Let’s Clay!
Building Community Through Clay
This is where the fun starts! Explore our list of upcoming classes, courses & workshops below to find one that is just right. We now offer classes and workshops for children and adults!
If none of our regularly scheduled group classes feels like the place you’d like to start, you might want to schedule a one-on-one or private class with friends or colleagues as a way to get started, hone your skills or simply have fun and get to know each other better.
Are you looking for a place to keep playing after your class ended or a studio to practice your craft? Check out our membership options.
Still not sure what’s right for you? Call or write to us for more information!
We want to help you find the right fit! We are firm believers in “the more the merrier” here at the Staunton Clayground!
A Brief List of Our Ongoing and Upcoming Classes & Workshops
(Listed chronologically by start date - scroll down or click the links to read the more detailed descriptions below)
What’s starting soon?
Handbuild a Set of Mugs – A One-Day Workshop in March 2025 – Choose from one of 3 workshop times: Wednesday morning, March 26, 9:00 am–12:00 noon, Thursday evening, March 27, 5:30–8:30 pm, Sunday afternoon, March 30, 2:30–5:30 pm
A One-Day Kids’ Workshop! Terrific Tea Lights (Ages 7 to 12) – Saturday morning, March 29, 2025, 10:00–11:30 a.m. (1.5 hours total)
All-Level Pottery Wheel – Beginner and Up: Saturday afternoons, March 29–May 3, 2025, 3:00–5:00 pm (12 hours total)
All-Level Pottery Wheel – Beginner and Up: Wednesday evenings, April 2–May 7, 2025, 6:00–8:00 pm (12 hours total)
Handbuild A Kitchen Suite – A Four-Part Workshop: Thursday evenings, April 3–24, 2025, 5:30–8:30 pm, (12 hours in total)
Kids’ Workshop: A Teacup for Mom: A Three-Hour Mother’s Day Workshop In Two Parts (Ages 8–12) – Saturday afternoons, April 12 & 26, 2025, 1:00–2:30 pm (3 hours total)
Creature Crafting – A One-Day Handbuilding Workshop in April 2025 – Choose from one 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
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)
Scroll down for detailed info about each listing!
What’s already in session?
Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners: Sunday afternoons, February 9–March 30, 2025, 3:00–5:15 pm (18 hours total)
Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners: Saturday afternoons, February 15–March 22, 2025, 3:00–5:00 pm (12 hours total)
Pottery Wheel For All-Level Beginners: Monday evenings, February 24–March 31, 2025, 6:00–8:00 pm (12 hours total)
Foundational Pottery Wheel For All Levels – Beginner and Up: Mastering And Building On Basic Skills: Tuesday evenings, March 11–April 29, 2025, 5:00–7:15 pm (18 hours total)
Scroll down for detailed info about each listing!
Handbuild A Set Of Mugs – A One-Day Workshop In March 2025
No prior clay experience necessary!
Choose from one of 3 workshop times:
Wednesday morning, March 26, 9:00–12:00 noon
Thursday evening, March 27, 5:30–8:30
Sunday afternoon, March 30, 2:30–5:30
Creating mugs using a pottery wheel takes practice and experience. Using hand building techniques, however, even a beginner can create a mug to be proud of! You will choose a glaze color from several options and pick up your glazed and fired mugs 1-2 weeks later.
Instructors: Cary Dahl
No prior clay experience necessary. Open to adults age 15+
Price: $95 (includes all materials and firing)
A One-Day Kids’ Workshop! Terrific Tea Lights (Ages 7 to 12) – Saturday morning, 10:00–11:30 a.m., March 29, 2025
The first day of spring is March 20! Join instructor Brooke Fawley to celebrate the return of brighter days and the first flowers popping up by making a blossom-shaped tea-light holder out of clay.
Making this flower-like vessel will teach attendees the basics of handbuilding using clay, plus they are a lot of fun! Brooke will help students to pick a glaze color that compliments their pieces, and they will come back on Saturday, April 12, to pick up their finished, fired tea-light holders, well in time for Mother’s Day! Make Mom a gift that will brighten not only her day, but her every evening!
Instructor: Brooke Fawley
Price: $40 (includes and all necessary materials, glazes and firing).
All-Level Pottery Wheel –
Beginner and Up:
Saturday afternoons, March 29–May 3, 3:00–5:00 pm
Six 2-hour sessions (12 hours total)
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, we 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. Everyone will have functional food, oven, microwave and dishwasher safe wares to take home by the end of this class!
Instructor: Mary Tuttle
Price: $180 (includes materials and all necessary glazes. There is no limit to the number of pieces each student can make and fire during this class.)
Minimum age: 14
All-Level Pottery Wheel –
Beginner and Up:
Wednesday evenings, April 2–May 7, 6:00–8:00 pm
Six 2-hour sessions (12 hours total)
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, we 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. Everyone will have functional food, oven, microwave and dishwasher safe wares to take home by the end of this class!
Instructor: Mary Tuttle
Price: $180 (includes materials and all necessary glazes. There is no limit to the number of pieces each student can make and fire during this class.)
Minimum age: 14
Handbuild A Kitchen Suite – A Four-Part Workshop: Thursday evenings, 5:30–8:30 pm, April 3–24, 2025
(12 hours in total)
No prior clay experience necessary!
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 wet and dry slab building techniques. Projects include a butter dish, utensil caddy/wine chiller, sponge holder and napkin holder, (all food, microwave and dishwasher safe). Design templates revolve around nature themes, such as flowers, mountains and clouds, but students are encouraged to personalize their pieces to fit their own kitchen aesthetics.
Instructors: Cary Dahl
Open to adults, ages 14+ (or 12+ if attending with a parent or guardian)
Price: $225 (includes all materials and firing)
Kids’ Workshop! A Teacup for Mom:
A Three-Hour Mother’s Day Workshop In Two Parts (Ages 8–12) – Saturday afternoons, 1:00–2:30 pm, April 12 & 26, 2025
Kids will have a chance to make a handmade gift from the heart, as well as a great chance to learn and build on foundational skills for crafting functional handbuilt pottery. In the first session, instructor Brooke Fawley will teach attendees how to build a teacup by hand out of clay. During the second session, kids will get to paint their teacups with underglazes, adding designs of their choosing. Pickup at 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 3… in time for Mother’s Day! What better way to tell Mom you appreciate her than by “treating” her to a nice cup of tea?
Instructor: Brooke Fawley
Price: $55 (includes and all necessary materials, glazes and firing).
Creature Crafting – A One-Day Handbuilding Workshop in April 2025
Choose from one of 3 workshop times:
Sunday afternoon, April 13, 3:00–6:00
Wednesday morning, April 16, 9:30–12:30
Thursday evening, April 17, 5:30–8:30
No prior clay experience necessary!
Come join creature-creator extraordinaire, Abby Kiracofe, for this one-day adventure in handbuilding! 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!
Grab your spot now!
No experience necessary. Open to ages 14+
Max. number of students: 6
Instructor: Abby Kiracofe
Price: $95 (includes all materials and firing)
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)
No prior clay experience necessary!
Come join Mary Tuttle for a fun and magical journey through jewelry land, where 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!
Instructor: Mary Tuttle
Open to adults, ages 12+
Price: $95
(includes all materials and firing)
Handbuilt Heart Trays
Choose from one of 3 workshop times:
Tuesday morning, April 29, 10:00 am - 12:00 noon
Thursday evening, May 1, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Sunday (Mothers’ Day), May 11, 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
No prior clay experience necessary!
Create a beautiful gift to give for Mothers’ Day, or make lasting memories with friends and family on Mothers’ Day itself! Using classic, simple Hand Building techniques, you will make and personalize a heart-shaped tray for storing jewelry, coins, or paperclips!
Choose your color, and we will glaze and fire your creation for later pick-up
Grab your spot now!
No experience necessary. Open to ages 10+
Max. number of students per session: 8
Instructor: Abby Kiracofe
Price: $40
Foundational Pottery Wheel For All Levels – Beginner and Up: Mastering And Building On Basic Skills: Tuesday evenings, 5:00–7:15, March 11–April 29, 2025
This class is currently in session, but don’t worry! It will be back with another session in late spring/early summer 2025
Eight sessions (18 hours total)
Come 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!
Everyone will have functional food, oven, microwave and dishwasher safe wares to take home by the end of this class!
Instructor: Valya Boutenko
Price: $270 (includes materials and all necessary glazes. There is no limit to the number of pieces each student can make and fire during this class.)
Minimum age: 14
Pottery Wheel for All-Level Beginners:
Monday evenings, February 24–March 31, 2025, 6:00–8:00 pm
IN SESSION! Another weeknight class is starting on Wednesday, April 2! Click here to go to the listing
Six 2-hour sessions (12 hours total)
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, we 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 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. Everyone will have functional food, oven, microwave and dishwasher safe wares to take home by the end of this class!
Instructor: Mary Tuttle
Price: $180 (includes materials and all necessary glazes. There is no limit to the number of pieces each student can make and fire during this class.)
Pottery Wheel for All-Level Beginners:
Saturday afternoons, February 15–March 22, 2025, 3:00–5:00 pm
IN SESSION!
Another Saturday afternoon class is starting on March 29! Click here to go to the listing
Six 2-hour sessions (12 hours total)
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, we 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 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. Everyone will have functional food, oven, microwave and dishwasher safe wares to take home by the end of this class!
Instructor: Mary Tuttle
Price: $180 (includes materials and all necessary glazes. There is no limit to the number of pieces each student can make and fire during this class.)
Pottery Wheel for All-Level Beginners:
Sunday afternoons, February 9–March 30, 2025, 3:00–5:15 pm
IN SESSION (but don’t worry, we will offer another Sunday afternoon wheel class later this year!)
Eight sessions (18 hours total)
Come 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.
Everyone will have functional food, oven, microwave and dishwasher safe wares to take home by the end of this class!
Instructors: Valya Boutenko
Price: $270 (includes and all necessary materials and glazes. There is no limit to the number of pieces each student can make and fire during this class.)
Handbuilding Basics – A Four-Week Workshop
IN SESSION (but don’t worry, more handbuilding workshops will be coming soon!)
No prior clay experience necessary!
Yes, we all love the movie Ghost, but pottery is so much more than just the wheel!
Over the course of four 3-hour sessions we 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).
Instructors: Cary Dahl
Price: $200 (includes materials and all necessary glazes) – Open to adults (age 14+ or 12+ if working alongside an accompanying adult).
Get in touch! We’re happy to answer your questions.
