The Full Circle Journey: Mother-Daughter Duo Relaunches Journey Lockets

For four years, the Journey Lockets studio had been intentionally quiet, the doors closed so Jocelyn Drye could focus on her family. She made the deliberate choice in 2021 to dedicate her time to the final years of raising her daughters, homeschooling them, and navigating the demanding world of their competitive volleyball careers. The keepsake lockets, which carried so many precious memories for countless customers, were carefully stored, ready for the day they would return.

Journey Lockets is a keepsake jewelry brand that specializes in glass lockets that hold photographs of your memories and loved ones. The concept was born in 2008 when Jocelyn, then a stay-at-home mom, created her very first necklace. She wanted a special way to keep photos of her two young girls, Maddy and Ava, close to her heart. When other moms saw it and began asking her to make one for them, a business was organically born.

Now, four years after its closure, that original inspiration—Maddy and Ava—is the driving force behind the brand’s resurgence.

“Getting to work with my daughter on something that means so much to me and to so many women is a dream come true,” Jocelyn says. It's a true full-circle moment, bringing her back to the business she started and positioning her as a mentor to her entrepreneurial daughter.

Maddy Drye: A Natural Entrepreneur Excited to Build the Future of Journey Lockets

The timing couldn't be more perfect. Maddy Drye, the elder of the two sisters, has just graduated from Appalachian State University a year early with a double major in Graphic Communication Management, focused on Print and Packaging Design and Cross Media Production.

But Maddy’s entrepreneurial journey didn't start in a college classroom. She was a business owner before she was a teenager. At just 11 years old, she launched Damdy Designs, a jewelry company where she crafted and sold unique pieces at holiday markets, trunk shows, and through her own website. She quickly learned the ropes of running a micro-business, a drive for success so evident that she was featured on a local news station at the age of 12.

Her years after that were a whirlwind of dedication: earning her associate’s degree while simultaneously finishing high school in 2021, competing as a Division I volleyball athlete for one season at Appalachian State, and then graduating early with an impressive academic focus. Now, her professional skills and innate business sense are being channeled back into the family endeavor. Maddy is also currently working full time at a local printing company, Ad Resources, based in Durham, NC. 

The Next Chapter: A Shared Vision

Maddy’s expertise in design, branding, and packaging, combined with Jocelyn’s foundational vision and deep connection to the Journey Lockets community, creates a powerhouse partnership. The relaunch isn't just about bringing back a product; it’s about a full-circle journey—a mother and daughter, inspired by their shared history and the power of cherished memories, working side-by-side to reignite a passion project that began with the simple, loving desire to keep family close.

The lockets are coming back to life after a four-year pause, not just as jewelry, but as a symbol of the beautiful, powerful new paths Jocelyn and Maddy are forging together.