodcast.com

In this episode of Slowmade, I’m joined by jewelry artist Dawna Gillespie, whose work is rooted in personal story, persistence, and a strong sense of artistic identity.
Dawna shares how she discovered metalsmithing almost by accident during her final semester at Texas Tech and immediately felt a connection to the process that she had never experienced with painting. After becoming a stay-at-home mom, she eventually found her way back to jewelry and began building a creative practice alongside family life.
We talk about how Dawna developed the visual language behind her work using a small group of shapes and motifs that represent pieces of her own story, and how she continues to manipulate those forms into completely one-of-a-kind adornments. She also shares why copper and brass became such important materials in her work, particularly because of the way they naturally change and develop character over time.
Dawna is wonderfully candid about the less glamorous parts of building a creative career too. She talks about being told early on that she was a “nobody,” learning to listen for the useful parts of difficult feedback, being waitlisted for exhibitions, hearing no from publications, and continuing to put herself and her work forward anyway. For Dawna, perseverance doesn’t mean forcing a particular timeline. It means continuing to grow, staying open to what can be improved, and trusting that a no today doesn’t necessarily mean no forever.
We also talk about comparison, feeling behind, the importance of setting goals without becoming rigid about them, what the creative process gives back to us, and why she believes the stories and experiences we carry are worthy of being expressed through our work.
Dawna’s reminder is a simple but powerful one: don’t be afraid to ask. If you never ask, the answer is already no.

Follow Dawna...
Instagram: @dawna_gillespie_adornments
Website: dawnagillespie.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

David Forshee is the jewelry and lapidary artist behind David Forshee Jewelry.
In this episode, David and I talk about the early years of learning a craft and the many small decisions, experiments, tools, and mistakes that slowly shape a maker’s path. David works with mixed metals, opals, and gemstones, and much of his work begins with the stone itself.
David shares how jewelry making first found him after he and his wife began looking for a handmade engagement ring, and how that experience opened his eyes to the beauty and presence of handmade jewelry. From there, he started with a simple torch and a few basic tools, learning to set rose-cut stones and slowly building his skills one piece at a time.
We talk about working in a small garage studio, the reality of making jewelry without a large or perfect workspace, and the way tools slowly enter our lives as the work asks for them. David shares what led him into lapidary, from adjusting wonky cabochons to cutting opals, and we talk about the heartbreak and wonder that can come with working such delicate, beautiful stones.
Our conversation also moves into family, memory, and the tools we inherit. David shares how some of the tools he uses came from his father and grandfather, and how making has become a way of carrying those connections forward. We also talk about the fullness of family life, raising a young child, and finding creative time in the in-between moments.
This is a warm conversation about learning as you go, making do with the space you have, honoring the slow parts of the process, and allowing the craft to keep opening new doors.

Follow David...
David on Instagram: ⁠@davidforsheejewelry⁠
David’s Website: ⁠davidforsheejewelry.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