Rising Stars: Meet Stephanie Jackson

Shaniece Jones discusses her journey in establishing "Closet Therapy," a business focused on transforming personal spaces and lives by addressing the root causes of clutter, particularly within closets. She emphasizes that her approach goes beyond mere organization, aiming to help individuals confront and process underlying emotions such as shame, guilt, grief, and insecurity that often manifest in their physical environment. Shaniece shares her personal experience, where despite outwardly appearing successful, she grappled with anxiety, insecurity, and unprocessed grief, leading her to discover that decluttering and organizing her own closet served as a pathway to healing. This realization became the foundation of her business, where she offers clients not just an organized closet, but a moment of truth and an opportunity to break free from self-defeating patterns. Shaniece's path to becoming a "Closet Therapist" was unconventional. Coming from a background where creative careers were not highly valued, she initially pursued a science degree in biology. However, her passion for fashion and its transformative power persisted. Through internships and work as a wardrobe styling assistant, she observed that clients' closets often contained more than just clothes; they held stories of avoidance, insecurity, and grief. This insight led her to believe that the closet is a mirror reflecting an individual's true self, emotions, and hidden aspects. Her unique method integrates organization, scientific research, and storytelling, focusing on breaking old habits and building sustainable systems tailored to clients' real lives. She leverages her scientific background and personal experiences to understand the deeper "why" behind the mess, aiming to bridge the gap between science, built environments, design, and mental wellness. Shaniece candidly shares her personal struggles, including immense grief from losing her brother and sister during her university years, and her mother five years ago. She also battled anxiety, panic attacks, insecurities, and impostor syndrome. These profound experiences, while challenging, ultimately shaped her empathy and ability to connect with clients on a deeper level. She views the closet as a space that holds stories, secrets, and sorrow, and her lived experiences enable her to guide clients through their emotional clutter with understanding and truth. She believes her resilience and ability to navigate personal hardships have equipped her to help others find peace amidst their own chaos. The evolution of "Closet Therapy" from a side hustle to a full-time business is also detailed. After working at a hedge fund, Shaniece pursued her passion for fashion, earning a certification and volunteering at New York Fashion Week. These experiences led to styling opportunities, and eventually, a celebrity stylist recognized her talent for organizing clients' closets. This pivotal moment solidified her path, as she realized her gift for creating order in personal spaces. Over eight years, while also working in ministry, she expanded her services to include custom closet designs and installations. Her business has since grown beyond word-of-mouth organizing to encompass a broader mission of empowering individuals to take control of their spaces and lives. She is developing digital tools, a podcast, and a community to further extend her reach, enabling more people to benefit from her unique approach to transforming closets and, by extension, lives. #ShanieceJones #ClosetTherapy #Decluttering #HomeOrganization #EmotionalWellness #PersonalTransformation #InteriorDesign #MindfulLiving #Entrepreneurship

Jessica and Eliana, the duo behind J. Hargreaves Industry (JHi), discuss their creative journey, the genesis of their small business, and their vision for the future of independent artists. JHi is a women-owned and artist-run enterprise based in New York, specializing in one-of-a-kind jewelry, art, and soft furnishings that are deeply connected to the narratives of their larger fine art practices. One of their most significant projects, "Girls at the End of the World" (GATEOTW), intertwines themes of feminism, global warming, and political conflict. This collection seamlessly merges fine art with jewelry designs and printed furnishings, aiming to appeal to audiences interested in fine art, fashion, and interior design. Jessica explains that the project originated from sculptural paintings created during Donald Trump's first term as President, which depicted allegorical situations often inspired by old master history paintings. These narratives then evolved into hand-drawn toile-style prints for wallpaper and soft furnishings, such as curtains and cushions. From these prints emerged the concept for "The Aquanaut's Amulet," a diver's helmet pendant, with each jewelry piece serving as a wearable extension of the original drawings. The collection also includes smaller, collaborative 4x6-inch oil paintings on yupo, depicting women in green suits, symbolizing love and support among women amidst an allegorical catastrophe. The green suits, inspired by Jessica's fashion industry background, represent rebirth, and the futuristic material protects the figures from environmental elements. Eliana highlights their intention to present a collection that showcases the full range of Jessica’s creative abilities and storytelling, ensuring that no medium or audience is excluded. Both founders emphasize the importance of consumers connecting with the vision and ideas behind their products, as well as their materiality. Jessica Hargreaves, the founder, was born and raised in South London and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Fashion and Textile Design from Central Saint Martins, along with an MFA from The School of The Art Institute of Chicago. Her art practice consistently features narrative elements that allegorize personal and political emotions. Her love for fashion and adornment influences her installations, which initially appear decorative but reveal humorous, satirical, or disturbing elements. Inspired by vintage animal jewelry, she began wax carving in 2014, leading to jewelry that maintains a direct link to her painting, drawing, and sculpture. Eliana Shoffner, co-founder and Studio Manager, moved from Texas to New York City in 2019, pursuing a career in fashion. She earned a Master’s Degree in Fashion Studies from Parsons School of Design, where her research focused on the art of adornment and challenging the established art and fashion institutions. The genesis of JHi was serendipitous, as Jessica and Eliana met at Sephora in August 2023. Eliana was captivated by a ring Jessica had made, leading to a conversation about art, fashion, and their shared vision for a practice where both could coexist. After a month of planning, J. Hargreaves Industry officially launched in October 2024. Their mission is twofold: first, to establish a sustainable living through authentic and transparent creative processes, serving as a model for independent artists. Second, they aim to create "Some Other Future," an extension of JHi that will act as a selling platform for various multi-hyphenate artists, reallocating autonomy to those who haven't found their place in a single industry or medium. They believe society can support artists by encouraging consumption habits that favor small businesses and independent artists, promoting ethical production, and questioning conventional pricing. They advocate for using social media to discover and share works by independent artists, fostering a creative ecosystem that thrives from within. #JessicaEliana #JHi #ArtistRunBusiness #GirlsAtTheEndOfTheWorld #FeminismInArt #WearableArt #InteriorDesign #EthicalConsumption #IndependentArtists

Tyreik Jackson shares his journey and insights, emphasizing that success is defined by doing what one loves. He highlights the importance of creating efficient, duplicable systems and the benefits of an early start to the day. Jackson reflects on his background in woodworking, which he began in high school in the mid-90s, and continued through college, earning an associate's degree in light frame construction residential remodeling with a minor in cabinet making and millwork from SUNY Delhi. His career path led him to high-end construction in New York City, where he spent two decades working for affluent clients on Manhattan's Upper East Side. This experience honed his craftsmanship and exposed him to a high standard of excellence, allowing him to build valuable relationships with talented tradespeople. In 2019, Jackson launched his own business, transitioning into custom cabinetry and millwork. His passion for building has remained constant, though his approach has evolved. A significant part of his work involves one-on-one consultations with potential clients, where he helps them translate rough sketches into tangible designs, focusing on scale, symmetry, and proportion. This personalized approach has been a key driver of his word-of-mouth referrals. The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a significant pivot for Jackson's business. Initially, he intended to pursue general contracting, leveraging his 14 years of experience working for a general contractor. However, the pandemic's impact, particularly on school systems and the shift to remote or hybrid learning, prompted him to change direction. As a single father of three young children, he decided to specialize in custom cabinetry, which allowed him to complete 95% of the work in his home-based wood shop and only 5% on-site. This shift provided him with the flexibility needed to balance his business and family responsibilities, enabling him to be more present for his children. Jackson also discusses how he funded his business. After renting his first apartment in Harlem, New York, for eight years, he purchased it in 2010. In 2011, he undertook a complete gut renovation of this apartment, incorporating high-end finishes inspired by the multi-million dollar projects he had worked on. In 2015, upon closing on his current home, an appraisal revealed that his New York City apartment had quadrupled in value. He utilized a home equity line of credit from this property to finance both the renovation of his new home and the establishment of his business. #TyreikJackson #Woodworking #CustomCabinetry #Millwork #Entrepreneurship #BusinessPivot #HomeRenovation #HighEndConstruction #SmallBusinessFunding

This article features an interview with artist Kylie Daniel, who discusses her life as a creative, her artistic journey, and her unique approach to art. At 53, Daniel expresses contentment and reflects on a diverse creative past that includes radio announcing, festival MCing, feature writing, and co-owning a guitar teaching clinic, all while consistently painting. She has been actively developing her distinct artistic style for many years. Kylie Daniel draws her primary inspiration from the Australian outback, particularly its vast, unforested landscapes. She finds solace and a sense of simplicity in these regions, viewing them as opportunities to disconnect from modern technology. Her art is characterized as unconventional, moving beyond typical pretty landscapes to focus on the geological formations of the land itself. She aims to capture the earth's surface changes resulting from events like fire, drought, and flood. Daniel incorporates various finishes to emphasize the textures and sheens of the landscape, inviting viewers to engage with her work not just visually but also tactilely, experiencing the physical sensation of the Australian Outback. Her artwork has gained significant recognition through its feature on "The Block," an Australian reality television series focused on house renovations. Following a successful placement last year with contestants Steph & Gian, Daniel's art was again selected for the show this year, with three pieces chosen by Kristian & Mimi. She views this exposure as a validation of her hard work and dedication. Her art was strategically placed in prominent areas within the homes, such as the entry and a hallway, and received positive commentary from judges, including Neale Whittaker. Daniel attributes the ongoing success to the support from The Block, The Block Shop, Artist Lane, and the contestants. Being a Block Shop artist is profoundly meaningful to Daniel, offering validation for her unique artistic style and chosen color palette, which she believes resonates with the public. When asked about her favorite Block couple, she playfully names Kristian & Mimi but also acknowledges the authenticity of Haydn & Ricky. Among artists, she expresses admiration for Jackson Pollock, valuing artists who break traditional molds and pioneer distinctive styles. Daniel finds inspiration in the idea of creating something entirely new and recognizable as her own. Her creative process often takes place outdoors, where she feels most inspired by nature, surrounded by wildlife. While working, she enjoys listening to country rock music, finding that its themes of land and country life align with the imagery she aims to convey in her art. A typical day involves managing her online presence, including social media and website interactions, before heading to her studio. She often works on multiple pieces simultaneously, as her heavy-textured works require several drying applications. Daniel can spend entire days and nights immersed in her art, describing it as her dream job. For holidays, she consistently chooses the Outback, specifically mentioning places like Cobar, Broken Hill, and Dubbo, where the landscape takes center stage. If she were to shop at The Block Shop, her obsession with Manchester would lead her to purchase sheet sets and quilt covers. Her favorite house decorating trend is "Japandi" due to its earthy, warm aesthetic and ease of pairing with furnishings, a style she believes has lasting appeal. Finally, her most cherished artwork is an original piece by Grace Brown, a respected Indigenous artist. #KylieDaniel #ArtistSpotlight #AustralianOutbackArt #TheBlock #HomeDecor #JapandiStyle #ArtisticProcess #InteriorDesign #TexturedArt