Who We Are
Hello and welcome! We are a small, woman owned business run by artist and curator, Chelsea McKenzie(she/her). Chelsea has harboured a passion for jewelry and crystals since childhood, often becoming absorbed in books and movies that involved a magical piece of jewelry or a powerful stone.
She often hunted through her mother and grandmother’s jewelry boxes and seized every opportunity to comb through thrift stores and jewelry counters, always searching for something resembling the magical pieces conjured in those early fantasies. PhoenixLeighBoutique is the result of passion and childhood dreams come to life.
Where We Came From
Chelsea: “…I discovered my art in 2012, while attending BCIT for Interior Design. On a tight student budget, I decided to make gifts for my friends. I found a tutorial on Pinterest for a wire wrapped tree ornament and scaled it down to create a smaller version to wear as a pendant. I loved the result and instantly felt this insatiable hunger to experiment and see what else I could create with my own two hands and a few basic tools. When I finished my certificate, I continued to create jewelry in my spare time, building my skills through trial and error, working intuitively with crystals and gemstones to create unique designs for each piece. In 2015, I participated in my first ever pop up market and have been at it ever since.
In 2020, I began to curate a collection of fine vintage and unique estate costume jewelry which I started selling alongside my handmade work. This became an essential addition to my business after a spinal injury left me unable to craft anything new and intricate for over 6 months. After surgery and many months of recovery, I felt well enough to start attending markets and return to my love of crafting. I still live with multiple physical barriers as well as ADHD but keeping busy as an artist/entrepreneur has allowed me to focus my strengths and make a cozy little life for myself, despite these hurdles.
I am forever grateful to be able to share a passion for art, jewelry and the joy of discovering unique treasures with my clients.”
Land Acknowledgment
We are based in “New Westminster, BC” on the unceded territories of the QayQayt and the Coast Salish Peoples, and unsurrendered land of the Halkomelem speaking people.
The Team
We couldn’t do it all without the help of a few dedicated helpers and supports. Say hello to the people and pooch who keep things running smoothly.
