For the Love of Jewelers: A Jewelry Journey Podcast Presented by Rio Grande
61 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago -For the Love of Jewelers, a Rio Grande podcast, delves into the multifaceted world of jewelry making. Through candid interviews with leaders and influencers in the field, we uncover the journeys, inspirations and challenges that shape their work.
Whether you're a seasoned jeweler seeking fresh perspectives or an aspiring artisan looking for guidance, join us as we explore the intersection of artistry and business in the jewelry industry.
Have questions or topics you'd like us to cover? We'd love to hear from you!
Reach out to us at [email protected] and be a part of the conversation.
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Episodes
S5-12: Tech Team Tuesday with Special Guest Ronda Coryell
May 16, 2024 11:00 - 47 minutes - 32.9 MBRonda Coryell, a Jewelers of America Certified Master Bench Jeweler and one of the world's most well-regarded experts on the use of Argentium® Silver, joins Shane Hendren on Tech Team Tuesday. Listen as Ronda shares her expertise on Argentium® Silver and answers viewers' questions. Be sure to watch Tech Team Tuesday live every Tuesday at 11 am MT on our Instagram, Facebook and YouTube accounts. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3u2Bnwf-959Wako0Dk93TA Instagram: https://www....
S5-11: Tech Team Tuesday with Shane Hendren and Fiona Morrison
May 09, 2024 10:00 - 49 minutes - 34.1 MBRio Grande Jewelry Tech Team member, Shane Hendren, and Fiona Morrison of Rio's sales team talk shop and answer your jewelry-making questions. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3u2Bnwf-959Wako0Dk93TA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riogrande/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jewelrysupplies Topics covered in this episode: 1) Casting 2) Annie Osburn: https://weavingandforging.com/pages/about 3) Stone Setting 4) Friedrich Dick Files: https://tinyurl.com/mw6nymp4...
S5-10: Tech Team Tuesday with Shane Hendren & John Sartin
May 01, 2024 10:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MBRio Grande Jewelry Tech Team members Shane Hendren and John Sartin talk shop and answer your jewelry-making questions. Join us every Tuesday at 11 am MT for Tech Team Tuesdays on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3u2Bnwf-959Wako0Dk93TA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riogrande/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jewelrysupplies Topics covered in this episode: 1) Metal Forming 2) Welders for people on a budget 3) Resizing a stone without ...
S5-09: Tech Team Tuesday with Shane Hendren & Mark Nelson
April 25, 2024 10:00 - 31 minutes - 22 MBRio’s Education Coordinator, Mark Nelson, joins Rio Tech Team member Shane Hendren to talk shop and answer your jewelry-making questions. In this episode, Mark shares the incredible story of Jacob Morgan's journey to Bhutan to teach stamp-making and stamping to students of the Bhutan School of Metalsmithing Arts. For more information about the Bhutan School of Metalsmithing Arts, including how you can help support this worthy cause, visit www.https://bhutanschool.org/. Join us every Tu...
S5-08: Tech Team Tuesday with Shane Hendren & Gregg Burgard
April 20, 2024 10:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MBRio Grande Jewelry Tech Team members Shane Hendren and Gregg Burgard talk shop and answer your jewelry-making questions. Join us every Tuesday at 11 am MT for Tech Team Tuesdays on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3u2Bnwf-959Wako0Dk93TA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riogrande/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jewelrysupplies Topics covered in this episode: 1) Mold making 2) Casting 3) Tips for adding color to a piece 4) E-coa...
S5-07: Etched in Passion
April 16, 2024 09:00 - 45 minutes - 31.3 MBAlicia Goodwin joins co-hosts Paulene Everett and Scott Bradford on this For the Love of Jewelers episode. She is the owner and creative force behind her business—Lingua Nigra. Alicia’s vibrant energy is contagious as they discuss her intense passion for raw, sculptural design and the influence of Mesoamerica and other historical jewelry on her work. Learn how Alicia celebrates ancient jewelry-making techniques like acid etching and metal reticulation and uplifts the beauty of handmade imper...
S5-06: Tech Team Tuesday with Shane Hendren & Scott Bradford
April 05, 2024 09:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MBRio Grande Jewelry Tech Team members Shane Hendren and Scott Bradford talk shop and answer jewelry-making questions from viewers on the latest episode of Tech Team Tuesday. Topics include CAD Design, 3D Printers, favorite tools and more. Do you have a question you would like answered? Leave it in the comments or reach out via email at [email protected]. Take 10% off Lindstrom Tools all month long! Use code Lindstrom1 at checkout and save big this April.
S5-05: Tech Team Tuesday with Shane Hendren and Paulene Everett
March 28, 2024 18:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBRio Grande Tech Team members Shane Hendren and Paulene Everett talk shop and answer jewelry-making questions from viewers on the latest episode of Tech Team Tuesday. Topics include permanent jewelry, arc welding, jewelry education, favorite tools and more. Do you have a question you would like answered? Leave it in the comments or reach out via email at [email protected] Save 10% on all Bonny Doon tools and equipment when you use code BONNY10 at checkout. Now through March 31st, 202...
S5-04: Peter Gilroy & Therese Keltner of Bonny Doon Tools
March 25, 2024 10:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MBPeter Gilroy, owner of Bonny Doon Tools in Taos, New Mexico, joins Shane Hendren on the latest For the Love of Jewelers Podcast episode. Peter shares how he balances the many hats he wears running a two-person operation at Bonny Doon as well as his passion for creating unique, timeless pieces for his customers. Joining Peter on the podcast is machinist Therese Keltner, who shares her thoughts on making tools for other makers. Manufactured exclusively for Rio Grande, Bonny Doon hydraulic eq...
S5-03: Tech Team Tuesday with Shane Hendren and Phil Scott
March 19, 2024 09:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MBShane Hendren and Phil Scott of the Rio Grande Jewelry Tech Team answer customer questions weekly on Tech Team Tuesday. In this episode, they discuss engraving, stone setting and other questions from our viewers. Be sure to join us live each week at 11 a.m. MT on our YouTube and Facebook profiles to learn more about jewelry-making techniques, tools and other shop talk. Want to have your question answered live on the show? Leave a review or comment, and we will do our best to answer it li...
S5-02: Forging the Next Generation
March 06, 2024 05:00 - 47 minutes - 32.6 MBMiddle and high school jewelry programs are booming across America as upcoming generations discover this captivating artform that combines creativity, critical thinking and endless potential! This episode of For the Love of Jewelers welcomes Bryan Petersen of Bozeman High and Stacie Smith of Gallatin High School—two enthusiastic Rio for Schools instructors from Bozeman, Montana, who empower aspiring teens to learn new skills as they help forge the next generation of jewelers. They join co-ho...
S5-01: Ben Claus: Divine Feminine Rising
February 05, 2024 05:00 - 47 minutes - 32.5 MBKicking off season five, our For the Love of Jewelers Podcast co-hosts, Paulene Everett and Shane Hendren, chat with the 2023 Fall Design Challenge Winner, Benjamin Claus. Tune in as they discuss the concept and inspiration behind his prizewinning design, Divine Feminine Rising. They discuss his path to jewelry making, the joy of connecting to other creators and clients through social media and the value of taking risks on one’s journey to self-actualization.
S4–08: Boline Strand, Wearable Sculptures & the Symbolism of Seeds
November 21, 2023 06:00 - 49 minutes - 34 MBBoline Strand, artisan and winner of the For the Love of Jewelers Summer Earring Challenge, draws creative inspiration from the minimalist traditions of Denmark while exploring themes of growth and transformation in sculptural jewelry design. With a background in painting and mosaic work, she experiments with form and color through traditional gold and silversmithing techniques, creating “wearable sculptures” in karat gold, recycled sterling silver and natural gemstones. Boline joins host Co...
S4–07: Bella Neyman & JB Jones, The Co–Founders of NYC Jewelry Week
October 30, 2023 18:00 - 59 minutes - 40.7 MBMeet the co-founders of New York City Jewelry Week, Bella Neyman and JB Jones. With a Master of Arts in History of Design and Curatorial Studies, Bella is an established historian, independent curator and journalist specializing in contemporary jewelry and currently serves as the mastermind of programming for NYCJW. JB Jones employs her background in creative direction, having served on The Site UnScene platform for emerging street artists in Los Angeles, to oversee event initiatives, market...
S4-06: Peter Gilroy, Choose Adventure
September 22, 2023 11:00 - 47 minutes - 32.7 MBPeter Gilroy is an industry innovator and artisan forged by his passion for rock climbing and self-inspired mantra, “Choose adventure.” After working during summers for his uncle, master goldsmith Phil Poirier, and internalizing years of jewelry-making knowledge, Peter now owns Bonny Doon Hydraulic Presses and Tooling. Additionally, he runs his own design business, offering jewelry, hats, belts and accessories. As a true advocate for sharing knowledge, he often teaches classes on die making ...
S4-05: Nick Noyes, Chasing the Joy
July 14, 2023 19:00 - 1 hour - 50.7 MBJeweler, entrepreneur and influencer Nick Noyes creates one-of-a-kind heirloom jewelry designs, favoring high-karat gold, a stunning spectrum of custom-cut colored gemstones and intricate hand engraving. After years of creating handcrafted wire-wrapped jewelry to sell on the music-festival circuit, Nick attended the New Approach School for Jewelers to further develop his craft, and his evolution continues. In this episode of For the Love of Jewelers, Nick joins host Courtney Gray for a candi...
S4-04: Monica Stephenson, Dedicated to Responsible, Ethical and Fair Practices
April 25, 2023 18:00 - 57 minutes - 39.3 MBIn Swahili, moyo means heart. Monica Stephenson, founder of ANZA Gems, founding collaborator of two NGOs—PACT and the Tanzania Women’s Miners Association (TAWOMA) of Moyo Gems—and President of the Board of Ethical Metalsmiths has devoted her career to responsible and fair-mined jewelry practices. A documentary film project in East Africa led her to the edge of a tsavorite mine, and the rest is history still in the making. Monica has spent the better part of the last decade working with women...
S4-03: Sarah Sides, Permanent Entrepreneur
April 01, 2023 13:00 - 1 hour - 47.5 MBSarah Sides, CEO and owner of Love Weld and Permanent Jewelry Solutions (PJS) has experienced exponential growth since 2020. Her national Love Weld brand, currently in eight different locations across the United States, anticipates nearly doubling its storefronts by the end of 2023. Its sister-company PJS teaches welding safety and permanent jewelry best practices. By offering high-quality chain and charms, and using the right technology, Sarah’s storytelling business model creates personal ...
S4-02: Vikki Tobak, Hip-Hop Historian
March 10, 2023 16:00 - 53 minutes - 36.5 MBWriter, journalist and curator Vikki Tobak is the author of Contact High and Ice Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History. In collaboration with pioneering jewelers, rappers and other industry artists, her work—of provocative essays and poignant photography—documents the creative subculture within hip-hop. “Early jewelers had to understand something about hip-hop, which is that hip-hop loves customization, and they love remixing and . . . having something different from everybody else. That applies t...
S4-01: John W. Ford Sr., Running the Show
January 26, 2023 20:00 - 41 minutes - 28.3 MBCEO of the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA), John W. Ford, Sr. states, “that if you’re in the sale of colored gems, you need to be associated with ethically-sourced gems.” At the helm of an organization whose members share this mine-to-market mentality, John confidently knows that every AGTA gemstone, “comes with ethics. It comes with disclosure. It is a peace of mind.” John’s jewelry journey began nearly four decades ago. Through entrepreneurship and decades of award-winning designs, h...
S3-12: Patricia Carruth, Third-Generation Jeweler, Commitment Designer and Storyteller
December 29, 2022 23:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MBPatricia “Trish” Carruth is a third-generation jeweler, custom engagement ring specialist and owner of Your Personal Jeweler in Royal Oak, MI. Her exposure to the industry began as a young child in her grandfather’s jewelry pawn shop. There, Trish developed a fascination with engagement and wedding jewelry, and the stories that brought these pieces to the business. “I actually wanted to be a wedding planner throughout college … but then I planned my own wedding …,” she laughs. The first jewe...
S3-11: Nellie Barnett, Bridging Connections
December 27, 2022 23:00 - 54 minutes - 37.4 MBNellie Barnett, corporate communications manager for the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), co-founder and communications chair for the Black in Jewelry Coalition (BIJC) and founder of NellBells Fitness discusses equity in the jewelry industry. In this episode, Nellie sits down with host Courtney Gray to discuss the history of BIJC and its Together by Design competition. “I think, when it comes to storytelling, the most important aspect is authenticity…That’s what keeps them coming back...
S3-10: Jeanette Caines, The Deep Bench of a Master Goldsmith
October 26, 2022 14:00 - 1 hour - 49.4 MBJeanette Caines, director of Jewelry Arts, Inc. in New York City shares her secret to becoming a renowned master goldsmith. “Once you learn to control the flame (…), that's your universe. You can control anything,” she says. Her bench of knowledge is deep—beyond her well-documented expertise in ancient jewelry-making techniques. Jeanette authored #1 Best Seller and a #1 New Release, Soldering Demystified, and is working on publishing a second work, Bezel Settings Demystified. She has designe...
S3-09: Rich Youmans, Many Paths to One Goal
September 22, 2022 14:00 - 57 minutes - 39.6 MBRich Youmans, publisher at MJSA and executive director at the MJSA Education Foundation shares about collaboration, connection and the renowned publication. “People come to us (…) to make their jobs…, their lives easier…, and to get that feel that we’re all working together to create something that’s better,” he says. Rich’s latest project is on reviving jewelry-trade apprenticeships and he is working closely with educators, organizational leaders and master jewelers. MJSA has set an ambitio...
S3-08: Allen Aragon, Miniature Potter, Painter and Master Jeweler
August 10, 2022 21:00 - 54 minutes - 37.7 MBInnovative jewelry artist and gallery owner Allen Aragon draws from traditional Navajo, Pueblo, Hopi and Acoma themes for his fresh approach to pottery and silversmithing. To create his signature jewelry, Allen sets intricate handmade ceramic paintings in sterling silver. Through his unique process, he creates one-of-a-kind earrings, rings, bolo ties and concho belts. Along with jewelry, he showcases his line of miniature pots and sculptures at his Albuquerque storefront and studio. In this ...
S3-07: Kendria Thompson, Creating for a Better World
July 15, 2022 20:00 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MBKendria Thompson is a self-guided metalsmith, lapidarist and illustrator with a penchant for change. The owner of Solid Treasures also founded Metalsmiths for Change—a social advocacy group of artist donors that raise money through fundraisers and auctions in hopes of creating a better society. “We advocate (…) for racial and social justice through collaboration and (…) provide equitable opportunities for black artists,” Kendria says. Using her own 3D-printed designs, Kendria has made a name...
S3-06: Tony Rodrigues, Sculpting Jewelry in Scale
June 09, 2022 17:00 - 1 hour - 49.6 MBMaster goldsmith Tony Rodrigues is a 3D-manufacturing jewelry legend, the Vice President of Product Development for William Henry and co-founder of ZBrush Jewelry Workshop. An early adapter of CAD, Tony has been pushing boundaries and sharing strategies on sketching, sculpting, modeling and printing intricate jewelry designs. His detailed, sought-after pieces are worn by celebrities like Richie Ramone and even included a Vatican-certified remnant from the crucifixion cross. With detailed foc...
S3-05: Viviana Langhoff, Tenacious, Creative & Community-Made
May 20, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 50.4 MBViviana Langhoff, owner of Adornment + Theory in Chicago is an entrepreneurial artist, interior designer and activist. A fine jeweler, Viviana’s custom designs feature intricate metalwork, unexpected hues, antique stones and historical nods. With acute business savvy, a resilient voice and a sense of humor, Viviana has channeled many different design sectors—supporting fellow BIPOC female artists, local businesses, and national and global communities. “These (…) material things, they are goi...
S3-04: Karissma Yve, A Visionary Leader and Creator
April 04, 2022 17:00 - 1 hour - 51.1 MBKarissma Yve is the founder and CEO of Gildform, a startup that connects artists and designers with innovative technology, allowing them to take their concepts from sketch to finished piece in a streamlined process. Karissma has won numerous awards including “Best Idea for Growth” from the New Economy Initiative, “Best Pitch” from Google-sponsored Black Girl Ventures and “Best in Business.” Her involvement in the industry began over a decade ago when she started her own successful jewelry an...
S3-03: Sam Alfano, Cut to the Point
February 23, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 47.2 MBSam Alfano, certified master engraver, musician, photographer, instructor, author and watchmaking hobbyist demonstrates hand engraving and diamond setting techniques to students and enthusiasts around the world. Known for his intricate designs, precise details and flawless execution, Sam’s engravings—on guns, knives, jewelry and other metalwork—are found in museums including the Smithsonian Institute and private collections. Just as popular, his scrollwork is included on the packaging of hun...
S3-02: Jamie Schulze, What Native Arts Means to the World
February 15, 2022 17:00 - 56 minutes - 39 MBJamie Schulze, director of operations for the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) and enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe, organizes the world’s largest Native American art show—the renowned Santa Fe Indian Market. The annual event—celebrating its centennial year in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2022—draws an international crowd interested in all facets of Native arts including pottery, dance, fashion, digital design and jewelry-making. Explore the history of the infamous I...
S3-01: Jennifer Markas, A Woman in Charge
January 26, 2022 22:00 - 49 minutes - 33.8 MBJennifer Markas is the executive director of the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) and the former sustainability reporting manager for Tiffany & Co. The 2016 recipient of the New York Business Journal Women of Influence Award, her career has spanned the financial, creative and nonprofit industries—including as founder of Damsels in Design. “I've never been a jeweler, but I'm so excited to be around other creative people. That's really what's been fueling my desire to be in this space for a r...
S3-01: Jennifer Markas, A Woman in Charge
January 26, 2022 22:00 - 49 minutes - 33.8 MBJennifer Markas is the executive director of the Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) and the former sustainability reporting manager for Tiffany & Co. The 2016 recipient of the New York Business Journal Women of Influence Award, her career has spanned the financial, creative and nonprofit industries—including as founder of Damsels in Design. “I've never been a jeweler, but I'm so excited to be around other creative people. That's really what's been fueling my desire to be in this space for a r...
S2-09: Chris Gage, A Second Chance at Life
December 17, 2021 18:00 - 59 minutes - 41.1 MBFor many years, lapidarist Chris Gage was known as Mr. Holly Gage, of Gage Designs. A well-respected chef in his own right, Chris accompanied his award-winning wife—a certified metal clay instructor—around the country and world providing delicious meals at her workshops and local retreats. But three years ago, he suffered a trauma so intense that it altered the course of his life completely. “As horrible as the whole thing was, there is something to be gained from it,” Chris says. His positi...
S2-08: Holly Gage, Shaping Dialogue by Casting Imperfections
October 25, 2021 04:00 - 1 hour - 53 MBAward-winning jeweler and certified metal clay instructor Holly Gage of Gage Designs is an active conference speaker and respected author on jewelry technique. While her creative journey began at a young age, it wasn’t until mid-adulthood that Holly learned more about her dyslexia and how art helped her to find her voice and speak clearly. “[M]y creativity, visual, […] spatial strengths and problem-solving skills […] are the positive attributes; the flip side of dyslexia,” she says. Always f...
S2-07: Susan Wheeler, Purpose-Driven Design
September 21, 2021 21:00 - 52 minutes - 35.9 MBCause jeweler, writer and advocate for fair trade jewelry, Susan Wheeler is also the founder of the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference and the nonprofit Responsible Jewelry Transformative. Dedicated to working with certified and ethical supply chains—emphasizing a reduced impact on the environment and the safe working conditions for all jewelry employees—Susan invites us to learn more about the journey each treasured piece takes before it is placed in a customer’s hand. “It’s sometimes h...
S2-07: Susan Wheeler, Purpose-Driven Design
September 21, 2021 21:00 - 52 minutes - 35.9 MBCause jeweler, writer and advocate for fair trade jewelry, Susan Wheeler is also the founder of the Chicago Responsible Jewelry Conference and the nonprofit Responsible Jewelry Transformative. Dedicated to working with certified and ethical supply chains—emphasizing a reduced impact on the environment and the safe working conditions for all jewelry employees—Susan invites us to learn more about the journey each treasured piece takes before it is placed in a customer’s hand. “It’s sometimes h...
S2-06: Bernd Stephan, A Third-Generation Gemstone Craftsman
July 16, 2021 20:00 - 44 minutes - 30.5 MBBernd Stephan, a third-generation German gemstone manufacturer, shares the foundational story behind his family’s celebrated, international brand, Herbert Stephan KG. Having been taught the value of education and self-reliance by both his father and grandfather, who founded the company in 1932, Bernd studied English and French in order to communicate with his biggest customers and gain their trust. Almost a century later, Stephan’s manufacturing niche is in creating and producing products th...
S2-05: Scott Hardy, Always Looking for That Next Hill to Climb
June 18, 2021 21:00 - 51 minutes - 35.3 MBScott Hardy comes from a strong lineage of ranchers. Following a childhood spent cowboying, shoeing horses and welding, Scott’s love of handiwork led to his tinkering in jewelry for bridle saddles and buckles, and even some early attempts at engraving. Yet it wasn’t until Scott was told, “Man, do you need help,” by one of his horse jewelry idols, that he began to appreciate the true dedication, skill and artistry involved in Western design. Four decades later, Scott Hardy is a renowned maste...
S2-04: Corkie Bolton, Making Space in Life for Dreams
May 10, 2021 04:00 - 56 minutes - 39 MBLike the fragmented pieces of early designs buried away in a shoebox, jeweler Corkie Bolton hid the pain of her youth behind the veneers of addiction. She sold off all of her jewelry-making tools to a support an addiction that concealed a hard-earned degree in metalsmithing from the Pratt Institute. But she kept her senior project, a mailbox with a personal inscription, I dreamed, laughed, worked, learned, yelled, cried, grew here. Today, the voice behind growing Instagram community Metalsmi...
S2-03: Matthieu Cheminée, Imprinting Tradition & Technique
April 22, 2021 20:00 - 57 minutes - 39.8 MBArtist, author, educator and Toolbox Initiative cofounder Matthieu Cheminée is a man of many talents, each informed by his first true love, hand stamping. His award-winning designs feature his signature “stampclastic” style, born out of learning experiences with native artists in Taos, New Mexico and Mali in Western Africa. Throughout his world travels, the Parisian-born jeweler developed a deep appreciation for his fellow artisans and their ability to create stunning works using only the mo...
S2-02: Sarah Williamson, Making Art for a Living
March 30, 2021 05:00 - 54 minutes - 37.3 MB“It chose me,” Sarah Williamson declares about her career as a custom bridal jewelry designer. Drawn by the challenge of creating one-of-a-kind engagement rings that maintain a timeless look and feel, Sarah’s bridal line, Precious Ghost, represents countless bench hours spent on intricately crafting small rings symbolic of the love between two people. While a vintage, minimalist designer at heart, her jewelry is often detailed, futuristic and non-traditional. Sarah works with ethically sourc...
S2-02: Sarah Williamson: Making Art for a Living
March 30, 2021 05:00 - 54 minutes - 37.3 MB“It chose me,” Sarah Williamson declares about her career as a custom bridal jewelry designer. Drawn by the challenge of creating one-of-a-kind engagement rings that maintain a timeless look and feel, Sarah’s bridal line, Precious Ghost, represents countless bench hours spent on intricately crafting small rings symbolic of the love between two people. While a vintage, minimalist designer at heart, her jewelry is often detailed, futuristic and non-traditional. Sarah works with ethically sourc...
S2-01: An Art Jeweler’s Jeweler, Too Knock-Kneed to be an Olympian
February 05, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 44.5 MBAfter overcoming his despair when he realized he could technically never grow up to be a firetruck, Alex Boyd, surrounded by a family of artisans, was encouraged to create. A working artist, teacher and jewelry-repair aficionado—the bills still have to be paid—Alex has developed textured, yet linear aesthetics at his bench and avoids as much polishing as possible. Never one to take himself seriously, but driven by the lines, forms, colors and stones in his designs, Alex joins Courtney to dis...
S2-01: Alex Boyd, An Art Jeweler’s Jeweler, Too Knock-Kneed to be an Olympian
February 05, 2021 05:00 - 1 hour - 44.5 MBAfter overcoming his despair when he realized he could technically never grow up to be a firetruck, Alex Boyd, surrounded by a family of artisans, was encouraged to create. A working artist, teacher and jewelry-repair aficionado—the bills still have to be paid—Alex has developed textured, yet linear aesthetics at his bench and avoids as much polishing as possible. Never one to take himself seriously, but driven by the lines, forms, colors and stones in his designs, Alex joins Courtney to dis...
08: Beth Millner, “Take It in Bite Sized Pieces”
March 20, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 56.9 MBBeth Millner always knew she wanted to be an artist. While still in school for her BFA at Northern Michigan University, Beth decided she didn’t need to wait to graduate to begin on her jewelry business journey. What started as just Beth and her traveling trade show table today employs a small team focused on using eco-friendly materials and providing customers with designs they can feel good about. Join Courtney and Beth as they discuss the challenges and joys of starting and marketing your ...
S1-08: Beth Millner, “Take It in Bite Sized Pieces”
March 20, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 56.9 MBBeth Millner always knew she wanted to be an artist. While still in school for her BFA at Northern Michigan University, Beth decided she didn’t need to wait to graduate to begin on her jewelry business journey. What started as just Beth and her traveling trade show table today employs a small team focused on using eco-friendly materials and providing customers with designs they can feel good about. Join Courtney and Beth as they discuss the challenges and joys of starting and marketing your ...
S1-07: Charles Lewton-Brain and Nanz Aalund, “Real Glimpses of the Future”
March 06, 2020 12:00 - 50 minutes - 35 MBFixing the wheel rather than reinventing it seems to be a running theme with master goldsmiths and educators Nanz Aalund and Charles Lewton-Brain. Whether it’s providing much-needed, accredited learning spaces for students or the need for jewelry businesses to embrace young apprentices, Nanz and Charles are all for building on what’s been done—the key word being build. In this episode, join Nanz, Charles and Courtney as they discuss the “paradigm shift” in the jewelry industry and the practi...
07: Charles Lewton-Brain and Nanz Aalund, “Real Glimpses of the Future”
March 06, 2020 12:00 - 50 minutes - 35 MBFixing the wheel rather than reinventing it seems to be a running theme with master goldsmiths and educators Nanz Aalund and Charles Lewton-Brain. Whether it’s providing much-needed, accredited learning spaces for students or the need for jewelry businesses to embrace young apprentices, Nanz and Charles are all for building on what’s been done—the key word being build. In this episode, join Nanz, Charles and Courtney as they discuss the “paradigm shift” in the jewelry industry and the practi...
06: Tomas Wittelsbach, “Transcend the Transaction”
February 21, 2020 12:00 - 1 hour - 46.7 MBTomas Wittelsbach was a sculptor before he was a jeweler. At age 9 he built micro-worlds within repurposed baby food jars. He then spent most of his adult career creating movie sets—for Batman and Robin, he and his team had 8 days to produce 22-foot sculptures. Today, Tomas applies digital sculpting to jewelry design. As a ZBrush pioneer and instructor he helps students discover the intersections between mechanics and meaning. Courtney caught up with him at the Portland Jewelry Symposium, wh...