Going out on dates. Remember those?

Going out on dates. Remember those?

by | Oct 14, 2020 | Blog, Press

You’d take the time to get dressed and ready, leave the house and spend some time doing something exciting and fun or, if nothing else, just enjoy each other’s company in a place other than your living room likely with drinks and a meal that neither of you had to prepare (on dishes neither of you will have to wash)…

Some of our favorite dates include visits to Disney World, watching pro sporting events,

hanging out at a brewery, preferably with my dog tagging along and wine tasting.

When Coronavirus hit, our Spring and Summer plans changed, most coming to a halt, like everything else in the country.  Birthday celebration at Disney?  Nope.  Taylor Swift concert?  Postponed.  Bachelorette parties and weddings?  Maybe next year.

It was time we sought out ways to make dates at home special.  We cooked together, watched old Disney movies, even bought a big pool to set up in the driveway.  It was then suggested that we pick up “Pottery To Go” from our local paint your own pottery studio.  I surprised Allison and picked out the pieces – a stemless wineglass for me and an ice cream bowl for her.  

One night after dinner, we set up the counter with all the supplies we received – It was everything we needed to complete the projects including the pottery, glazes, brushes, and instructions.  

We had a great time, chatting while we painted (and sipped some wine!). It was so relaxing!  And, as a photographer, it was great to stretch my creative muscles in a different way.  

I went with a more contemporary design on my piece – finding inspiration online – and Allison did an amazing job painting her bowl to look like a waffle cone bowl of ice cream!

It came up while we were painting that pottery painting would be a super fun activity for a bachelorette night or even a birthday celebration with friends.  We’d love to see what our friends would create! The next chance I got, I dropped the pottery pieces off at the studio where they dipped them in a clear glaze and fired them in a kiln, making them food-safe and super bright and shiny!  They were then ready for pick up about a week later. 

We love that we have these special pieces to remind us of the fun we still had during this crazy time.  And with the number of times each week Allison has ice cream, we’re going to be remembering it often!

If you’re looking for a fun, creative date idea, we highly recommend checking out your local paint your own pottery studio’s offerings.  Some are starting to open again for in-studio painting and most are still offering “Pottery To Go.”  Some make it even easier by offering ordering online for a quick & safe pick up!  Go to https://paintyourownpottery.com/ and find a studio near you – be sure to follow @paintyourownpotteryccsa on Facebook for lots of pottery painting inspiration.

Cheers to making the best of things and in the meantime, finding new favorite things to do!

Hannah

Take-Home Pottery Kits From Your Local Art Studio Are The Perfect Quarantine Projects

Take-Home Pottery Kits From Your Local Art Studio Are The Perfect Quarantine Projects

by | May 7, 2020 | Blog, Press

 

While we have been in quarantine for what feels like forever, many families are still looking for fun, new activities to keep everyone occupied. One creative option? Try a paint your own pottery take-home kit from a local art studio. It’s kind of like restaurant takeout, but with ceramics, paint, and instructions. Once you take the kit home and complete your masterpiece, you bring it back to the studio and they throw it in the kiln (a pottery “oven” that seals the paint and dries it onto the piece) and pick it up once it’s done — which is usually in about four days. Pretty cool, right?

Paint your own pottery — or “PYOP” as the cool kids are saying these days — is an incredibly fun way for folks to unleash their inner artist. Atlanta-based artist and business owner Ammie Williams has been involved with PYOP for the last decade, and worked at a local PYOP studio as their creative director for nine years. This store, among others, is offering take-home PYOP kits during quarantine.

Williams says not only are PYOP kits a great way to break up the monotonous routine of quarantine, but it’s the perfect way to let your kids release some creative energy. I mean, go ahead and count it as part of their homeschooling. “Art is such a great way for children to express themselves. When kids are let loose to create whatever they want, it’s amazing,” Williams says.

She tells Romper that a paint-your-own-pottery activity can teach your kids foresight (they need to look ahead to imagine how the piece will look), creativity, and patience (most studios and schools only use the kiln once a week or so). Truly, if there’s any lesson to be learned right now, it’s patience.

But kids aren’t the only ones reaping benefits. “I see so many happy hours happening on Zoom these days, so why not organize a girls’ night in and paint some pottery? Plus, working on fired arts is so much more exciting than heading to a big box store and picking an acrylic-based pottery project off the shelf. When working with PYOP, you paint your piece, send it off, and it comes back to you all shiny and perfect. That is such a fun feeling,” Williams tells Romper.

For a definitive list of every PYOP location around the U.S., visit the Paint Your Own Pottery website’s studio locator page. Otherwise, check out a few of these amazing studios below to see if one is within driving distance from your house. Additionally, Williams offers project guides on her website, which are essentially “recipes” for projects you can do at home — you just need access to a kiln. She’ll also have canvas project guides up soon so you can have the completed project at your home immediately without having to wait for a kiln.

 

 

1. The Painted Pot – Brooklyn, New York

The Painted PotThe Painted Pot in Brooklyn, NY, offers pottery projects ranging in many price points, including projects like Mother’s Day pottery, mugs and beverages, bowls, dinnerware, boxes, home decor, banks, holidays, figurines, and kids party.

 

 

 

 

2. As You Wish Pottery – Arizona, California, & Utah

As You Wish Pottery

As You Wish Pottery is not only offering kits such as kitchen, banks, lanterns, home and garden, party animals, and mystery packs, but they’re also offering classes you can do at home, like beginning technique classes, featuring “plant mom” mugs, a watercolor lemons platter, a retro rainbow desert plate, and more.

 

 

3. Craft Haus Pottery Painting Studio – Palm Beach Gardens, FL

 

 

Craft Haus Pottery Painting Studio

At Craft Haus Pottery Painting Studio, you pick your art piece, your colors and your tools, and then you choose either curbside pick-up or delivery. They’ll deliver your PYOP kits to you, guys. That’s pretty incredible.

You can choose from PYOP projects featuring kitchen and home, bowls and dishes, figurines, banks and boxes, plates and platters, seasonal, pets, or a donation to a healthcare hero. In addition to all that, there are pre-assembled kits and workshops, canvas projects, and board art projects.

 

 

4. Walls of Clay – McKinney, TX

 

Walls of Clay

Walls of Clay‘s website boasts that their pottery to go and paint at home is “as easy as 1-2-3 and 4.” You simply visit their website, purchase a kit, pick it up, paint at home, then return it to them for firing. They’re offering curb-side pick up and no-contact drop-off.

Not only do they offer pottery, but you can purchase wood crafts to paint, acrylic pour kits, and free color sheets to download.

 

 

5. Paint a Piece Creative Arts Studio – Germantown, TN

 

Paint a Piece Creative Arts Studio

Order by 12 p.m. at Paint a Piece Creative Arts Studio, and you can have same-day pickup of a piece from 12 different collections to choose from, including Mother’s Day, quarantine life, plates and platters, mugs, custom, kids, bowls, home and garden, kitchen and servingware, seasonal, holiday, or canvas. All kits come with brushes, paints, and instructions, so you’re all set.

 

 

6. Eye Candy Art Studio — Duluth, GA

Eye Candy Art Studio

 

Eye Candy Art Studio in downtown Duluth, Georgia has some incredible items available for pickup. Just buy online the item you want to paint and your paint kit, and the shop will have everything ready for you.

We are shining a spotlight on some of the millions of small businesses now challenged by COVID-19. This is part of an ongoing commitment our parent company, Bustle Digital Group, is making to support small businesses throughout the entire month of May. Tell us about your favorite small business on social media using #SmallBusinessSalutes.

 

 

 

Article Source: https://www.romper.com/p/take-home-pottery-kits-from-your-local-art-studio-are-the-perfect-quarantine-projects-22878181

 
Help! What Activities Do I Do with My Children?

Help! What Activities Do I Do with My Children?

by | Mar 19, 2020 | Blog

As most parents look for activities to keep the children occupied while school is cancelled, you don’t want just any activity but something meaningful.

Art is a great activity that works on fine motor skills, creativity, imagination, learning how to follow directions, exploration, color theory and so much more. As my Mom always said, “it feeds the soul”.

Ceramics is an age old activity. The modern version of ceramics is the Paint-Your-Own-Pottery studios which can be done at home.  PYOP studios offer Pottery To Go Kits and curb side pick up.

Find a studio near you.  Look at their online store, pick a package, place an order, schedule a pick up time and glaze your H-art out! Once the pottery is returned the fabulous studio owner will do the behind the scenes magic to fire the pottery in a kiln and turn your project into a one-of-a-kind piece of art.

Do you have birthdays coming up? How about a Pottery Painting Party? Need to make a gift? Make it personal and heart felt! Need a little family time? Families that paint together – stay together! Spend time together making memories that will last a lifetime.

Contact your local PYOP studio to try it for yourself! Find one nearby here: https://paintyourownpottery.com/studio-locator/

 

Think Outside the Box of Chocolates: Celebrate Mother’s Day at a PYOP Studio

Think Outside the Box of Chocolates: Celebrate Mother’s Day at a PYOP Studio

by | Apr 9, 2019 | Blog

Think Outside the Box of Chocolates:

Contemporary Ceramic Studios Association Invites Families to Celebrate Mother’s Day at a Paint-Your-Own-Pottery Studio

Everyone makes a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork, while they create wonderful memories of their time together. In addition, mothers with infants and toddlers can have their little one’s hand or footprint stamped on a piece to create a treasured keepsake.

BOCA RATON, FLA. (PRWEB) APRIL 09, 2019

Another Mother’s Day is on the way, which means that kids and spouses around the world will once again struggle to think of something special to do that shows the most important woman in their life how much they truly care. This year, the Contemporary Ceramic Studios Association (CCSA) is encouraging people to think outside the box of chocolates by taking mom to a local paint your own pottery (PYOP) studio.

According to the CCSA, here are seven reasons why a PYOP studio is the perfect Mother’s Day destination:

1. PYOP studios offer an array of creative DIY projects, such as pottery painting, glass fusing, canvas painting, mosaics, creating with clay, and much more. No artistic skill or background is required, and all materials are supplied.

2. Everyone makes a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork, while they create wonderful memories of their time together. In addition, mothers with infants and toddlers can have their little one’s hand or footprint stamped on a piece to create a treasured keepsake. (Note that pottery creations need to be fired overnight in a kiln, and will be available to pick-up after a few days.)

3. PYOP studios are warm, inclusive and family-friendly environments for people of all ages. Everyone is welcome, there is no competition, and studio hosts ensure that each individual gets the caring support they need to create something wonderful.

4. There is no chance of bad weather ruining the occasion. Even if it’s raining, cold or windy outside, the fun inside a comfortable, climate-controlled PYOP studio is guaranteed.

5. Moms and family members can take plenty of pictures to post on their social media pages, share with relatives and friends, and treasure for a lifetime.

6. PYOP studios are typically located in areas that offer plenty of free parking.

7. Most PYOP studios are run by small business owners — many of them families — who have deep roots in the local community.

Commented CCSA executive director Dena Pearlman: “Many families who head to a PYOP studio for Mother’s Day have so much fun together, that they start making it a regular family outing. There is always something new to discover and create!”

A full list of CCSA-member PYOP studios is available at https://paintyourownpottery.com.

For all other details, including media inquiries, contact Dena Pearlman at (888) 291-2272 or dena(at)ccsaonline(dot)com.

Facebook users can also follow the CCSA at https://www.facebook.com/ccsapaintyourownpottery, or connect with PYOP fans across the world at https://www.facebook.com/Paint-Your-Own-Pottery-206166622756971/

About the Contemporary Ceramic Studios Association

The Contemporary Ceramic Studios Association (CCSA) is a not-for-profit trade association serving the needs of ceramic and paint your own pottery (PYOP) studios and suppliers around the world. PYOP studios are a great place for people of all ages and artistic backgrounds — from absolute beginners to seasoned artisans — who want to create, connect and celebrate. The Mission of the CCSA is to promote creativity and excitement about our industry and be a resource for our members. Whether you’re a seasoned studio owner or someone who is thinking about opening your own Paint-Your-Own Pottery studio, this is the place to be. Learn more at http://www.ccsaonline.com.

CCSA Highlights 10 Reasons Why A Paint-Your-Own Pottery (PYOP) Studio Is Perfect For Off-Site Field Trips And On-Site Events

CCSA Highlights 10 Reasons Why A Paint-Your-Own Pottery (PYOP) Studio Is Perfect For Off-Site Field Trips And On-Site Events

by | Mar 12, 2019 | Blog

CCSA Highlights 10 Reasons Why A Paint-Your-Own Pottery (PYOP) Studio Is Perfect For Off-Site Field Trips And On-Site Events

One of the key reasons why PYOP studios are perfect for off-site field trips and on-site events is that activities such as pottery painting, clay hand building, jewelry making, glass fusing, board art, and much more can be customized to align with specific goals and needs.

BOCA RATON, FLA. (PRWEB) MARCH 12, 2019

It is that time again when schools, daycares and not-for-profit organizations search for off-site field trip destinations and on-site event ideas that are both fun and educational. This year, the Contemporary Ceramic Studios Association (CCSA) is inviting planners to try something new, different, exciting and memorable by bringing their group to a local paint-your-own pottery (PYOP) studio, or by inviting the PYOP to their location.

According to the CCSA, 10 key reasons why PYOP studios are perfect for off-site field trips and on-site events include:

1. Activities such as pottery painting, clay hand building, jewelry making, glass fusing, board art and much more can be customized to align with specific goals and needs of the school, daycare or not-for-profit organization, such as an element of their art program or “art week.”

2. PYOP studio owners are available to provide guidance, advice and support to ensure a flawless, fun experience for all involved.

3. All materials and step-by-step instructions are provided by trained and friendly studio hosts.

4. At the end of the day, participants get to keep a unique keepsake of the experience. (Note: pottery must be fired in a kiln overnight and is typically ready to pick-up in a few days.)

5. PYOP staff takes care of all clean-up, which means that planners can focus on their participants instead of worrying about tidying up.

6. PYOP studios have a comfortable and climate-controlled indoor environment.

7. PYOP studios are typically located in areas that offer plenty of free parking.

8. Most CCSA-member PYOP studios meet ADA compliance standards. Upon request, additional accommodations can be made to ensure that all participants have a positive experience.

9. Planners can take pictures of the event or field trip, which are perfect for publishing in newsletters and sharing on social media.

10. PYOP studios are typically run by small business owners — many of them families — who have deep roots in the local area. Businesses, organizations and schools that support PYOP studios are strengthening their communities.

“The most common feedback we receive from event and field trip planners is: I wish we had discovered PYOP studios years ago!” commented Dena Pearlman, CCSA’s executive director. “The good news is that it is never too late to think outside of the box and try something different, and perhaps start a great new tradition.”

A full list of CCSA-member PYOP studios is available at https://paintyourownpottery.com.

For all other details, including media inquiries, contact Dena Pearlman at (888) 291-2272 or dena(at)ccsaonline(dot)com.

Facebook users can also follow the CCSA at https://www.facebook.com/ccsapaintyourownpottery, or connect with PYOP fans across the world at https://www.facebook.com/Paint-Your-Own-Pottery-206166622756971/.

About the Contemporary Ceramic Studios Association

The Contemporary Ceramic Studios Association (CCSA) is a not-for-profit trade association serving the needs of ceramic and paint your own pottery (PYOP) studios and suppliers around the world. PYOP studios are a great place for people of all ages and artistic backgrounds — from absolute beginners to seasoned artisans — who want to create, connect and celebrate. The Mission of the CCSA is to promote creativity and excitement about our industry and be a resource for our members. Whether you’re a seasoned studio owner or someone who is thinking about opening your own Paint-Your-Own Pottery studio, this is the place to be. Learn more at http://www.ccsaonline.com.