The Story Behind The Wild Mug Club
I’ve been drinking coffee since I was a kid.
Growing up in Germany, coffee wasn’t something you waited until adulthood to discover. It was simply part of everyday life, and somewhere along the way it became part of mine. Fast forward a few decades, and not much has changed. I still drink coffee every single day, and over the years I’ve also become quite the mug collector.
In fact, here’s a fun little bit of trivia: my birthday falls on National Coffee Day. I like to think that was the universe’s way of telling me, from the very beginning, that coffee would always be part of my story.
If you’ve followed Wild Ridge Studio or even in my personal life, for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed that there’s almost always a mug somewhere nearby. Whether I’m sketching new ideas, painting in the studio, writing, editing photos, or getting ready to head out on a hike with the dogs, there’s usually a cup of coffee within reach. It’s become one of those small daily rituals that quietly marks the beginning of every day.
Over the years, I’ve collected mugs for all kinds of reasons. Some remind me of places I’ve visited, some make me laugh, and others are simply beautiful pieces of art. Then there are those favorite mugs that somehow make coffee taste just a little bit better. If you’re a fellow mug collector, you know exactly what I mean.
When I started thinking about what kind of products truly belonged at Wild Ridge Studio, I kept coming back to mugs. Not because they’re trendy or because print-on-demand makes them easy to create, but because they’re something I genuinely use and love. I wanted to create something that reflected my own daily life while giving other coffee lovers something they could look forward to collecting.
That’s how The Wild Mug Club was born.
Each month I’ll create a brand-new mug featuring original artwork inspired by the things that inspire me most: woodland trails, wildflowers, cozy mornings, hiking adventures, seasonal changes, coffee culture, and occasionally the wonderfully chaotic reality of everyday life. Some designs will include words, some will simply showcase the artwork, and some will hopefully make you smile every time you pour your first cup of the day.
More than anything, I want these mugs to become part of your own morning ritual. The mug you instinctively reach for before anyone else in the house is awake. The one that joins you while you’re reading, journaling, creating, or simply enjoying a few quiet moments before the day begins.
Because the best mugs aren’t just something we drink from.
They’re part of our stories.
My hope is that somewhere along the way, one of these Wild Mug Club mugs becomes part of yours.
