Are you looking for a new weekend activity to beat the summer heat? Bring family and friends to these paint-your-own pottery studios and design cups, plates, vases, figures, and more. Stretch your art imagination.
Clay Cafe
Clay Cafe offers pottery wheel classes where you learn to throw clay. Open seven days a week, this business then lets you drop in to paint your own pottery for $8. This includes paint options, hand-dipped glazing, and firing of your artwork. Your pottery will be ready for pickup within seven to 14 days. 14511 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy., Chantilly
CreateLikeCrazy.com
This mobile pop-up painting business allows you to pick up a Pottery 2Go kit and choose from a variety of glaze colors. Kits include pottery, supplies, and instructions. Select from mugs, plates, vases, frames, seasonal décor, and more. Ceramics are usually complete about seven to 10 days after firing. Buy the kits online, at one of the shops that carry them, or at the Historic Manassas Farmers Market every Saturday. Multiple locations
Kiln & Custard
The best of both worlds: decorating and dessert. Paint your own pottery, then treat yourself to some housemade frozen custard. Explore the wide collection of pieces and use different tools, stamps, decals, and glazes. Frozen custard offerings include old-fashioned flavors, plant-based fruit options, and limited-edition specials such as apple cinnamon fireball and cookie monster. Instagram-worthy shakes and frozen custard cakes are available. 115 Church St. NE, Vienna
Manna Pottery
For $12 per person, choose from a large selection of figures and dishes to embellish with your own designs, along with a full range of colors, glazes, brushes, sponges, and stamps. The store will call or email you when your creation is ready for pick-up after it’s been fired in the kiln. Although walk-ins are acceptable, reserve a table in advance for a guaranteed session. 36 Pidgeon Hill Dr., Sterling
Paint This!
Choose from a wide variety of ceramics and over 150 paint colors to decorate your pottery for $12. Dinnerware, figurines, vases, frames, and more are available. After glazing and firing, take your creation home. Or create a mosaic mirror or frame and you’ll go home with a complimentary grouting kit and instructions. 1013 King St., Alexandria
Feature image of Kiln & Custard courtesy Eleanor Doughty
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