For the Love of Jewelers: A Jewelry Journey Podcast Presented by Rio Grande

Peter 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 make...

Middle 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 the...

Kicking 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 jo...

Boline 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, recycle...

Meet 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...

Peter 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 f...

Jeweler, 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 th...

In 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 ha...

Sarah 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 tech...

Writer, 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 . . . h...

CEO 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. Thr...

Patricia “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...

Nellie 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 import...

Jeanette 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 pub...

Rich 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, organi...

Innovative 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 ...

Kendria 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 sa...

Master 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-ce...

Viviana 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...