At 73, Maisie Parish is not your regular granma. Retired from a career in sales, 12 years ago, Maisie took her salt dough hobby and turned it into a new career in sugar dough sculpting.
In the last few years, there has been a boom in demand for sugar-based figurines. Sugar Dough sculpting has become a unique and personalized detail to any cake or centerpiece. Maisie’s influence, in this boom, is unmistakeable. Anyone of her 2 salt dough or 8 sugar dough books can be found on the shelves of all who dedicate their lives to sugar and fondant. Her technique and style are as unique as she is - this, being her number 1 basis for her success: “Anyone looking to make a name for themselves must create a unique style that set s them apart from anyone else”, insists Maisie.
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| Maisie at La Tienda Americana, in Madrid |
When I asked Maisie about what inspires her, she said: “My inspiration comes from a higher me. I never look at what other people are doing, nor do I want to copy anything or anyone”. Indeed, this ability to create even had Disney knocking at her door to create her very own line of characters, sold at Epcot Center. Creating from within is second nature to her. She once thought that everyone had this ability. It wasn’t until much later, when she asked one of her most talented employees to create a whole new line of products, that she found out that although, many can work beautifully and make wonderful things, some only have the ability to copy and are incapable of creating. As Maisie explains it, her skills, talent and creativity are a result of a self-taught art form, dedication to developing it, seeking within for ideas and believing in herself through the journey.
Without a doubt, Maisie’s creativity is what sets her apart and has helped to forge her second career to international heights. Maisie’s travel/teaching plans for this year include Holland, Belgium, France, Ireland, Scotland, Sweden and Australia (to name but a few places) with a possible trip to Canada, as well! She confessed that she quite enjoys her fame and is, as a result, most proud of her published books. (Maisie also does demos, teaches classes and has an upcoming 3 1/2 hour double-disk DVD on Facial Expressions coming out, this spring).
My personal note:
Meeting Maisie was quite inspiring. Apart from her glowing kindness, serenity and sweet nature, Maisie is a woman who’s done it all on her own: she started over a new career at 61, launched and ran the company Maisie Dough for 8 years, employing several employees, before re-inventing herself again (giving up the corporate approach to her art and the long work hours that went with it) and deciding to continue doing what she loved best, for herself. Maisie’s career is now about how she truly wants to spend her time; demonstrating her skill, teaching others how to find themselves in sugar art, and writing books so that all of us can learn the art of sugar sculpting.
Most impressively, Maisie proves that it is never too late for any of us to learn a new skill, start fresh and make our mark in the world.
Thank you, Maisie!
Find Maisie’s books on Amazon, at www.maisieparrish.co.uk or www.maisiparrish.com . Classes are available at her Workshop in Stoke-on-Trent in the UK or, maybe even near you! If you missed her in Madrid, don’t worry - she will be back next year!
My interview with Maisie was graciously held at La Escuela Wilton on Paseo Francisco de Sales, 5, in Madrid. Loleta and her wonderful team can provide you with all of the best equipment and ingredients for “American baking”, sugar crafting, fondant cakes and other hard to find baking essentials. At La Escuela Wilton, there are also many series of affordable classes to teach, even the most unexperienced novice, how to create beautiful cakes, cookies and so much more. 
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