Beginner’s wheel throwing class
Booked for two adults at a time, so bring a friend and have a great time
This introduction to throwing on the potter’s wheel for adults is a great chance to try something new, and maybe even ignite a new passion. Come unwind with the wheel and let your hands play.
A dedicated instructor will teach the basics of wheel-throwing with no pressure: we’ll learn to centre the clay, open it up and pull walls. Then we’ll learn some decorations and trim excess from the bottom for a finished look.
Six wheels are available so up to six adults can participate in this 1 hour 45 minute single-session class. A booking secures two spots. We can do a dedicated kids class but the regular classes are for adults.
Each person makes two projects, one of which is baked at no charge for later painting. The baking process makes the items all white and solid and takes one to two weeks.
Please see the bottom of page for questions and answers and use the calendar below to select time and date for your class.
Long fingernails are strongly discouraged at the class. It is a practical, hands-on activity.
You MUST be on time, it is not ok to come late. The class starts on time and you may miss out on the first of the two projects if you are late.
Wednesday and Friday 5 pm and 7 pm – $113 including tax for two adults, $85 including tax for one adult.
Saturday 1 pm and 3 pm – $141 including tax for two adults, $106 including tax for one adult
Saturday 5 pm and 7 pm – $169 including tax for two adults. $127 including tax for one adult.
Payment is due immediately after registering through Interac eTransfer to “appointments@craftypots.studio”. You will also receive an email with payment instructions. The booking will be cancelled without further notice if not paid within a short time.
Cancelation policy:
The payment is not refundable, but if cancelled or rescheduled with more than 48 hours notice before the class it can be fully converted to store credit valid for another pottery wheel class that must be within ONE month from the date of contact.
If cancelled or rescheduled with less than 48 hours notice before the class only half of the payment can be converted to store credit, the other half is lost. That means you will have to pay half the amount to book another class. The store credit MUST be applied to another pottery class within ONE MONTH from the date of contact. If not used for another class within that time, the store credit is lost.
Please be a few minutes early:
The class starts on time, so you must be a few minutes early to get set up. We provide aprons so you don’t need to bring anything. Please remember that long finger nails will make pottery wheel throwing much more difficult.
What’s included in the class?
Two beginner sized balls of clay per person, around 400 g each, enough for a small bowl or mug. 1 hour and 45 minutes of wheel time. Use of all necessary tools. An apron is available to protect your clothes.
One of the two items is baked at no charge. The other item can be baked for $10 + tax.
When the items are baked you can come in to paint them for $15 each for a fun and inexpensive second visit or enjoy them as they are at no charge.
Can children join the class?
Generally, no, we expect the partipants in the regular classes to be adults. However, we’ll be happy to do an all-children pottery class Saturday morning with between four and six kids, but the regular classes are for adults. Children needs to be taught differently than adults so it’s not optimal to mix. If you’d like to enroll four to six children in a Saturday morning class, please contact us with phone or email and we’ll be in touch. Price is $50 plus tax per participant and is due upon booking with Interac eTransfer.
I have long finger nails, can I do wheel throwing?
It will be a lot more difficult as you have to use the knuckles more than the fingertips. It’s kinda possible, but we do not recommend having long finger nails when wheel throwing. We cannot do refunds or compensation if it doesn’t work out for you, sorry.
Will you fire clay items that I’ve thrown with my own clay on my own wheel?
In some cases, yes. It depends on the circumstances at the time, like what kilns are available, how busy we are etc. There is no refund or compensation if the items break during the firing. If they broke in our kiln, they’d have broken if you’d fired them in your own.
We only do cone 04 clay firings so the clay must be “low fire cone 04” clay. If it is “high fire” clay see below for full kiln pricing. You will need to bring a clear picture of the box the clay came in so we can check the type
For the firing you pay for the space you need. Minimum space is the room taken up by four standard mugs next to each other, which will cost $35. Each additional “mug space” is $10. Tall items may come with extra charges.
A full cone 04 kiln load is $100 so if you have many items, it’ll be most efficient to get a full load. You will load the kiln yourself under supervision. Full kiln firings to higher temperatures is possible with a $50 extra charge. Painting of the fired items is not included the price.
Can I store unfinished clay projects in the studio?
Sorry, it’s not possible for us to store work-in-progress in the studio. If your project is not finished, we’ll wrap it up in a box and you take it home where you can finish it before bringing it back for firing.
A clay project dries over the course of a day or so under cover, and if left too long it becomes too dry to work on, so it’s best to take it home to do detail carving etc.
How long do I have to pick up the items?
We call as as soon as they are ready for painting. We have limited storage space so once they’re baked the items must be picked up or painted within 30 days We do not guarantee they’ll be kept for more than one month. Unfortunately we do not compensate if the items were disposed.
We call you as soon as the items are ready for pickup or painting, and we will call again before the items are disposed. Make sure you check your phone messages.