We think that a heartfelt, hand-written thank you note or letter never goes out of style. What better way to show someone how much they mean to you than stopping to take the time to write to them with pen and paper in today's fast-paced, e-mail/Twitter/Facebook driven world? Fortunately there are those out there who agree with us, like Tanea Smith, the owner & creative director of a chic paper goods company called She's Got Papers.

Tell us a little about yourself and your company. My name is Tanea and I'm the Owner & Creative Director of She's Got Papers. We are a boutique paperie and my catalogue consists of Note Cards, Note Pads, Correspondence Cards and a really cute set of Business Cards for kids.

How did you get started as a designer? I fell in love with paper as a child when my sister brought me my first journal when I was 11 years old. I've always been a great fan of self-expression and so the process of putting pen to paper has always been something that has fascinated me. I look back on things that I wrote 10 years ago and am immediately transformed to the exact place that I was in. My design ideas for She's Got Papers began to take shape in early 2007 after the birth of my daughter. Once I developed the idea for my logo I knew exactly what her "identity" would be. Once I knew what "She" looked like the rest came together seamlessly after that.

What inspires your work? Life. I am a great observer of life. I am intrigued with how people's stories or "their walk", as I like to call it, can be so drastically different in contrast to the person sitting right next to them in a subway car. I'm inspired by music. "She's Got Papers On Me" was a song that my Mom played around the house when my sister and I were growing up. When I needed a name for the business "She's Got Papers" came to my sister in a dream. And it's perfect!

A few of the designs in the line are inspired by my children and my 2 nieces. One piece that I especially love is called "Learner's Permit". I designed that for my son Brandon. I want him to know that his education is going to afford him so many opportunities in his life. I implore him and children everywhere to be brilliant. The Baby Business Card which is a calling card that features the child's name and phone number and a title as well was inspired by my niece Kayla. Her title is "Speaker of Our House" because I've never met a more articulate 3 year old. The women's line represented pieces that I could relate to. There is one called " Perfect Proportion". I realized after having my daughter 12 years and after giving birth to my son that maybe a size 4 simply isn't possible anymore. If it's a 6 or a 16, then it is what it is. I immediately went to Baskin & Robbins to celebrate that revelation!

Who are your favorite designers? In terms of indie designers I love Nicole Bach. I think she is fiercely creative. I like Snow and Graham, Roger LaBorde. Nobody does Pregnancy like Bonnie Marcus at Stylepress. She just doesn't miss. I love Stevie Streck, I think her things are really fresh and fun.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? I'm very laid back when it comes to fashion. I love a pair of fitted blue jeans and a crisp white shirt. I think that look is classic. And of course there's the essential black dress which is perfect for any occasion. As far as beauty, I prefer a very clean, simple face. Moisturizers are key. I love Almond Cookie Shea Souffle by Carol's Daughter, and I love products by Origins. Oh and lest we forget a nice lip glass by Mac.

Any advice you would give to aspiring designers? First, I'd say to stay true to your vision. Be very clear about what your brand is and what you want it to represent. Believe in what you're doing; passion is key. Also, assemble a great team. Some of the most important people in this endeavor have been my lawyers, accountants and creative consultants. It is impossible to do anything alone and I'm a true believer in surrounding yourself with the cream of the crop. And last, but definitely not least, always have an ironclad Non-Disclosure Agreement in place and own everything associated with your business. Even if that means delaying getting your work out to the masses, trademarking and copywriting are the very first things to do.

Where can people find your work? My work can be found at the moment at www.shesgotpapers.com and hopefully in fabulous paperies all over the world in the coming months!

Anything else? Yes, Always Be Inspired. . .

We love all of the amazing independent designers out there and we wanted to find out more about what makes these creative types tick. If you do too, check out more of our Indie Designer Interviews.