Handbuilding

Make Handmade Pottery

Sessions Offered Daily

Book a throwing experience and have some fun playing in the mud.
$38.00

Price Per Project

Come for date night, bring your friends, mom+me or make it a solo self-care evening.

Work at your own pace using small-batch production tools to hand-build whatever you envision — plates, mugs, planters, ashtrays, sculptural pieces, or complete dinnerware sets. Our instructor guides you through pinching, coiling, and slab-building techniques. Each piece is fired and glazed with a clear finish, ready for pickup. Upgrade to Color + Shine and paint your own pottery for a fully customized look. No wheel, no experience needed — just your creativity.

All ages welcome. No experience needed.

AGE

All Ages

LEVEL

No Experience Needed

TIME

1.5 hours

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Handbuilding Experience

What You'll do

In this 1.5 hour free-build session, you'll create hand-built pottery pieces of your own design. Learn basic clay-shaping techniques from your instructor, then bring your vision to life at your workbench using small-batch pottery tools. Make one statement piece or start a whole collection.

You will handbuild your pottery at a workbench.

Dream It Up

Decide what you want to create — there are no project menus here, just possibilities. Craft functional pieces like plates, bowls, mugs, or ashtrays. Build decorative pieces like planters, vases, or sculptures. Design matching dinnerware sets or create something completely unique. Your instructor helps you plan a project that matches your skill level and vision.

Shape Your Vision

Watch your instructor demo pinching, coiling, and slab-building techniques, then apply these methods to your own creation. Work at your pottery station using small-batch production tools to shape, texture, and refine your piece. Your instructor guides you step by step — no prior clay experience needed. Sip your favorite beverage while you work and bring your imagination to life.

Add Your Details

Personalize your creation with carved designs, texture stamps, or sculptural elements. Make each piece uniquely yours with decorative touches that reflect your style. Your finished work stays at the studio for drying and firing.

Choose Your Finish

Your piece comes with a clear glaze firing for a glossy, waterproof finish. Want more? Upgrade to Color + Shine and return to paint your pottery yourself, choosing from our full palette of colors and finishes. Make it bold, subtle, or somewhere in between — it's your masterpiece.

THINGS TO KNOW
What's Included?
  • Includes studio time, clay, tools, supplies, guided instruction.
  • Bisque firing (initial firing) for one project.
  • For an additional fee, you can add Color + Shine with glaze.
What Should I Wear or Bring?

You will get messy from the elbows down. So short sleeves or sleeves you can roll up are recommended. Don't wear watches or bracelets, rings are ok.Keep in mind that you will need to straddle the pottery wheel, so leggings or comfortable pants are suggested.Sometimes shoes can get splashed with water or clay so you can either take them off or wear shoes that you don't mind getting messy.Clay doesn't typically stain clothes but we do have a limited number of aprons available if needed.
When Do I Get My Pottery?

MAKING HANDMADE POTTERY TAKES TIME AND THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES!

Smashed Clay projects and experiences are designed using our proprietary method, techniques and tools to help jumpstart your project.

However, it takes years to learn the art of handmade pottery. While we hope your finished project turns out exactly as you envisioned, there is no guarantee that your handmade pottery will make it through the entire process and/or result in what you set out to make.

Thick pottery may take longer to dry. Pottery that is too thick, too thin or constructed in a manner that creates stress during the drying or firing process may crack, break or explode. Pottery can take 2-3+ weeks to dry, prepare and bisque fire. You can monitor the status of on our website.
Do I Have to Glaze My Pottery?

Any pottery that will come in contact with food or drinks would need to be glazed and fired to seal the bisque and create a food and dishwasher safe finish. If you intend to use your pottery to hold water or if it will be exposed to the weather, you may also want to glaze your pottery.
What If I Arrive Late?

Because our classes are group classes, you must arrive on time to fully participate in the experience.  If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, we will be unable to integrate you into the class.  Our late arrival policy is as follows:

If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, you can either:

  • Join the class at the midway point.  You acknowledge that your time will be limited to the remaining class time.  If you are participating in a couples challenge, you will only be able to make one project.  No refunds will be given.
  • Reschedule for another time when seats are available.  No refunds will be given.
Do You Offer Refunds?

Our studios have limited seating, so when you book an experience at Smashed, we hold the seat for you.  We are a small business and depend on full classes to operate.  We are unable to fill seats when customers cancel with short notice or don’t show up.  For that reason, we cannot provide refunds if you do not show up or for appointments cancelled within 24 hours of your booked appointment.

Please review our refund policy here.

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