Today we’d like to introduce you to Mia Selph.
Mia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Enter University, I thought I wanted to do graphic design but ended up being called to create more tactile art. I had an extra credit assignment where I was tasked to make some pop-up greeting cards and Chinese take out boxes and I haven’t looked back since. It started with my family, friends and close associates… then branched out into anyone who received or encountered my work. Then, I put my work online and saw how many people were interested in it. I’m still figuring it out but when I look back at my growth I’m in awe.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
What does a smooth road look like? I’ve never seen one personally. Nothing about expressing myself for others to appreciate is easy. It’s even more difficult when you assign a value, start to mass-produce (whatever that means to you) or begin to market.
Every day I learn something new. I have a setback, a come up or something absolutely inspiring happens. That makes life a bit more interesting. You just have to remember to always be receptive and optimistic. There is no “good” without “evil.” It is all a balancing act. It’s all meant to make your life that much more interesting.
Every day, you have to make the decision to keep going.
What should we know about Paper Anansi? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I create bespoke greeting cards and giant paper flowers to help people tell their stories in memorable ways. All stories belong to Anansi, so I see myself as a sort of griot. My job is to keep our collective stories alive and interesting so that people want to discuss them and revel in the moment. I help people celebrate the sweetest occasions in a fun and exciting way and I also help bring them together to commemorate the life of a loved one or other not so sweet moments. I take all of the information that I’ve gathered from my clients about their particular occasion and I create completely custom keepsakes for them. I’ve done proposal albums, baby shower decor, paper flower wedding backdrops, storefront displays, flower bouquets for funerals and everything in between. I’m most proud to have gained a base of clients that are just as passionate about storytelling as I am. It makes everything worth it and it keeps me focused on my mission.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
My younger self did not appreciate an adult that didn’t read regularly. I had no concept of “can’t.” I started my own job at 13 (I took a course, created flyers, taught myself how to build my own site and canvassed the neighborhood for clients) and made $13/hr. I believed that if I didn’t sing every day, I would lose my gift. I loved colors and patterns and I thought the most important thing in the world was family.
I’ve read 34 books this year because I know young Mia is watching, also it’s important to stay sharp and engaged in the world around you. I’ve created my own business because it’s what I’m naturally inclined to do. I still sing every day and play around on the guitar or keyboard. I love me some colors and patterns though my taste has become a bit more refined. I still wear what I want shamelessly. To this day, family is my number one goal in life.
Make sure whatever you do aligns with your heart’s desire or make changes until it does. Remember the things that bring you the most joy and make those things a priority.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.paperanansi.com
- Phone: 4048400068
- Email: mia@paperanansi.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paperanansi/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paperanansi/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaperAnansi
Image Credit:
Aspen Evans, Keith Edwards, Leslie Andrews, Stephanie Eley
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