How it Started I grew up in a small town, and some of my earliest memories are of going with my mom to the local “sellers market.” It was a small shop where locals could sell their handmade items. We’d head to a little room in the back, where she’d check the “sold box” to see if anything she had made had sold. Sometimes there was one item sold, sometimes none, but she never stopped trying. For years, I watched her and my dad set up at craft fairs, braving 100-degree heat or freezing 30-degree weather, handing out countless business cards to anyone who passed by. Some days, we sold a few items; other days, nothing at all. But they always kept trying. My dad, with his saint-like patience, supported every new craft endeavor we dreamed up. Over the years, we tried engraving glass, boards, and anything else that could hold an engraving—my mom even did it all by hand with a tiny, dentist-like tool. We made chess sets, scroll-sawn tables, baby bibs, bird feeders, felt Christmas trees, bracelets, and more. If you can think of it, we probably tried it. Through all the trial and error, we never gave up. Then, about six years ago, something magical happened. One December, my mom and I decided to try a new idea (surprise, surprise!)—making Christmas earrings as gifts for teachers. We wanted to combine her love of wood with something functional and pretty. Who doesn’t love earrings, after all? That year, we gave away over 100 pairs as gifts to teachers, coworkers, and friends. I posted a few pictures on Facebook for fun, and just like that, Jamielizabeth was born. The name may be mine, but the heart and soul behind this business are all theirs. My parents’ endless creativity, unwavering support, and perfect timing—like my dad retiring just as the business was taking off—continue to be the backbone of everything we do. Together, we’re still chasing “the next best thing,” but now, it’s in the form of beautiful, handcrafted earrings. This is US! Stefan, Madison, Jamie, Maribeth (aka mom), James (aka dad), Wyatt