Hi Tona, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Tona Bell. I am the proprietress of The Paper Seahorse, a creative space for a digital detox in sunny Tampa, Florida. It is a studio for creativity and mindfulness. We provide analog tools and experiences for folks to slow down and reconnect with themselves and others. These range from writing and typing; to making and creating. The studio was born out of me ending up in the ER about six years ago. I suffered burnout while running a fast-growing marketing company that specialized in high tech solutions for global companies. I got really sick, couldn’t work for a while and had to decide if I was going to make a life change or not. I followed my heart, took the plunge and never looked back. The studio was born and we now carry stationery goods from all over the world as well as our own products. I have always loved letter writing, paper crafts, taking creative classes, and bringing people together.
We have an online webs hop, a brick and mortar shop. We used to have classes and workshops in person, but right now, they are all online. We started The Analog Academy. Right now, we have Watercolor Journaling, Brush Lettering and Typewriter 101 as our first workshops. We recently became an official partner store with TRAVELER’S COMPANY from Japan. There are only four in the United States and only six in the world. We are honored and excited to carry exclusive merchandise and partner with such an admired company. The pandemic has definitely made us focus on our strengths and what is really important.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Hell no! I have doubted myself, shed some product lines that weren’t working and have had several staffing challenges early on. Another challenge is too many ideas, not enough time and resources. So I would say prioritizing and focusing while creating something from nothing. Retail is hard, and at times I thought it wasn’t worth it, but then something would happen to validate my mission. So I kept going and here we are, five years later. When things are difficult, I tell myself that tomorrow is another day to do my best and things always work out in the end how they should. Stress is created in our minds and only exists there. It isn’t really real. If we could all release that, we would be much happier.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
My mission is to help people unplug and enjoy a digital detox. We are usually in front of a screen 3/4 of the day. Helping provide the tools and experiences to live analog for a little bit is what we are known for. My biggest success has been tapping into the need to slow down, be more mindful, and using your hands for writing and making. The validation of that concept and being able to fulfill that need for folks is huge. I have taught in schools workshops on gratitude and letter writing. To have one child write me back (snail mail ) and tell me that I taught her to think about putting down the phone and connecting with her herself or her family really was a huge turning point for me. I knew we could affect positive change and help today’s youth. We have created our own successful tools to help people reduce anxiety and move from chaos to calm. Some of these include The Little Box of Calm with all the tools to help you enjoy a digital detox, The Art of Gratitude Kit, and Letter Writing Kits for adults and kids. So I guess creating our own spin on the joys of analog living, writing, typing, making, creating, slow living, etc., is what makes us different. Paper can change your life. It has mine. : )
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
That I am happiest when in the flow state, that could be practicing origami, preparing for a workshop, keeping in touch with a friend through writing a letter or simply gardening. Being creative, however that manifests for you, is finding flow. Sort of like practicing yoga, when you quiet the mind, energy flows and you become happier, healthier, and in a sense free. You flow, and anything is possible. I have experienced it in this new chapter of my life, and I have helped others find that path too. So I guess that is two things, sharing is what makes any lesson better—paying it forward.
Contact Info:
- Address: 211 South Howard Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33606
- Email: tona@paperseahorse.com
- Website: www.paperseahorse.com
- Instagram: @thepaperseahorse
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepaperseahorse
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePaperSeahorse
Image Credits
The Dashing Ginger Tona Bell, The Paper Seahorse
