Plainfield native designs mugs for Krema, Oswego coffeehouses

Plainfield — If you recently have purchased coffee from Krema Coffee in Plainfield or Lockport, or Oak + Bean in Oswego, then chances are you are familiar with the artistic work of Ashley Ann Klockenga.

Klockenga was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs and recently has made a splash at a handful of local coffee shops with her custom designed mugs, which depict the landmarks and personality of each individual town they are sold in.

Originally from Brookfield, Klockenga moved to Plainfield with her family as a teenager. She graduated from Plainfield South High School in 2005 and spent her high school years exploring the local area.

“That was my stomping grounds for years,” Klockenga said. “That’s the area I consider home, where I grew up and became an adult.”

Klockenga moved to Canada in 2014 with her husband, Matt, and, while they were awaiting the birth of their fourth daughter in 2017, she drew images for the small town of Sioux Lookout, where they were staying.

Klockenga explained that, as missionaries in the remote First Nation’s community of Cat Lake, she needed to return to the larger town of Sioux Lookout, where the couple previously lived for medical care during her pregnancy. During the stay, she created the design for her first mug, which was adopted by a local coffee shop, The Hub Roastery.

When the shop received its first shipment of the mugs, which was expected to last most of the year, they sold out after just 24 hours, a turn of events Klockenga says left her “stunned.”

Klockenga then began designing mugs for other communities, including Cat Lake and her husband’s home town of Crystal Lake, Illinois.

“I draw for the places I have a connection with,” Klockenga said. “I wanted the mugs to have a feel like a cereal box, like when you were a kid and you’d stare at the art and keep finding more hidden details. I wanted to do that with these coffee mugs. They’re nostalgic, but they also show what the towns are like today.”

“They’re nostalgic, but they also show what the towns are like today.”

—  Ashley Ann Klockenga, artist and mug designer

After her mother saw the Crystal Lake mug during a summer trip home to Plainfield, Klockenga says she encouraged her to make one for Plainfield.

“Krema has been my mom’s favorite coffee shop for years. She introduced me to the owner, Kaci Wadycki, and we created a partnership to design mugs for all their locations,” Klockenga said.

While the Crystal Lake mug had gotten Klockenga work designing mugs for affiliated shops in Libertyville, Barrington, Palatine and Cary, she said it was nice getting to work on designs for towns so near and dear to her.

“It was so perfect. I want people to see the good in where they live,” Klockenga said. “I loved thinking back to living in Plainfield as I was designing these. It was great getting to revisit all those fond memories, and it fueled me.”

The Oswego, Plainfield and Lockport mugs all were released at their respective locations in November. They sell for $24 and, so far, have been met with enthusiasm.

“Apparently, they’re selling like crazy, and the Plainfield location is almost sold out,” Klockenga said. “This is our first season working with Krema, and we don’t have a full plan yet of how we’ll be going forward, but I hope they keep them on their shelves.”

While Klockenga hopes the mugs will be available in Plainfield and Lockport for the foreseeable future, she also is working on designs for Krema’s newest two locations in Tinley Park and North Aurora.

“We both work full time, and homeschool our kids, so art is my hobby in the evenings,” Klockenga said. “It’s a great way to find refreshment and joy. This has become a real passion project for me.”

Klockenga’s mugs are available at Krema Coffee Roasters in Lockport at 917 S. State St., Krema Coffee House in Plainfield at 24038 W. Lockport St., and Oak + Bean Coffee and Wine Bar at 100 Washington St., in Oswego, which also is owned by Wadycki.