The coolest place you never knew about!:

Hi! I’m Sunni from Love Affair with my Brother. No, I’m not immoral, I just have a close relationship with my sewing machine, a Brother!

I’m guessing that if you are a regular follower at Sew Happy Geek or Love Affair, sewing is a passion for you. But, I’m not talking sewing today.

You see, I think that sewists, quilters and seamstresses are some of the most creative and expressive people out there. And I want to introduce you to a craft you may not have tried. Pottery!!

The best part is that you don’t need special equipment to get started. Kilns can cost a few hundred dollars secondhand and thousands if you buy it new. Plus all the accessories like clay, paint, cones, shelves, etc. Most of us don’t have that kind of money to blow on a brand new hobby that we aren’t sure if we will even like.

So how do you get started? Color Me Mine and Paint Your Own Pottery are national chains, but there are smaller shops all over the place. I live in Washington, near Olympia, so I love The Painted Plate. Just Google “paint your own pottery” and you will find loads of links!

How does it work? All of the pottery studios will charge you for the piece you choose. So you might choose a small plate for $12 or a large serving dish for $45. Some of the studios will charge you an additional “studio fee” to use the facilities, but that fee is good for the entire day and any additional days to finish your piece (you know, if you are very intricate), and you can sometimes find coupons for free studio fees. They say that they offset the cost of the studio fee with the pottery piece prices, but I remain unconvinced. I like straightforward pricing.

Most do special promotions, too. The Paint Plate even has a girl’s night out with wine! WINE!! I wonder if  they serve it in a ceramic wine glass? Or you can schedule a children’s party at the location, but some have mobile studios and they will bring the pottery and paint to you! Wouldn’t you be the coolest parent ever?

You paint it, they fire it and you pick it up. It really is that easy. For just a little money, you can explore a brand new creative side of yourself.

(All photos courtesy of The Painted Plate.)