Maryam Hadjian is surrounded by bows constantly, from her living room carpet by the blazing fireplace, to the busied kitchen island during dinner. She folds mesh and ribbon diligently as her beloved Turkish soap operas play from the living room. Wreaths are weaved to life in her humble abode, which is also filled with her bustling family. Her native language of Farsi is spoken all around her, embracing her with familiarity. Ribbon over ribbon, wrapped up in a bow. Wreath-making brings Maryam home.
A 48-year old Persian woman, Maryam had always been enthralled by the arts. Throughout her youth, she loved drawing flowers and making crafts. She attests this love of art to her father, Mohammad Reza, who devoted his career initially to being a florist. His designs covered her childhood home in Iran, bringing elegance and life to their lower-class household. Maryam fondly recalls one of his favorite displays featuring roses hanging upside down as a chandelier at a wedding. It was no secret to anyone that this was Mohammad’s calling, but in a war-torn country with deteriorating living conditions, he knew his displays wouldn’t put food on the table for his wife and three kids.
“My dad never went back to that,” says Maryam. “He did truck driving for the government just to have a steady paycheck for us. Financially, back then, a lot of people were poor. They were worried about their dinner, [or] if they could even send their kids to school.”
Eventually, Maryam immigrated with her newlywed husband to the United States in 1997. Enticed by new opportunities, she settled down and started a family in suburban Kansas City. She secured a job as a nutrition service manager for the Park Hill School District, where she still dutifully serves today. But although Maryam found joy in serving the students and staff of the district, she always felt something missing.
“I was always very artsy,” says Maryam. “When I was younger, I used to do lots of crafts. I actually watched a Facebook video and I thought ‘Oh, that’s cool, I think I can do that,’ and I did it, and I started to really, really like it.”
Maryam’s love for the fine arts shone through, and her life would change significantly when she discovered the process of wreath-making. What started off as just a fun hobby would slowly transition into an incredible business venture.
Creations by Papyon (papyon means bow in Farsi) officially began in Maryam’s dining room in 2021. While Maryam found wreath-making to be therapeutic, she quickly recognized the struggle of simultaneously balancing all of her ventures with the added weight of this new business.
“It is hard to have a full-time job, to be a full-time mom, and a full-time housewife,” says Maryam. Despite the rocky start, she persisted with her passions, soothed by the comforting weaving and folding of each ribbon. She continued her craft, honing her skills. This perseverance through the work/life balance led Maryam back to her biggest core value: family.
While the birth of the Papyon business could arguably be traced back to Maryam’s crafty childhood, she couldn’t help but admire her family now as they joined her in her business venture.
“My family helps me, just tolerating the mess I create everywhere,” says Maryam. “My husband helps me with the financial parts, my daughter helps me with the colors and designs.” Maryam also reminisces on establishing her business. With her husband at her side as they signed the paperwork, she couldn’t stop smiling.
“It’s nerve-wracking, but it’s exciting,” she says. Family has always been at the forefront of Maryam’s mind, as well as the heart of her business.
Today, Maryam continues her wreath-making. It brings her to a home she no longer lives in; her old, weathered house in Iran full of her father’s flowers. It brings her to a home she wants to know more of; investigating her inner artist and letting her skills shine. It brings her to a home she loves; maintaining the business with her family. Although she doesn’t own a storefront yet, she plans to continue working towards it, her loved ones supporting her every step of the way.
“I am happy with the outcome of what I’ve done,” says Maryam. “Just leaving everything behind and coming here — the outcome has been amazing.”
You can find Maryam’s wreaths on her Facebook page, Creations by Papyon, or reach out to her at creationsbypapyon@gmail.com