As a child, sophomore Mia Lane not only had the talent and passion to know she was an artist, but she also displayed the boldness and marketing skills of a businesswoman.
“I’ve always been rather business-oriented,” Mia said. “I was the kid that did the lemonade stand every summer, and I was asking my mom to sell everything that I made.”
Today, Mia fulfills her childhood dream as the owner of her own art business. She started this endeavor a year ago, merging her passion for creativity and entrepreneurship to sell mystical crochet creations at art markets and on Instagram.
“I wanted a business. I wanted to get my art out there. I wanted to be an entrepreneur. And I guess this was just kind of my dream come true,” Mia said. “It made my inner child very happy.”
Mia first became inspired to crochet two years ago when she received an amigurumi kit for Christmas. Since then, she has been completely hooked.
While she only found a passion for crocheting recently, she has always fostered a love for art. Mia has been a dancer for eight years, and also participates in experimental theater and the school plays.
“I’ve been an artist since the time I could hold glitter and a paintbrush,” Mia said.
Mia’s creativity is part of what makes her business successful: from forest green bunnies adorned with mushrooms to glow-in-the-dark, navy blue dragons and whimsical gargoyles, she embraces a unique gothic romantic style in her crocheting.
While Mia was placing the puzzle pieces of her business together, she spent a lot of time searching for an appropriate name. Ultimately, Mia chose one that closely resonated with an essential value of her business.
“I knew that I wanted to include oddballs or something with the word odd in it,” Mia said. “A big theme in my business is that I don’t want it to be the norm of what you see from other crocheters.”
Part of the success of Mia’s crocheting business is attributed to the distinctive style of the pieces she creates. She also credits her mother as an essential pillar of unrelenting support, even though she is not an artist herself.
“She has always believed in me and in my capability to do anything,” Mia said. “When I became serious about crochet she was really supportive, and she was logical about it. She said: ‘You know, it’s not going to be easy.’”
Her mother proved to be right: Mia’s success did not come without hard work and determination. Some pieces can even take up to six hours to crochet due to their intricate details and sheer size, Mia said.
“Crocheting is not an innate talent. It’s something you have to practice over and over again,” said Mia. “The level that I’m at right now came through me doing many, many tester calls and putting myself out there.”
Mia has created art her whole life and values how through art she can embrace her mind and imagination.
“I think that from the time I was little, I’ve used art as an outlet for me,” said Mia. “It allows me to lose myself and let my soul flow into the art instead of keeping it confined, which I feel like I have to do sometimes around other people.”
Mia finds she can explore her inner self through art. Her talent has also provided a connection between her and her grandmother, who shared the same passion but never met Mia.
“My grandmother crocheted, but she passed on before I could meet her. I think my mom said once that I’m channeling her sometimes,” said Mia. “I brought her tradition back to life, which I think is really nice.”
Through this tradition, Mia has formed a successful business by sharing her passion and talents with the world. She plans to expand her endeavors by pitching her business to a panel of investors. She also hopes to donate toys to kids in hospitals through the Ronald McDonald House or a therapist practice.
In a journey from lemonade stands to art markets, Mia has fulfilled her childhood dreams by crocheting rainbows, woodland elves, and sunflower demons. With a creative mind and determination, this is just the start of what Mia can accomplish.
