The 1 Minute Miracle ~ September 2025

Welcome to The 1-Minute Miracle!
On the first Wednesday of each month, expect a new issue offering industry knowledge, community project and talented artists designed to spark your creativity.

There’s so much incredible work happening across the state, and we’re committed to highlighting it all. If you’d like to contribute articles or share your own news, please email us at @ Infomiraclearts.org 

Layla Hussein

Henna & Traditional Artist  

My name is Layla Hussein, I’m a 22-year old Egyptian-American henna and traditional artist, and a full-time art student attending Minneapolis College of Art and Design majoring in Creative Entrepreneurship and minoring in Filmmaking. My current project is my henna business, which includes creating video content, taking clients, practicing the art form every day and meeting incredible people on the way.

Art, whether I create it or consume it, has always been a gateway for me to make sense of the world and to regulate myself in times of uncertainty and unrest. Before I started making income from my henna business, I’ve solicited my henna practice to raise money for donations to provide aid and resources for families in Gaza. It has always been and always will be a priority for me to represent the unrepresented and to advocate for my people. In this way, ‘decorative’ art styles like mine carry meaning that goes beyond flowers and scallops, it means that every stroke is a testament to my heritage, resistance, and compassion.

Art account: @alkarvaa Henna account: @laylas.henna

What’s the story behind the name “Carpet Booth Studios”?

Back when I first started recording, I was doing it in my parents’ basement with next to no budget for acoustic treatment. I literally built this tiny “booth” out of carpet scraps to record vocals in - it was ugly, it was cramped, but it worked. When it came time to name the studio, “Carpet Booth” stuck. It’s a nod to those scrappy beginnings and a reminder that great art can come from humble setups.

What services does Carpet Booth Studios currently offer, and are there any upcoming advancements or expansions planned?

We’re a full-service recording studio offering production, engineering, mixing, mastering, songwriting, and even workshop/educational opportunities. We’ve got Studio A for big projects, and Studio B for more intimate sessions at a more accessible price point for artists working with smaller budgets. We’re always investing in gear, spaces, and people. Right now, I’m excited about expanding our remote workflow capabilities so artists can collaborate with us seamlessly from anywhere in the world.

What’s your favorite part of the recording process?

I love the happy accidents - those moments when something unexpected happens that completely changes how we see the song. Maybe it’s a “mistake” that suddenly feels perfect or a moment of vulnerability that adds real humanity to the track. I like to follow the mojo of the moment and trust that these surprises happen for a reason - they often take the song in a new and better direction we never could have planned.

Prof. Insprio’s Creative Compass: How to stand out
By Prof. Insprio

Let’s be real, blending in is safe. It’s comfortable. But it’s also the fastest way to get the exact same results everyone else is getting. To be weird, you get weird results. To be normal, you get normal results. The question is: which do you actually want?

Standing out isn’t about being loud for the sake of attention. It’s about leaning into the parts of yourself that don’t fit the mold and having the work ethic to back it up. Weird ideas are easy to dismiss when they’re half-baked. But when you pour consistent effort into them? They become undeniable.

The truth is, being different takes courage, and courage takes stamina. Anyone can have a “quirky” idea once. The real game-changer is showing up for it day after day, even when it’s not trending, even when it’s misunderstood, even when it feels like nobody’s watching.

If your process feels strange to others, good. If your results make them tilt their head, even better. That means you’re building something they’ve never seen before. And when you keep showing up, you give your uniqueness the chance to actually work.

Bzzt. So go CREATE without trimming your edges to fit the crowd. Let them see you work. Let them see you commit. And when the weird results roll in? Smile you earned them.

Thank you for reading the September edition of the 1 Minute Miracle!

First, a big thank you to everyone who submitted an article let’s keep this going! You can always reach us at [email protected] to share your work.!

August was an exciting month for MiracleArts as we officially became a 501(c)(3)! Our next focus is connecting with major donors to expand resources for the MiracleArts community. Over the coming month, we’ll also be tabling extensively to support our fundraising efforts.

We’re excited to announce the development of Version 2 of our Miracle Resource Guide! This update will address the challenges from Version 1 by creating a seamless map and database website. Our fundraising goal is $1,300, please consider donating below to help make this project a reality.

Remember we C.R.E.A.T.E our own Miracles

Xavier Thomas, Founder of MiracleArts