STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A paraprofessional at PS 9 in Concord, Alexis Venezia, 51, felt helpless amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic when schools closed.
Back in March 2020, the Stapleton resident wanted to do something for the kids at her school, so she launched a Facebook rock painting page.
“The kids were afraid and confused. ...The page allowed us to leave painted rocks for each other. I started leaving them at some of my kids’ houses. The parents started to get involved, and they were driving the kids all over to leave rocks for each other. We called it ‘getting rocked,’” recalled Venezia, noting that eventually the whole school got involved in the project.
With her paraprofessional job ending at 3 p.m., she began to use her free time to get creative. She started to make floral smudge sticks, which are tied bundles of herbs.
“They were so pretty, my kids said I should call them smudge art sticks and I should start to sell them,” she said. “At first, I didn’t think anyone would buy them, so I started to just make them for friends. I was always into herbs and studied what herbs to burn for different reasons. I have always used my smudge sticks like a hippie thing.”
BRINGING IN POSITIVE ENERGY
Her smudge sticks contain herbs, like sage, which are great to cleanse negative energy, and Palo Santo -- a good way to bring positive energy into your life, said Venezia.
“I am always creating something new because it is such a new business, and it is so much fun. People love my intention jars that are specially made with the key ingredients for, say, prosperity or self-love. I cleanse each bottle with sage smoke and then Palo Santo to ensure good vibes go into the bottle, then I seal the bottle with the color that represents it, so prosperity is sealed with green wax, etc...,” she explained. “The intention is to give the gift of positivity, either to yourself or to someone else.”
The creative energy flowed every day after her job ended led Venezia to team up with her daughters, Zoe, 26, and Zina, 24, to create Zoziart, an online store offering handmade “perfectly imperfect unique gifts” that include the smudge sticks, intention jars, and unique dried floral arrangements and/or herbs in jars. She is also experimenting with other items, like taxidermy bats with dried flowers in shadow boxes.
The store was named after her two partners -- her daughters -- who were her first two “perfectly imperfect creations,” she said.
“I consider myself a positive person; I have a hippie way about the way I see things. I live a good, happy life with my husband, Jeff, and two daughters. They are also involved in the business. My husband grinds all the flowers and herbs. And my girls are artists themselves,” said Venezia.
But her handmade items aren’t just meant to be appreciated visually, many have meaning behind them.
“My work is very pretty, but more importantly I explain the intention behind it,” she explained. “This is in no way to replace what you believe in or how you pray; it is only to add to what you already do or believe in. I believe our minds and intentions are very powerful, and I try to promote that for all.”
After showcasing her wares at a craft fair in the fall at Snug Harbor Cultural Center in Livingston, she plans to attend more like events this year.
‘ALWAYS CREATING’
She sells her items through her social media accounts and on Etsy. And her items can be found in gift stores in New York and New Jersey.
While she currently purchases the flowers that she then dries herself in an old china closet that once belonged to her mother, she said she plans to grow her own florals in the future.
“I hope there will always be people who need something beautiful and positive to remind them how amazing we all are individually. I would also like to find a non-profit organization that is focused on remote-only children and even their parents, who may be struggling during these weird and difficult times. Even if it’s just to send some positivity and beauty their way,” she said.
ZOZIART AT A GLANCE
Etsy store: www.etsy.com/shop/ZoziartCreations
Instagram: www.instagram.com/zoziartperfectlyimperfect/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ZoZiartcom-perfectly-imperfect-gifts
New Businesses in Focus is a weekly column that relates the stories of new Staten Island businesses owners.
If you have a new business on Staten Island, e-mail porpora@siadvance.com.
Tracey Porpora is the business writer and Sunday manager for SiLive.com/Staten Island Advance.
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The Link LonkMarch 18, 2021 at 06:32PM
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This new healing herb and floral gift business specializes in positivity - SILive.com
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