Whether you are looking to create your own, special jewellery, learn a new skill, build your business, relax and enjoy some respite or join a creative community event, together we can Make It achievable, inclusive and enjoyable.
Have you ever wanted to make your own jewellery but didn’t know where to start?
At Make it with Kim, we take the intimidation out of the workshop.
We host friendly, small-group classes where you can get hands-on with professional tools in a space that’s designed for everyone, regardless of experience level or ability.
From initial idea and forging metal to polishing your final piece, we’re all about the joy of making and the pride of wearing something you created yourself.
At Make it with Kim, we are driven by the belief that the power of making should be accessible to everyone, without exception. We do what we do because we’ve seen firsthand how transformative it is to take a raw material and, through your own hands, turn it into a piece of art.
Our mission is to strip away the “gatekeeping” often found in traditional craft spaces and replace it with a “can-do” atmosphere.
Our tutors don’t just provide instructions; they provide solutions. Whether it’s through our stair-free layout, adjustable workstations, or a specialized kit of adapted tools designed for varying dexterity needs, we pride ourselves on being the studio that rarely says “no” to a creative challenge.
We combine professional-grade equipment with a supportive, problem-solving spirit, ensuring that the only thing our students need to bring is their imagination, we’ve handled the rest.
We aren’t just teaching jewellery techniques; we are building a community where curiosity is celebrated, and where every student is empowered to say, “I made that.”
Kim has been a passionate, self employed jewellery tutor for the last two decades. Her grandad, Stanley, taught her to use hand tools from the age of four, and his brother, Uncle Rusty, inspired Kim’s interest in metalsmithing and jewellery. After struggling through school and failing her exams due to undiagnosed learning difficulties, Kim went on to graduate from her BA Honors Degree in Jewellery Metalsmithing with the highest marks in her year. Because of this, Kim is passionate about the difference the right type education can make, and she strives to make all classes as inclusive and empowering as possible.
Kim has a strong background in supporting learners with neurodivergency and those who benefit from adaptations to make smithing as accessible as possible. She launched her business ‘Make it with Kim’ in 2003 and has delivered thousands of community, adult education and further education courses including being Co-Director of community interest company, ‘Make it Mentoring’, for four years.
Kim is well-known within the Jewellery Community for her series of free tutorials #12MonthsOfMetal and as an Industry Mentor for the Jewellers Academy on their Jewellery Diplomas and Jewellery Business Academy. She also co-hosts the Jewellers Academy Podcast.
Her learning journey has never ended. She has continued to gain multiple qualifications and attend training from internationally renowned tutors and she loves to set herself annual ‘challenges’ to develop her learning and skills.
In 2023, Kim expanded her own teaching practice by setting up ‘Orchard Jewellery Workshop’ in Kingswood, Bristol. The studio is one of the largest and best stocked in the South West, with a growing team and supportive community.
Genny has been making jewellery for over a decade. She began her creative journey with Kim’s guidance, then founded her own business, Gennywren Silver, in 2015. She has since worked and traded locally in North Bristol and can often be found behind her stall on creative market days. A self-confessed magpie, Genny’s fascination with texture, hand-stamped motifs, and natural gemstones shapes her designs, adding a distinctive, narrative touch.
With a passion for teaching, Genny has taught a range of classes, from one-on-one tuition to group workshops, as well as youth enrichment programmes in local secondary schools. She loves learning new skills and sharing them with others. Her teaching philosophy is to empower others to explore their creativity and unlock their potential.
As a teacher, Genny cultivates a space where fundamental skills can be honed, allowing imaginations to flourish. Through a hands-on approach and encouragement, she instills confidence in her students, enabling them to take creative leaps in their own practice.
Lottie embarked on her metalworking journey in 2018 while working as a lorry mechanic. It was here that she discovered her passion for fabrication, particularly welding. Eager to expand her skill set, she enrolled in a silversmithing evening course alongside her mechanical apprenticeship, further enhancing her expertise.
Before venturing into metalwork, Lottie studied film studies, textiles, and graphic design, and completed an Art & Design Foundation Degree. This diverse artistic background, combined with her metalworking skills, led her to establish her small business, Foraged Smith. Lottie focuses on repurposing recycled materials to create unique pieces, breathing new life into items that might otherwise end up in landfill. The challenge of transforming discarded materials into bespoke, handmade products brings her immense joy.
Lottie began her teaching journey in 2021 at WTF Workshops, where she conducted scrap metal welding sessions alongside an all-female team. She finds great fulfilment in empowering individuals to explore new skills and confidently use tools.
In 2024, Lottie joined our Orchard Jewellery Workshop team, quickly becoming an invaluable member as she supports students and shares her expertise.
Talora first fell in love with Metalwork at De Montfort University, where she started creating mixed-media artworks, before focusing on Silversmithing. She continued her training and after graduating with a Masters Degree in Jewellery and Metalwork from the Royal College of Art. Talora moved to Bristol in search of new inspiration and found her way to Orchard Jewellery Workshop.
Talora’s passion is saw piercing and she generally prefers working with copper more than silver, much to her university tutor’s dismay. Having previously focused more on Metalsmithing than Jewellery, Talora is now enjoying working in an environment full of passionate Jewellery Makers.
In her free time Talora loves drawing and sleeping, two things that she is yet to work out how to do at the same time!
Buddy joined the Orchard Workshop Team in August 2024. Originally from Ireland, he was abandoned due to his goofy nature and inability to herd sheep. His life was due to be incredibly short, but thankfully, Many Tears Rescue Centre stepped in, and he hopefully has many happy years ahead of him. Despite his rocky beginnings, Buddy loves people and is happiest welcoming students to Orchard Jewellery Workshop with a waggy tail and a cuddle for those who are willing.
Set up in 2023 by Kim Thomson of Make it with Kim, Orchard Jewellery Workshop is one of the largest and best-equipped studios in the South West of England.
Close to Bristol, Bath and the M4/M5 junction, Orchard Jewellery Workshop is conveniently located and benefits from free parking.
with acclaimed Professional Tutor Kim Thomson at her studio, Orchard Jewellery Workshop in Kingswood, Bristol.
