Meet Rachel Freshwater | Owner/Creator J.Freshwater Studio & Occupational Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Freshwater and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
My work life balance has changed tremendously over the last 5 years and I believe attempting to achieve a better balance is what ultimately led me to start my little studio.
I started gifting Christmas ornaments to family and friends before getting married and starting a family. I had all the time in the world to devote to crafting, while working my full time job at a local hospital.
When I had my first son (the namesake of my shop, J.Freshwater Studio), I found myself cutting down time at the hospital and trying to determine a way to have some sort of an income while at home. This is when J.Freshwater Studio was born.
The challenges of being a new mother, working in healthcare during the pandemic and starting a new Etsy shop really wore on me. I was concerned that I had left work to spend more time with my little family and now I found myself spread thin. Shortly after, I made the decision to pause the shop.
About 3 years later, I had the courage to open up shop again. Now two little boys and at home full time. I needed a creative outlet, some supplemental income, and I was craving something that was just for me.
Thank goodness with a little encouragement from friends and family that I took the leap. I’ve learned a few things since my first go around. I have more self-forgiveness, better time management as a parent, my kiddos are a little older, and I have the support of my spouse to help with bedtime and frequent outtings so I can fulfill my nightly orders.
It isn’t easy. Balancing life and work as a woman, wife and mother is such a delicate act but I’m proud of myself to have the confidence to keep going and see where this takes me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think something that sets me apart from others is I’m self taught when it comes to every aspect of J.Freshwater Studio.
I went to college for Occupational Therapy, essentially the Health Sciences and have found myself diving head first into creating. I think both of these fields are so opposite!
I think being a stay at home mom and trying to juggle a small business from home also is a unique and prized aspect of my life. Trying to keep everyone happy, get orders in the mail, and leave a little piece of energy for my husband and I has been the biggest challenge! I think a lot of small business owners and professionals with a family can relate.
I’ve learned some very valuable lessons this past year, namely self-forgiveness, asking for help, perseverance and keeping your eye on the bigger picture has led me to today. There’s been many evenings where I want to give up, but manage to find a little bit of strength to keep pushing forward.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is a tough one because my inner circle are all Clevelanders!

**Monday:
-Tour the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
-Pack a picnic and enjoy Voinovich Park

**Tuesday:
-Hike in Brecksville Metroparks (my hometown)
-Cocktails and appetizers at Cantine in Broadview Heights
-Dinner at Italian restaurant, D’Agneses

**Wednesday:
-Shopping at Pinecrest
-Dinner & Movie at Silverspot Cinema

**Thursday:
-Ice cream and strolling in Downtown Chagrin Falls
-Dinner at the Reserve, Chagrin Falls
-After dinner drinks at M Italian, Chagrin Falls

**Friday:
-Bike ride at Sunny Lake Park in Aurora
-Live Music and Pizza at Green Valley Brewing, Hudson

Weekend: Cleveland Browns Game! (Here We Go Brownies!)
-Tailgate at Muni Lot
-Cleveland Browns Game— Dawg Pound style
-Dinner and Drinks at Butcher & the Brewer

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband, Dustin, deserves the biggest shoutout in helping with the success of my shop! We have been together since we were 20 years old (about 12 years) and married for 7 years.
We make such a good team and I wouldn’t be able to continue expanding my studio without his help, especially being so hands on with our two boys. He conquers bath and bedtime every night so I can devote most of my evenings to completing orders. Not to mention he is a wonderful cook so dinner doesn’t land on my shoulders either!
He is supportive, a great problem solver, good listener and thank goodness helps me with sanding my pieces!
J. Freshwater Studio wouldn’t be where it is today without his help.

Website: https://Www.etsy.com/shop/JFreshwaterStudio

Instagram: @J.FreshwaterStudio

Image Credits
All photographs by Rachel Freshwater