Payton Jewelry was founded in 2010, but its story began long before that — with Kristi’s determination to build a beautiful life for herself and her daughters.

In 1998, when her first daughter Blue was born, Kristi worked multiple part-time jobs to make ends meet while pursuing a degree in fashion marketing. Even during those demanding years, she carried a creative spark and a belief that something more was possible.

Nearly a decade later, after the birth of her second daughter, Sheah, Kristi stepped away from retail management to spend more time at home. It was 2007, money was tight, and the family heated their home with a wood stove. While stacking firewood one winter, Kristi noticed the natural beauty in the pieces that were too striking to burn. Her artistic eye couldn’t ignore them, and she began setting them aside.

That small act of curiosity sparked something bigger.

Soon she was experimenting with reclaimed materials and teaching herself to make jewelry on the living room floor. Using thrifted tools, beads, and findings sourced from local craft stores, she created her first designs. What began as a creative outlet quickly became a calling. Her jewelry — timeless, soulful, and full of character — began to find its way into local markets and craft shows.

Word spread. Customers returned again and again.

Over time, Payton Jewelry grew from those humble beginnings into a beloved brand. Kristi expanded into mall locations, wholesaled her designs to boutiques, and in 2019 opened the Payton Jewelry flagship store in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. In 2020, she moved the studio just two blocks away, creating a beautiful workspace where every piece continues to be designed and handmade.

Today, Payton Jewelry is no longer just Kristi beading bracelets on the living room floor. It is a team of talented and passionate women working alongside her — learning, creating, and growing together.

Kristi’s lifelong love for the ocean, sand, and travel soon inspired the next chapter. In 2021, Payton opened a stunning storefront on the Ocean City Boardwalk, expanding the brand into a coastal lifestyle experience. From this space, Payton Beach Apothecary was born — a signature scent of warm vanilla and sun-kissed coconut that captures the feeling of endless summer. Each batch is still made in small quantities and fills every Payton store with its signature coastal warmth.

In 2023, Payton Jewelry continued its seaside expansion with a boutique in Cape May, followed by another beautiful location on Asbury Avenue in Ocean City, New Jersey, bringing the Payton experience even closer to the shore.

From luminous chalcedony, aquamarine, moonstone, and freshwater pearls to effortless designs meant for layering, every piece reflects Kristi’s love of the sea, travel, and timeless style.

But at its heart, Payton Jewelry is still about something deeper — family, creativity, and the courage to build something meaningful from humble beginnings.

The story is still unfolding.

Follow along and see what comes next.

HANDCRAFTED IN DOYLESTOWN, PA
MADE TO LOVE, LAYER & LAST