Our First 2025 Classes Are Posted! Pottery Wheel, Handbuilding, One-Day Workshops, Weekdays And Weekends... Take Your Pick!

The holidays are fast approaching now, and as we work hard to make those as special as we can (we still have one 1-day ornament-making workshop left, a polymer clay workshop for adults and families, on Thursday, December 19, from 1:00–4:00 pm, so don’t miss out!), we are looking forward to kicking off 2025 with a plethora of fantastic new clay classes to fit every schedule!

And we’re not wasting any time! Our first classes of the year, both wheel and handbuilding, start the very first week in January, so read on!

Wheel classes starting in January:

The pieces in this photo are made on our pottery wheels and fresh from the kiln!

Whether you’ve never sat down at a wheel before or if you’ve already had plenty of experience but still need help with things like centering, pulling up walls, trimming or putting on handles, these pottery wheel classes designed for all levels of beginner are the ones for you!

Looking for something fun and different to do on Friday evenings? Then join Valya Boutenko for our first class of the year. This Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners course runs weekly from 5:00–7:15 pm, from January 3–February 28(with a week off for Valentine’s Day, which happens to fall on a Friday this year!).

Looking to shake the January doldrums with a weekend class instead? Then join Mary Tuttle on the first weekend of the new year. She’ll be teaching a Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners class on Saturday afternoons from 3:00–5:00 pm, from January 4–February 12. There will be plenty of fun to be had!

Would you prefer to save that fun to give you a little pick-me-up midweek as we roll into 2025? Mary will be teaching the same Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners class on Wednesday evenings from 6:00–8:00 pm, January 8–February 12. No better way to get past hump day!

Are you already comfortable with working on the wheel?

Next level fun!

Then join Valya Boutenko for Intermediate Wheel Throwing, Tuesday evenings from 5:00–7:15, January 7–February 25. This class is a good fit for students who can throw and trim complete vessels, with handles, unassisted. In this class you will practice throwing plates as well as elegant, rounded vases. As Valya writes, “Together, we will be tackling the more challenging forms and incorporating design elements that add interest and make our work shine.”

Handbuilding classes and workshops starting in January:

Shake off that post-holiday torpor with an intensive workshop starting the first full week in January!

Join our very own Cary Dahl for Handbuilding A Kitchen Suite – A Four-Day Intensive Workshop, from 9:00–12:00 noon, Tuesday through Thursday, January 7, 8 & 9, with glazing on Thursday, January 23. No prior clay experience required!

Have you ever wished your kitchen ceramics pieces matched each other? Or even better, that they were customized to your kitchen’s colors? Now’s your chance!

Over the course of four 3-hour sessions we will create several unique functional pieces using slab building techniques. Possible projects include a butter dish, spoon rest, pitcher, sponge holder and napkin holder (all food, microwave and dishwasher safe).

Would you rather spread out the fun? Then maybe a weekly course is more your style.

Absolute beginners are welcome!

Cary also will be teaching Handbuilding Basics: A Four-Week Workshop, running on Thursday evenings from 5:30–8:30 pm, January 30–February 20.

Students will explore some of the essential techniques of handbuilding, making several unique functional pieces to take home. You will build confidence working with both soft and leather-hard clay, and explore a variety of surface texturing and glazing techniques. Possible projects will include a serving dish, an angular vase, and a utensil caddy(all food, oven, microwave and dishwasher safe).

Whether you’re new to clay or have already done some handbuilding in the past, this class promises to be fun and to give you plenty of lovely pieces to take home!

Short on time? Well, this year we are also introducing our first one-day pottery workshops! And we couldn’t be more excited, because the first is a collaboration between Staunton Clayground and local specialty cut flower grower, Quince & Burdock.

Make a vase specially designed to showcase tulips in all their glory!

You may know Erin Wright from the Staunton Farmers’ Market, and now she is coming into our studio to partner with us for A Tulip Vase With A Hydroponic Tulip Bouquet: A One-Day Handbuilding Workshop. Choose from three possible workshop times, Sunday afternoon, January 26, 2:30–5:30 pm, Tuesday evening, January 28, 5:30–8:30 pm, and Wednesday morning, January 29, 9:00 am–12:00 noon.

Over the course of 3 hours, through a combination of slab and sculpture, you will build and decorate your creation with handmade flower motifs. You will choose a glaze color from several options, and pick up your glazed and fired vase, complete with tulips, in time for Valentine’s Day! Erin Wright of Quince & Burdock will be on hand at vase pick-up to provide you with your bouquet, talk about tulip care and answer questions about hydroponic gardening. Pick-up for all three sessions will be on will be on Wednesday, February 12, at 5:30 pm.

What a way to wrap up the month. And those are just our January offerings! If you’re busy the first month of the year, well, our offerings scheduled to start in February are already posted on our Classes, Courses and Workshops page.

While all of these are open to people ages 14+ (and the handbuilding classes welcome young people age 12+, as long as they are working alongside an accompanying adult), we have not forgotten about our smaller potters!

Our kids’ workshops for early 2025 are currently in development and will be coming soon, too!

So keep watching this space and, meanwhile, find a handmade ceramic mug, fill it with your favorite warm beverage (I’m opting for some spiced black tea!), and stay cozy! 🧡

There’s nothing quite like taking a sip out of a mug made with love 🥰

(Our members might recognize these glazes! A quick-dipped combo of Dappled light and Mediterranean Mist for the win!)

Last Call For 2024 Wheel Classes! Our final wheel classes of the year start this week (and one starts today!)

It’s that time of the year! Thinking ahead to the holidays, putting things in the calendar and realizing that they’re going to be happening in 2025! It’s hard to believe. However, there is still so much of 2024 to enjoy! The autumn is still in its full glory and, I don’t know about you, but all of my favorite holidays are yet to come!

What else is still to come? Our last wheel classes of 2024!

We still have spaces in two Pottery Wheel Classes for All-Level Beginners. Join us Wednesday evenings from 6:00–8:00 pm, from October 20–December 11 (with November 27 off for Thanksgiving week).

Or, jump in on our last wheel weekend class of the year, starting today! It will run Saturday afternoons from 3:00–5:00, from October 26–December 7 (with a break on November 30 for Thanksgiving weekend) and there are still two open spots waiting to be claimed! It’s not too late!

Then, for those of you who already know how to throw a basic cylinder or bowl form, we have Beyond Basics on the Pottery Wheel, starting this week and running Tuesday evenings, from 5:00–7:15 pm, October 29–December 17. You can still grab your spot!

All of these classes are great opportunities to learn, play, have fun and make handmade gifts this holiday season!

Also, don’t forget that next weekend is the start of our next Kids’ Workshop: Build A Pinch-Pot Turkey, taking place over two Saturdays, November 2 & 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, for kids ages 7–12.

More holiday workshops, along with 2025 wheel and handbuilding classes, are coming soon, so keep an eye on our Classes, Courses & Workshops page and stay tuned for more fun!

Wishing you all a great weekend, and hope to see you soon at the Staunton Clayground!

Our First Polymer Clay Workshop, Coming Saturday! Plus, Three New Pottery Wheel Classes Before The End Of October!

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!

Two New Pottery Wheel Classes Starting Next Week! Wed. & Thurs. Evenings (Plus a Saturday Kids' Class!)

Hello, dear friends of the Staunton Clayground!

It’s almost mid-September and that means that our new fall classes are getting started next week! It’s hard to believe, but we are so excited that it’s finally time!

If you have been waiting to jump on the pottery wheel, the time is now! We have two Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners classes starting!

The first, taught by our brand new teacher Mary Tuttle, who we are very excited to welcome on board, will be on Wednesday evenings from 6:00–8:00 pm, and will run from September 18–October 23. Click here to read the details and register for this class!

The second, taught by Valya Boutenko, who we are so glad is staying on with us after a very successful first 3 courses at the Staunton Clayground this summer, will run on Thursday evenings from 5:00–7:15 pm, from September 19–November 14 (with a break for the week of Halloween, which falls on Thurs., Oct. 31). Click here to read the details and claim your spot in this class!

There are still spots left in both of these classes, but don’t wait too long to claim your place! Sign-ups close on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at noon!

Yes, all of those finished pots are pieces that beginner potters have made in previous courses at the Staunton Clayground!

And don’t forget, our first kids’ class is kicking off next Saturday, September 21, too! From 10 a.m.–12:00 noon on Sat., Sept. 21 and Sat., Oct. 5, kids ages 7–12 can join artist, art teacher and Studio member Christy Pilson to make their very own pinch-pot pumpkin. What a great way to welcome the fall! Click here to read the details and claim a spot!

We have playtime for kids, too! 😃

So grab your spots while you can! The fall is nearly upon us and it’s time to jump in and clay!

None of the classes in this email quite what you’re looking for? Check out our full list of fall classes here!

We’ll see you at the Staunton Clayground!

Our First Fall Classes Are Live!! Wheel, Handbuilding, Creative Collaborations, and More To Come!

Hello, dear Friends of the Staunton Clayground!

It has been about a month since our last blog post, and there is a reason for that––it has also been just a little over a month since the launch of our Studio Membership program, which, while keeping us very busy, has been wonderful! What a difference it is to have all of our spaces buzzing with activity all the time. What was a place of possibilities and dreams has now also become a place full of creativity and joy, and we’ve been loving every moment of it!

In addition to all of that good fun, we have been working hard to line up some great classes and workshops for you for the fall. We’ve got a whole raft of handbuilding and wheel throwing classes and workshops, running from September through December! There is so much to tell you about… so let’s start at the beginning!

Can you feel the autumn on its way? We sure can, and we can’t wait to get started!

Our fall roster of workshops will be kicking off with something we are very excited about! We will be running a collaborative workshop with downtown Staunton’s very own Burrow & Vine, starting on Saturday, September 7!

In Plant Pots and Macramé, over the course of four 2-hour sessions (Sat., Sept 7, and Sundays Sept. 8, 15 and 22 from 1:00–3:00 pm), you will first learn how to make your own handbuilt plant pot and then how to make a gorgeous macramé holder in which to display it.

In Plant Pots and Macramé, over the course of four 2-hour sessions (Sat., Sept 7, and Sundays Sept. 8, 15 and 22 from 1:00–3:00 pm), you will first learn how to make your own handbuilt plant pot and then how to make a gorgeous macramé holder in which to display it. The first three sessions, hosted at Staunton Clayground, will cover every step of the process, from rolling out slabs of clay and adding texture to them to assembling and, finally, glazing. During the final session, hosted in Burrow & Vine’s beautiful second-floor classroom at 10 E. Beverley St., you will make the macramé hanger. Spots are limited, so claim yours now! No clay experience necessary.

If you are looking to dive deeper into handbuilding than just one workshop, then you’re in luck, because we have two handbuilding classes starting in September, one on Tuesday evenings and one on Wednesday mornings, to suit different schedules.

In these two Introduction to Handbuilding classes, both first-time potters and those with some prior clay experience will explore some of the essential techniques of handbuilding, making several unique functional pieces to take home over the course of five 2.5-hours sessions.

Participants will build confidence working with both soft and leather-hard clay, and explore a variety of surface texturing techniques. Projects will include a platter, a birdbath with bird sculpture, an angular vase, and a mug! We only have room for six students in each of these, so don’t wait too long to grab your spot! No prior experience with clay required.

Have you been waiting for a chance to try your hand at wheel throwing? Well, you’re in luck, because we have a full roster of wheel classes running all the way through the holidays, five in all!

Beginning on September 18, you can join our newest wheel teacher, Mary Tuttle (Welcome, Mary!), on Wednesday evenings, from 6–8 pm, for the first 12-hour (6-week) Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners class of the season.

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, this class will focus on helping you to set achievable goals and make them into a reality! If you’re a little too busy to start in mid-September, this same Wednesday-evening 12-hour class will run for second time, so check out Pottery Wheel for All-Level Beginners starting on October 30! Absolute beginners welcome!

(Yes, these photos are all actual pieces made by actual Staunton Clayground students in prior wheel classes! How cool is that?)

Are Wednesday evenings not good for you? Not to worry! We have more options. You can join one of two more Pottery Wheel for All-Level Beginners classes on either Thursday evenings or Sunday afternoons (a time we’ve had multiple requests for).

Come and join instructor Valya Boutenko and learn to throw functional pottery on the wheel. 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. First-time beginners are welcome here, as well!

(Yup! These are all our students’ creations, too! Isn’t that awesome?)

Are you ready to level up your wheel skills? Valya’s popular Beyond Basics On The Pottery Wheel class will be running on Tuesday evenings again this fall, starting on October 29.

Beyond Basics is an intermediate class for students who are somewhat familiar with working on the wheel. The class is a good fit for students who can throw a basic cylinder and a simple bowl form. In this class, students will practice throwing plates as well as elegant, rounded vases. Together with Valya, they will be tackling the more challenging forms and incorporating design elements that add interest and make the work shine.

The good news? If you attend any of our classes starting this fall, everything you make in them will be ready for pick-upbefore the holidays!

The better news? We have even more workshops in the works! We are working on two polymer clay workshopsbefore the end of the year, one for adults in October and one for kid-and-adult pairs in December. Look out for more about the first one in coming days! We are also working on a second collaboration with Burrow & Vine, and another co-workshop, this time with the Art Hive, Staunton’s “creative reuse and art center!” These will both be happening in the fall, and even more creative partnerships will be launching in 2025!

The best news? KIDS WORKSHOPS’ ARE FINALLY COMING! Yes, we are finally going to be rolling out our first workshops especially and exclusively for kids! We have partnered with some truly amazing local children’s art teachers to develop a series of fall and winter workshops, one in late September, two in October and one in November.

Keep watching this space, because news about all of those upcoming adults’ and kids’ workshops will be getting posted in coming days!

We are so excited for this marvelous fall and our very first holiday season!

See you soon at the Staunton Clayground. Let’s clay!

Three New Wheel-Throwing Classes Starting in July! Two For Beginners, One "Beyond Basics"

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! 😃

Membership Q&A Open House Reminder! Plus, 2 Spots Left In Beginner Wheel Class Starting Tuesday, June 25

Things have definitely been heating up at the studio, and not just because of our kilns 😁

We have been hard at work not just setting up a ton of great classes (taking place inside where it is nice and cool 😉) but also getting ready to launch our Studio Membership Program next month! And July is just around the corner, so we wanted to remind you about our special Open House happening this Saturday, June 22, from 11–3, for the express purpose of answering all of your questions about memberships, classes and anything else you might want to know about what we’re up to!

We are very excited to show you our new member space and tell you all about what we’re planning. Not only that, but there will be refreshments and door prizes for 3 lucky winners, who will get a discount on their first 3 months as members! Come down and see us! Tell your friends! RSVP on Facebook, if you like. We can’t wait to see you there.

Also, our wheel classes have been filling up fast, but there are still 2 spots left in the Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners class starting this coming Tuesday, June 25! It will run Tuesday evenings, 5:30–8:30 pm for 5 weeks.

Come down and clay!

New Sunday Pottery Wheel All-Level Beginner Class Announced And Last Call For "Bowls & Underglaze" Workshop, Starting Tuesday!

We hope that you are all having a wonderful weekend and staying cool!

We’re writing with some exciting news! We have just posted a new Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners class, set to run on Sunday afternoons, 2:30–5:00 pm, June 30–July 28 and August 11, 2024.

Why have we added another one? Well, we have had a lot of requests for Sunday classes, plus the other all-level beginners wheel class we posted just a couple of weeks ago is already nearly sold out! If you were interested in that one, which will be running on Tuesdays evenings, 5:30–8:30 pm, June 25–July 23, now is the time to grab one of the few spots remaining!

If you already have some experience at the wheel and are itching to get your hands back in the clay a little sooner, there’s still a little time to book a spot in Nicole Eyerman Hill’s pottery wheel and surface decoration workshop starting this Tuesday, Bowls & Underglaze.

It will consist of three 3-hour sessions, running from 5:30–8:30 pm on Tuesday, June 18, Friday, June 21 and Friday, June 28, 2024. Sign-ups close after Sunday, June 16, so if you’re interested, now’s the time!

Last but not least, don’t forget about our Open House on Saturday, June 22, from 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.!

This event will be specifically dedicated to answering your questions about our Membership Program, which is set to start up very soon! Look for the Facebook Event page, going up this week.

Keep watching this space for news about this and more great summer workshops!

Wishing you a great weekend and, to all of you Dads out there, Happy Father’s Day! 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

New Pottery Wheel All-Level Beginner Class Added! June 25–July 23, Sign-Ups Now Open!

It certainly has been an eventful few weeks since our first Open House back in April. Our very first Intro to Clay classwrapped up last week and our first two handbuilding workshops are in full swing, with students’ pieces from both just about ready for the final step, glazing!

“What about pottery wheel classes?” you might ask. Well, the first two Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginner classes we posted both sold out well before their start dates, so we are very happy to announce that we have just managed to schedule an additional one!

cue drum roll

Space is limited! Grab your spot now!

Sign-ups are now open for a brand new 15-hour Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners class, starting on June 25! It will consist of five three-hour sessions, running on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30, June 25 through July 23, and be taught by Nicole Eyerman Hill. You may know her work from seeing her booth at Art in the Park or from seeing her page on instagram.

We are doing our best to understand what it is that everyone in our community is most interested in and plan our future classes accordingly! If there is something specific you or a friend is interesting in learning and it is not already among the Staunton Clayground class and workshop offerings, drop us a line and we’ll see what we can do. We want to know what it is that you want to learn!

Meanwhile, if you see a past class that makes you wish you’d been there, no worries. We plan to offer repeats of our popular classes in the future.

In other news, a lot of you have been asking about when we are going to open up our studio for memberships. Well, we are working now on hammering out the final details of our membership program! We are planning a special open house geared specifically towards answering all of your membership questions. We’ll have the date nailed down in the next few days, so keep watching this space!

Meanwhile, we wish you all a marvelous weekend!