"What the heck is a lizayn?" you ask.  A lizayn (rhymes with design, except with the emphasis on the first syllable) is a small creature with long brown hair and large blue eyes that loves moonlight, autumn, music, good wine, HGTV, pasta, the whisper of leaves in a soft breeze, and making jewelry, not necessarily in that order.

Well, that's all true, but actually, lizayn comes from my name, Elizabeth Ayn.  I think my family must be the only ones who pronounce Ayn to rhyme with nine, not fan or train.  Anyway, that's me, the designer here at this little operation.  I am obsessed with jewelry.  Not the mass produced kind you see in "fine jewelry" stores, (no offense meant, I'm just not into three stone diamond necklaces).  No, I'm talking about unique, wearable art made by the hands of a human being who lives to create.

My obsession began many years ago, when I was, oh, maybe about 12 or so.  On a whim, I ordered a catalog from what was then a very small jewelry supply company.  I spent hours with this catalog, drooling over the beautiful beads and findings, wondering what to do with them.  Time went by, and I sort of forgot about it.  I went to college, and got a job that I came to hate over the course of seven years.  During that time, I got my hands on an assortment of seed beads and some fishing line, and started making simple necklaces for myself and my friends.  I so enjoyed the process of taking simple materials and making something I could wear, that I began to expand my designs and create more elaborate jewelry creations.  My job drained me of any will to live, and making jewelry became my escape.  As my jewelry collection grew, I had to start giving it away as gifts.  When my mother's friends started asking about the pieces I had made for her, and people started encouraging me to sell my work, I knew I had found what I wanted to do with my life.

It's been eight years since those seed beads.  Since then, I have been learning everything I can about making jewelry, and refining my designs.  My horrible job is finally gone, and now I am able to make jewelry full time.  There are still many techniques I wish to learn, and now I'm trying to figure out how to run a company and a web site.  My obsession is still growing, and I hope you enjoy the results of that obsession.

Oh, and that little company whose catalog began my love of jewelry all those years ago?  They are now the largest and most diverse jewelry supply company on the web.  Now that's inspiring.

With love,
      lizayn