Rachel Marie Kabelitz

I was born and raised in Dorset, England. After working as an au pair in Germany, I completed a three-year hospitality apprenticeship on the country’s North Coast, followed by time in Berlin, where I met my husband. Our journey took us to Ireland, and then Jackson Hole, San Diego, Chicago, and Boulder before we settled in 2014 along the beautiful Chagrin River Valley in Gates Mills.

Living close to nature has been a dream come true. Our backyard is a haven for wildlife—snapping turtles, beavers, and herons are frequent visitors—while our vegetable garden and beehives keep us deeply connected to the land. Exploring Ohio’s Metroparks, with their rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes, provides endless inspiration for my collages.

RaMaKa was born from a deep desire to create while honoring my environmental values. In a world of excess and waste, I strive to minimize my footprint by working exclusively with recycled materials. Magazines, plastic packaging, chocolate wrappers, ribbons, and even broken ornaments find new life in my collages, where texture and color become a canvas for transformation.

I began creating collages in 2018 and became a full-time working artist in 2023.

As a committed advocate of environmentalism, I consistently strive to reduce waste, recycle, and select eco-friendly products. All the paper and cardstock used in my cards, gift tags, and prints are FSC-certified, guaranteeing that these materials originate from responsibly managed forests that provide ecological, social, and economic benefits. Additionally, I opt for soy-based ink and ensure cartridge recycling. My collages are created from repurposed items. emphasizing my commitment to sustainability.

Any plastic packaging or Styrofoam utilized in shipping is repurposed to minimize environmental impact