Paint-your-own pottery

Gather friends and have some fun. You'll love the personalized pieces you create.

Have you ever admired a set of brightly colored ceramic dishes and wondered who could possibly have the talent to create such ingenious designs? Believe it or not, it could be you. At a paint-your-own-ceramics studio, you can unleash your artistic side while producing something that suits your personal style.

"For home decorators, finding that quintessential piece is tough," says Christine Lawrence. "Sometimes all you can do is make it yourself." As the owner of the Potbellied Kiln in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, as well as the marketing director for the Contemporary Ceramic Studio Association (CCSA), Christine knows how popular painting ceramics is for all ages. "It's a wonderful form of selfexpression and pure entertainment."

At Christine's Potbellied Kiln and other paint-your-own-ceramics studios, you can select, purchase, and paint ceramic bisque-premolded or cast pieces that have been fired once and are primed for paint. Here, moms can create a polka-dot vase for the kitchen, and kids can make their own teachers' gifts. It's also a wonderful venue for group activities. "Not only do we have a lot of summer and day camps for children," Christine says, "but we also host a lot of corporate, adult, and family events."

These places, which effortlessly blend creativity with companionship, make the perfect setting for a gettogether. So follow the example of this bride by inviting friends to join you at a ceramics studio.

A Party In the Process

"Birthdays and showers are our most popular events," explains Amarilys Perdomo, owner of Painted By U ceramics studio in Birmingham. "We have group rates that include a cost per person and the cost of an item painted." Her system, which follows other studio models, makes it easy for all ages. For example, children's parties have three different packages, which include a mug or trivet, in addition to the price of admission. Make sure, however, that you call in advance to reserve enough space.

A bridal shower at such a studio not only entertains but also provides a chance for the bridesmaids and friends to treat the bride with memorable home-accessory gifts. "Sometimes the hostesses will choose things for the bride, like a set of dishes or serving pieces, and split the cost," Amarilys explains. "Then guests are invited to join in the painting process."

Another option allows a bride to register for different pieces before the party. Each guest then selects one of the items and paints it. "It's fun because the bride chooses her color scheme and everything," says Amarilys. The gift is one she can use and keep as a reminder of the day. The best part is that you and everyone attending will leave with your artistic side completely fulfilled.

FAVORITE IDEAS FOR ITEMS TO DECORATE

*Large-scale candleholders make a permanent focal point for a dining room table.

*Paint a pretty serving bowl to hold fresh fruit.

*Colorful salad plates enliven white place settings.

*Get a head start on Christmas gifts. Embelish ornaments, picture frames, or vases for a hard-- to-buy-for person.

*Personalize small dish sets as baby gifts.

*Design plates to hang on the wall as art.

*Decorate coffee mugs for your co-workers.

*Paint serving pieces to coordinate with your grandmother's disontinued china pattern.

*Design a cake pedestal for the family member or friend who's always baking dessert.

PAINT-YOUR-OWN POTTERY

Pages 162-164: Party held at Painted By U Pottery Studio, 2409 Acton Road, Birmingham, (205) 823-4407; The Potbellied Kiln, 1616 Sunset Avenue, Rocky Mount, North Carolina, (252) 212-2000. To find a studio in your area, visit the Contemporary Ceramic Studio Association Web site at www.ccsaonline.com, or check your local Yellow Pages listings under "Pottery" or "Ceramics."

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Aug 2002
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