Norah Payne - Following What Feels Like You & Rebuilding a Life Through Metalsmithing

About this episode

Norah Payne discusses her journey back to metalsmithing, the challenges faced by independent jewelry artists, and the importance of community support in rebuilding after loss.

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…

People in this episode

Host: Christine Mighion

Guest: Norah Payne

Topics covered

• metalsmithing
• artistic process
• resilience
• community support
• independent jewelry artists
• creative intuition

Keywords

• metalsmithing
• jewelry
• artistic journey
• community
• resilience
• creative process
• wildfire recovery

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Slowmade Podcast, Instagram, norahpaynemetals.com, christinemighion.com, slowmadepodcast.com

More episodes of Slowmade: Nourishing Conversations for Jewelry Artists and Metalsmiths

• Leora Coronel - Cutting River Stones & Making Jewelry with a Sense of Place · June 3, 2026 · 49 min
• Francesca Kennedy - Making Without Rules: Following Instinct & Creative Curiosity · May 20, 2026 · 57 min
• Cole Rodger - When Is It Time for Professional Jewelry Photography? Why Your Jewelry Photos Might Be Holding You Back. · April 22, 2026 · 1h 15m
• Ray & Amy Bridewell: The Art & Science of Creating Gemstones and Designing Jewelry Around Them · April 8, 2026 · 45 min
• Kate Weber: Pricing Your Work, Protecting Your Voice, and Staying True to the Craft · March 25, 2026 · 1h 7m
• ENCORE: Kerin Rose - Jewelry as a Bridge Between the Concrete World and the Soul-Based World & the Impact of Selling Art on Your Relationship to Creativity · March 11, 2026 · 1h 11m