Meet Alison Jefferies

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alison Jefferies. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alison, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience is something I’ve had to develop over many years as a creative entrepreneur through many ups and downs. As a jeweler, this current economic moment has tested my resilience as the cost of precious metals continues to skyrocket, tools and supplies become more expensive due in part to new tariffs, and economic stress has slowed sales of luxury items like jewelry.

I think my resilience comes from a place of knowing from experience that I have weathered other storms – such as the COVID-19 pandemic – and come out the other side still intact. I have an attitude of, “I have survived hard times in the past so I know I can make it through this one.” I also credit my adaptability, creative approach to problem solving, and stubborn personality with my ability to stay resilient in the face of challenges.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am an artist specializing in custom and handcrafted jewelry made via traditional metalsmithing practices and innovative techniques that are all my own. I work primarily in solid gold, sterling silver, 14k gold-fill, and bronze metals with precious and semi-precious gemstones. I especially love working with clients on collaborative custom pieces that honor and reflect the meaningful moments in their lives.

I was a self-taught jewelry designer and artisan when I founded J’Adorn Designs in early 2012, primarily making pieces with prefabricated components and reclaimed elements from vintage jewelry and hair accessories. I fell deeply in love with the craft and the opportunities it offered to connect with people and help them express what matters most through tangible objects. About 5 years into my business, I decided to invest further in my skills as a jeweler by taking metalsmithing classes, where I learned to fabricate metal, sculpt wax for casting, set stones, and cast natural objects into metal. Over time I have developed a recognizable style that is inspired by botanical and fluid forms with innovative construction that allows my work to be delicate but never fragile.

In 2024 I founded a second jewelry line called Impurity Culture that grew out of a personal passion project. The pieces I make under the banner of Impurity Culture focus on themes of feminism, pleasure, and self possession as a direct response to the evangelical religious culture in which I was raised. I offer both pre-designed pieces and custom work that references feminine anatomy. Through this line, I am most excited to invite folks who grew up within purity culture to send me their old purity rings to be melted down into something new and more aligned with their current values. I’m incredibly passionate about this work and it has connected me to so many people from similar backgrounds as mine!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey:

1. By far the most impactful skills I have developed as a jeweler are those that pertain directly to my craft: metal fabrication, wax sculpture, stone setting, wire wrapping, and other methods of making jewelry.

2. As an elder millennial, I have a lot of experience in obscure jobs that just paid my bills during times when the economy and job market were not advantageous. I’m a firm believer that every experience can serve a purpose, and the skills I developed through those years in the retail, childcare, and service industries have benefitted me tremendously as a sales person while selling my own work.

3. I spoke earlier about resilience, and I do believe this is a quality that’s served me well as an entrepreneur through multiple recessions, a global pandemic, and other unexpected challenges. You could also characterize this as sheer stubbornness – the refusal to give up on a dream that I have dedicated 14+ years of my life to.

I would advise folks who are early in their journey to take stock of what skills they have and think creatively about how they can use them in the pursuit of their dream. For instance, the time I spent selling children’s shoes doesn’t seem related at all to making jewelry, but through it I learned how to provide intuitive customer service to help clients find what they were shopping for – a skill that has helped me sell my own work as an independent jeweler.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

This may seem counterintuitive, but when I become overwhelmed at work I usually find it most helpful to take a break. Sometimes focusing on something else for a while can give you the space you need to calm down. Then you’ll be thinking more clearly when you eventually come back to whatever is stressing you out. Rather than forcing yourself to power through, taking a break by going for a walk or working on something else is a gentler approach. Being kind to yourself in this way can really go a long way in warding against burnout in the longer term.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://jadorndesigns.com, http://impurityculture.com
• Instagram: @jadorndesigns @impurityculturejewelry
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/jadorndesigns

Image Credits

Elis Llinares Photography (photos 1,2,7,8)
Alison Jefferies (photos 3,4,6)