The zine is {finally} back from the printer’s. Yay! Hardcopies in the lobby or you can read online (link is in the “read the august zine” teal heading when you click to expand)

Our wheel workshop is this saturday, the 23rd, and we have spots left. if any part of the throwing process is tripping you up, come get some help. Link under “august studio news”

Reminder that our Pottery Throwdown (ie mutual admiration society and cheer club haha) is this week, Wednesday, August 20th at 8pm in the handbuilding room. Come hang out, bring a pot with a lid if you did the challenge or just give some input for the next one and peep the results for this one. Hope to see you there!

Read The August Issue of The {Good} Dirt, our Studio Zine, now available - hardcopies in the lobby while they last, or link inside to read online

  • The August issue is now available! You can grab a hardcopy in the lobby while they last or read online (link below)
  • HERE is the link to read online.

Want to read past issues?:

  • I'm looking for future submissions! (Submissions = volunteers). As in, por favor collab with me! I need y'alls help to keep this going. So, please reach out with your ideas and volunteer to be the spotlight artist, share your toolkit, create a playlist for the month, recommend artists for us to look up on IG, let me know if you are in an event/festival, or want to write an Op-Ed (or something else!) EMAIL ME and let me know!

August Studio News & Happenings (more in the monthly zine!)

  • August's Door Code is 768837. If you look at your phone, that spells "Potter" on the key pad, just to make it easy to remember. Next month it will be different, so be sure to check the member page each month for the most current code and please don't share the door code.
  • This month's {free!} Coffee Talk is a technique demo- Rob will be showing everyone how to marble clay This is a super cool technique that instantly makes your pieces a bit more interesting, and is accessible to all skill/ability levels. It's also a decorative technique that works for both the wheel and handbuilding. The demo/q&a will be on Saturday, August 16th at 1pm in the Handbuilding Room. Bring a mug for some free coffee & to learn a new decorative technique!
  • August's Pottery Throwdown Challenge is "Anything Lidded" So, like anything that has a lid of some kind/interpretation on it. All forms, all creative interpretations, all approaches - handbuilding, wheel, sculpture - welcome and wanted. We'll be meeting oon Wednesday, August 20th at 8pm to share our results with one another, have some snacks and drinks, and just celebrate as a group. Hope you'll join us!
  • This month's workshop is to help anyone who is feeling unsure about the wheel - from centering to pulling straight even walls and everything in between Rob will be teaching a 3-hour deep dive into all aspects of throwing on the wheel and help you figure out where you're going wrong and how to fix it. $35 for 3 hours of instruction from a 20+ year throwing veteran. It will help. So so much. The workshop is on Saturday, August 23rd from 1-4pm. HERE is a link to register, if you're interested in getting some extra help.
  • We're partnering with Books for Keeps! Read all about it in this month's zine, what it means, and how you can help, along with an Op-Ed by Colleen Craven all about the power of this program.
  • The Trans Celebration Night has an official date - Saturday, September 20th. We're still nailing down a time with local groups, but I will need some volunteers. If you reached out eons ago...ack. My disorganized brain lost my list. Please reach out to me if you're still interested/available! I'll tell you more as I know more.
  • Just a reminder to (really, actually) clean up after you work. When you're glazing that means not only the counter, but all the floor drips. When you're throwing that means the wedging table, the wheel, the floor, the sponge you used to clean up, etc. Handbuilding it means the table, tools, etc. Y'all got this. While we have super amazing studio assistants that deep clean 3 times a week, it's hard to keep a clay studio clean. So, we all need to clean up after ourselves thoroughly to keep the space as unpiggy as we can.
  • We've had A LOT of stuck pots recently. A LOT. So, we've instituted a stuck-to-the-shelf "swear jar" to help defray the costs of kiln damage, replacing diamond sanding discs, etc. If you stick a pot, put $5 in the swear jar in the kiln room. If you stick 2 or more OR have a total nuclear meltdown situation, you'll need to schedule a private glazing lesson OR attend a glazing workshop before putting things through the kilns again. We just want to make sure that everyone's work is protected. When the glaze runs, it often drips/sticks/ruins another person's work. In a community studio, we all have to be careful and conscientious. If you're unsure about your glazing, you can always schedule a lesson and/or read the glazing guide that's on this page.

New to the studio? Start Here!!!

First of all, welcome to the studio! We're really happy to have you in the space creating and giving yourself some time to de-stress, get your hands in clay, make some art and hopefully connect with some folks. It's going to sound suuuuper cheesy, but pottery is a form of therapy for me, and my happy little bubble where everything else falls away. It's the only kind of meditation I can do, haha. I hope it can be just as healing for you as it has been for me.

  • If you're brand new and doing studio membership, you'll need a shelf and some clay. EMAIL us to set up a time for a quick studio orientation and to show you where the clay is and get you a shelf. If you're in a class, your teacher will do that in the first class, so you don't need to reach out.
  • Take the time to read through the "Studio Rules to Know" section below. It will bring you up to speed on the things you likely won't cover in class/an orientation, but that you'll need to be aware of.
  • Studio Membership & Classes come with unlimited studio access. Just check the "Classes & Workshop" section below so you know when you can come in and practice.
  • We are no longer selling toolkits. 1) Most toolkits that are affordable are made in China and, well, tarrifs. 2) The alternative is Amazon and, well, we're not doing that, either. 3) The good ones are between $25-$35 and we can't afford to bulk stock them. If you're new and want a toolkit, get the one from Kemper, if you can find it (Dick Blick usually has this one, or another good one). If you go to Atlanta, Davens is a place to check out. Just go with cash so you don't overspend, haha. Look for (minimally): a trim tool, a needle tool, a wire, and a sponge.
  • Check out our glazing guide in the heading below. This doc is meant to help anyone who feels a bit unsure about glazing on their own. While not a substitute for learning in class, it is a great resource to jog your memory and give you some support. Just click on the heading "Glazing Guide" and you'll be directed to the doc.
  • We offer a special workshop each month to give everyone (and especially our newbies) some extra help (this month's workshop will be in the studio news section above, with a link). We also do private lessons, if you're feeling overwhelmed. Let us help you get over that initial steep climb of learning a thing and maybe getting frustrated in the early stages.
  • Do you need some extra support? ~ I think we could all use a little more of that right about now. If you're able, coming to the free coffee talks, coming in outside of class to hang out and practice, being vocal on our FB Group, grab the studio newsletter, and any other way that you can form connections in our little community will, I think, be a good way to lean on one another, hopefully feel safe and fully wanted, find like-minded folks, and have a little bubble to restore and reset when the world outside the studio doors feels like it's burning. Also, I'm always here for you, happy to listen, or just, ya know, do my job and answer questions and help with actual pottery things. But, I think with all the stress and uncertainty I think we're juggling, it's good to know I'm here for ALL of it. Text me anytime 770 375 6909
  • On that subject, most folks who quit pottery never come back after the first class. So, if you're feeling overwhelmed or disappointed, embarrassed or your brain tries to tell you're just "not good" at pottery (LIES!!!!!), please know that ALL of us started where you are. ALL of us flopped pots. ALL of us compared ourselves or felt frustrated. The ONLY secret to this whole thing is showing up, even when you feel like you're "failing". That failing is actually just what learning looks like and if you can stick with the discomfort, it will come, I promise it will come. And you can always reach out to me and I'll help you.
  • I hate that we're here, but with everything going on in our country, I want to be crystal clear on something: In this space, we honor and protect humans. Trans and LGBTQIA+ people are wanted and welcome here. Black and Brown people are welcome and wanted here. Immigrants -regardless of status- are welcome and wanted here. Anyone who wishes to be kind and respectful and learn from those different from themselves are welcome and wanted here. I know that's a lot and that this is just a pottery studio. But, it is also a refuge and an oasis for many who simply ask for human dignity and kindness. It's going to stay that way. *Check out the studio news heading above and grab a studio newsletter in our lobby to stay on top of everything going on this month.

September Early Registration - Now up! Link inside...

It's wise to sign up as early as possible to secure your spot for the next month. Evening Beginner Classes & Handbuilding Classes usually fill up first, often on the 15th. I want anyone who wants to be here to be able to be, so register as early as you're able if you want to continue.

  • Make sure that you can find your "Booking Confirmed" email after you register - it will have your member page link for September in it.
  • Registration will go live for everyone else on August 15th at 7am.
  • HERE is a link to September Early Registration! Let me know if you have any questions at all (Jess 770 375 6909)

August Class & Workshop Schedule (a.k.a. when to come & practice, and when to avoid)

NOTE: this will be updated as we get bookings for parties, etc, so please check before you come into the studio to practice! You can just find the day you're thinking of practicing below and see if there are any class conflicts.

Sunday Classes:

  • Try Clay Handbuilding from 2-4pm (Every Sunday)- No space in the handbuilding room for practice from about 1:30pm to 4:30pm to allow for set up & clean up for class.

  • Beginning Wheel from 7-9pm: No space to practice on the wheel. There is an extra Sunday in August. So, on Sunday the 31st there's no class and you can use the wheels.

Monday Classes:

  • Handbuilding from 10am to noon: We ask that you leave the handbuilding space to the class to not interrupt.

  • Handbuilding Class from 1-3pm. We ask that you leave the handbuilding space to the class to not interrupt.

  • Advanced Beginner Wheel from 7-9pm: While there are free wheels, it is distracting for other folks to be practicing on them during class time, so please choose another time to practice.

Tuesday Classes:

  • Intermediate/Advanced Handbuilding from 10am to noon: No available handbuilding space to practice.

  • Intermediate/Advanced Wheel from 7-9pm: While there are free wheels, it is distracting for other folks to be practicing on them during class time, so please choose another time to practice.

Wednesday Classes:

  • Intermediate/Advanced Wheel from 10:30am to noon thirty: No available wheels for practice.

Thursday Classes:

  • Beginning Wheel from 10am to noon: While there are free wheels, it is distracting for other folks to be practicing on them during class time, so please choose another time to practice.

  • Beginning Wheel from 7pm to 9pm: No available wheels for practice.

Friday Classes:

  • Try Clay on the Wheel from 7-9pm (Every Friday)- No free wheels for practice from about 6:00pm to 9:30pm to allow for set up & clean up for class.

Workshops & Parties booked (so far...this is updated frequently, so please check often)**

Even though workshops don't generally use all the equipment, it's SUPER distracting to the folks in the workshop for others to be using wheels/table space at the same time. Also, allow a bit of extra time on either side of the time slot for set up & clean up

  • Wednesday, August 13th from 6-8pm Handbuilding Group - no free handbuilding table space
  • Saturday, August 16th {free!} Coffee Talk 1-3pm in the Handbuilding Room - no handbuilding table space
  • Wednesday, August 20th Pottery Throwdown Challenge Sharing/Reveal Party 8pm Handbuilding Room. You're welcome to work in there, just be aware we can be loud, haha. Also, please join us! The challenge this month is anything with a lid. Be creative!
  • Saturday, August 23rd from 10-noon Wheel Workshop, no free wheel space.
  • Saturday, August 23rd 1-4pm Wheel Workshop - No free wheel space. This workshop is great if you're struggling with any part of the throwing process from wedging to pulling even, vertical walls, or really anything that's giving you trouble. We'll take a look and discover what you're doing and set you straight. $35, if you're interested, HERE is a link to register for that.
  • Wednesday, August 27th, 6-8pm Wheel Party- no free wheels.

Studio Rules to know (a must-read for newbies and not wrong for everyone to review!)

  • The studio is open 24/7 for practice, BUT, please don't come to practice on the wheel during a wheel class, or come to use the handbuilding room during a handbuilding class. (There is a whole dropdown/teal heading above with the class schedule so you know when to come in). Even if space is available during that time, it's so distracting to the folks in the class trying to learn, hear their instructor and concentrate. There's plenty of time to practice aside from our scheduled classes.

  • The door code for July is 768837

  • Please be sure to clean up thoroughly when you leave - Leave it better than you found it. We've been having some issues in this department, so remember that anything you use (wedging tables, sink, tools, sponges) needs to be cleaned up- please don't pig up a communal space. Wet clay is perfectly safe, but dry clay dust can harm our lungs, so please be sure to contribute to a clean and healthy environment for all of us.

  • Check the bisque and glaze shelves every single time you come in so your work doesn't get thrown away We'll be doing monthly culls and if you don't want your stuff recycled, please keep an eye out for it. We don't have the room for stuff to just sit there and gather dust.

  • We're a teaching studio, not a place for folks to run a business out of. We're perfect for anyone who wants to learn, be in a shared creative space, and make work for themselves/friends/family, but we don't have the kiln capacity to support a store/loads of markets etc. If that's what you need, we can help you either set up a home studio (we get 30% discount off of kiln retail) or point you in the direction of a studio that can fire a high volume of work. We don't price per shelf fired or put exact limits on what you can make and we're not interested in micromanaging or nickel and diming you. The last time we changed our prices was a 11 years ago, and we want to keep that price low and accessible to everyone. That works as long as everyone is considerate and doesn't take advantage.

  • We do not allow outside clay. Often the clays that folks want to bring in are dark/black clays which often bloat or even liquify, or speckled clays, which use manganese, which is a pretty dang unsafe material. Clays fire to specific temperature ranges, and clays with certain materials mixed in can be harmful to general studio health, can ruin an entire container of reclaim, can destroy the kiln and other work in it. If you would like to bring in outside clay, 1) we have to vet it first to make sure it will work and 2) it costs $22/bag to fire that clay at the studio, in order to cover the glazing materials and labor costs that everyone else is already paying when they buy clay from us.

  • We DO allow commercial glazes, but you have to run them by us first! Send us a link to what you want to buy so we can make sure it works with our firing schedule. If you don't and you ruin a shelf in the kiln, the replacement cost per half shelf is now $400 plus shipping & tax. So, just check with us first.

  • The greenware shelf is only for bone dry or mostly bone dry pieces, and not wet work. If you have to move a piece to fit yours on the shelf, be EXTREMELY gentle. Greenware is super fragile and bumping, stacking, picking up by a handle (gasp -NO!) are all no-nos.

  • The white "overflow" shelving in the wheel room is a place you can put larger work temporarily (ie a week or less) as you work through the steps - trimming, handles, etc. It's not meant to be additional storage.

  • All glazed pieces need the bottom wiped off (even if you used wax! Wax doesn't make glaze disappear in the kiln) and wiped back (this means don't glaze all the way to the bottom, "cut" it back.

  • Wet clay is safe...dry clay dust is not. Remember to clean up the sink area, around the glazing buckets, at the wedging table and around your wheel, all the handbuilding tools...everything you use. And, please don't just let trimmings/clay sit on top of the relcaim screen. You have to push it through when it's wet.

  • Registration opens on the 15th at 7am. Beginning Wheel Classes & Workshops tend to fill up by 8 or 9am the same day. There will be both a QR code at the studio as well as a link on this member page when early registration opens just for our students & members on the 14th each month, around midday/early afternoon

  • We're a community. This means we need to be kind to one another, help one another and take care of each other - including our shared space. Be respectful of each other and the equipment and studio that we all use. Anyone being punky first gets a good old fashioned Come-To-Jesus, and then...well, I don't know. We've never gotten that far. Let's keep it all lovey-dovey.

Glazing Guide (if you're feeling lost about how to do it)

  • HERE is a link to our to-the-point glazing guide, which should be good support for you and help jog your memory. It is NOT meant to be a stand-in for learning how to glaze. If you are unsure, please reach out and/or book a private lesson. Incorrent glazing can literally destroy shleves full of other's work and damage the kiln.

Buy Additional Clay

  • Online:

You can just use the button below and a bag of clay will be added to your cart for checkout.

cards
Powered by paypal
  • At the studio:

You can purchase more clay at the studio 2 ways: by scanning one of the QR codes above the clay boxes or leaving us a check/cash in the office. If you are paying in cash/check, since we aren’t charged any processing fees, we’re happy to just eat the sales tax cost ourselves and a bag of clay purchased this way is only $40.

Social Links (IG, FB, YT, Private Facebook Group & Dates We'll be going live on IG)

I've been silent on social for a good while - depression meant that I had to ditch it to start to heal and become sane again. Hopefully, I'll feel up to start posting again soon.

  • A Private Facebook Group for Members: HERE. This is a place to connect with each other, share your work, ask each other questions and cheer one another on.

Private Lesson Scheduling & Payment Link

  • If you'd like to schedule a one-on-one private lesson with Rob to sort out issues, learn a new form, or just troubleshoot your technique, email us and we can set up a time to work with you.
  • If you need to pay for a private lesson, just click on the button below to add a 1-hr lesson to your cart and checkout.