Aizome Studio | Suzanne Connors
Aizome Studio | Suzanne Connors is the next evolution of my journey as a fiber artist, indigo dyer, and educator. Building on the success of Aya Fiber Studio in Stuart, Florida, Aizome Studio focuses on Japanese indigo dyeing (aizome), shibori, katazome, and surface design taught with authenticity and respect for tradition. Through small-group workshops, artist residencies, and international textile retreats, I share techniques rooted in culture and chemistry—bridging ancient craft with modern creativity for artists seeking meaningful connection through cloth, color, and community.
🩵 About Suzanne Connors | Fiber Artist, Educator, and Indigo Specialist
Suzanne Connors is a fiber artist, educator, and indigo specialist whose career bridges art, design, and construction. With a professional background in interior design, architecture, and fine art gallery management, she brings a structured yet deeply creative approach to textile work. Since 2008, Suzanne has maintained an active studio practice exploring shibori, katazome, and traditional Japanese indigo dyeing (aizome). Her artwork reflects a balance of precision, texture, and repetition—hallmarks of her design training. Through workshops, retreats, and exhibitions at Aya Fiber Studio and Aizome Studio, she shares her expertise and passion for color, pattern, and surface design with artists from around the world.
🌿 Signature Techniques & Teaching Focus
Suzanne’s work and teaching emphasize the intersection of tradition, technique, and mindfulness. She guides artists to explore the dialogue between craft and culture—celebrating both the discipline and freedom found in handwork. Her workshops focus on hands-on experimentation, thoughtful process, and respect for natural materials.
Areas of Specialization:
Japanese Indigo Dyeing (Aizome): Traditional vat processes, fermentation methods, and dye chemistry
Shibori: Folding, stitching, binding, and arashi techniques for resist patterning
Katazome: Japanese paste-resist stencil dyeing using natural pigments
Eco-Printing & Botanical Dyeing: Layering natural color through plants, tannins, and mordants
Surface Design & Mixed Media: Integrating hand-dyed textiles into modern fiber art and design applications
🌸 Teaching, Workshops & Retreats
Through Aya Fiber Studio in Stuart, Florida — and through her traveling platform, Aizome Studio | Suzanne Connors — Suzanne offers immersive textile workshops, residency-style intensives, and destination retreats rooted in tradition, process, and creative rigor.
Her teaching focuses on indigo dyeing (aizome), shibori, katazome, eco-printing, and surface design, with an emphasis on cultural respect, technique, and repeatable practice. Classes are intentionally small, allowing for hands-on guidance, studio access to professional dye and print equipment, and time to develop personal voice in cloth.
Suzanne has taught and led fiber art programs at respected art centers, museums, and craft schools across the country, including:
Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts (Gatlinburg, TN)
River Ridge Retreat Center (Menominee, WI)
Carrboro ArtsCenter (Carrboro, NC)
Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens (Palm Beach County, FL)
Foosaner Art Museum (Melbourne, FL)
Lighthouse ArtCenter (Tequesta, FL)
Appalachian Center for Craft (Smithville, TN)
Olive’s Porch (John C. Campbell Folk School outreach center, Murphy, NC)
Aya Fiber Studio (Stuart, FL & Murphy, NC)
In addition to on-site instruction, Suzanne leads small-group textile retreats and study experiences in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge region and in Japan, where artists explore aizome, shibori, katazome, papermaking, and traditional dye culture directly at the source.
“My goal is to give students authentic technique, deep context, and the confidence to keep creating long after they leave the studio.” — Suzanne Connors
📰 Press & Recognition
Suzanne Connors is widely recognized for her contributions to contemporary fiber art, indigo practice, and education in traditional Japanese textile processes.
She is the founder and president of the South Florida Surface Design Association (SFSDA), and served on the committee for Uncommon Threads, an exhibition supporting innovative surface design and contemporary fiber work in the region.
She is the founder and past president of the Martin Artisans Guild (2014–2019), an arts organization in Martin County, Florida dedicated to promoting working artists through exhibitions, studio tours, education, and public programming.
She has been featured in national and regional arts media, including:
Fiber Art Now magazine (January 2023)
Fiber Talk with Gary Parr (September 2025)
Canvas Rebel (September 2025)
Artsy Shark (2012 profile and feature)
Create Whimsy Artist Spotlight (2024)
Stuart Magazine (January 2021)
Her work and curatorial involvement have appeared in exhibitions throughout Martin County, Florida, and with the Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association in Blue Ridge, Georgia.
Before founding Aya Fiber Studio and Aizome Studio, Suzanne owned and directed two fine art galleries:
Sax Art Gallery in Saxapahaw, North Carolina
Suzanne Connors Fine Art in Northwood Village, Florida (2010–2013)
where she represented and promoted emerging and established artists.
Today, through Aya Fiber Studio and Aizome Studio | Suzanne Connors, she continues to build platforms for serious textile study — connecting artists, tradition-bearers, and students through workshops, retreats, and cultural exchange.
I’m also honored to be featured in Create Whimsy’s Artist Spotlight Series.
In this interview, I share insights into my artistic journey—how I’ve navigated challenges, cultivated a creative practice, and continued to evolve as both an artist and educator.
Opportunities like this remind me of the importance of celebrating the creative process, sharing knowledge, and fostering community through the arts.
You can read the full interview here: https://createwhimsy.com/projects/spotlight-suzanne-connors-textile-artist/
#ArtistSpotlight #CreativeLeadership #TextileArt #FiberArt #ArtCommunity #LifelongLearning #ContemporaryTextiles
🎨 Artist Statement | Suzanne Connors
“My name is Suzanne Connors, and I am a fiber artist, designer, and educator dedicated to the timeless craft of textile art. While I’ve explored many creative media over the years, I always return to fiber — drawn to its texture, tactility, and its power to connect art, craft, and culture.
My work reflects my life in South Florida and my years spent in the Caribbean, where the rhythm of the sea, the glow of the setting sun, and the deep indigo blues of the sky and ocean continually inspire my palette. I am captivated by the element of surprise in shibori and indigo dyeing — the transformation that happens when cloth meets dye, and pattern emerges through process and chance.
Each piece I create is a study in color, texture, and transformation — a reflection of my belief that creativity, like life, is full of beautiful imperfection. I see every “mistake” as an opportunity for discovery and growth. That philosophy shapes both my art and my teaching: embracing experimentation, honoring tradition, and finding joy in the unexpected.
Every textile I make is a one-of-a-kind original, layered with process, patience, and the quiet magic of indigo.”
Contact & Collaborations
For workshop bookings, teaching invitations, residencies, or partnership inquiries, contact Suzanne directly.
suzanne@ayafiberstudio.com
Suzanne Connors joins Gary Parr from Fiber Talk to explore shibori, natural indigo, and building community at Aya Fiber Studio. Listen and see upcoming workshops.
“Suzanne Connors demonstrating traditional Japanese indigo dyeing (aizome) during a shibori workshop at Aya Fiber Studio in Stuart, Florida”
Featured work by Suzanne Connors
Explore the featured works of Suzanne Connors, fiber artist and indigo specialist based in Stuart, Florida. Each hand-dyed textile reflects her mastery of shibori, katazome, and Japanese indigo dyeing (aizome)—techniques that merge traditional craft with modern surface design. Created at Aya Fiber Studio, these pieces celebrate color, texture, and the beauty of imperfection.
Follow me on Instagram @ayafiberstudio/ for behind the scenes and more about my process
Professional Affiliations:
