Meet Rachel Schultz | Owner, Beautiful Mud Pottery Studio

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Schultz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started working with clay in 2006 and found a passion for it and for how it provided a space to connect with people in a unique way. In 2015 I began teaching ceramics classes at a local studio, but it was my students who prompted the dreaming of opening my own studio space that is now becoming Beautiful Mud pottery studio. This space is intended to be a blessing to my community and use clay as a vessel to connect people and help them feel seen and cared for. I love the idea of making beautiful things out of mud while journeying alongside people. Located in the heart of Fort Collins, Colorado, I hope to create a space for people to connect with each other and tap into their own creativity. My studio is set to open in January of 2024 and there is a lot of work to be done to get it launched, but I am confident that this will be something special.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I graduated from CSU with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1999. Creating and helping people has always been a passion of mine and I love joining others on their journey. I have worked as a life coach/mentor for 25 years and care deeply about helping people know themselves and become the best version of themselves. After I started working in clay in 2006 and fell in love with the medium and the community I starting teaching pottery classes at a local studio in 2015. I believe that clay is powerful and beautiful medium that can help people connect with themselves and others. So my new studio is going to be a space to not just express and learn creative practices, but also find community. The journey hasn’t been easy and has been filled with moments of questioning and doubt, but the people around me have spurred me on and I am excited to see what the next chapter holds.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Fort Collins is one of my favorite places and I would take them up to Horsetooth Rock for a morning hike followed by coffee and pastries at the Little Bird Bakeshop. A walk around Old Town is a must and dinner at Big Al’s.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The credit goes to the incredible community of people in Fort Collins who have rallied around me, encouraged me, challenged me, and supported this endeavor. They are some of the most creative and generous people I know.

Website: www.beautifulmudpottery.com

Instagram: beautifulmudpotteryfc

Facebook: Beautiful Mud Pottery