Leah Yard is an interesting lady. The Calgarian was born of “adventurous parents” and was raised in a town where food, mail, and supplies arrived by helicopter on a monthly basis. This upbringing offered her the opportunity to be creative – to work with her hands and make beautiful things with limited materials.
You can see this in Leah Yard Designs‘ beautiful and minimalistic jewelry. Take the “Flourish Earrings”, for instance. Gleaming sterling silver highlights the detailed craftsmanship in these tassel earrings which have the loveliest movement. They have quickly become favourites in my collection with me wearing them daily since I received them.
“I started designing jewelry long before I had the supplies! Once we moved to a small BC town, I met a local artist who would trade lessons and materials for help at her mall kiosk. I remember the excitement of having new materials available, but I never lost that “outside the box” way of designing.
I really believe that having little to work with pushes your creativity. I would remake designs over and over with the same supplies until I found the best version of what I had.” – Leah Yard
I look at the pieces that Leah kindly sent me and they feel sentimental and personal. They are truly pieces of jewelry that can be worn for a lifetime with their classic lines. Some of Leah’s pieces also have a lovely vintage feel. Take the filigree-style of the Lattice Earrings. Their chandelier shape with pretty semi-precious stones feel like a modern spin on Old Hollywood glam.
In addition, the Filigree Midi Rings are very on trend, but anyone could wear these rings for years to come.
Clearly an artist, Leah is a gifted at what she does. When I stalked her Instagram (as I always do before delving into a collaboration), I was struck. STRUCK! First of all, Leah is the perfect model for her gorgeous jewelry. With bright blue eyes, her jewelry featuring blue topaz stones pops on her! Secondly, her photography is complete goals. I scrolled through her entire feed feeling completely inspired and left rife with ideas for my own IG.
As I sit here typing, I fantasize about acquiring more Leah Yard Design’s pieces and dream about where I’d wear the golden Coin Necklace or how I could layer stacks of her bangles in gold and silver. SIGH. I LOVE JEWELRY!
I implore you to check out her website at www.leahyarddesigns.com and give her a follow on Instagram here. Treat yourself to a piece of her jewelry that I guarantee you will enjoy for years to come.
So, my love affair with jewelry continues and has been further stoked by this beautiful Canadian-made brand. Best of all, Leah’s pieces feel meaningful and interesting – wonderful additions to my own well-curated collection.
Dominique is a Canadian-based fashion and beauty influencer with a strong voice in Ottawa’s black community. Since launching her blog Style Domination in 2015, she has amassed a global fanbase. Dominique shares her life through beautiful imagery and compelling story-telling that speaks to her fans on a personal level. She’s been featured in The Guardian, Flare, The Kit and Cityline. She also hosts events for Dress for Success, the Gem Conference, and has been named a United Way Person 2 Know for the past three years.