Hand-drawn hometown collection
A hand-drawn celebration of Wheaton, available exclusively at The Guild Wheaton.
Community
Wheaton blends a vibrant downtown with beautiful parks, cultural landmarks, and traditions that invite people to gather. Cantigny, Cosley Zoo, Blanchard Hall, the French Market, and the Prairie Path give residents and visitors a thoughtful mix of history, nature, and hometown life.
Where to find it
121 W Front St
Wheaton, IL 60187
Store hours
Checked September 14, 2026. Holiday, seasonal, and special-event hours may vary.
The collaboration
Wheaton is where our family goes to church and where we spend so much of our everyday life with friends from church and school. We love dates downtown, burgers at 302 Wheaton, visits to The Little Popcorn Store with our kids, meals at local restaurants, and time at The Guild. Cosley Zoo and Cantigny are family favorites too, so those places naturally became part of the artwork.
The mug began as a passion project that I first made as a gift for friends. A woman from our church was starting a gift-basket business, and I let her offer a few. As more people heard about them, the interest continued to grow.
I had already been working with Jack at Blackberry Market, so when he transitioned to The Guild, we began discussing a home for the Wheaton Mug there. We released it around Mother’s Day, and it sold out very quickly. It has been such a joy to create something for a community where our family worships, gathers, and shares life with people we love.
The story behind the mug
Ashley partnered with The Guild Wheaton to create a mug rooted in Wheaton.
Research and community input highlighted college history, parks, museums, trails, and the city’s active downtown.
Ashley translated each selected place and symbol into an individual hand-drawn illustration.
The drawings were refined and arranged into a continuous design that rewards a closer look.
The finished mug became a locally available keepsake through The Guild Wheaton.
Inside the illustration
Each element celebrates a recognizable part of the community’s history, landscape, gathering places, and everyday life.
Wheaton College Blanchard Hall helps tell the story of Wheaton and the character residents recognize as home.
Cantigny Park helps tell the story of Wheaton and the character residents recognize as home.
Cosley Zoo helps tell the story of Wheaton and the character residents recognize as home.
Downtown Wheaton helps tell the story of Wheaton and the character residents recognize as home.
Wheaton French Market helps tell the story of Wheaton and the character residents recognize as home.
Illinois Prairie Path helps tell the story of Wheaton and the character residents recognize as home.
The creative process
The shape of Wheaton College Blanchard Hall helped establish the look of this mug. From there, I layered in Cantigny Park, Cosley Zoo, and Downtown Wheaton, using the contrasts between them to create a wraparound drawing that could only belong to Wheaton.
A meaningful local gift
The mug makes a meaningful Wheaton, Illinois housewarming gift, new-home welcome, or moving-away keepsake. Its hand-drawn local details give residents and former residents something familiar to recognize with every cup.