featured work Archives - Custom Jewelry & Bridal Accessories by J'Adorn Designs

Featured Work, J'Adorn Gives, News & Events

Handcrafted Earrings for a Benefit Auction

June 23, 2017 No Comments

Bid on a pair of my handcrafted earrings and other works of art to support a great cause this weekend!

Artists & Makers Fundraiser Auction, Handcrafted goods for a cause, J'Adorn Designs handcrafted jewelry

I’m so excited to share about my contribution to the Art and Handmade Auction for Myasthenia Gravis. The benefit auction is live now and it runs through the weekend!

I’m part of a group of artists and makers from across the country who have contributed original works to an annual benefit auction to raise funds and awareness for the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America. The auction’s organizer, Kait Masters, is one of the amazing friends I’ve made through my role as a Tuesdays Together leader in The Rising Tide Society. She is a fellow artist who lives with MG, a chronic neuromuscular disease that requires constant treatment and management. You may recognize the disease as the one that Lucious Lyon has on Empire. I’m proud to have an opportunity to use my handcrafted jewelry to help people like Kait work toward a more full and healthy life.

Artists & Makers Fundraiser Auction, Handcrafted goods for a cause, J'Adorn Designs handcrafted jewelry

I contributed a pair of gold & turquoise handcrafted earrings to the MG fundraiser. In addition, there are many other works of original art & craft up for bid at this benefit auction.

To help peak your interest, here’s a look at some of my favorite items you can bid on at this weekend’s auction:

Artists & Makers Fundraiser Auction, Handcrafted goods for a cause, J'Adorn Designs handcrafted jewelry 4×4 acrylic on canvas – Art by Megan

Artists & Makers Fundraiser Auction, Handcrafted goods for a cause, J'Adorn Designs handcrafted jewelry Decorative Earthenware Pitcher – Judy Stockwell

Artists & Makers Fundraiser Auction, Handcrafted goods for a cause, J'Adorn Designs handcrafted jewelry Painted Pendant – Larkspur + Laurel

Artists & Makers Fundraiser Auction, Handcrafted goods for a cause, J'Adorn Designs handcrafted jewelry Painted coasters – Elysian Market

Check out the benefit auction on Facebook HERE!
Learn more about Myesthenia Gravis and Kait’s story HERE.

Featured Work, Style File

Elegant Bridal Jewelry + Classic Invitations

March 6, 2017 No Comments

The only thing I love as much as elegant bridal jewelry is a gorgeous combination of wedding details!

Today I’m excited to share a collection of my favorite photos from a recent styled collaboration with Third Clover Paper! My elegant bridal jewelry made the perfect accent to these classic wedding invitations, establishing a timeless aesthetic that I just can’t get enough of.

Classic-wedding-stationery-with-elegant-bridal-jewelry-by-Third-Clover-Paper-and-J'Adorn-Designs
My friend Caitlin of Third Clover Paper just unveiled her freshly rebranded business and new line of personalized paper goods. As part of the big reveal, she worked with Red October Photography to create some styled brand photographs. I felt so honored when she asked to feature some of my elegant bridal jewelry and accessories in these pictures.

Classic-wedding-stationery-with-elegant-bridal-jewelry-by-Third-Clover-Paper-and-J'Adorn-Designs

What I love most about Third Clover Paper’s new collection of paper goods is its timeless aesthetic. Neutral colors and refined fonts take center stage in these designs with just the right amount of colorful accents. They’re the perfect combination of classic and stylish. This is the same style that I evoke in the elegant bridal jewelry that I design, so it felt natural to put our work side-by-side.

Third Clover Paper also offers a variety of customization options for their invitation suites. So, no matter how specific your design idea might be you can make it come to life! (And doesn’t everyone love the option of custom designs?)

I just can’t choose a favorite design from this collection! So tell me in the comments: which one do you like best? And which piece(s) of elegant bridal jewelry would you choose to put with your invitations?

Co-Contributors:

Featured accessories:

Designer's Diary

Most Popular Jewelry Photos: My 2016 Best Nine

January 9, 2017 1 Comment

Happy New Year, friends!

I’ve been easing my way back into the normal routine of making my custom and modern jewelry this week after a whirlwind holiday season! But before we blaze ahead into 2017 (and it’s going to be a GREAT year, let me tell you!), I want to take a moment to look back on the most loved photos from the J’Adorn Designs Instagram page in 2016 and reflect a bit on each one. So without further ado…

My 2016 Best Nine:
Most popular jewelry photos of the year!

1. Self Portrait from My 5th Anniversary Photo Session

One of my very favorite projects from 2016 was the anniversary photo session that I had the chance to plan & style with A. Griffin Events to celebrate my own 5th wedding anniversary. The gallery has been submitted for publication so I can’t share too many details yet, but my style inspiration was an elegant interpretation of one of my favorite rock-n-roll music videos with a nod to the Art Deco and Art Nouveau eras.

And even though the photos by Bekah Kay were to-die-for gorgeous, the best part was being able to take a few hours with my partner during one of our busiest seasons of life to celebrate the life we’ve been building together for the past 5 years. This photo represents the joy of looking back on all those moments, knowing all that we’ve enjoyed and overcome together, and realizing that we’re even more in love today than we were on that sunny October day when we said, “I do.”

Photo by Bekah Kay Creative

2. Custom Bridal Accessories for a Boho Baltimore Wedding

Last year broke all my previously held records for custom bridal accessories with more brides commissioning custom jewelry and hairpieces than ever before! 2016 was also the year that I added hair accessories to my lineup of modern bridal accessories, including bridal combs, flower girl clips & bobby pins, and customized bridal hairpin vines. This was one of my personal favorite sets of the year because the bohemian bride who wore it selected a combination of altered pieces from my pre-designed bridal jewelry collection and made-from-scratch custom accessories to meet her exact needs.

Photo by Nichole Meredith Photography

3. A Bayside Wedding for High School Sweethearts

This was another one of my favorite weddings of the year. Not only because of the stunning bridal jewelry that I got to make for Olivia, but also because she and her groom, Anthony, are close friends of my family. I have known these two sweethearts since their last year of high school, and they were just as in love then as they are today!

Their wedding at Celebrations at the Bay was on a beautiful summer day. We danced all into the night as these two celebrated the marriage they had been looking forward to for years. Brooke Michelle captured this intimate moment between the newly minted Mr. and Mrs. just moments after their ceremony. The joy of that moment is almost palpable.

Photo by Brooke Michelle Photography

4. The Prettiest Gold Druzy Earrings

This pair of simple, sparkly gemstone earrings were in my very first bridal jewelry collection! They continue to be a perennial favorite for brides, bridesmaid jewelry, holiday gifts, and stylish women of all ages. I have my own pair of these neutral druzy earrings that I wear almost every day because they match so many different outfits! This photo is one that I’ve used multiple times in my Instagram feed because it captures those crystal facets so perfectly.

5. A Statement Necklace to Have and to Hold

In my work as a custom and couture jewelry designer, my goal is to create jewelry that honors and reflects the most important moments and relationships in life. The accessories that I design are made to be worn, handled, gifted, and loved!

This photo comes from a wedding style photo session in early 2016. I collaborated with A. Griffin Events (she’s one of my favorites!) on this cool beachy wedding editorial. When I received the photo gallery from Lauren Werkheiser, I was simply blown away. She captured not only the beauty of this oceanic statement necklace, but the sentimentality I hope to inspire with each accessory I create.

Photo by Lauren Werkheiser Photography

6. Showing My Sweet Tooth at The Bridal Event in D.C.

There’s no gentle way to put it: I am a sugar fiend. A sugar fiend who also loves cocktails! Both of these things were in abundance at The Bridal Event D.C., a unique party thrown by Grace of Bridal Bellhop and Jasmine of Jasmine Smith & Co. The Bridal Event involved a mock ceremony, a wedding photo session, and live demonstrations of all the vendors’ services who participated in the event. I had a blast at the party mingling with my industry friends and potential clients. I even got to enjoy a helping of gourmet cotton candy from Fluffness and a custom mixed cocktail from Mixin’ Mimi. What can I say? The job has its perks!

Photo by Evan Sanderson

7. Community Over Competition at Tuesdays Together Annapolis

It’s no secret that I’m an active member of The Rising Tide Society, an international movement that seeks to educate, connect, and empower creative entrepreneurs in the spirit of community over competition. I attend local Tuesdays Together meetings almost every month of the year in my home state of Maryland.
(I have some excited news related to this coming soon…!)

We took this photo at one of the monthly gatherings in Annapolis back when the organization had its headquarters on West Street downtown. This venue came to mean a lot to me during 2016 because I was lucky enough to spend a few months co-working there with RTS founder Natalie Franke and her team of genius young women. The office recently closed with RTS headquarters moving to San Francisco at the end of December, but I will never forget the sense of belonging and empowerment I received from this place and my friends who worked there for that season.

Photo by Natalie Franke

8. Green Druzy Earrings and Oceanic Wedding Inspiration

This photo is another one captured by Lauren Werkheiser at the cool beachy wedding editorial from photo #5. I love the way the direct sunlight illuminates the inside of the mint green druzy gemstones along with the highlights of its facets!

Photo by Lauren Werkheiser Photography

9. Celebrating Love in Every Form

I came to a big realization in 2016. I want to use my custom and modern jewelry business to actively celebrate love in every form. It’s true that many of the handcrafted accessories in my collection are perfect for weddings and even made specifically for that purpose. But I also want to be clear that J’Adorn Designs is not exclusively for brides.

Love comes in many forms, including romance but also friendship, family, and self-love. The jewelry and hair accessories that I make are meant to celebrate love in every single shape, color, gender, orientation, and type of relationship.

The photo session that this image came from was inspired by the song “How Sweet It Is.” It was by far the most published editorial featuring my work this year. It’s meaningful to me because it shows the beauty, depth, and singularity of each individual love story. If there’s a relationship that you want to honor with a tangible keepsake that can be cherished for years, let’s talk!

Photo by Corinne Kensington Photography

Raising my glass to all of your love stories and a successful new year!

With love, Ali

Featured Work

Custom Earrings for Blogging Workshop Gifts

December 7, 2016 1 Comment

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of creating a collection of custom earrings for the Garter Girl’s Blog Your Own Business Workshop. Juli (a.k.a. The Garter Girl) asked me to create these simple modern earrings as a special gift for her to give to her attendees.

It was my first time making jewelry for a workshop gift as well as my first time attending a small business workshop. I had a blast learning to blog more effectively for my custom and modern jewelry business and am excited to share photos of my work and of the event with you all today!

The Packaging

As I always do for custom jewelry orders, I wrapped each pair of custom earrings in a hand-stamped drawstring muslin bag placed inside a paper box with a satin ribbon. Since the workshop was at the studio of Marigold & Grey – home of the bow-tying ninjas – I knew my ribbon bows had to be on point! I was over the moon when M&G founder Jamie gave me her stamp of approval.

Modern Custom Earrings, Jewelry Swag for Blog Your Own Business Workshop for DC Creatives by The Garter Girl, photo by Joy Michelle Photography

The Custom Earrings

I knew these custom earrings would be given to women with a variety of personal tastes. For this reason, it was important that the earrings I created were simple and versatile enough to match a wide range of styles. I chose to base the design off of the earrings from my Sweet Sentiments jewelry set from my pre-designed collection which features white Swarovksi pearls and Swarovski crystals in pink, emerald green, turquoise, or clear.

The Event

After Juli carefully laid the wrapped boxes of earrings around the room at the attendees’ seats, it was time to get to work and learn! The BYOB Workshop was a perfect mix of intensive learning, interactive workbook materials, expert guest speakers, and well-timed breaks with delicious food in an atmosphere that encouraged students to network with one another. The spirit of the room was one of community, genuine friendship, and mutual learning. As an attendee myself, I was especially impressed by the caliber and amount of knowledge that Juli was able to pack into one day of learning!

The Celebration

At the end of the workshop, we concluded the event with my favorite type of celebration: a champagne toast! You better believe I enjoyed every sip of that bubbly!

The Swag Bags

Juli sent all of her attendees home with a treasure trove of swag, both practically useful and purely for our enjoyment (custom cookies anyone?!). I was honored and proud to have my custom earrings be the focal point of the gifts she chose to give to her students.

To inquire about custom earrings or pre-designed jewelry as unique gifts for your workshop, send me a message via the contact form. Wholesale pricing is available by volume.

Photos by Joy Michelle Photography for The Garter Girl.