Celebrating 40 Years of Ceramic Treasures parent company of Jane and Lizzee

Honoring four decades of creativity, family, and opportunity

How is it possible that today we celebrate 40 years of operations? On August 13, 1986, Elizabeth Carter DeBuse opened Ceramic Treasures, Inc., with no idea of the blessings and opportunities that would unfold over the next four decades.

A Passion Takes Shape

Elizabeth’s love of family and home was enriched by her interest in ceramics and porcelain. That interest began in high school, where she was first introduced to ceramics. She continued her education at Southwestern Louisiana Institute—now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette—earning a bachelor’s degree in home economics education.

After graduation, Elizabeth taught and worked for the Louisiana Extension Service as a home economist before focusing her time and attention to her family.  In the early 1980s, she began taking ceramics classes as a hobby. Her enthusiasm quickly grew, and ceramics became something she enjoyed sharing with her children.

Elizabeth purchased her first kiln in 1981, igniting a desire to learn new techniques and expand her creative skills. Over the next five years, she studied, practiced, and attended workshops, steadily transforming her personal interest into a true calling.

From Hobby to Family Business

In 1986, Elizabeth and her husband, Jimmy, turned her hobby into a business and opened Ceramic Treasures, Inc. What began as one courageous decision soon became part of the fabric of our family’s life.  Elizabeth named the business Ceramic Treasures with the hope that every piece created in her studio would become a treasured keepsake—whether made by an artist for personal enjoyment or given as a meaningful gift.

My sister, Maree, and I will always be grateful for our parents’ decision. Both of us have worked in the business in some capacity since it opened, and Ceramic Treasures has helped shape our professional lives, our relationships, and the way we understand creativity, service, and family.

Over the past 40 years, Ceramic Treasures has evolved from a hobby craft ceramics studio into a wholesale gift supplier, promotional products supplier line. and online retailer.   A love of ceramics started it all, and that passion remains at the heart of the business today.

The company’s growth has been nothing short of remarkable. Forty years ago, no one could have imagined the extraordinary opportunities ahead—from creating products for nationally recognized companies and major events to producing official gifts for government leaders, pieces displayed in historic government properties, and treasured items given as meaningful gifts or enjoyed as home décor. Whether crafting a one-of-a-kind piece or producing more than 15,000 pieces for a single order, our company has been privileged to create everything from tabletop collections and souvenirs to limited-edition collectibles.

Maree and I are deeply thankful to our parents for teaching us the value of a strong work ethic, integrity, perseverance, and the drive to succeed. Those lessons have guided us through every season of business and remain central to the way we serve our customers and community.

Forty Years of Growth

Our Product Lines

Today, Ceramic Treasures offers products under several distinctive lines, each reflecting a part of our family’s story and the growth of the business.

·         Faust Heirlooms is named in honor of Elizabeth’s mother, Jane Faust Carter, who spent many of her retirement hours at the shop creating products and gifts. She was the source of our inspiration for the wholesale gift line. Elegance and timelessness. Founded in 1996.

·         Gifts Etc. offers a variety of thoughtfully created gift items established in 1998.

·         JD & Company is named for Jimmy DeBuse and celebrates his important role in the family business.

·         MARS Line features custom-decorated items created for the promotional products industry. We are amazed at the who, what, where and how our products have been used since its launch in 2005.

·         Jane and Lizzee, our online store, launched in 2024 offers products designed and created by Maree and Marilynn to celebrate life’s meaningful moments through custom monogrammed pieces and gifts for the home.

As we celebrate this 40th anniversary, we honor Elizabeth’s vision, Jimmy’s partnership, and the many family members, customers, artists, employees, and friends who have been part of the Ceramic Treasures story. We look back with profound gratitude and forward with renewed excitement for all that is still to come.

We celebrate 40 years with excitement, gratitude, and a lasting love for the creativity that began it all.   Looking forward to the decades to come!

Marilynn Jane