By Emily Merrell, Photos by Melissa Donner

What started as a playful sketchbook shared between studio mates in a ceramics graduate program has blossomed into Boo & Finni, a vibrant clay center run by creative partners and newlyweds Jennifer “Finni” Arnold and Just “Boo” Emerson. The duo opened their clay center in February, which they have thoughtfully designed to be a space where people of all skill levels can get their creative juices flowing in a fun, safe environment.

Arnold and Emerson first met in 2012 at Alfred University’s NYS College of Ceramics, where they were both pursuing an MFA in Ceramics.

“We came to be Boo & Finni in grad school because our studios were next to each other, and we would share this sketchbook back and forth of all these stupid ideas,” said Arnold.

“I mean, just like the most ridiculous ideas, but they were fun, small sculptures, and that’s how we started Boo & Finni pottery – morphing these little silly and kitschy ideas into functional wear. It evolved from us messing around with the sketches and then turning those ideas into pottery that we would sell at farmers’ markets.”

The pair have been creating and selling their whimsical designs together– which include functional sculptures, pottery, jewelry and lamps – since graduating from Alfred University in 2014. Their pursuit of community and creativity has led the couple all over the country in the last decade, but Arnold, who grew up in Jonesboro, knew that her hometown was where she and Emerson could finally realize their dream of opening their own clay center.

“I knew it couldn’t happen for us anywhere else, because Jonesboro is affordable, there’s a great community that I know I can rely on and my family is here,” said Arnold.

When Arnold and Emerson moved to Jonesboro and decided to open Boo & Finni Clay Center, their community stepped up to help make it happen.

“We had people who believed in us and helped us get going, like Scott McDaniel at Ramsons Construction; Jim and Amanda Little, who own the building; and Whitton Farms,” said Emerson. 

Arnold and Emerson spent about four months building out their studio space, located at 904 S. Gee St., before opening their doors. The space is a reflection of the power of community, built largely with donated materials.

“The majority of this stuff was donated because they believed in our vision,” said Emerson “They also donated the material I used to make our table. It was scrap metal that had been sitting unused for 15 to 20 years. The shelving we use to store students pottery was made from wood forms used to pour the concrete foundation at a local bank.”

Boo & Finni officially opened on Valentine’s Day 2025, the same day Arnold and Emerson tied the knot. In lieu of any traditional wedding gifts, the couple asked their loved ones to help fund their recent trip to Santa Cruz, which was not only their honeymoon, but also a mission to pick up a pug mill, a machine they use to reclaim and reuse clay at the center. 

“We went out there and had a really fun trip,” said Arnold. “We had a bunch of people donate to the cause, and that’s cool. You know, we didn’t want a toaster, we wanted stuff that feeds our lifestyle.”

“Anytime we do anything, it revolves around clay,” said Emerson. “How could we attach this to something useful for everyone at the clay center? So, it’s like, not just a honeymoon. It’s about how much we love clay.”

Their goal for Boo & Finni echoes their personal philosophies about art – that it is best experienced collaboratively and joyfully.

“We’ve been part of a clay center everywhere we’ve lived, with groups of people who are like-minded and just as excited about clay,” said Arnold. “It’s the best community. We’ve met some of our best friends in these places who are so open and accepting. We’re trying to build that here, and it’s working.”

Boo & Finni is a space where beginners are encouraged to learn, experiment and have fun, focusing more on the process than the end product.

“We tell people when they come to take a class, leave your expectations at the door; you’re not going to come in here and immediately be a great potter,” said Emerson. “It’s going to take a lot of time, and you have to be comfortable with failing. That’s what I think intimidates people – they don't want to be embarrassed. But I see really cool stuff when beginners make things, and there’s like, an innocence to it that's really refreshing. I think people think because they’re not churning out things that look stamped out perfectly that they’re failing, but that’s not the failure. The failure is the mindset of perfection, not accepting that there is something unfamiliar and special happening that takes time.” 

Emerson enjoys adding an element of unpredictability and whimsy into classes at Boo & Finni.

“My idea of a fun class is not making something useful, it’s having some fun with people, having a unique experience,” said Emerson. “It’s not all about making something that looks good in your home. You came in, and we gave you a memory you could walk away with. I like to surprise people and give them an experience they wouldn’t have anywhere else in town.” 

Boo & Finni has a wide array of options for classes, offering “Try the Wheel” classes for individuals and “Date Nights” for couples; wheel and hand-building classes where students can learn how to make anything from butter bells to body-shaped vases; and availability for private classes and events like birthday parties and team building. They also offer monthly memberships for more experienced potters to access the space and resources regularly. 

Arnold and Emerson are grateful for the support that has helped them so far and plan to continue building community ties through art and creativity.

Arnold’s sister, Jill Forrester, owns Whitton Farms. Forrester sets up a pop-up shop in Boo and Finni Clay Center every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“My sister has always been a big inspiration for me, with owning her own business and being a businesswoman, and she’s been with us every step of the way,” said Arnold. “Every week she’ll bring in her flowers and produce, and people can come in, buy her stuff and talk to us about classes, and we sell pots. So, it’s like a way to bring in people to see who we are, and for her to have some business. And it’s all local, it’s all handmade, homegrown, unique things. And I think that’s what Jonesboro is all about.”

Boo & Finni is located at 904 S. Gee St. and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The couple also sells their creations online and at the Judd Hill Farmers’ Market. For more information, visit booandfinni.com, follow them on Instagram @booandfinni or email booandfinni@gmail.com.