It’s a challenge to stay fresh and relevant in the fashion world but, sometimes, timeless classics win out over trends.

Just ask Maureen Donohue Grable, a Fort Worth-based jewelry designer who has been in business for 17 years.

We’ve long been fans of her work, having bought her necklaces 15 years ago from a little shop named Chiffoniers. And we still wear them.

Maureen fits our definition of a Southern belle as she hails from Georgia and still has a trace of that distinctive accent in her voice. She has managed to keep that peaches-and-cream complexion, too, despite living in Texas for 20 years.

Her route to being a full-time jewelry-maker started when she was a child. She and her sister were big into arts and crafts, plus they loved digging around in their mother’s jewelry box.

She opted to skip college and instead went to work for Yves Delorme, the French linen and textile company. She spent time in France and then was given the opportunity to run a store opening up in Plano. One year later, the 22-year-old moved to the University Park Village shop in Fort Worth.

Jewelry-making was still a hobby for Maureen. Taking inspiration from nature and her love of vintage style, she crafted pieces that were affordable, well made and would go with everything. After the success of her first trunk show in 2004, she decided to make it a business. She found a small retail outlet, continued to hold pop-ups and worked on her craft.

Maureen also made a love match thanks to one of her trunk shows. A guest wanted to fix her up with her son, whom she ended up marrying. Motherhood was up next, and Maureen opted to take a break from the business. She continued to cater to her most loyal clients while spending time with her two daughters.

With retail outlets now in ten states plus Texas, Maureen is seeing her business grow. Her sister recently moved to Fort Worth, so the designer is enjoying having family close and involved in the business. She’s also looking to make her designs more unique by sourcing exclusive materials.

Is a brick-and-mortar storefront in her future? “You never know,” she says with a smile. “We’ll have to see.”