Sherry Jeffery: I'm a small business owner based out of Montreal Street Collective in the heart of downtown Kingston—a space full of creativity, community, and inspiration. For the past two years, my focus has been on jewellery styling and crafting custom pieces from my ever-growing collection of curated stainless steel charms and chains.

My love for jewelry runs deep. I've always had an urge to create—something about keeping my hands busy feels like second nature. I started making jewellery in 2017, hand-rolling clay beads and stringing together one-of-a-kind pieces. At the time, I was also working as a photographer. I found myself styling my jewellery on models during photoshoots and I loved it.

Over the years, that passion evolved. I started sourcing unique elements from around the world. Today, every piece I bring in, is about more than just aesthetics. It's about personal expression, about finding those everyday accents that make you feel uniquely you.

SJ: When it comes to curating my collection, I lead with intuition. Does this piece speak to me? Is it exciting? From there, I look at the essentials—quality, versatility, and whether it's something that feels accessible for everyday wear.

Once a piece makes the initial cut, it's the response from my community that shapes what happens next. Are people drawn to it? Do they want more? Sales, quality consistency, and genuine excitement all play a role in whether I bring an item back or move forward.

There’s almost a rhythm to it— I'm always sourcing, and I try to introduce new rings, charms, and whatever cool things I find on a weekly basis. It keeps the collection fresh, personal, and ever-evolving.

SJ: What I love most about being part of the downtown maker community is, without a doubt, the people. The connections I’ve built with fellow makers, artists, and entrepreneurs are deeply inspiring and incredibly powerful. There’s a shared understanding among us—a mutual recognition of the hustle, the heart, and the countless hours poured into pursuing what we love.

We empathize with each other’s struggles because we live them too. Whether it’s branding, packaging, sourcing, marketing, or the creative process itself.

SJ: Mostly, I just want to say that I’m constantly humbled by the incredible outpouring of support and trust I receive every single day. Each interaction—each shared story—deepens my connection to the people around me and reminds me why I do what I do.

I love when someone stops me out in the wild to proudly show off a piece they’ve chosen from my work. There’s something magical about sharing that excitement together—it’s genuine, joyful, and deeply fulfilling.