add-to-list 'load-path doesn't seem to work

Perhaps the problem is that the leading tilde ('~') is not expanded when require searches the entries in the load-path list. Consider using the expand-file-name function to prepare your entry for subsequent use by require:

(add-to-list 'load-path (expand-file-name "jademode" "~/.emacs.d"))

or

(add-to-list 'load-path (expand-file-name "~/.emacs.d/jademode"))

It would help to know which Emacs you're using on which operating system.