Jeweller drawn in by story behind each creation

Looking to give your jewellery new life? Meet Sonia Sparling of Sonia Faye Designs in Stayner. A trained goldsmith with two diplomas in jewellery-making and design, Sparling’s store and workshop offers both a wide selection of beautifully handcrafted ready-to-wear jewellery as well as custom-created pieces you can design together with her.

“My interest started when I was really young,” said Sparling. “I remember being a little kid loving to raid my mom and grandmothers’ jewellery boxes. I would delicately pick through their treasures, trying things on and asking about the story behind each piece: Where did it come from? What does it mean? Who gave it to you? When did you wear it? Why don’t you still wear it?, etc. Every piece had a story and I found that captivating.”

The fascination of playing with jewellery quickly accelerated into wanting to create her own pieces; with a keen interest in fashion and design, 12-year-old Sparling started to craft her own projects, collecting and weaving beads to thread new stories. By Grade 9 she was selling via a little home business off her front porch, leveraging social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. In Grade 10, she took an evening metal- smithing class where she learned to solder and work with silver. That prompted more confidence and a readiness to sell outside of her own personal circle.

“I was 14 when I did my first vendor table at a mom- and-baby show,” Sparling recalls. “To this day, I love these kinds of shows and still do many.”

When she realized that she could actually go to college and do this full- time, Sparling knew this was destined to be her career.

Her custom-made pieces began with a project for her mother who had broken her engagement ring. Together, they sat down and designed her dream ring that fit her actual lifestyle and needs.

“Making something with my mom that honoured my parents’ marriage was incredibly special,” said Sparling. “This project really introduced me to the magic of taking “old jewellery” and crafting it lovingly into something that can give it another lifetime and a longer story.”

Sparling shared a recent design project where she crafted “his and hers” wedding bands. Each band was made with the gold of their grandparents’ jewellery.

“They get to wear these rings for their lives made from the materials that forged their history,” said Sparling. “With these rings, they take a piece of their family with them.”