Jewelry Making And Creature Crafting: Two Exciting New Workshops Coming In April! Plus Collaborations With Staunton Parks & Recreation!
We are so excited to announce that in April we will be offering two workshops we have never offered before, Jewelry Making and Creature Crafting! Plus, in March we are kicking off springtime with two family-friendly co-workshops hosted by Staunton Parks & Recreation. Read the blog post to learn more!
Hello, dear Friends of the Staunton Clayground!
We are so excited to announce that in April we will be offering two workshops we have never offered before! Plus, we are kicking off springtime with two family-friendly co-workshops hosted by Staunton Parks & Rec! Read on to learn more!
Where to start? Come join Mary Tuttle for a fun and magical journey through jewelry land! No prior clay experience necessary!
What better way to find that perfect piece of jewelry than to make it yourself?
In Jewelry Making With Handmade Stoneware Beads! Tuesday evenings: April 22 & 29 from 6:00–7:30 pm and May 6 from 6:00–8:00 pm (5 hours total), you’ll learn to make your own stoneware beads out of clay, as well as how to glaze them. You will also learn basic wire wrapping to put them together, in order to make at least one pair of earrings and one necklace (just in time for Mother’s Day). We will provide all tools and materials. You just bring your creativity and any photographs after which you would like to style your jewelry.
Jewelry making will not be limited to women’s jewelry!
Next up, come join creature-creator extraordinaire, Abby Kiracofe, for a one-day adventure in handbuilding!
Who doesn’t need a friendly clay companion or two?
In Creature Crafting – A One-Day Handbuilding Workshop In April 2025, over the course of three very fun hours, you will learn how to make two different types of clay creatures, using the pinch-pot method and by sculpting. Choose a glaze color from several options and pick up your glazed and fired creatures 1-2 weeks later. Absolute beginners welcome are welcome, and you can choose from 1 of 3 workshop times: Sunday afternoon, April 13, 3:00–6:00 pm, Wednesday morning, April 16, 9:30 am–12:30 pm. Thursday evening, April 17, 5:30–8:30 pm.
We are also very happy to be kicking off a series of collaborations with Staunton Parks & Recreation! These will be taking place at the Gypsy Hill Park Garden Center and are family-friendly! Come with a friend or bring your kids along! These workshops are for people age 12+, but ages 6+ are welcome if working side-by-side with an adult participant.
The first, taking place on March 18 from 4:30–6:30, is Paint Your Own Plant Pot! What better way to welcome spring than by painting a brand new plant pot, handmade for you by us here at Staunton Clayground? Click the link above to visit the Parks & Rec website and register by March 12 to claim your spot!
Next up, on April 15 from 4:30–6:00, is Spring Window Accents! Come paint three colorful seasonal window accents, handmade for you at Staunton Clayground. Choose from a variety of shapes including flowers, bunnies and Easter eggs. We will provide all materials, including ribbons, so that you can take your handmade window accent home to hang the same day. Register by April 8 on the Parks & Rec website by April 8 by clicking the link above! Plus, don’t forget to check out all of the other wonderful activities they offer!
There will be even more fun coming in May and June, so keep watching this space for news 😃
Wishing you much happy claytime!
March & April Wheel Classes Are Here! Plus... A Wheel Class Starting Tomorrow & A Kids' Event At The Book Dragon Today!
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! We have things happening for kids and adults, starting today. 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!
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!
Winter 2025 Classes Start One Week From Today! Post-Holiday Doldrums? Come clay with us! We've got classes starting January 3, 4, 7 and 8!
Are you feeling a little glum now that the holidays are over? Wondering what to do to lift your spirits once you’ve rung in the New Year? Well, Staunton Clayground has classes starting to fit every schedule and skill level, as early as a week from today! Come down to the studio to clay with us and chase those mid-winter blues right away! How can you be gloomy when it’s claytime?
How can you be gloomy when it’s claytime?
Hello, dear Friends of the Staunton Clayground! Are you feeling a little glum now that the holidays are over? Wondering what to do to lift your spirits once you’ve rung in the New Year? Well, Staunton Clayground has classes starting to fit every schedule and skill level, as early as a week from today! Come down to the studio to clay with us and chase those mid-winter blues right away! Read on to find the one that’s just right for you!
Whether your New Year’s resolution is to try something new or return to something you love, our pottery wheel classes for all levels of beginners, from absolute to verging on intermediate, could be just the thing for you!
You can join Valya Boutenko on Friday evenings from 5:00–7:15, starting on January 3, for an eight-week course where students will try their hand at centering clay and throwing basic forms such as cylinders and bowls. The class will focus on mastering simple throwing and trimming techniques and will cover pulling handles for mugs as well as glazing techniques.
Looking for a different weeknight? Then join Mary Tuttle on Wednesdays from 6:00–8:00 pm for a six-week course starting on January 8, also for beginners of all levels! As in the Friday evening class, here, too, 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 foundational skills such as 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. We’ll also look at trimming and decoration, as well as how to add handles to our creations.
Would you rather come in on a weekend than a weeknight? Well, we’ve got you covered! Mary Tuttle is holding the same six-week pottery wheel class for all levels of beginner on Saturday afternoons, from 3:00–5:00 pm, starting on January 4! Spots in this one are selling fast, so claim yours now!
Are you ready to level up in the new year? We’ve got a class for you, too! Valya Boutenko is ready to help you progress in your journey as a potter in her Tuesday evening Intermediate Wheel Class, held from 5:00–7:15 pm over eight weeks, starting on January 7.
And those just the classes starting in the first eight days of 2025! So check out our chronological class list and stay tuned, because we’ve got so much more coming!
Meanwhile, we wish you a very Happy New Year!
Warm wishes from the Staunton Clayground team (Cary, Jennifer and Abby)
Our First Polymer Clay Workshop, Coming Saturday! Plus, Three New Pottery Wheel Classes Before The End Of October!
A One-Day Polymer Clay Workshop, Three Pottery Wheel Classes (Beginner and Intermediate) and Kids' Holiday Workshops. So much is going on at Staunton Clayground. Come clay with us!
November is less than two weeks away, but we have three new pottery wheel classes starting up before the end of October, plus our first-ever one-day polymer clay workshop! Read on to learn more! Plus, don’t forget about our upcoming kids’ holiday workshops! So much is going on at Staunton Clayground. Come clay with us!
A polymer clay “Desk Friend” made by Lainie Mabbitt of Second Stories Art, our newest instructor at Staunton Clayground!
November is less than two weeks away, but we have three new pottery wheel classes starting up before the end of October, plus our first-ever one-day polymer clay workshop! Read on to learn more!
The leaves are really starting to turn now. With this beautiful weather and fall colors, our town is really at its best! It is getting chilly though, so if you want to take a break for some indoor activities, our cozy studio has plenty of fun activities and gift-making opportunities for you!
Whether you have always wanted to try your hand at throwing pottery on the wheel and never had a chance or have you spent some time on the wheel but want an opportunity to gain confidence and hone your skills, our wheel classes for all levels of beginner potters are going to be a good fit for you! And two, both taught by the marvelous Mary Tuttle, are starting before Halloween!
Looking for a weekend class? As of today, we still have a few spots left in our Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners, taking place Saturday afternoons, October 26–December 7, 3:00–5:00 pm (with Sat., Nov. 30 off for Thanksgiving weekend).
Prefer a weeknight class to wind down after a long day? There is still limited space available in our Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners: Wednesday evenings, October 30–December 11, 6:00–8:00 pm (with Wed., Nov. 27 off for Thanksgiving week).
Everything you make in these classes will be ready in time for Christmas and the December holidays!
And the same is true of our next wheel class for intermediate wheel throwers, which is also starting before the end of the month: Beyond Basics On The Pottery Wheel with the fantastic Valya Boutenko, running Tuesday evenings from 5:00–7:15 p.m., October 29–December 17, 2024.
The class is a good fit for students who are somewhat familiar with working on the wheel, who can throw a basic cylinder and a simple bowl form.
Are you too busy right now to commit to a longer-form class? Looking for a one-day workshop? We’ve got that, too!
This will be the Staunton Clayground teaching debut of the incredibly original and versatile local artist Lainie Mabbitt of Second Stories Art. Join her for an Introduction to Polymer Clay – Make an Inspirational Desk Friend: Saturday, October 26, 9 a.m.–12 noon. Come and enjoy tea and cookies and a chance to make a one-of-a-kind gift, a “Desk Buddy” to brighten your desk or the desk of someone you love!
Last but not least, don’t forget about our new kids’ programming! There are still spaces in both of our upcoming kids’ workshops!
Build a Pinch-Pot Turkey! Saturday mornings, 10:00–12:00 noon, November 2 and November 16 (Ages 7–12) and The Penguins Are Coming! Saturday afternoons, 2:00–3:30, November 23 and December 7 (Ages 6–12).
So much fun to be had! And stay tuned, because we’ve got some special one-day holiday workshops lined up for November and December, perfect for family fun and gift-making! More news coming soon. Meanwhile, enjoy those leaves and some mulled cider! I think I’m going to go warm some up right now 🥰
See you soon at the Staunton Clayground!
Three New Wheel-Throwing Classes Starting in July! Two For Beginners, One "Beyond Basics"
Staunton Clayground has three new wheel classes starting in July! Two for beginners and one for going beyond basics on the wheel. We are also welcoming two new teachers, Valya Boutenko and Mary Tuttle. Check out the post to see all the details!
Hello Friends of the Staunton Clayground!
We are so excited that so many people in our community are so eager to learn to throw pottery on the wheel, and we want to make sure that you can! So, we have added 3 new wheel classes, all starting in July! The first two are for beginners of all levels:
Two different time slots, two different formats, two different teachers!
The first, which will be held on Wednesday evenings, from 5:00–7:15 pm, for eight weeks starting on July 24, for a total of 18 hours, will be taught by Valya Boutenko, who is joining us for the first time as a teacher with this class! Click here to learn more and claim a spot!
The second will take place on Saturday afternoons, from 3:00–5:00* pm, on July 27, August 3, 10, 17 and 24 (*except for the Aug. 10 session, which will run from 5:00–7:00 pm; a break for Labor Day weekend is built into the schedule). This twelve-hour course will be taught by another brand new member of the Staunton Clayground team, Mary Tuttle. Here’s the link to read the details and grab a place in this class!
We are very happy to welcome these new instructors to our team!
The third class, Beyond Basics On The Pottery Wheel, is an intermediate class for students who are somewhat familiar with working on the wheel.
Designed and taught by Valya Boutenko, whose pottery is featured in the photos!
The class is a good fit for students who can throw a basic cylinder and a simple bowl form. In this class we will practice throwing plates as well as elegant, rounded vases. Together, we will be tackling the more challenging forms and incorporating design elements that add interest and make our work shine. Also taught by Valya Boutenko, it will run on Tuesday evenings, from 5:00–7:15 p.m., July 30–Sept. 17 (18 hours and eight weeks in all).
We hope you will jump in and enjoy these classes! After all, a cool clay studio is a great way to beat the heat during those dog days of August (or July… or September)!
Meanwhile, we’re already hard at work planning out a super-fun roster of fall courses and workshops! Stay tuned!
See you soon here at the Staunton Clayground! 😃