Canvas Rebel Interview- September 2025

Written By Suzanne Connors

Meet Suzanne Connors

We were lucky to catch up with Suzanne Connors recently and have shared our conversation below.

Suzanne, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

There are days when the thought of another job—or even selling the studio and starting something entirely different—crosses my mind. Running a studio has its ups and downs, and not every morning begins with the creative joy people imagine.

I usually start at dawn, already deep into emails and marketing tasks before the sun is fully up. By 8:00, I’m unlocking the door, making the first pot of coffee, and setting up for class. Sometimes that means running the vacuum or giving the bathroom a quick wipe-down, the unglamorous little details that keep everything welcoming.

Just as students begin arriving, the whirlwind starts. A phone call: someone has to cancel last minute because of car trouble. An instructor asks me to help organize her supplies before class. New students come through the door, excited but unsure, needing help signing in and choosing their seats.

It’s in these moments—juggling ten different tasks at once—that I sometimes wonder what it would be like to have a “regular job.” A place where I’d clock in, do my work, and clock out without carrying every detail on my shoulders.

And yet, when I watch those same students settle in, their energy filling the room, or when I see the spark in their eyes as they try something new, I remember why I chose this path. The days are long, yes, but they are full of life, creativity, and connection. The thought of walking away lingers at times, but so does the pull to stay.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Suzanne Connors, the founder of Aya Fiber Studio in Stuart, Florida, and the artist/educator behind Aizome Studio | Suzanne Connors. My path has been anything but linear—it’s a story of reinvention, resilience, and the pursuit of creativity.

I began my career studying architecture before shifting into interior design and construction management. While raising my children, Ryan and Erin, I supported us as a paperhanger, which grew into a thriving business called Walls by Suzanne that I ran for nearly 20 years in Stuart, Florida. When the wallcovering industry slowed, I transitioned into construction management, working on large-scale projects across Florida and eventually the Caribbean.

Then came 2008. When the construction industry collapsed, I was living in the textile mill village of Saxapahaw, North Carolina. Laid off and unsure of what came next, I decided to lean fully into art. I founded the Saxapahaw Artists group, opened a cooperative gallery, and built my first home studio, planting the seeds of what would become Aya Fiber Studio. The word Aya comes from an African Adinkra symbol meaning “one who has the ability to recreate themself,” and its fern emblem represents resilience—the ability to grow anywhere. Both became guiding metaphors for my journey.

The road wasn’t without setbacks. After relocating a gallery to Florida in 2013, I faced repeated break-ins in a so-called “up-and-coming” neighborhood. After the last, at gunpoint, I knew it was time to walk away. I found solace in my art, creating shibori in the courtyard of my townhouse. Soon, with piles of fabric and a renewed sense of direction, I rented a tiny 100-square-foot space at the Fish House Art Center in Port Salerno. From that humble start, Aya Fiber Studio was reborn. Over the years, I expanded into larger spaces, and in 2015, I made the decision to focus the studio on workshops and education. That choice transformed Aya into what it is today: a nationally recognized hub for fiber arts.

At Aya Fiber Studio, we provide immersive, multi-day workshops taught by master artists in disciplines like indigo dyeing, shibori, katazome, eco-printing, papermaking, book arts, and weaving. We also host exhibitions, artist talks, and community events that connect people through craft. Through my personal practice, Aizome Studio, I focus on Japanese indigo traditions, create my own textile works, and lead cultural retreats to Japan where participants can study directly with artisans.

What problems do we solve? Two main ones. First, access—these traditional techniques are often out of reach for American students without costly travel. Aya brings world-class instruction to Florida. Second, time and immersion—too many workshops are rushed; ours are designed to give people the space to truly learn, experiment, and gain confidence.

What sets Aya apart is the balance of excellence and hospitality. The studio is equipped with professional tools and dye vats so students can work like artists. But it’s also warm and welcoming, a place where the coffee is ready, the space feels like home, and the community is as important as the craft. People often tell me Aya feels like a sanctuary—somewhere they can step away from the noise of daily life and rediscover themselves through making.

I’m most proud of the community we’ve built. Students travel nationally and internationally to learn here, and many return year after year. I’m also proud that so many master instructors—artists who could teach anywhere—choose Aya because of the environment we’ve created. To me, that’s the greatest marker of success.

What I want people to know is simple: Aya Fiber Studio is more than a classroom. It’s a creative home where traditional craft meets contemporary practice, where strangers become friends, and where the act of making is transformative. And through my work with Aizome Studio, I carry that same mission into my personal art and international teaching. At the heart of it all is my belief in the power of craft to connect—between cultures, between generations, and between each of us and our own creative spirit.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think my reputation has grown from a combination of consistency, authenticity, and community-building. From the very beginning, I made a commitment to offer not just classes, but truly immersive, high-quality learning experiences. Every workshop at Aya Fiber Studio is thoughtfully designed: the instructors are masters of their craft, the studio is fully equipped, and students are given the time and space they need to dive deeply into their work. That level of care sets a standard that people come to trust.

At the same time, I’ve never tried to be something I’m not. I’ve shared openly about my own journey—the ups and downs, the reinventions, and even the setbacks. I think people respond to that honesty. They know I’ve built this studio with my own two hands, that I’ve taken risks, and that I care deeply about both the art form and the people who walk through the door.

Community has also been a huge part of it. Aya Fiber Studio is more than a workshop space—it’s a gathering place. Students return year after year not just to learn, but to reconnect with each other and with the wider fiber-arts family. That sense of belonging and connection has spread by word of mouth more powerfully than any marketing campaign.

Finally, I think my reputation has grown because I’ve stayed true to my mission: to connect people with traditional textile practices, with master artists, and with their own creativity. Whether I’m hosting a workshop in Florida, leading a retreat in Japan, or simply making coffee before class, that mission is always at the heart of what I do.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes—my mission has always been to connect people through craft. On one level, that means preserving and sharing traditional textile practices like indigo dyeing, shibori, and katazome. These techniques carry centuries of history, and I feel a deep responsibility to honor them, learn from the masters who keep them alive, and pass that knowledge forward.

On another level, my goal is about creating spaces where people can slow down, use their hands, and rediscover themselves through making. In today’s world, so much feels rushed and digital. Fiber art reminds us of patience, process, and the beauty of imperfection. I believe that kind of work nourishes both the individual and the community.

Aya Fiber Studio was built on that vision. It’s not just a classroom—it’s a sanctuary where students and teachers come together, share skills, and form lasting connections. With Aizome Studio, I’ve extended that mission globally, leading retreats in Japan so artists can engage with traditional makers in their own environments.

If I had to put it simply, my mission is this: to preserve ancient traditions while inspiring contemporary makers, and to use the act of making as a bridge—between cultures, between generations, and between people. That sense of connection is what keeps me moving forward in my creative journey.

Contact Info:

Suzanne Connors https://www.southfloridasurfacedesign.org
Next

Embrace Creativity: The Benefits of In-Person Fiber Art Workshops