Meet Sylwia from Woodland Hill Crafts
Tucked away in the beautiful countryside of North Yorkshire, Woodland Hill Crafts is a celebration of texture, colour and the quiet joy of handmade. Founded by Sylwia, whose earliest memories involve stitching alongside her tailor grandfather, her work is deeply rooted in both heritage and heart. What began as a creative outlet at home slowly grew into a much-loved business, shaped by encouragement from family and friends. Today, her designs bring warmth, character and a sense of story into homes across the UK and beyond.
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Can you tell us how Woodland Hill Crafts began and what first sparked your love for handmade?
Hello, my name is Sylwia and I come from Poland. I moved to England 20 years ago and settled in the beautiful region of North Yorkshire.
But let me start from the beginning. My grandfather was a tailor, and as a little girl in Poland I spent hours watching him sew men’s trousers on his old Soviet sewing machine. It was there that I made my very first stitches – small beginnings that stayed with me for a lifetime.
For many years life took me in different directions. In 2006, my husband, children and I moved to England and settled in North Yorkshire. Despite all the changes, I always felt the need to create and explore my artistic side. I would sew curtains, cushion covers and make small home decorations – mostly just for myself and our home.
It was my family and friends who encouraged me to share my creations with a wider audience. It started with making things for friends, then friends of friends – and gradually this passion grew into something bigger. In 2016, it became Woodland Hill Crafts – a project that grew organically from the heart and from a love of creating. Today it is my way of sharing beauty and a sense of cosiness with others.
How would you describe your style?
I would describe my style as cosy, expressive and strongly focused on texture. I create decorations that are not only meant to beautify a space, but also to shape its atmosphere. I’m drawn to soft, slightly sculptural forms – pieces that catch the eye while still feeling balanced and harmonious.
Material plays a very important role in my work. My favourite is upholstery velvet, which I love for its depth of colour, subtle sheen and elegant texture. It’s a fabric that gives character to decorative pieces and allows even simple forms to feel rich and distinctive.
I’m inspired by the changing seasons and by nature, but I always try to design pieces that feel timeless – something that can stay in a home for much longer than just one season.
Walk us through your creative process – what happens from the moment you have an idea to when a finished piece arrives in your shop?
My creative process usually begins with an idea in my head. When I see an interesting colour or fabric texture, I immediately start imagining the shape and how the piece might look in an interior. I often sketch my ideas in a notebook to refine the proportions and details before I start working with the fabric.
I love experimenting with different pillow forms – for example, when creating a pumpkin design, I often start thinking about how it could look in other colours as well. I then cut the individual pieces and sew them together to create a prototype. Sometimes the result works perfectly right away, and other times I refine it through trial and error until I achieve a form I’m truly happy with.
Although upholstery velvet is my favourite material, I also enjoy working with other textured fabrics and vibrant colours. Every piece is made by me personally, with careful attention to details, proportions and a durable finish.
Before a product appears in my shop, I style and photograph it in natural light so customers can imagine it in their own home – not just as an object, but as a beautiful and cosy addition to their space.
From your Folksy shop, which three products are your personal favourites right now – and is there a special story behind any of them?
At the moment, my personal favourites are the leaves, pumpkins and lemons. Each of them has something special about it – the leaves remind me of nature and the changing seasons, the pumpkins have a sculptural and cosy feel, and the lemons bring freshness and energy into a space.
I love when my decorations do more than simply decorate a room – they bring character and a certain emotion into the home.
What’s your workspace or studio like?
My studio is set in a converted conservatory, filled with light and greenery. A large table is the heart of the space – it’s where all my pillows and decorations are created, and later where orders are packed and prepared for shipping. Around me are all the tools and equipment I need, from sewing to the final finishing touches.
Potted flowers bloom throughout the studio, and through the doors there’s a small garden where, in summer, I grow vegetables and fruits. In winter, I feed the birds, watching them bring life and movement to my surroundings.
It’s a space where I can create fully connected to nature – its colours, scents, and the rhythm of the seasons inspire me every single day.
Running a handmade business takes passion and resilience – what part of being a maker brings you the most joy, and what keeps you going on tough days?
The greatest joy comes from knowing that something I’ve created will become part of someone’s home. Handmade items carry intention, and that connection means a lot to me.
On tougher days, I remind myself why I started – for creativity, independence, and a love of making. Warm messages from customers and repeat orders also provide a big boost of motivation. It’s a sign that what I do truly matters.
What do you see as the biggest challenge currently facing makers and the world of handmade?
One of the biggest challenges is standing out in a world dominated by fast production and mass sales. Handmade work takes time, and its true value isn’t always immediately recognised.
On top of that, makers need to combine creativity with marketing, photography, and social media. Today’s creator often has to wear many hats at once.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting out on Folksy or in their craft business, what would it be?
Start even if you don’t feel completely ready. Perfectionism can hold you back, so focus on quality and consistency in your work. Give yourself time to let your own style develop naturally, and stay true to what you genuinely love creating.
Authenticity attracts people far more than fleeting trends – your passion and personal style will always make an impression.
Looking ahead – are there new techniques, materials, or designs you’re excited to explore in the coming months?
I would love to experiment even more with textures and materials, creating decorations that combine cosiness with a strong, distinctive character. I dream of producing limited, seasonal collections inspired by nature – the colours and shapes of each season.
I also plan to explore new forms of pillows and home accessories, playing with vibrant colours and interesting fabric textures so that each piece becomes not just a decoration, but a little story within the home.
At the same time, I hope to find even more inspiration and creative spark – something like a muse for a painter or a poet’s spark for writing. Sometimes I feel that I just need that extra breath of inspiration to bring a new idea to life.
Finally – if Woodland Hill Crafts had a mantra or motto that inspires you each day, what would it be?
Follow your intuition, create from the heart, and live in harmony with nature.
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