Heather Bushong
WILL JEWELERS, FORT WAYNE, IN
Heather Bushong started her jewelry career at Will Jewelers in Fort Wayne, IN, as a goldsmith and sales associate after graduating from Gem City College in Quincy, IL, where she studied jewelry repair and design. Eighteen years later, she considers the Will family her own. “There are only two of us who aren’t family, and I’ve been there so long that I’m kind of adopted,” she says. She’s glad she sent her resume to Will Jewelers because the small family business has allowed her to develop diverse skills. “I love the art aspect of it, the design aspect of anything is what excites me,” says Bushong, who also attended Savannah College of Art & Design in Savannah, GA. Will Jewelers recently celebrated its 65th anniversary.
Q. How did you get into jewelry?
A. I always knew I wanted to do something artistic. You do what you like as a kid. Even though my mom was very minimalistic and didn’t care a lot about fashion and jewelry, I did inherently. I always wanted to dress myself and match my jewelry to what I was wearing. I always loved coloring and drawing as a kid. I loved art. I did well in school but art was my favorite class.
Also when I was really little I would pick up rocks and always was drawn to the pretty ones. My brother had a rock tumbler and one Christmas, when I was probably 6, he gave me an old peanut butter jar full of tumbled rocks. Getting rocks from your brother for Christmas is kind of funny. I still have it. It’s one of the best gifts I ever got.
Q. What is your favorite season?
A. I’m definitely a spring/summer girl. I’m able to get out and enjoy nature. That’s when all the fun festivals are, when I can explore a little bit more.
Q. How did you come to work at Will Jewelers?
A. I was moving back to Fort Wayne after attending Gem City College in Quincy, IL, where I learned the basics of repair and jewelry design. I sent my resume, and the eldest brother called me. I do sales as well as bench work. Now I’m mostly on the floor but I do a little bit of everything. Being at a smaller family business I get to do a lot of things. Sales specialist, goldsmith, bench jeweler. I love to do display work, help in the buying, I love the art aspect of it, the design aspect of anything is what really excites me. Prior to jewelry work I worked in fashion retail. I did reupholstery work, refurbishing things, restoring them like new. I like that aspect of the jewelry business, too. I do jewelry design, helping customers redesign things they inherited, remounting stones sentimental to them, resetting, sometimes from scratch, if they have loose stones and a vague idea. Computers aren’t my forte, necessarily. I thought when I attended art school I wanted to do graphic design. I’m old enough where computers were just becoming prominent. That’s just not my thing, it’s not hands-on enough. I like to be more hands-on. I lean toward painting, sculpture, drawing, when I have the time. I like to make hand-made gifts if possible. Soap, beaded jewelry, painted tote bags, things like that.
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Q. Do you have a favorite piece of jewelry?
A. I mix it up. I wear a lot of silver. I like color, larger stones, more contemporary design. I like things a little outside of the mainstream. I like earrings with a lot of movement. Larger more statement pieces is what I’m drawn to.
Q. How do you spend your time when you’re not working?
A. Outside of work right now my time is occupied with helping with my parents. Family is very important to me. Which is why I still live in Indiana, and not somewhere warmer.
I spend time with my friends if they’re available. Two best friends I’ve known since high school, try a new restaurant. And I always look forward to this time of year, to music and art festivals. Next on the list is taking some dance classes. I like to dance but not necessarily in front of anyone.
Q. Do you have a favorite or dream destination?
A. My parents were both in education so I got to see a lot of the country on road trips in the summer. My favorite place I’ve been, the only place outside of the US, was when I went with my cousin to Paris about 10 years ago. It was definitely an experience. It was everything I thought it would be. I would like to go to Hawaii. I love the water, the beach. When I lived in Savannah, I was 10 minutes from Tybee Island beach.
Q. What do you like about living in Fort Wayne?
A. I like that it’s got the convenience of a larger city. But it doesn’t feel like a metropolis. I lived in Indianapolis briefly. Fort Wayne seems to have more character, feels like a small town. But it’s not. There’s something about Fort Wayne. I’ve moved away and moved back and it feels like home.
Q. Do you have any pets?
A. I do. I have one cat. His name is Jack. He’s black, so Black Jack. I’ve always had a cat ever since I was little. I’m more of a cat person. But I love all animals.
Q. What is special about Will Jewelers?
A. They’re like my second family now. Their father started it in 1959 so we just celebrated the 65th year in business. There are 10 siblings, and they all have been in the business and have become like my aunts and uncles. I’m friends with their children. We’re friendly. We like to make our customers comfortable. We appreciate our customers. Their children will come in and will become customers. Friends recommend us to their friends. There’s good word of mouth.
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