Saving the planet, one Sparkler at a time.
I know I know, I haven’t started a blog entry with the actual name of the brand before, but how pretty is LeaFloria? I’ll tell you, as pretty in person as her work; and both through and through. It was her Blue Fairy Ring that first caught my eye, the blue topaz gleaming up from the display case in Juvelisto. It reminded me of a similar design I’d once seen in Dublin, Ireland, but this one was strictly inspried by Once Upon a Time. Now doesn’t that just have my name written all over it? I had to know more, immediately.
The What: Silver, gold, gemstones, and diamonds
The How Much: $50 – $300, Custom pieces by request
The Where Can I Get It?!: LeaFloria Jewellery is on Etsy + in Juvelisto and Cavalier
The Story
The VCC Jewelry Art and Design grad paid her dues as production manager for Sonia Picard and worked for Karyn Chopik. When she started to focus on her own line, Leanne Guthrie Johnston knew “I wanted to set myself apart, make something with meaning. It had to have a story to it.” And that desire inspired ’s core collection of endangered plant life re-imagined in sterling silver and sparkling gemstones. It also inspired the charity aspect: a portion of each piece sold is donated to local botanic gardens. Her desire to make a difference while creating beautiful homages to nature’s dying flora caught the eye of Botanic Gardens Conservation International, which lead to her first solo jewellery show in –no less than– London, England’s Garden Museum.
So where does the Blue Fairy fit in?
The Inspiration
Leanne surprised everyone, including herself, when she earned the top marks in her class –second in all of Canada–on Gemology. But really, it’s no wonder when you listen to her speak about stones, their cuts and quality. This girl knows her stuff and it shows in the custom pieces she designs around the gems that inspire her.
And so it was an Evil Queen ring was forged. The ABC spectacle Once Upon a Time films in Steveston, BC where Leanne works and lives; the perfect catalyst. “I found a Black Star Diopside in my tray and thought how cool it would be to make an Evil Queen ring [for Lana Parilla, OUAT’s one and only]. So I asked Lana her size, made it, had a crew friend get her for me and I told her to close her eyes and tried it on her.”
Word got around. Keegan Connor Tracy, who plays the eponymous fairy on the show, stopped by Juvelisto and told Leanne she should make a Blue Fairy Ring. The result was a very happy Keegan and a flurry of social media attention. Leanne was even featured in OUAT’s official souvenir magazine which garnered her international clientele. Talk about art imitating… art? Love that story.
The Sparkling Result
“My career will always be in jewellery. When people buy my designs, they’re buying my ideas. I love that. It means they’re saying ‘I love your ideas.’” Leanne specializes in making custom pieces in everything from silver and gemstones to gold and diamonds. Past highlights have been the Snare Drum ring, a gold skull bracelet with diamond eyes, and intricately designed engagement rings. This girl isn’t as frilly as her floral subjects suggest, but infinitely more talented. Starting from scratch with a vision and her materials, Leanne makes every single piece by hand; determined to let them each tell their own story. It’s that kind of dedication to her craft that will surely keep her a favourite among the seekers of the unique, and lovers of her silver style.
X♥, Karin
