After a blizzard that resulted in 6 days off from school and another winter storm incoming, I was looking for an activity to combat cabin fever which would a) get us out of the house for a few hours and b) be creative. Since my daughter has been begging me to go back to The Pottery Stop in Ellicott City, MD ever since we celebrated her birthday there last year, I figured it was the perfect place to go!
It was quite busy when we got there early this afternoon but we lucked out with the last open table. There's also a bar-type table which looked really inviting but it's probably not the most comfortable for smaller kids.
Picking our pottery pieces was easier than I had anticipated. The Pottery Stop has a lovely variety, ornaments, mugs, bowls, plates, piggy banks, plagues, flower pots and a number of animals.. there's something for everyone. Deciding on a color scheme took a bit longer - so many choices!
There are a few tricks to keep in mind when painting pottery, multiple coats are better, lighter colors first and all colors will be darker and/or brighter after the glaze and getting "baked" in the oven. For writings, The Pottery Stop has stencils, a computer/printer, stencil paper and very thin brushes available. Look for sponges, cue tips and lace if you want to create special effects.
The staff at The Pottery Stop is incredibly nice, always checking in, providing feedback, offering a helping end and making lattes and smoothies! If you'd rather paint on canvas or glass, they offer that, too! Or, if you'd rather go out for dinner while your kids paint, then check out their Kids Night Out events at the end of each month.
The Pottery Stop in Ellicott City is open 7 days a week, reservations are not required. The price for the pottery includes all (well, almost, the coffee is extra): paint, utensils and a place to sit. More importantly, nobody will rush you to get it done, you can take all the time you want and successfully beat a case of the cabin fever... like we did today.
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