One On One ~ Thais Mills

The sun rises on the Southern banks of New Orleans, Louisiana and the day begins for many in this unique and culturally vast city. People venture out to work, school and much more. Everyone has a story to tell as many have returned to the embattled city and are working to making it whole again. Thankfully Legends Icons and Role Models, thru the gift of Twitter/Facebook, has connected with a NOLA native who knows the struggle well.





 

Thais Mills is a breath of fresh air in a world where many are looking to get to the top by stepping on others. LIRM has connected with an innovative, positive and genuine businesswoman whose heart is just as big as her drive to succeed. Check out this amazing One on One with this New Orleans, Louisiana native and see why we support all her endeavors. 

Give our readers a little background on who Thais' Mills is.

I'm from New Orleans, Louisiana. Just a small town gal with big city dreams.

Share with our readers your love for design, art and the like. Who/what is your muse.

I started teaching Creative Writing and Arts n Craft as a camp counselor in high school. My job was working with the 5-6yr olds and we would make these fun styled magnets. The parents would come back to the camp and request for me to make more but in various colors. At 17 I started creating innovative and colorful designs and now we offer over 60 designs on www.EnticingObjects.com 

I carry three other "Objects" that I make to order as well. Who knew that precocious six year olds would propel me into doing "Self Taught art"? It still cracks me up. My poetry name was "n'Thais'n " *pronounced Enticing* so I added "Objects" on the end, purchased the dot com at eighteen years old on a dare in college. I have been selling my art around the world ever since. My muse is my city of New Orleans, I always find myself throwing green gold and purple in my pieces some kind of way.

Amazing! You often be share encouragement regarding life on the social networks. In your opinion, how important is it to have someone who shares encouragement daily?

After Hurricane Katrina I was at a loss in the area of encouragement. Being displace in a new locale, I knew no one here in Houston and the little family I had here wasn't prepared to help me in this big new town like I had envisioned. Walking downstairs to the lobby area of the hotel, there would always be an older lady who was the housekeeper to the rooms of my floor. We'd have coffee together and I would listen to her stories of struggles and successes. 

What I found fascinating was that even as a housekeeper she loved her life and didn't desire anyone else's. It was beautiful to witness. She was so uplifting and grateful to just be where she was at that time in her life. She's say, "Encouragement is like rain and we're mere flowers. You lift your head and get it all when the getting's good."  I never forgot that nice old lady. Whenever I come in contact with someone or when I have a challenging day, I just say what fun loving sweet words I'd like to hear and roll with it. If it helps one person then my work is done.

I am a bona-fide southerner with creole roots that run deep. Share with our readers your thoughts on being raised in the South.

When I got to Houston after the storm, I got lost riding the 6-10 loop. Can you believe I just kept going in circles thinking it went somewhere and it was a big ole loop. I ran out of gas and found myself walking in 100 plus degree heat along the interstate with my dog in my hands.

No one stopped and it hit me how spoiled I was. Everyone knows one another in New Orleans!  If I had ran out of gas in NOLA, someone would've said, "Hey, that's Louise child, PULL OVER !!!" The beauty of coming from a small town is that it gives you that sense of a close knit community. Everyone knows everyone and we all in each other's business. I love it!! lol!

Totally! Will you be releasing any projects or publications of your own in the future.

I release new book reviews and interviews on www.LipServiceInk.com daily and there's new art every week on www.EnticingObjects.com Home Decor. When it comes to new projects, I am always eager to continue going back into the school systems testing out my new "Creative Writing" program for the kids. Finding fun ways for them to get excited about reading and writing is always on my mind.

Being from Louisiana myself, I know all bout the plight of Hurricane Katrina and the displacement of thousands. What was your experience during that tumultuous time?

It was the hardest thing I have had to do in my entire life. You walk into your home and there's things you never imagine living without such as baby pictures, keep sakes and the like. To lose it all then be forced into another city to start over is unlike anything you can EVER describe. I decided to live outside New Orleans to be an anchor if my family ever needed to evacuate again.

It happen with Hurricane Gustav in 2008. My entire family needed to come to my home and it felt great to be there with a warm home and open doors. The silver lining to all this is that I refuse to here the word "NO" now. From business meetings to virtually anything, I tell myself, if I can make it through Katrina I can make it through ANYTHING. It was humbling to have to shop at Salvation Army to rebuild my wardrobe but now I like it. Knowing no one here its easier for me to start conversation with total strangers. I used my setback to build a better comeback and I have Katrina to thank for that.

New Orleans seems to be coming back to a slight former glory, I personally know that many areas of the city have been neglected. Do you think this can be totally repaired? Why? 

Hurricane Katrina was the worst natural disaster in US history, you can't expect that to be back to normal overnight. We live in the "microwave age" where we snap fingers and want it done NOW. This proves that life doesn't work like that. 

I can join the bandwagon of people who think it can be done sooner but my entire life is down there so I know what isn't "up to code". I take in the Town Hall meetings and listen to congressmen say when certain things will be rebuilt and it angers me because like so many others, I want to simply snap my fingers and get my city back. I've accepted that I am a part of history and I pray within this lifetime I can experience my city the way it once was. We must stay proactive to see this through.

Share with our readers what your day consists of. 

I wake up at no later than 8 a.m. everyday. Walk to my cozy art studio to check on my drying www.EnticingObjects.com  and make sure that the paint is layered the right way. I then prepare myself for processing my orders for www.EnticingObjects.com by doing grooming myself and having my hot cup of tea. Once that's squared away, I check my emails for Lip Service Ink and that normally takes about an hour. By 11 a.m. I have already had my morning walk to feed the ducks, played with my 3 dogs (my fur babies).  I then start the process of painting my current orders from www.EnticingObjects.com  which usually consist of painting about 8-9 hours a day in a steaming hot garage.

I then pack bookmarks to be shipped out as well as mailing out Lip Service Ink bookmarks every Tuesday. Sometimes I am invited to speak at various events so I make sure to not paint that day because my finger nails are always drenched in paint and this freaks people out. 

I also volunteer in the media department of my church on Sundays and I am normally there from 7:30a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Its relaxing to hear the sermon three times in a row, I work the camera and I love it!!

Wow! You are one busy lady. What sets your brand apart from others? Who are some of your artistic inspirations? 

That's a Great question! Lip Service Ink was created to make literacy lavish. Its my mission to inspire everyone in the world to carry a book with them like their own wallet. It sounds silly but I'm in lust with reading www.EnticingObjects.com is where I create original works of art for the homes of many amazing people.  

That being said, How important are your clients ? Share some inspirational experiences you have had in this area.

I have a Social Media Management firm called www.CreativeWritingandEditing.com and even though my client list is kept private to maintain the integrity of their brands,  I will say that each and everyone are special to me for simply believing in my insight.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years.

Hopefully still giving bookmarks to the world, enjoying a good book and painting for fly people like youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!

Absolutely!!! Being humbled is important, share with our readers how important is this to you. 

Losing everything and starting over is proof that being humble is an essential factor of growth. I'm always mindful of others that are lacking and try my best to assist them. No matter how rich you are, if you aren't 'enriched' you are pretty poor.

Thais Mills is a breath of fresh air and LIRM simply loves her spirit and her will to make a difference. Be sure and check out her products and connect with her at: 


www.facebook.com/ThaisMills

www.twitter.com/lipserviceink

www.lipserviceink.com