Wyandotte Business Lets Customers Modify, Wear Family Heirlooms

"There's meaning behind the jewelry we make," said Crissi Ballas, owner of Wicks & Stones.

Ballas began making jewelry as a hobby about ten years ago when her children were born. The former social worker decided to leave her profession to spend more time with her two boys.

In an effort to pass the time, Ballas began making jewelry as a hobby. In time, her hobby become a full-time obsession, which lead to craft shows, street fairs and a store front in Downtown Wyandotte.

Fully-trained and certified to design and repair jewelry, Ballas now helps others create their own jewelery with their hands and their minds.

"Customers are always coming in and asking us to make something special for an event or person," Ballas said. "There's a lot of unique reasons people come into the store."

Ballas said customers have asked her to make jewelry for friends battling breast cancer and family members getting married.

Customers can drop off their jewelry to be transformed into something new and different or they can learn to do it themselves. Wicks & Sticks offers several jewelry classes for the beginner and the expert.

Mary Lou Reaume of Wyandotte visited Wicks & Stones last Thursday to find out how to make a fob for her antique scissors.

"I just brought a picture of what I wanted to make and they showed me how to do it," Reaume said.

As you might have guessed after reading the name of the store, Wicks & Stones also carries candles.

What was once an in-house operation, selling candles has become an oportunity for Wicks & Stones to showcase an outside company's 100 percent soy candles, while still displaying their own name on the products.

Ballas said she often hosts jewelry-making parties for brides-to-be, girl scouts, birthdays and many other events.

Here are some of the services available at Wicks & Stones:

• Beading supplies and tools
• workshops, design time and studio time
• Free wedding consultations
• Custom Made Jewelry
• Ear Piercing

For questions on jewerly or information on classes contact Wicks & Stones 734-759-0112 or visit the store's website www.wicksandstones.net.