Meet Jess Leonard,

I grew up just outside of Chicago, raised by a family that showed me the value of building your life with care, of surrounding yourself with people and objects that ground you, of working with your hands, of rolling up your sleeves, of getting dirty, and of standing fully in who you are. This upbringing taught me to create with both tediousness and tenderness—to work through the mess until something real took shape.

I moved to Santa Fe to shift into a different rhythm—a slower, quieter place where I could breathe deeply and freely. Where I could run wild. Where I could hear my own instincts again.

Here, in this studio, everything I make is built slowly and intentionally by hand. No molds. No mass production. Just raw clay, patience, and trust. I follow the forms where they want to go—organic, imperfect, honest.

Star & Sun is where all parts of me meet:
The restless maker embracing process over perfectionism. The ever curious mind yearning to continuously create, and create again. The daughter honoring where she comes from. The mother forging a new path forward. 

This studio is my dedication to creativity without compromise. To living slowly, making carefully, and celebrating the small, soulful rituals that give depth to the day to day.

If you’ve found your way here, welcome. I’m so glad you’re here with me. 

Take a deep breath. Stay awhile.