 |
Born in Milwaukee, and raised in Brown Deer, Mike found his love for metal work at the age of 33. Working for Miller Brewing in the 1980’s he was disappointed to learn that he was losing his job to robotics. So as technology marched toward the 21 st century Mike decided to take up one of the oldest professions on Earth. He found a jewelry program at Milwaukee Area Technical College which taught him his basic metalsmithing skills. After graduation he fine tuned his skills through a careful choice of employers. First a family operated shop/store in Brown Deer, then a wholesale trade shop in Cedarburg, and finally J. Jeffrey Taylor, a custom design shop in Oconomowoc, gave Mike the ability and courage to open his own custom design and repair shop. He takes continuing education course work at jewelry schools across the country, to keep up on new trends and learn valuable skills to add to his knowledge base.
In May of 1996 he and his wife Jo opened their store in the Village of Pewaukee. In 2002 needing more workspace, they moved their store to the Town of Oconomowoc where they have lived since 1993. Since opening his store he has placed 1 st place twice in the Annual state of Wisconsin design competition and 4 th place in an international competition, held by a Swiss gemstone company.
|
Jo Goralski trained as an Accountant and studied business for twenty years before going into business with her husband, Michael. "I always knew we would have a business someday", she says. "My husband has always been a dreamer, and the only way to go your own way in life is to own your own business. That said, I thought one of us should learn how to run a business, while the other one dreamed what that business would be. I always assumed it would be a restaurant because he is such a good chef, but he found jewelry in his early thirties, and there was no turning back."
Running the business side of the business is Jo’s first responsibility, but her favorite part of her job is working (and visiting) with her clients. Very often a person will come in with only a feeling of what they want, and not a clear picture in their mind. Through a series of questions to determine how the piece will be worn, what it represents, and what the client’s life style is, the finished piece will be perfect for the individual.
"Sometimes the whole design is completed in twenty minutes, sometimes it takes a couple of design sessions for the client to clearly picture what they want” she explains. “Having a job where you get to work with people to create something that will last generations is quite fulfilling."
|
 |
 |
Leah Rose Windhaeuser has always had a love of jewelry, it was only natural that she’d work in the business. She started working with her parents at their first store when she was 16. Although she tried her hand at making jewelry it didn’t fit and she longed after gemstones, wanting to know more. For years she said “I’m going to go to school for gemology”, after awhile her friends and family stopped believing her. Then one day in 2006 she decided to apply for a scholarship to Gemological Institute of America (GIA). After seven months of waiting, the letter finally arrived, as she knew it would. They offered her two thirds of the tuition needed for schooling and she readily accepted the offer. She, her boyfriend Jamie and their dog Jasper piled into their tiny car and cruised to California. After seven long months she graduated with her Graduate Gemology degree. Rose is the girl to see if you have any appraisal needs, or gem identification questions.
|
Jamie Windhaeuser joined the Jewelry Mechanic in the summer of 2008. Having worked as a mason for most of his young adult life jewelry making was not something he had ever done before. However, the Jewelry Mechanic was in need of an apprentice, and Jamie was in need of a new trade. He has moved through his apprenticeship quickly starting with the manufacturing a simple jumpring, and working his way through jewelry repair. He has a lot of promise and creativity. We look forward to seeing his custom creations in the future.
|
 |
|
