I’m May, the maker behind MIĀ Fleeceworks!
Three things have been true for as long as I can remember: I’ve always been a maker, a mover, and a lover of animals.
Some of my earliest memories are full of movement and mischief, from gymnastics class to shenanigans at home (swinging from the curtains? Yep!). I’ve always thrived on being active, and it’s probably no surprise that all that energy found its way into making, too. My mom has always marveled at how I taught myself to crochet, bake, and knit since those skills certainly didn’t come from her.
Animals have been a constant in my life, too. It started with my first pair of guinea pigs, Bing and Bong, followed by an assortment of mice, gerbils, cats, dogs, fish, and parakeets, and eventually my “wool buddies,” a pair of miniature schnauzers.
I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art, focusing on metalsmithing. I loved the tangible, three-dimensional nature of the work, and looking back, I can see how much the fiber and textile arts influenced my practice. After art school, I went on to graduate study in a different field and built a career in higher education, but the pull toward making never went away. I often felt the tension between a desk-bound career and the part of me that craves movement, working with my hands, and creating something tangible.
MIĀ Fleeceworks brings these parts of me together in a way that feels wonderfully natural. Working with fleece is physical and deeply grounding: a chance to move, experiment, and work with my hands while getting to know a material I find endlessly delightful! Working with wool and fiber also lets me bring my love of animals into that creative process, celebrating the textures, colors, and character that each fleece holds.
For me, MIĀ is about following the threads that have always been there: the joy of making, the need to move, and a lifelong love of animals. I’m delighted to have found a way to weave them together, transforming a remarkable material into something new while honoring what makes it special.
Photography by Shelby Lascelles of Wild Folk Photos