Jody Lyons unintentionally started Joli Jewelry in 1984 as an undergraduate at New York University. She began combining old buttons, buckles and other trimmings to create jewelry for herself. While wearing her pieces out, she was discovered by local boutique owners who encouraged her to design an entire jewelry line that they could sell. Women, young and old, automatically fell in love with Jody's handiwork. Jody made jewelry on and off throughout undergraduate school and continued to do it on the side while she earned two masters degrees at Columbia University in psychology and as she worked at drug rehabilitation centers. After ten years of pursuing a career psychology, Jody realized jewelry making was what captivated her most.
Jody's appreciation of art began at a very young age. She says her "super-stylish grandmother and great aunt and her artist mother" inspired her creativity and to this day inspire her collections. The influence of her chic female family members is evident in Jody's artwork because she is naturally drawn to the stylized eras of the past, namely the 1920s to 1960s. By combining vintage found items, such as stained glass, original plastics, old metal findings, purse openers and furniture handles, with contemporary materials, Jody emphasizes the importance of reusing and recycling. Jody says her goal as an artist is to "share the love and interest in original, old materials and the importance of reusing." She is currently pursuing that dream and selling her jewelry to specialty galleries all over the United States, Canada, Hong Kong and Korea.