Before your first hand-building class…
You might have some questions! Please read this page for tips on what to wear, what to expect, and how to park.
See you soon!
Using our Hands!
We are going to be forming about one pound of clay with our hands. We will be seated at a table!
You will want SHORT nails! Long nails will dig into the clay and cause your pieces to crack, break, have missing chunks, etc. You can certainly come with long nails, but prepare yourself ahead of time for the frustration that comes with them!
Your hands will feel a little dry after working with the clay. This is totally normal and easy to fix with a little moisturizer once you get home. :)
I will be teaching one method for building your piece. There’s 1000 ways to do it, so if you find a way that works better for you, feel free to practice with that!
ATTIRE!
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We have basic aprons for use at the studio! You’re welcome to bring your own. I recommend “split leg aprons,” if you’re looking for one ahead of time.
Sometimes I don’t wear aprons. A hand towel is a great alternative!
We don’t get very messy in a hand-building ceramics class, so an apron isn’t necessary unless you want to be safe.
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It is totally fine to wear eye glasses. We do use water while working with the clay! Sometimes it will splash on your glasses. We recommend wearing an older pair if you’re sensitive to that. :)
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Wear shoes that are flat and have good grip. Hand-building pottery involves a lot of water, so shoes that will keep you upright are ideal and safest!
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The clay we use in lessons does not stain. Don’t worry! If you get it on you, it will wash out in the laundry as normal. It’s just fancy mud!
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Not ideal!
We’re going to be sitting down, so tight or high-waisted pants might dig in. Wear something that you feel comfortable being in a forward-leaning position while sitting down.
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Loose clothes are great! They give you flexibility in your movement and all the funky angles we’ll be using to form our clay.
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Better to leave it at home! Long necklaces, bracelets, watches, and rings can all snag clay. We don’t want those lovely things to get dirty!
HAIR
We don’t have to worry about the spinning mechanisms of the wheel in a hand-building class, but it’s always a good rule of thumb to have your hair out of your way anyway.
We will be looking down at our pieces, so our hair can sometimes get in the way.
MINDSET
We’ve got a lot to cover! Class starts at the scheduled start time. Please try your best to arrive a minute or two early. If you’re late, you’ll be a little behind! There are no refunds if you miss a portion of class (or miss it entirely). Give yourself some extra time to park and grab a drink at The Bear if they’re open before class. (Yep, you can bring it over!)
TIMING
Clay is tricky and, for some, takes a while to pick up. Come to class for the journey and you’ll leave happy. Don’t place super tough expectations on yourself! You’re a baby in the clay world. It’s okay to crawl before walking. We’re here to have some fun.
PARKING & ARRIVING
There’s lots of FREE street parking on both sides of the street! Make sure not to park in front of the hydrant! There’s also parking around the corner on Exchange Street. Street parking in Gorham, NH is technically two hours—just enough time for your lesson!
Our main entrance is circled here with a heart! Come on up the stairs. No need to knock!
If you need a more accessible entrance, you can enter through the courtyard. There’s a nice level path leading up to a door with white pillars. That’s us, too!
REMINDERS
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Kiddos age 10+ are welcome to participate in class as long as a guardian is there to supervise them!
If you’re bringing a child with you because you can’t find care, that’s okay, but very discouraged. Please give us a heads up and bring something for them to do to entertain themselves quietly.
You will get the most from this experience if you are able to focus on the clay in front of you. It takes a lot of concentration!
Only registered students are permitted to participate in the clay activity.
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It will take a couple of weeks for your piece to be ready! It must dry completely before getting fired the first time. We’ll then glaze it for you in your selected color and notify you via e-mail (and then text if we don’t hear back from ya) when it’s ready for pick up! You can come on in during our business hours and pick them up from the front room.
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Seriously!
Short nails are your friend.
Coming in for the journey and not the product is 10/10 the best path!