About us: Background information & history
Jalanna Louise Lloyd-Smith has been designing jewelry since 1984, when she blended her interest in fashion and art. She has actually had a life-long interest in art, and began her studies as a child at the Montreal Museum des Beaux Arts, when Arthur Lismer, Group of Seven, was still teaching. A graduate of the University of Guelph Fine Art program, Lloyd-Smith continued to explore many aspects of art through the Toronto Three School of Art.
Although her extensive art training never included formal jewelry classes, the numerous courses in sculpture and multi-media formed a base for being self taught in jewelry design. Her early designs have incorporated various materials ranging from shell found on beaches, leather, bone, Mirano glass, silver, and semi-precious stones.
Throughout the 1990s, Jalanna Louise worked intimately with both Canadian designers Marilyn Brooks and Linda Lundstrum creating jewellery for their fashion boutiques. She also sold her work in 15 other top ladies wear shops in the Toronto area including Creeds, AGO, and the McMichael Art Gallery. Her designs have also been offered in many silent auctions organized as fundraisers, which include benefits for Julliette's Place (shelter for women and children in transition) Toronto; Parkview Services for Seniors, Stouffville; Evergreen Hospice, Markham; Toronto Liver Foundation; Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre; and the Toronto Heart & Stroke Foundation.
In May 2000, Jalanna started a company called Soul Symbols, and has focused her jewellery interests exclusively on gemstones and their corresponding crystalline energies. This decision came from her many years of studying yoga, which she started when she was 21 years old. Jalanna took her Yoga Teachers Training through Yoga Centre Toronto, in 1984, specializing in Iyengar training. She has studied directly with Mr. B.S.K. Iyengar through his International Teachers Conferences. Jalanna has also learned about the subtle attributes of the human body through studying Shiatsu massage at both the beginner and intermediate levels (1989-1990); Reflexology (1995); Therapeutic Touch (1996); Bach Flower Remedies (1996); Crystal Healing (2000); Hasta Samudrika Sastra Level 1 (2009), Level 2 (2010). |
