by Pati LaLonde | The Bay City Times
Koreen Zurschmiede needed a piece of jewelry to wear to a military ball.
Not finding just what she was looking for, she decided to make her own.
“You can’t find larger pieces or cool pieces for larger people,” the Bay City resident said.
Once she made her first piece – a bracelet that looks like crocheted metal – she began getting requests from prospective customers.
These days, she operates her own jewelry business called Wing It.
Working from a room in her home, Zurschmiede hammers, blow torches, belt sands and beads all types of jewelry, including items she sells at My Secret Garden, 600 Saginaw St.
She still takes special requests from customers like Julie Jacob of Bay City, who was looking for special jewelry for her wedding and turned to Zurschmiede for help.
“She just makes original things,” Jacob said. “I didn’t want to just buy something from a store that anybody could get. I wanted something that was special.”
Jacob settled on jewelry accented with Swarovski crystals.
Natural elements are a trademark of Zurschmiede’s work. Each piece is customized with metals that include sterling silver, gold and other metals, some of which can be purchased at home-improvement stores like Home Depot.
“I pull it out, shape it however. When I beat it, it becomes strong,” she said.
“The jewelry just forms itself,” she adds. “I start sometimes and it ends up 180 degrees different from when I started.”
Forming a piece can take eight to 12 hours, while beading can take up to a week.
Zurschmiede says she focuses a great deal of effort on creating just what the customer wants, even if it requires many attempts.
“She goes out of her way to take care of people in all aspects,” Jacob said. “She really wants to make sure the customer is truly happy and she doesn’t stop until she gets it right. If she’s doing something for you, you know that she cared.”
Zurschmiede, who with husband Dan is raising sons Zachary, 9, and Alexander, 6, and runs an adult foster care home, says she works on her craft every chance she gets, taking along beads and other materials wherever she goes.
“I carry it everywhere,” she said.
Pieces range from $8 to $125. For more information, call Zurschmiede at 895-9709.
Source: www.mlive.com
