Meet Susie Parkinson-Wood from IslaMay Makes
Susie Parkinson-Wood from IslaMay Makes comes from a long line of creatives. Her father used to develop new shades of paint, and she has clearly inherited his eye for colour. One look in her Folksy shop and you’ll be captivated by her delightful creations – rabbits, bears, dala horses and decorations for all seasons, made in 100% wool felt from Susie’s imagination. No kits, just what’s inside her head. Some are hand-embroidered, others clothed in Liberty prints, but all are gorgeous. Here Susie tells us more about her creative process and shows us round ‘The Egg’ – her home studio where new ideas are hatched…
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Hi Susie! Can you introduce yourself and tell us what you do?
I’m Susie – I’m married to the lovely Rikki and live in a maximalist abode in Bury, Lancashire. Over the last 20 years we have shaped the house and garden to reflect our personalities. Ornaments, decorations and soft furnishings change along with the seasons, which keeps me very busy! I have five uniquely different sets (four seasons and Christmas), which are stored in the attic.
In 2020 I retired as an early years teacher and found that I really missed the creative aspect of my work. I’ve always been creative and teaching provided me with that outlet and I did feel I needed something extra, a new creative challenge in my life. I renewed my interest in embroidery and gradually moved on to making little felt figures for my niece, nephew and my daughter’s friends’ children. Somebody along the way said, “You could sell these – they’re lovely“. So after a bit of research and self-doubt, I chose Folksy and opened my shop.
If you’re Susie, who is Isla May?
May was the family name of my Scottish grandmother, who taught me to embroider, and I just like the name Isla! Switch the names around and add ‘makes’ and off we go!
You mention that you’ve always been creative. Tell us more about that…
I come from a long-established creative family. My father was a very talented artist and sculptor. His day job at ICI as a research chemist was to develop new shades of colour for paints. We would talk about colour matching and what colour ‘went’ with what. This love of colour led to me being drawn to felt as a medium for making – that and the fact felt doesn’t fray.
As a child I was always drawing and making ‘stuff’ but the first acknowledgement of my work from outside the family came when I was 10, when the decorated felt ball I entered into the local craft show won 1st prize. As a teenager I experimented with making my own clothes, buying deadstock fabric from Bury Market. I still make some of my own clothes now – I’ve just finished two autumn dresses and a pair of trousers. I enjoy putting my own stamp on my shop-bought clothes too, using appliqué and embroidery to make them ‘my own’.
Not all of my makes are for sale. I have a considerable collection that I display around the house during the year. I also turn my hand to soft furnishings, making pelmets and cushion covers for my seasonal changes in the house, and when my daughter was born I made various decorations for her nursery, including a felt mobile which is still treasured today.
Can you talk us through your creative process?
I’m a visual thinker and can picture ideas inside my head. These ideas are then transferred on to paper and become my patterns. Next I decide on felt colour and root out threads that match or complement, then I decide whether I’ll use Tana Lawn or not. The figure is then carefully cut out and slowly ‘brought into life’.
I try very hard to bring my belief in sustainability into my work. I only use two natural products: 100% wool and 100% cotton thread. I source both from UK companies and this year I’ve started using clean wool fleece as stuffing for the makes. I want my work to last and become a family heirloom to be treasured.
It sounds like you’re a huge fabric fan. Do you have an enormous stash?
I didn’t think I did have a huge stash until I looked around and saw three boxes and two baskets full of fabric and my three boxes of felt, plus my super special Liberty box! Once again, it’s colour that draws me to the Liberty prints.
Where do your ideas come from?
Being an early years teacher necessarily brings you into daily contact with a wealth of picture books, fantasy and fairy tales. The changing seasons are noticed and talked about and I was privileged to access the children’s imaginations and fantasy worlds. All of that experience is channelled into my work.
What’s your workspace like?
Cosy! It’s totally my own space. My studio is called ‘The Egg’ – a room where new plans and ideas are hatched. In there, I’m surrounded by my late father’s artwork, family photos and my makes.
What do you listen to while you make – or do you prefer silence?
Oh, it’s never silent! There is always the sound of my mother’s clock ticking in the background. My listening choices are quite eclectic, including Radio 4, Sophie’s Kitchen Disco, Classic FM and various podcasts.
What do you do when you need inspiration?
I get out my books and look through the illustrations. Never copy though – always do your own interpretation.
What does craft mean to you?
It’s an extension of my personality – of who I am. I can’t imagine a life without creativity.
Tell us something nobody knows about you…
Goodness! I live my life so much in the open, I don’t think there is anything folk don’t know about me.
Treat yourself to 10% off throughout September 2024 with the discount ISLAMAY
2 comments
I really love the beautiful felt creations.So much colour and I am sure they will bring happiness to any home. What a clever creative person.
As a fellow Folksy maker I have admired Suzie’s work and think this accolade is well deserved.
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