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Area residents, of all ages, have a new place to go if they’re feeling crafty, need a gift or are just ready to make a mess.
Your Creation Station, located at 478 E. Main St., in the Middletown Crossing Shopping Center, offers paint your own pottery. You can paint everything from seasonal items to coffee mugs, animals to margarita glasses. Piggy banks, dishes, tiles and an assortment of other items a wait for artists to unleash their talents.
Once your choose your piece, there is a wide array of colors to pick from and from there take as long as you want to create your work of art.
Owned by Steve Datz, Your Creation Station is available for birthday parties with several packages to pick from. Scouts and homeschoolers are also welcome. Datz also holds a bi-monthly Ladies Night on the second and fourth Thursday of the month. There are morning offerings for the pre-school set and in the future there will be classes.
Walk-ins are most welcome.
Datz, a resident of Pike Creek, has been making and selling pottery full-time for three years. He has participated in Middletown Main Street’s “An Evening of the Arts” events and also partnered with La Petite Spa at the Olde-Tyme Peach Festival. He saw a space for rent when he was driving home one night and thought it would be a great place for a studio.
“Several things just came together,” he said.
Datz said he has had an interest in pottery since he was 6-years-old. His first grade teacher had a potter’s wheel and in second grade he got to work on it. Later a friend taught him how to throw, how to center and how to make things.
After putting himself through college, a stint in the Peace Corps which evolved into working overseas and a career in software, Datz said he was ready to do something else.
“I always wanted a potter’s wheel and needed a kiln,” he said.
A few clicks on eBay and he found a kiln that came with molds. That kiln is no longer in use and has been replaced by two state-of-the-art pieces but Datz still uses the molds from time to time.
He said he specializes in double-wall vessels and his glazes are exceptional.
On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Datz will host a glass artist at his store and participants in the workshop can make ornaments.
“I hope to have other things as customers tell us what they do want,” he said.
Customers can pick an item to paint, and pick from an array of colors, and then Datz will glaze each item. When he has enough for a full kiln, he will fire each piece and then the items can be picked up. He said it usually takes about a week for the whole process.
Datz said there is no extra charge for paint, studio time or firing.
Datz said most customers who come in want to help him clean up.
“Where else can you make a mess and leave it?” he said.
Datz said he has enjoyed meeting and getting to know his customers since opening Sept. 3.
“When people come in here, I want them to like what they’ve done,” he said. “I think it’s the greatest thing. I get a thrill when I open up the kiln and see all the colors.”
Your Creation Station is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Hours can be extended upon request.
To find out more about workshops or special classes, email steve@ryefieldceramics.com to be put on the store mailing list.
For more information, call (302) 464-1044.
Area residents, of all ages, have a new place to go if they’re feeling crafty, need a gift or are just ready to make a mess.
Your Creation Station, located at 478 E. Main St., in the Middletown Crossing Shopping Center, offers paint your own pottery. You can paint everything from seasonal items to coffee mugs, animals to margarita glasses. Piggy banks, dishes, tiles and an assortment of other items a wait for artists to unleash their talents.
Once your choose your piece, there is a wide array of colors to pick from and from there take as long as you want to create your work of art.
Owned by Steve Datz, Your Creation Station is available for birthday parties with several packages to pick from. Scouts and homeschoolers are also welcome. Datz also holds a bi-monthly Ladies Night on the second and fourth Thursday of the month. There are morning offerings for the pre-school set and in the future there will be classes.
Walk-ins are most welcome.
Datz, a resident of Pike Creek, has been making and selling pottery full-time for three years. He has participated in Middletown Main Street’s “An Evening of the Arts” events and also partnered with La Petite Spa at the Olde-Tyme Peach Festival. He saw a space for rent when he was driving home one night and thought it would be a great place for a studio.
“Several things just came together,” he said.
Datz said he has had an interest in pottery since he was 6-years-old. His first grade teacher had a potter’s wheel and in second grade he got to work on it. Later a friend taught him how to throw, how to center and how to make things.
After putting himself through college, a stint in the Peace Corps which evolved into working overseas and a career in software, Datz said he was ready to do something else.
“I always wanted a potter’s wheel and needed a kiln,” he said.
A few clicks on eBay and he found a kiln that came with molds. That kiln is no longer in use and has been replaced by two state-of-the-art pieces but Datz still uses the molds from time to time.
He said he specializes in double-wall vessels and his glazes are exceptional.
On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Datz will host a glass artist at his store and participants in the workshop can make ornaments.
“I hope to have other things as customers tell us what they do want,” he said.
Customers can pick an item to paint, and pick from an array of colors, and then Datz will glaze each item. When he has enough for a full kiln, he will fire each piece and then the items can be picked up. He said it usually takes about a week for the whole process.
Datz said there is no extra charge for paint, studio time or firing.
Datz said most customers who come in want to help him clean up.
“Where else can you make a mess and leave it?” he said.
Datz said he has enjoyed meeting and getting to know his customers since opening Sept. 3.
“When people come in here, I want them to like what they’ve done,” he said. “I think it’s the greatest thing. I get a thrill when I open up the kiln and see all the colors.”
Your Creation Station is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Hours can be extended upon request.
To find out more about workshops or special classes, email steve@ryefieldceramics.com to be put on the store mailing list.
For more information, call (302) 464-1044.
