Advertising feature
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Naomi Dootson tells stories.
Not in the way a parent does with a child before bed, and not like a writer would in a novel, but through her craft, jewellery making and her store Appleye.
“A man and his wife had bought a porcelain dish from Germany and they were devastated when it smashed on the way home,” Naomi said.
“The guy brought the pieces to me and we came up with a design which I made into a pendant, with my leaf texture on the back.”
Needless to say both husband and wife were thrilled with the outcome.
In a sea of disposable, cheap trinkets, Naomi wanted to create beautiful and unique jewellery, with ethically sourced, Australian materials where possible.
That and a desire to establish a flexible income to suit her growing family led to Appleye Jewellery.
The name was inspired by a song, The Apple of Our Father’s Eye.
“People appreciate that everything of ours has an organic edge,” she said. “People who love that are drawn to it.”
She creates everything from charms to chart lifetime events for someone to cuff-links with magpies on them.
This advertising feature is sponsored by the following business. Click the link to learn more:
“I try to make it personal, and people love it,” she said.
“There is nothing quite so thrilling as someone who appreciates what you make, and is willing to invest in it. It’s both humbling and rewarding.”
Naomi also only makes items she herself loves, specialising in precious metals and fine gemstones.
She makes everything from earrings to pendants to rings and bracelets as well as custom bespoke pieces in her local studio.
Now the most recent addition to Kinghorne Traders, Naomi said she loves being a part of a collective trading space.
“Being an extrovert I like people and while I’m often alone in the studio, this is a great opportunity to coexist with like-minded people and see my customers,” she said.
Naomi is also able to run jewellery making workshops in the shared space.
“I’m running about two a month teaching traditional silversmith techniques, like hand sawing, filing, texturing and soldering,” she said.
“Participants have access to over $5000 worth of tools and get to walk away with one or more rings. It’s a great way to try it out.”
Try your hand as a silversmith
If you’d like to take part in one of Appleye Jewellery’s upcoming workshops contact info@appleye.com.au or drop into Kinghorne Traders.
The next ring-making workshops will be held on Saturday, February 4 and Sunday, February 5 and run for 4-5 hours with a maximum of six participants.
“It’s very social and fun,” Appleye Jewellery owner Naomi Dootson said.
The cost is $220 per person, with a 10 per cent discount for group bookings.
“It’s a great gift idea – give someone a skill,” Naomi said.
Workshop participant Jonina said, “I had the best time learning the traditional methods of jewellery making and laughing a lot while doing so. I never knew it was such a process to making rings, it was totally worth it and I highly recommend it.”