Rachel Barclay studied textiles, installation sculpture, printmaking, and elementary education in San Francisco and Long Beach, California. Throughout her journey as a creator, educator, and parent, she has focused on making functional sewn and embellished garments, and mixed media textile objects.

Since studying Sashiko with Jessica Marquez of Miniature Rhino and Kazue Yoshikawa of Sashiko Lab, Rachel embraced the hand-work practice as an act of mindfulness, empowerment, beauty, and sustainability. Building on her background as an artist and educator, Rachel shares her joy of hand-stitching with adults and children, alike.

Her teaching travels have taken her to studios, workshops, and retreats throughout the Northeast. Rachel stitches, mends, sews, reads teen fiction, forages for natural dye materials, and takes day trips to nearby cities for coffee and culture. She lives in Middlebury, Connecticut alongside her woodworking spouse, Michael Pekovich.