Sharon the Love.
As a fossicker’s granddaughter, Sharon Makim believes searching for gold is in her blood. Her jewellery designs uncover all kinds of gems thanks to the pearls and beads she discovers on her op shopping adventures, making Sharon the love. a jewellery brand with a conscience.
What led you to a career in jewellery making?
I’ve always had a passion for jewellery and first started designing and selling polymer clay earrings in 2018. It was a side hustle back then, originally called Makim Beautiful Earrings. I’ve since rebranded to Sharon the love. and it’s now my full-time business. I like to describe it as a jewellery brand with a creative conscience, because I share my love of op shopping by integrating upcycled, second-hand beads and pearls into all my bespoke necklaces, earrings and interchangeable charms. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up, so mum would always encourage us to go op shopping and I just loved the thrill of the chase, finding the diamonds in the rough and giving them a new lease on life. Why perpetuate the cycle of overproduction when there are so many beautiful things out there, just waiting for you to find them and take the time to look at them in a slightly different way?
What drove you to start your own business?
I actually opened my store within a week to the year of losing my job – that was the catalyst. It was a tough time, but I decided I was going to soldier on, that I could do this on my own and seized the opportunity to really give this business a go. I’ve just moved into a beautifully light, white space on Otho Street, Inverell, where I sell my designs out the front and host jewellery-making workshops in a space behind the shopfront. All the furniture in the space is thrifted too – my front desk is an old cupboard turned on its side and my shelves are repurposed curtain pelmets. It’s just about thinking outside the box.
Tell us a bit more about your workshops…
I’ve been hosting mobile workshops for a while, but now that I have a dedicated space I’m so excited to offer them on a regular basis. People can make an appointment, name their budget, then I’ll guide them through the process of creating a piece within that price range. They can of course choose their own beads, pearls and gold or silver hardware, customise the length of a necklace or shape of an earring, and walk away with a truly unique, bespoke piece of jewellery they’ve designed themselves. It’s once again my way of getting away from mass consumerism – I want people to have an experience here. I want them to come and sit down, have a chat, learn new skills, tap into their creativity and find pride in what they’ve made.
What’s your creative process?
I’ve always been a play-by-hand designer. I’m impulsive, so I actually suck at designing pieces too far in advance. If I’ve got something pretty in front of me I can’t settle until I make it – I instantly need to get the design out of my head. I’m also inspired by my latest op shop finds too, and often let the shape and size of the pearls and beads guide the design, whether that’s creating one of my favourite wire-wrapped necklaces, or a big chunky ring. I’m a fossicker’s granddaughter, so I think finding gems and searching for gold is in my blood. I still can’t quite believe I get to do this for a living. Creating in my store brings me such peace, it’s truly my happy place.
Discover Sharon the love.
9 Otho Street, Inverell
sharonthelove.com.au
@sharon.the.love.com.au
Photography Leigh Dorothy Photography
