meet the maker
Jet
set
Talented jeweller Heidi Atchison’s Jet Empire draws all those who love a well-made trinket or sparkly jewel to her lovely store, with an extra dash of music for good measure.
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SUBIACO: EAT SHOP LIVE
Think of your favourite song. If it happens to be one by Blondie, The Cure, David Bowie, Madonna or The Monkees you could be wearing it on your wrist. Or around your neck. Or dangling it from your ears in the form of exquisite jewellery, handmade by a talented Subiaco artisan. For a little over a year, Heidi Atchison, a former accountant, has attracted something of a cult following in her studio-come-jewellery shop in Station Street which is lined with posters of her favourite bands and features a big black armchair, potted plants and gorgeous hand-made bracelets, rings and necklaces. Jet Empire is its name. And point of difference is its game, with a soundtrack of constantly rotating tunes in the background.
Passers-by pop in to see Atchison at work, spinning her magic to songs like Modern Love, Total Eclipse of the Heart, West End Girls and even a Mozart Sonata or two. As she toils away in intricate rapture she is creating exquisite pieces of jewellery featuring pearls, Swarovski crystals, gemstones, silver and gold. Atchison divides her ranges into four music categories of classical, pop, rock and indie, and says there is no real formula for coming up with the names. “Each piece is different,” she says. “Sometimes a song will come on while I am making a piece and it seems a perfect title for it. Other times I will be making something that has a certain colour in it and I am thinking about Little Red Corvette. Usually, though, it starts with the actual piece which
