March & April Wheel Classes Are Here! Plus... A Wheel Class Starting Tomorrow & A Kids' Event At The Book Dragon Today!

Hello, dear Friends of the Staunton Clayground!

Here we were thinking we’d seen the last of the snow, and here it is, back again, giving us more reasons to find fun indoor activities for this weekend… and the Staunton Clayground is here to oblige!

Are the kids getting antsy staying inside today? Well, bring them to the Book Dragon Bookshop in downtown Staunton between 1:00–2:30 this afternoon! Our super art and pottery teacher Brooke Fawley will be there helping kids ages 5+ to paint a handmade pottery heart while listening to Book Dragon owner, Sandi, read a story! Activity lasts half an hour, with three seatings (one starting every 30 minutes from 1:00 on). Sign up in advance here! Browse the shop’s marvelously curated selection of literature of all sorts while the kiddos have fun!

Don’t have time to sign-up in advance? No worries! Staunton Clayground Manager, Jennifer Delare (yours truly) will be there to take on-the-spot payments.

Kids aren’t the only ones getting tired of being stuck inside, though. We grown-ups need something fun and different, too! As soon as tomorrow? What? Well, we’ve got you covered for that, too! Join instructor Valya Boutenko for an eight-week course to learn all of the basics of throwing on the pottery wheel or improve your skills. Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners will run on Sunday afternoons, 3:00–5:15 pm, February 9–March 30, and there is still time to sign up for our remaining spots! Come join in the fun!

Meanwhile, if you prefer to plan a little further out, we’ve just posted our wheel classes that will be starting in March and April. We have three coming up!

The first is Foundational Pottery Wheel For All Levels – Beginner and Up: Mastering And Building On Basic Skills. This class will run on Tuesday evenings, from 5:00–7:15, March 11–April 29, 2025.

Over the course of 8 weeks, Valya Boutenko will help you to learn the foundational skills you need to throw functional pottery on the wheel. Students will gain confidence while  centering clay and throwing basic forms such as cylinders, cups and bowls. The class will focus on mastering the simple throwing and trimming techniques you need to begin creating your own work on your own, and will cover pulling handles for mugs as well as glazing techniques.

First-time beginners are welcome!

The same is true of our next two wheel classes, All-Level Pottery Wheel – Beginner and Up: Saturday afternoons, March 29–May 3, 3:00–5:00 pm, and All-Level Pottery Wheel – Beginner and Up: Wednesday evenings, April 2–May 7, 6:00–8:00 pm both taught by Mary Tuttle.

Have you always wanted to try your hand at throwing pottery on the wheel and never had a chance? Have you spent some time on the wheel but want an opportunity to gain confidence and hone your skills? Over the course of six 2-hour sessions, students will focus on setting achievable goals and making them into a reality!

The newest potters will learn the basics of making classic vessels like cups and bowls. Those with some experience will focus on gaining confidence with the important skills of centering, pulling up the walls, creating consistent cylinders and more. Students who are already able to create simple wares on their own will instead concentrate on design and consistency, deciding with the teacher what challenges they wish to take on. We’ll also look at trimming and decoration, as well as how to add handles to our creations.

Looking for handbuilding classes and workshops starting in March and April? Ideas for Mother’s Day? Never fear, we have those planned, too, some for kids and some for adults! Keep an eye on your inbox, because news about those will be coming soon!

Meanwhile, stay safe and warm! We hope to see you soon for some cozy claytime!