Making Waves with Ripple & Stone: Jesse on Living Creatively

If you’ve ever met Jesse Ward, you’ll know she radiates creativity in the most grounded, genuine way. As the founder of Ripple & Stone, Jess has turned curiosity into art, creating jewellery, ceramics, and pieces that feel alive with story and soul.

In this PowerWomen feature, Jesse shares the journey behind Ripple & Stone: from New Zealand roots and ADHD discovery to finding purpose through art, imperfection, and connection. In her own words:

Tell us how you started and what led you to your career? I’ve always been drawn to creativity - it’s where I feel most alive. Growing up in New Zealand, I had endless ways of exploring it: performing Kapa Haka, practising Te reo Māori (indigenous language of the Māori people), painting, dancing, writing… the list is long.

As an adult, my career path wandered through journalism, fitness, and marketing.Each chapter was brilliant in its own way, giving me different outlets for creativity and connection. Yet I always felt that quiet tug back to the raw, playful side of making.

A few years ago, I decided to reclaim that spark. I still enjoy a good doomscroll, but I made a conscious choice to create more and consume less.

That’s how Ripple & Stone was born.

It’s not a business in the traditional sense - more like a living art journal. A space to experiment, share the rough alongside the refined, and remind myself (and hopefully others) that creativity doesn’t need to be perfect, profitable, or performative.

Around the same time, I was diagnosed with ADHD. Rather than fight my busy brain, I began working with it, which led me outdoors, combing beaches for shells and exploring natural textures. I wanted to make jewellery I’d genuinely wear - small works of art that capture shapes, shades, and textures. That focus has grown into my ceramics work, with pendants, which I’ll be displaying at the Manx Potters Fair on November 8th in the Villa Arcade.

Alongside jewellery and ceramics, I continue weaving in photography, painting, and carving, sharing the journey openly. Returning to what I naturally thrive in has been grounding and unexpectedly healing. Selling pieces is a bonus, but the joy comes from slowing down and working with my hands.

That balance between play and purpose is exactly what Ripple & Stone reflects: “ripple” for energy, movement, and impact (very true to my neurospicy brain), and “stone” for intention and that initial creative splash. At its heart, Ripple & Stone asks: What might a creative life look like if I give it space to grow?

What have been some key moments and challenges? Unlearning limiting beliefs has been a big one. For years, I worried whether my ideas were “good enough” until I realised that acting on them, no matter how small or silly, matters far more than measuring them against some imagined standard.

Living with ADHD comes with its quirks too. The biggest challenge is finishing a project before being swept away by another dopamine-fuelled idea. But through my art, I’ve got to know my brain better, discovering its strengths: bursts of hyperfocus, creative problem-solving, and a knack for composing meaning.

A real highlight was turning a doodle from a lunch break into my first ceramic vase - you can’t beat the satisfaction of bringing an idea to life. Even more heartwarming are the moments when people tell me Ripple & Stone nudged them back into their own creativity. Knowing that a spark of art can ease anxiety or reignite play reminds me how valuable creativity is for all of us.

What do you love about it? I love the spaciousness art gives me - the freedom to stay endlessly curious and turn that curiosity into something tangible. It brings connection too, whether with nature or with people who stop to chat or create alongside me.

Art helps me show up honestly, take my ideas seriously, and stay present. Even the shells I work with have become teachers: chipped and weathered, yet still beautiful. They remind me to celebrate imperfection, honour my neurodivergence, and live in flow with who I am. Seeing my work go on to find new stories - in people’s homes or around their faces - feels like the most rewarding full circle.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you’re doing? I’d wholeheartedly encourage them to make “sh*t art” - the throwaways are packed with lessons. A lot of what I create can be… well… a tad awkward, and I celebrate that! It’s proof of letting go and having the courage to begin. We’ve all got to start somewhere, right?

It took me a while to realise the process is the juiciest bit. For me, it’s like being a scientist in your own creative lab - someone who loves experimenting more than chasing results. That mindset makes the whole journey more fun, forgiving, and ultimately more authentic.

For inspiration, I’d recommend The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and The Creative Act by Rick Rubin. And if you’re on Instagram, Amie McNee (@inspiredtowrite) is an encouraging follow.

What are your goals for the future? As Tyler, the Creator says, “Create like a child and edit like a scientist.” I want to embody that curious kid who once mixed “potions” from rocks and leaves - only now I’m refining those raw textures into art through an adult lens. I hope to carry that same spirit of intentional play into everything I make.

I’m also drawn to art therapy. The more I create, the more I see how art soothes, helps us process emotion, and expands our perspective. It’s become clear to me that art isn’t just decorative - it’s essential to our well-being and culture.

Soon, I’ll be moving back to New Zealand and have a pottery-throwing course lined up at a local art centre. It feels like a return to my roots - reconnecting with the tactile, getting my hands dirty, and learning a skill I’ve long wanted to explore.

These days, I’m focused on creating as much as I can, learning from others, and doing work that feels genuine and meaningful. Ultimately, I want my pieces that end up in people’s homes to keep telling stories and sparking a sense of wonder about the world around them.

Jesse’s story captures what Level Up is all about, following curiosity, honouring your pace, and creating space for growth. Her reminder to “make sh*t art” might just be our new favourite mantra: a nudge to start before you’re ready and enjoy the process, messy bits and all.

As she returns to New Zealand to keep creating and learning, we’ll be cheering her on from the Isle of Man, inspired by her courage to live creatively and her belief that art isn’t just decoration, it’s medicine.

You can explore more of Jess’s beautiful work through Ripple & Stone, or discover more inspiring journeys in our PowerWomen series. 💛