Draft:Elyse Elizabeth Major

Elyse Elizabeth Major (née Press) (born 1965) is an American lifestyle journalist and author.

Early Life

Major was born to a Jewish family in Minneapolis, MN, the youngest child of three born to Allan C. Press, a motion picture distributor for Cinerama, Universal, and American International Pictures, from Providence, Rhode Island; and Joyce (Epstein) Crossley, from Fall River, Massachusetts.

Education

A graduate of Rhode Island College with a BS in English; previous education includes UMass Dartmouth and Rhode Island School of Design CE.

Awards

2021: First Place, Art/Niche Columnist, Rhode Island Press Association

2020: Honorable Mention, Feature Story/Short, Rhode Island Press Association

Career

After college, Major worked in various roles in film and video production, public relations, and communications. In 2009, she pivoted to writing, focusing on crafts and lifestyle content, and has developed projects and contributed articles to many dozens of national magazines.

In 2013, she wrote her first book, Tinkered Treasures: 25 simple projects to bring charm to the everyday, published by Cico Books (ISBN-13: 978-1908862563). The following year, Seaside Tinkered Treasures: 35 Adorable Projects to Bring the Seashore Home was released (ISBN-13:978-1782490876). To promote the books, Major presented at the Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck, NY, appeared on Rhode Island PBS, and bookstores and libraries. Additionally, Major’s home and studio have been featured in magazines in the US and UK. In 2016, Major co-authored a book of Ikea hacks with Charlotte Rivers (ISBN-13: 978-1612436104). During this period, Major also developed projects and contributed writing and photography to a host of shelter and craft publications. Her wallpapered blinds project appeared in USA Today Home and she has produced blog posts for Laura Ashley USA.

In 2018, Major joined Hey Rhody Media Co., formerly known as Providence Media, publisher of award-winning Rhode Island lifestyle magazines Providence Monthly, So Rhode Island, The Bay Magazine, and Hey Rhody. As editor-in-chief, she oversees the development of editorial content across all publications, writes for, and represents the magazines in media appearances.

Additionally, Major contributes writing to magazines which have included BHG, Country Living, Farmhouse Style, and more. From 2021-2024 Major served as co-president of the Rhode Island Press Association.