The Heart Behind Expressive DeZien

The Heart Behind Expressive DeZien
Family, Faith, and the Story Behind the Glass

If she can do it, maybe I can too. That is something I hope people think when they learn about the journey behind Expressive DeZien. My husband Clark and I are preparing to open a small Mini Shop. The walls are painted, the grid wall is up, and the vision is coming to life piece by piece. It may be a small space, but we are treating it like a full gallery. When people walk through the store, I hope something catches their eye. A black wall in the corner. A display that feels different. Something that makes them curious enough to step closer. And when they do, I hope when they pick they select the glass that’s calling their name they realize they are holding more than just a piece of glass. They are holding a piece of functional art. They are holding a story.

Why I Call You a Client

When you order from me, you are not just placing an order. You are trusting me with something that matters to you, and that matters to me too. I have never liked the word customer. It feels distant. It feels like a transaction, and that is not what this is to me. You are a client. You are someone I am creating for. Someone I hope to see again and again. I catch myself thinking about you while I am working. Who this piece is for. Why you chose it. What it is going to mean when it gets opened. Over the years, so many of you have shared your stories with me. Celebrations, memories, loss, love, all the real parts of life. Those stories stay with me. That is why I take my time. That is why I care about the details. That is why I package everything the way I do. When you open something from Expressive DeZien, I want you to know it came from a real person, not a warehouse. I want it to feel thoughtful. Because it is. That is the foundation of Expressive DeZien.

Where My Creativity Began

Growing up, creativity surrounded me. My Mother was incredibly talented. She was a seamstress, an artist, a writer, and a wonderful cook. There was almost nothing she could not create with her hands. I was raised by a single Mother, and because of that she had to be resourceful. She taught me how to make something beautiful from very little, that handmade is the best way to show how much you care, and those lessons have stayed with me my entire life. I am the youngest of five children, and my Sisters and Brother have always been encouraging and supportive. Creativity, generosity, and kindness were simply part of how we were raised. Then life changed. I lost my Mother, and shortly after I lost two of my Sisters a year apart. One of them was my Sister Sharon, who passed away from colon cancer. That kind of loss changes how you see the world. It reminds you that time is precious and that the people we love matter more than anything.

The Story Behind the Hummingbird Designs

My Sister Sharon loved hummingbirds, and they seemed to love her right back. They would gather around her in a way that always felt magical to watch. When I started Expressive DeZien, I wanted to create something that honored her memory, and that is how our very first design was born. The Hummingbird and Hibiscus glass. Today it is still our best selling piece, and the hummingbird has become part of our logo. For me it represents strength, beauty, and a reminder that time is precious. Every time I see that design, I think of Sharon, and every time someone chooses that glass, a small part of her story continues.

The Meaning Behind the Name

The name Expressive DeZien has its own story. When I was in college, my professor told the class we needed to come up with a business name that described who we were, what we did and had to be different and not in the…phonebook (ha remember those!). I told him I didn’t need a business name I was never going to open a business. He told me if I did not come up with one, I would fail the class. So, after some thought I had the name. I’ve always been very expressive, so the word Expressive felt right, and I knew I wanted to design things. But I also wanted the name to be unique, so I spelled it DeZien, pronounced Design, because it was different. Years later that classroom assignment became the name of the business I would build. Even the colors in the logo carry meaning. The copper represents my love for working with copper jewelry. The turquoise hummingbird reflects my Native heritage, and the charcoal lettering reminds me of creativity itself, like charcoal used to sketch the beginning of an idea. Every part of the brand tells a story.

Building Something by Faith

Today Expressive DeZien continues to grow. What began as handmade designs created one piece at a time has grown into a business built on relationships, craftsmanship, and faith. Our new Mini Shop is another step in that journey. A small space, but one that we hope will feel like a gallery where every piece is displayed with intention. My hope is that when someone steps into that space, they feel something special. That they see the care behind every design, understand the story behind the hummingbird, and leave with something meaningful in their hands. Because every piece that leaves Expressive DeZien carries more than design. It carries memory, resilience, creativity, and love. And that is the heart behind Expressive DeZien.

Thank you for trusting me to create your heirlooms!
With gratitude,
Jenise E.
Artist | Founder
Expressive DeZien