Local potter, coffee shop collaborate on unique wares

Date: 6/21/2021

WESTERN MASS. – During her senior year at California State University – Northridge, Ashley Ripolone, a local potter, was working to complete her elective requirements. After taking an intro to clay class, it didn’t take long before realizing she had a new interest.

In 2015, Ripolone graduated and decided to step away from this art. It wasn’t until 2019 that she reconnected with clay.

“I was working at a job that I wasn’t super happy at. I was at a transitional period in my life where I felt like I needed to find something that was for me, and I hadn’t stopped thinking about pottery since I graduated,” the Agawam native and current Wilbraham resident explained.

Ripolone researched some local pottery shops and stumbled upon Easthampton Clay. She became a student there in 2019, and has been a member for about two years. Now, Ripolone also serves as a studio tech there.

“It picked up pretty fast,” she claimed. “Once I started taking classes again, I fell madly in love and was like ‘this is all I want to do.’ I told my friends, family and coworkers that I just wanted to be a full time potter and I didn’t want to do anything else.”

During the pandemic, Easthampton Clay shut down. However, in May 2020, members were provided 24/7 access to the building.

Last summer, Liz Rodriguez, the owner of Easthampton Clay hosted a three week summer program for kids ages 8 through 12. She asked Ripolone to assist her with this program and once it was over, asked if Ripolone would be interested in teaching her own class come the fall.

Since September, Ripolone has been teaching her own classes, one day a week.

Ripolone is heavily present on Instagram, which has allowed her to be noticed. She claimed, “About 98 percent of my business comes from here.”

In January, Monsoon Roastery, a coffee and espresso bar in Springfield, sent her an Instagram message asking her to make pottery for their shop.

At the time, Ripolone said she had a lot going on and was about to move, however, Monsoon was incredibly understanding. Through their patience and wish of receiving her work, Ripolone completed this project in May. She sculpted and hand painted 25 original mugs and 12 espresso cups. The only requirements that Monsoon Roastery had for Ripolone was to add their logo on all of the cups, along with asking her to be as creative as possible.

“They have pretty much already sold out and ordered more,” said Ripolone.

With this next order, she will be making about 20 cold brew tumblers.

Ripolone said, “Hopefully if things continue to go well this will be a long standing partnership – they’re great people.”

In August, September and October, Ripolone has several days booked for the Center Fresh Farmers’ Market in Chicopee, where she will be selling some of her art.

Also, in September, she will have a sale at Easthampton Clay.

While the majority of her sales have been made strictly online in the past, Ripolone looks forward to the world opening back up and having people experience the feel of holding pottery before purchasing.

She reiterated the gratitude she has for Monsoon Roastery. “I feel like they’ve given me a really big opportunity that I’m super grateful for as someone who’s still trying to navigate my way through being a small business owner and a full-time potter –  they’ve definitely helped me out for sure.”

To view Ripolone’s art work or to place an order, visit her Instagram page: @ashrips_pottery.