The Jeweler's View

Courtney Gray
  • 5.0 (13)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

A podcast not only for Jewelry Makers, but all Creative Movers and Shakers,  connecting entrepreneurs and aspiring creatives in with the resources, knowledge, and mindset support they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. 

  1. 4d ago

    #81: Part 2: Building a Jewelry Business That Evolves With You From Wholesale to Direct-to-Consumer, Brick & Mortar & Hard-Won Lessons

    Send us Fan Mail Building a Jewelry Business Without Losing Yourself: Resilience, Team, and Retail Growth with Stacey King Courtney Gray hosts The Jewelers View and continues her conversation with Stacey King about what it takes to build and grow Lulu Designs while staying aligned with the work.  Stacey links her “latchkey kid” upbringing to resilience, learning from tough moments, and putting art first while relying on a healthy support system and community. She shares hard business lessons from wholesale, including over-inventory, cash-flow strain, long corporate payment terms, and the risk of relying on single large accounts, including an unpaid $11,000 invoice.  Stacey emphasizes incorporating early, using business borrowing/credit to reduce personal financial exposure, and investing in coaching. She discusses shifting toward more direct retail through a studio-plus-flagship store in Mill Valley, offering repairs and services, maintaining select wholesale partners, and valuing authentic in-person experiences amid AI-generated content.  Stacey describes a word-of-mouth-built team of master bench jewelers and looks ahead to more custom and one-of-a-kind work, ending with advice to make friends with change. We cover: 00:00 Podcast Welcome 00:35 Episode Focus Shift 01:21 Resilience And Art First 03:57 Community And Reps 05:48 Inventory And Wholesale Risks 07:34 Incorporation And Borrowing 09:10 Protecting The Artist 09:57 Learning From Coaches 10:41 Pivot From Wholesale 12:26 Retailer Storytelling Limits 13:07 Opening a Tiny Store 14:02 Studio-Backed Brick and Mortar 14:54 Repairs and Local Services 15:26 Authenticity in the AI Era 16:21 Building a Word-of-Mouth Team 17:45 Custom Work and One-of-a-Kinds 18:57 Make Friends With Change 20:38 Glasses and Closing Reflections 22:16 Sponsor and Final Sendoff Support the show Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer.  Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.  💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe! – Courtney Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at  www.CourtneyGrayArts.com 🤗 Linktree: All the Things  🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers  and  ...

    24 min

  2. May 19

    #80: Part 1: Staying in the Magic: How to Stay Creative While Running a Jewelry Business

    Send us Fan Mail Staying in the Magic: Stacy King of Lulu Designs on Process, Tools, and Play in the Jewelry Studio In this Jewelers View studio conversation, host interviews Stacy King, founder of Lulu Designs, about staying “in the magic” while building a sustainable jewelry business. King describes creativity as presence and flow, shaped by her background in ceramics, dyslexia, and learning through repeated failure before the internet, and emphasizes collaboration and community over working alone.  She discusses resisting distraction and comparison from social media by keeping a daily grounding practice (reading, natural light, movement, and time in nature). King explains that she rarely sketches, instead letting materials, symbolism, botanicals, and experimentation lead, often supported by teammates like illustrator Christina.  She details how tools like a laser cutter, laser engraver/welder, and a Bonny Doon press are chosen to solve production, physical strain, and inventory/cash issues amid rising metal prices, and she protects creative R&D with a non-negotiable “Fun Day Friday.” What we cover: 00:00 Welcome to the Studio 01:37 Staying in the Magic 03:32 Learning Through Failure 05:35 Grounding Rituals and Distractions 08:00 Design Without Sketching 10:00 Where Ideas Begin 10:25 Tools Travel and Botanicals 12:29 Letting Materials Lead 13:33 Just Jewelry Perspective 13:57 Jewelry as Memory 14:45 Energy and Intention 15:33 Ego and Skill Building 16:55 Choosing the Right Tools 17:12 Bonny Doon Press Benefits 20:07 Metal Prices and Creativity 20:36 Fun Day Friday Playtime 23:16 Gratitude Over Comparison 25:35 Closing and Next Episode Support the show Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer.  Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.  💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe! – Courtney Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at  www.CourtneyGrayArts.com 🤗 Linktree: All the Things  🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers  and  ...

    27 min

  3. May 12

    #79: Imperfect Action and Moving Forward (Encore)

    Send us Fan Mail Imperfect Action and Moving Forward: Building Momentum When Nothing Feels Ready Courtney Gray closes a three-part creative cycle series on The Jeweler’s View by focusing on imperfect action, staying in motion without waiting for ideal conditions, after episodes on resistance and flow.  She shares how her all-or-nothing sprint style led to burnout and how sustainable progress comes from rhythm, one priority at a time, pivots, and celebrating micro wins.  A community member’s story illustrates the cycle: inspiration, tech issues that stalled a gallery application, a dog destroying a lapis pendant, avoidance tasks, then a small win (ordering a Maker’s Mark) that reignited momentum; she sent the application despite issues and was invited to join the gallery and an art crawl. Gray emphasizes that stumbles build skill and resilience, later is now, and Transform reopens in June. We cover: 00:00 Welcome Back Encore 01:01 Imperfect Action Intro 01:53 All Or Nothing Burnout 02:32 Start Before Ready 03:07 Gallery Application Story 04:23 Small Wins Momentum 05:33 What Progress Looks Like 06:01 Practical Imperfect Tips 07:10 Perfectionism And Resistance 07:43 Start Now Transform 08:29 Weekly Challenge Cycle 08:58 Closing And Outro Support the show Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer.  Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.  💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe! – Courtney Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at  www.CourtneyGrayArts.com 🤗 Linktree: All the Things  🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers  and  ...

    10 min

  4. May 5

    #78: When Urgency Undoes Alignment (Encore)

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Jeweler’s View, Courtney Gray revisits a top Transform members’ topic on how urgency can masquerade as productivity while undermining clarity, alignment, and sustainable momentum.  She shares that her burnout came from moving too fast, overcommitting, launching before things were ready, and losing presence and joy, and recounts a painful mistake made while rushing, accidentally sharing a private internal Google Doc with her team, causing lasting hurt.  She explains that urgency is often fear-driven (FOMO, fear of being forgotten, fear of falling behind) and is reinforced by hustle culture, with costs including burnout, resentment, unclear messaging, half-finished ideas, and broken trust.  She encourages creatives to slow down, honor natural rhythms, build breathing room and deep work time, and reflect on where they can reduce speed by 10%, offering support through her website and discovery calls. What we cover: 00:00 Urgency vs Momentum 01:04 Podcast Intro and Resources 01:28 Burnout from Moving Fast 02:22 The Costly Google Doc Mistake 03:29 Urgency Feels Productive 04:48 Why We Rush and Burn Out 05:38 Find Your Natural Rhythm 06:32 Practicing Space Over Speed 07:07 Slow Down and Recalibrate 07:41 Support and Closing Support the show Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer.  Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.  💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe! – Courtney Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at  www.CourtneyGrayArts.com 🤗 Linktree: All the Things  🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers  and  ...

    10 min

  5. Apr 28

    #77 Building a Cohesive Collection (Encore)

    Send us Fan Mail Build a Cohesive Jewelry Collection: The 3–5 Piece Framework Courtney revisits a Transform members’ top pick episode on how to build a cohesive jewelry collection without getting overwhelmed or stuck in endless experimentation.  Using the example of a student whose 40-piece spread looked like multiple different jewelers, she explains that selling and presenting work becomes easier when pieces feel connected—like siblings—rather than disconnected experiments.  She shares a simple three-to-five piece framework: choose one through line (shape, texture, technique, metal, or color story), create one anchor piece that carries the narrative, then build two to four supporting pieces that reference the same element. She emphasizes simplifying materials, avoiding adding new techniques mid-collection, using photos and boards to spot inconsistencies, and treating repetition as mastery and recognition.  The action step is to identify or create an anchor piece and plan its “siblings,” with a preview of an upcoming episode on approaching galleries and retailers. We cover: 00:00 Why Cohesion Matters 01:33 The Scattered Desk Story 02:50 Three to Five Framework 03:33 Pick Your Through Line 04:20 Anchor and Siblings 05:37 Simplify Materials 06:16 Repetition Builds Value 07:29 Extra Tools and Rules 08:36 This Week Action Step 09:13 Next Episode and Wrap 09:42 Final Outro Support the show Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer.  Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.  💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe! – Courtney Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at  www.CourtneyGrayArts.com 🤗 Linktree: All the Things  🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers  and  ...

    11 min

  6. Apr 21

    #76: Do You Actually Need a Hydraulic Press? A Real Conversation with Peter Gilroy

    Send us Fan Mail  There’s a point in your work where starting from scratch every time just doesn’t make sense anymore.  In this episode, I sit down with Peter Gilroy of Bonny Doon Engineering to talk about how the hydraulic press can shift your process from one-off making into something more repeatable and intentional.  We get into what it actually does beyond cutting discs, how it changes the way metal moves, and why it can open up entirely new possibilities in your designs and production.  This is not about buying more tools. It is about understanding when the right tool becomes a turning point.  We cover:   What die forming and coining actually mean  Why press work creates strength, detail, and efficiency you cannot get by hand  How one die can turn into an entire collection  The difference between hobby presses and professional systems  The idea of the “upgrade tax” and how to think long term  How the press integrates with engraving, stone setting, and more  If you have been wondering whether a hydraulic press makes sense for your work, this conversation will give you a much clearer way to think about it.   You can explore more about Bonny Doon at https://bonnydoontools.com and see what might actually fit your studio. If you want to go a little deeper, I share key takeaways and additional teaching from each episode through my email list at https://courtneygrayarts.com .   And if you have the chance to watch this one on YT, it is worth it. The visuals really help bring these concepts to life.   Support the show Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer.  Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.  💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe! – Courtney Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at  www.CourtneyGrayArts.com 🤗 Linktree: All the Things  🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers  and  ...

    25 min

  7. Apr 14

    #75: Choosing the Right Tools for Your Bench

    Send us Fan Mail Let the Work Lead: Choosing Jewelry Tools Without Wasting Money Courtney Gray introduces The Jeweler’s View and explains that many jewelers slowly waste thousands on tools they don’t need, often buying out of aspiration or avoidance rather than necessity. She returns “back to the bench” to argue that a basic setup can produce a wide range of work and that progress comes from skill, repetition, and understanding materials—not accumulating equipment. As consistent work develops, it should dictate which tools to add, creating a bench tailored to real workflow instead of speculative purchases that cause clutter and distraction. She shares an example of an indispensable, modified tool (a bent eyeglass screwdriver) to highlight how personal solutions matter most. Before investing, she asks: what problem it solves, how often it occurs, and whether it’s a tool or skill limitation, and encourages learning from community regrets. Ultimately, tools support the maker’s unique eye and instincts. 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 00:47 Why Tools Drain Money 01:16 Back to the Bench 02:18 Start With the Basics 03:08 Let Work Lead Tools 03:42 Avoid Tool Distraction 04:22 The Bent Screwdriver 05:30 Three Questions to Buy 06:15 Ask the Community 06:44 What Matters Most 07:41 Final Sendoff Support the show Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer.  Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.  💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe! – Courtney Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at  www.CourtneyGrayArts.com 🤗 Linktree: All the Things  🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers  and  ...

    9 min

  8. Apr 7

    #74 - Why Jewelry Appraisals Matter More Than People Think

    Send us Fan Mail Appraisals, Documentation & Insurance: Protecting Custom Jewelry Before Something Goes Wrong Courtney Gray introduces The Jeweler’s View and explains why jewelers and clients should prioritize appraisals, documentation, and insurance before a loss occurs. She shares a story of a client who lost a custom sapphire ring in a public restroom, but because it was professionally appraised and added to a homeowner’s policy, the loss became an insurance claim and a rebuild rather than a devastating event. Gray outlines what an appraisal includes (materials, stone details, design features, replacement value) and why appraisals may need updating as markets change. She emphasizes the jeweler’s role in normalizing appraisals and providing bench documentation—photos, records, stone details, and pre-setting documentation—to support insurance, remakes, and client trust. Additional examples include preserving molds for recasting and using CAD files, 3D printing, and digital scans to make custom work reproducible. 00:00 Welcome to the Show 00:51 Why Documentation Matters 01:20 Lost Ring Insurance Win 03:23 What an Appraisal Covers 04:26 Bench Documentation Basics 05:35 Recasting with a Mold 07:01 Modern Digital Records 07:42 Trust and Protection 08:28 Process Checklist and Wrap 09:13 Outro and Next Steps Support the show Visit www.CourtneyGrayArts.com to read more about what I offer.  Be sure to follow The Jeweler’s View so you never miss an episode! Now you can watch on You Tube: @theJeweler'sView. I’d love it if you could subscribe, and leave a rating and review by scrolling down on the main show page, this helps the podcast reach more amazing listeners like you.  💎 Have thoughts to share or just want to say hi? Reach out anytime and be sure to get on my VIP newsletter list. Welcome to the tribe! – Courtney Helping Jewelry Creatives access the knowledge, resources, and mindset they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. Connect with me or check out the Transform Your Jewelry Business course at  www.CourtneyGrayArts.com 🤗 Linktree: All the Things  🎁 Get your FREE guide: Courage, Clarity, and Customers  and  ...

    10 min
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5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

A podcast not only for Jewelry Makers, but all Creative Movers and Shakers,  connecting entrepreneurs and aspiring creatives in with the resources, knowledge, and mindset support they need to achieve goals they once thought impossible. 

Information

  • Creator
    Courtney Gray
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    81
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Jeweler's View
  • Show Website
    The Jeweler's View

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