Artist of the Month
Christine Mighion - Jewelry as an Ode to Imperfection and Intention
When Christine Mighion first dreamed of an art career, life had other plans. As a teen, she imagined going to art school, but her mother, like many parents, was concerned about practicalities and encouraged her toward a stable career. “She wanted to make sure I could take care of myself,” Christine recalls. So, she chose dental hygiene.
“I practiced for a few years… but I didn’t love it,” she says with a smile. That realization set off a series of pivots that would eventually lead her exactly where she was meant to be, even if the path wasn’t linear.
Seeking distance from a career that didn’t fit, Christine moved to Hawaii. Surrounded by ocean, sky, and nature, her creativity resurfaced. She dabbled in mosaics, stained glass, and anything that allowed her to work with her hands. When she eventually returned to Indiana and dental hygiene, she knew deep down something was still missing.
“I had a young daughter at the time, and when I remarried and had my son, I realized I didn’t want to go back to an office. I wanted to stay home,” she shares. “I was lucky to have that opportunity, so I started taking classes in photography, clay, and finally, a metalsmithing course at the local museum. The first time I picked up the tools… it just felt like home.”
There was something about physically transforming sheet metal or heavy-gauge wire into something beautiful that clicked instantly. “It was so natural and satisfying. To this day, I still tend to gravitate toward the sculptural aspect of jewelry,” she says. “Even if I don’t wear big, bold pieces myself, I love making them.”
Building a Business… Then Walking Away From It
What started as a passion quickly grew into a thriving business. Christine began selling her jewelry on Etsy, and within two years, she was earning more than she had in dental hygiene, approaching six figures.
As the demand grew, so did the pressures of production. Wholesale orders. Magazine features. A publicist. It was everything many artists dreamed of… but behind the scenes, something didn’t feel right.
A turning point came during a feature with Lucky Magazine for the Red Hook Initiative in New York. Christine designed a simple ring set for the feature, with half the proceeds donated to charity. What she didn’t expect was an avalanche of two hundred orders.
“I pretty much shut my business down for three months just trying to fill them,” she says. “And because I didn’t calculate correctly, I was basically doing it for free.”
Hiring production help would have been the logical next step, but there was a problem. “I didn’t want anyone else touching the jewelry. Making it… That’s the part I loved.”
That experience made something crystal clear: she wasn’t meant to run a production studio. “I realized I was an artist, not a manufacturer,” she says. “I was always thinking about the next one-of-a-kind thing I could make. That’s where my joy lives.”
Finding Beauty in the Imperfect
The shift away from wholesale was a relief. It gave Christine space to slow down, focus on what inspired her, and honor her own pace.
It also coincided with a deeper personal reflection. “I started gravitating toward imperfect stones; things that maybe aren’t as valued in the jewelry world,” she explains. “At the same time, I was noticing how I was feeling about perfection in my own life, especially as I aged.”
The lines. The freckles. The changes that come with time. “It became part of my journey recognizing beauty in the things we often overlook, both in ourselves and in the materials I work with.”
That philosophy flows through her jewelry. Pieces that balance texture, light, shadow, and softness. Jewelry that feels like it could have been shaped by nature itself – organic, effortless, and intentional.
An Intuitive Creative Process
Unlike many artists, Christine doesn’t sketch her designs ahead of time. “I tried, but it didn’t feel natural,” she says. “My pieces come together over time.”
A single stone might catch her eye. A flash of color. A texture. “I’ll have a glimpse in my head of what I might do with it… But it changes as I go. It’s very intuitive.”
Where one maker might finish a piece in four hours, Christine moves pieces around for days… adding, subtracting, and swapping one element for another. “It’s a dance between balance and curiosity,” she says. “There’s no rhyme or reason, but when it clicks into place, it feels right.”
One collection that holds deep meaning for her is Calavera, which consists of a series of silver skulls adorned with gemstone eyes and colorful accents. “I started it while I was caring for my husband’s uncle at the end of his life,” she shares. “It’s my way of honoring the soul’s journey… a reminder of both the fragility and celebration of life.”
Creating Community in a Solitary Craft
Jewelry-making is solitary work. Days spent in the studio, hands busy, head down. After years of feeling isolated, Christine decided to create the kind of community she wished to be a part of.
She launched the Slowmade Podcast, where she interviews other jewelry artists, sharing honest conversations about creativity, challenges, and finding your voice. “It’s about reminding people they’re not alone – that others are figuring it out, too.”
Along with the podcast, she hosts online co-working sessions and informal meetups for makers. “We get together, bring our coffee, and just work in our studios while chatting. It’s like having a community studio… but virtual.”
Advice for Artists Finding Their Way
Christine is honest about the fact that it took her years – decades even – to hone her artistic voice. “It takes time,” she says. “When you’re starting, it’s normal to explore, to be inspired by others, and to figure out what’s yours. There’s a thread that runs through your work – that’s your voice. But it doesn’t happen overnight.”
Her biggest advice? “Figure out what your true north is. Know what you will and won’t do. Don’t base your worth on whether someone else values your work. Create because it brings you joy.”
“And remember, you don’t have to do everything,” she adds. “You don’t have to travel to shows if that doesn’t fit your life. You get to define what success looks like.”
Where to Find Her Work
Christine’s one-of-a-kind pieces can be found online at www.christinemighion.com, and her Instagram handle is @christinemighion. Her podcast can be found at www.slowmadepodcast.com.
Whether it’s through her jewelry, her words, or the community she’s building, Christine’s message is clear: there is beauty in imperfection. And there is strength in honoring your own pace.
