Ashlee Hopkins

Ashlee Hopkins Potter. Coffee lover. Traveller. Open by appointment only.

Well I’ve been a little quiet here this week. The fortune cookies could not have predicted that I would get myself a con...
08/05/2026

Well I’ve been a little quiet here this week. The fortune cookies could not have predicted that I would get myself a concussion last Sunday. But the advice provided by the fortune cookie is somehow so relevant!

My brain is recovering well. My symptoms haven’t been too bad. The head impact wasn’t super hard - but I do remember hearing an “ohhhh” sound in the room from multiple people as it happened. The doctor ordered one week of no work and THREE weeks of no skating. Minimal screen time, nothing too physical or too mentally taxing.

I’ve felt like there was a cloud in my brain all week. I’ve been feeling tired and getting in a very solid 9+ hours of sleep every night. My light and sound sensitivity is improving but still has a ways to go.

If you’ve sent me a message of some sort in the last week and I haven’t replied it’s not you - it’s literally me! I’m easing myself back into everything and trying to give my brain as much recovery time as possible. Doing too much results in more tiredness and a big headache! So as the fortune cookie says “You are progressing at the right speed”.

🧡🧠⏰🌞

I've started working on my next collection of works that will be available in mid June. I'm leaning into the experimenta...
25/04/2026

I've started working on my next collection of works that will be available in mid June. I'm leaning into the experimental works with a selection of one-off mugs, wall hanging plates, and I'm hoping to have some of those serving spoons with apple wood handles ready.

I'll keep posting updates as I work away on these pieces but I highly recommend joining my mailing list. Members always receive first access to store updates and can shop ahead of everyone else. I don't email too often - only when there's an update or some news to share.

➡️ link in my bio to join

📸 photo by Leah Menner of one of the wall hanging plates that will be available in this update (this one is my fav so far!)

While my online store is closed you can find a sweet selection of my work at - one of the most lovely shops you could s...
23/04/2026

While my online store is closed you can find a sweet selection of my work at - one of the most lovely shops you could step into!

There's a batch of mugs covered in colourful brushstrokes, as well as a few of my Mini Jars (which sold out on my website). There's also some soap dishes, salt spoons, and bud vases. And of course there's a whole shop to browse - beautiful stationery, linens, gifts, and things made by other Australian makers.

❤️

Mums take many shapes and forms. If there's a motherly figure in your life who you want to celebrate, Australia's annual...
18/04/2026

Mums take many shapes and forms. If there's a motherly figure in your life who you want to celebrate, Australia's annual celebration of mums is fast approaching.

For me, there are many people who play a motherly role... The friend who is always there to listen - no matter how insane I sound. Or the friend who cooks me a full roast dinner every two months despite the fact that she HATES cooking - all because she wants to give me a night off and a home cooked meal that I didn't produce. The many friends who make my to do lists shorter without me asking.

I have a few sweet things available online that would make lovely gifts for the mums in your life.

🔗 in my bio to take a look
⏰ orders closing 11AM April 23
📦 flat rate shipping across Aus OR collect for free from my studio in Prospect

📸 by

I changed the way I make lids recently. Rather than the lid sitting inside the top of the form, it sits OVER the top - a...
17/04/2026

I changed the way I make lids recently. Rather than the lid sitting inside the top of the form, it sits OVER the top - almost like a cup. And I love this new (to me) way for a few reasons. But the main one is that it allows me to make marks across the whole form, creating a sweet dialogue between the pot and it's lid.

I made quite a few of these recently because I was just so excited about them. And in a few sizes to suit different storage needs. I'm looking forward to making more next month and continuing to explore colour and mark making across their surfaces.

For now there's just ONE Mini Jar left online - and it's this one in classic blue + white. The Mini Jars measure 85 × 85 × 90mm (approximately). Perfect for little treats, tea, sugar ... It's kind of a super cute size. Like .. small and cute without but still really functional.

🔗 link in bio to take a look
📦 flat rate shipping across Aus OR free collection from my studio in Prospect, SA.

📸 by .sunday

One day after precariously drinking a cup of tea in the car (from a regular mug of course) I thought “surely there’s a b...
14/04/2026

One day after precariously drinking a cup of tea in the car (from a regular mug of course) I thought “surely there’s a better way”. I really didn’t like cups with silicone lids (the texture and the way they would soak up smells and stains). I saw some makers producing cups with a covering over half the top which looked sweet, but I couldn’t imagine it solving the spillage issue that I wanted to resolve. And after some very intense thinking about this funny little problem I thought that a fully flipped lip might solve the whole thing.

To be honest, they’re a bit of a pain to make. The flipped lip can be tricky and I hate when it’s not *just right*. But once they’re fired and I hold one in my hand I know all the fuss was worthwhile.

Anywho, there’s a green and a sky blue 12 take away cup available online
🔗 in my bio
📦 flat rate shipping across Aus, or free collection from my studio in Prospect, South Australia

📸 by

Despite the mountain of extra work that faceting produces, there’s something about the process that I just love. When I ...
13/04/2026

Despite the mountain of extra work that faceting produces, there’s something about the process that I just love.

When I make faceted work I get to throw pieces a little thicker than usual. This makes the throwing faster and easier. Then - once the work has dried a bit - I sit down and slice away. Every piece of clay that I slice off gets recycled and turned back into another pot later. And with each slice the pot becomes lighter and a new shape emerges.

This batch of Facet Mugs is available in two sizes. The small is perfect for a latte, and the large for a cup of tea (in my opinion….). They’re all glazed in my matte white, but have an extra gloss layer on their insides which is a sweet detail. And some have a soft blue inside which I REALLY love.

📦 Flat rate across Australia, or free pickup from my studio in Prospect, South Australia
🔗 in my bio

📸 Last pic by

These four mugs were part of a small experimental batch. I wanted to play with pulled handles that would feel comfortabl...
09/04/2026

These four mugs were part of a small experimental batch. I wanted to play with pulled handles that would feel comfortable to hold a big cuppa - and I wanted to feel free to explore new marks and colours on the surface of them.

I threw the barrel-style shape from recycled clay that I’d mixed a fine grog into - it’s lovely to work with and adds a soft speckle to the finished work. I played with the pulled handles for way longer than I needed to but eventually landed on a few that matched my vision. When adding colour and marks to the surface I wanted to play with ideas I’d already been exploring but be a little more free about it. There’s layers of colours and soft markings and some foraged sand - little details to explore with your eyes and hands.

These ones are available online:
• Mug with colour experiment 1 (sold)
• Mug with colour experiment 2
• Mug with colour experiment 3
• Mug with colour experiment 4 (sold)

📦 Flat rate shipping Australia wide or FREE pickup from my studio in Prospect
📸 by

I made this batch of everyday-style bowls back in December. They’re wheel thrown from my recycled clay that I’ve added s...
06/04/2026

I made this batch of everyday-style bowls back in December. They’re wheel thrown from my recycled clay that I’ve added some fine grit to - it makes it nice for me to work with and adds some soft speckles which I love.

I love how much they change during the process. The first photo shows them freshly thrown - you can see the extra clay that sticks out at the bottom. Once the bowls were trimmed their profile became much rounder. It’s the kind of bowls that feels nice to hold in one hand while you eat on the couch.

There’s a couple of sets of these available in my online update. I know it often feels a bit unachievable to buy a whole set of handmade bowls so I wanted to release a few at a price point that I thought might ease that. They’re listed as a set of 4 but if you need to add a bowl or two to suit your house I do have some singular spares!

📦 Flat rate Australia wide or FREE pick up from my studio
📸 second photo by

Find these happy, colourful pots online now. This collection is full of colour and experimental marks, grounded in funct...
05/04/2026

Find these happy, colourful pots online now. This collection is full of colour and experimental marks, grounded in functional forms - mugs, bowls, cups to make your daily rituals just that little bit sweeter.

🧡 Link in my bio
📦 Flat rate Australia wide or free studio pickup
📸 by

August is here and there’s lots on! I’m working on some special projects which are taking most of my attention away from...
04/08/2025

August is here and there’s lots on!

I’m working on some special projects which are taking most of my attention away from my studio. So for now my studio doors are closed to visitors and workshops are on pause. If you’re waiting for workshops to come back you can pop your name on my wait list to be the first to know!

It’s SALA Festival here in South Australia this month. To celebrate Iwiri Arts has an Open Studio + Exhibition that will run for a week. I’ve been working in the ceramics studio at Iwiri for the last few months and the artists have been making lots of beautiful work! This is a great opportunity to visit and see the studios while browsing available works.



I’m also squeezing in a quick trip to Adnyamathanha Yarta with Ku Arts to spend a few days at Ngapala Arts. Continuing on from the last 4+ years of creative and professional development workshops we’ve been running there I’ll be helping these artists to produce new work for Tarnanthi Art Fair this October.arts


I’m missing my regular studio routine but feeling very grateful that I get to work with so many great artists from across the state on these special projects. If you’ve got any questions I’d love to hear from you!

Ash xx

Image 1, 2, 3, 6 by
Image 4 courtesy Iwiri Arts
Image 5 of Lesley Coulthard’s Welcome to the Ranges pot


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