INTERVIEW | RACHEL SAUNDERS
Photos via Rachel Saunders
IN CONVERSATION WITH RACHEL SAUNDERS
Multidisciplinary artist and designer, founder of Rachel Saunders Ceramics
NAME: Rachel Saunders
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN (sun/moon/rising): Aquarius/Aries/Virgo
WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Born on a small island off the coast of Canada, now living on a different small island off the coast of Canada.
TELL US ABOUT RACHEL SAUNDERS CERAMICS: Me and my team of five incredible women make intentional objects for purposeful, beautiful living. It’s been an incredible six years of business so far and I am just getting started…
YOU’RE SELF-TAUGHT IN YOUR CRAFT, WHICH IS SO INSPIRING. HOW DID YOU BEGIN?
I didn’t know much but I knew two things; I wanted to work for myself and with my hands. Somehow clay found me, and I answered the call. I started out mopping floors of community pottery studios and just trial and error-ing it all. It’s cool because I’ve arrived where I'm at by literally making mess after mess, with some beautiful things in between.
WHAT’S ONE TIP YOU CAN SHARE ON LISTENING TO YOUR OWN NEEDS IN ORDER TO SHOW UP BIGGER IN THE WORLD?
Today I took myself out for lunch and wrote out a list of three things: what I need more of, what I need less of, and what is just right. I haven’t taken inventory or checked in with myself like this in a long time and it was really helpful. Showing up with non-judgement towards yourself can be really challenging but is a practice I am currently exploring in order to cultivate deeper compassion for myself.
WERE THERE ANY MOMENTS YOU WANTED TO GIVE UP? HOW DID YOU PUSH THROUGH?
I have high highs and low lows, so wanting to throw in the towel is a common occurrence for me. Being on this planet is exhausting. It’s also incredible when you have the capacity to keep going, or the awareness to make a change when somethings not working. Lately, like many of us, I’ve had to work on the computer a lot more than I’d like. I started to feel imprisoned by it and took on a real victim mentality and started to feel like everything was the worst. I hit a wall the other day where I was so annoyed and angry, when I realized the how neglected and bored the child inside of me was feeling. I instantly put my computer away and dedicated some time to jumping on the trampoline and making a decadent hot chocolate— things I would have loved to do as a child. It put me in such a better state of mind and I realized all the pressure I was feeling was completely self-imposed and unnecessary.
WHAT'S ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR THOSE WHO ARE INSPIRED TO LAUNCH THEIR OWN BUSINESS?
Find the way you most naturally add value to the world, and let that be at the core of what you do.
ONE TIP TO NAVIGATE SELF-DOUBT?
Try and find ways to take yourself less seriously, and realize that we usually have to fail upwards to get anywhere worth going.
OBVIOUSLY WE WANT THE JUICE ON BEAUTY SECRETS…WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE PRODUCTS + PRACTICES YOU SWEAR BY?
I’ve been enamored by "Facercise" since I was a teen and do it every time I’m driving in my car (alone…). You can look up the crazy videos on YouTube. You do look nuts while doing it but it’s wild how much it can sculpt your face!
LAST MUSINGS?
I've been thinking about how to find peace within polarity, at-home ice-cream sundaes, flower remedies, cranial sacral therapy, teaching a dog how to roll over, learning about dopamine, lymphatic drainage via mini trampoline, and wanting to take opera lessons.
