Meet the Artist
Hi, I'm Rachael. I am the artist behind the Sunraes Studios. I am a wife, mother and now, Nana. I have an amazing family! My husband, Chris, attends every show with me and is my spokesperson, if you will. He gets excited about my products and isn't hesitant to share with others. In the beginning, I would get embarrassed by it. Now, his support just makes my heart smile. I love his passion for what I am blessed to create. We have two adult sons, Christopher and Ethan, who are paving their paths and doing an amazing job. It is a joy to watch them grow their talents and their families. I may be the artist and maker, but my family is happy to share ideas or lend a helping hand when needed. When you are scrolling through my Instagram feed, I am sure you will meet them.
We are a family who loves to play together - mostly Dungeons and Dragons! So don't be surprised if you are skimming my products and see larping or D&D game items among the journals and jewelry.
As far back as I can remember, I have loved to create. My earliest memory is a little Hello Kitty notebook I would draw in whenever I rode around with my grandpa. He kept it in his truck glovebox, it was our little secret. I remember the childhood joy of playing with watercolors, a huge selection or crayons or searching through my grandmother's button collection.
As an adult, I LOVE color and texture. That is why my leather of choice will always be vegetable tanned leather. In addition to being the most naturally tanned leather, it is like working with a blank page. I can manipulate it by adding texture, tooling and color! You can also mold veg tan leather, so it makes the possibilities endless!!
In addition to leather, my favorite mediums include watercolors, mixed media and stoneware clay. All of which bring their own magic.
I currently also work part time in a pottery studio and gallery. This is all relatively new to me. I had a long-term career in corporate aviation. I loved going to work every day -- the smell of jet fuel in the morning (or any time of day), the people, the travel - all of it! Creating was something that brought me joy and balance in my off time. Well, God knew the desires of my heart. In May 2019, my path changed. I could have continued in aviation, but I felt a pull towards a life change. With the support of my family, I started my leather business and have not looked back.
I create each and every piece with the customer in mind. I create pieces I would be proud to own. I create pieces worthy of the hard-earned money that you will spend. I chose leather for more reasons than I could easy manipulate it. I chose it because, if treated with care and truly loved, it will last you a lifetime! A great joy for me is to create a piece that can be passed down and treasured for years to come. It's not just about the product, but the memory of someone dear.
Thanks for taking the time to read my story. Thank you for your interest in my creations and for supporting my small business. I truly hope what I create for you brings you joy each and every time you look at it, touch it, smell it.
Have an amazing day,
Rachael