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OUR BLOG HAS MOVED 

            

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Big Dog Pots Pottery Blog

GREETINGS FRIENDS:

     Well if you have been following along on Facebook, you know that things are really coming together.

     It is an exciting time for sure and lots of things going on behind the scenes.  I am thrilled to announce that Ann D. Masch has come on board as my new Studio Manager.  Ann and I will be at the studio quite a bit this coming week taking inventory and getting things in place to open.  We plan to open by March 1st at the latest, and possibly as early as February 22nd.  We will keep you posted.

    As we have experienced weather delays with the WONDERFUL Virginia winter we have had, our opening date had to be pushed back a bit.  As a result our classes will begin the first week in April.  This is the class schedule as is stands now, there may be some slight changes, but I think it will ultimately be quite similar to this listing:

            POTTERY CLASSES

TUESDAY 9:30 - 11:30 am - Wheel Throwing for the Novice Potter - Adults and Teens, Ages 14 and up  $185, plus $12.50 for tool kit; and $25 for one bag of clay which includes glaze and firings.

TUESDAY 1:00- 2:30 pm- Hand-Building for the Beginning Potter  Ages 9 and up Pottery for Home School Students $ 130; and $25 for one bag of clay which includes glaze and firings.

WEDNESDAY  6:30 - 8:00 pm -Hand-Building for the Beginning Potter - Adults and Teens Ages 14 and up $130; and $25 for one bag of clay which includes glaze and firings.

FRIDAY  9:15 - 10:15 am - Mommy and Me in the Mud - Ages 3-5 (and an adult helper), $120, all materials, and firings, included. (Great class for Moms, Dads, Grandparents, or other adult care-giver to do with that special little one in your life.

FRIDAY  10:30 - 12:00 pm -Hand-Building for the Beginning Potter - Adults and Teens Ages 14 and up, $130; and $25 for one bag of clay which includes glaze and firings.

SATURDAY 9:30 - 11:30 am - Wheel Throwing for the Novice Potter - Adults and Teens Ages 14 and up, $185, plus $12.50 for tool kit; and $25 for one bag of clay which includes glaze and firings.

  

Pottery Open Studio, Available Monthly - Includes use of Studio and all equipment. $130.00 per month; tools and tool kits available for purchase; $25 for one bag of clay which includes glaze and firings.  Big Dog Pots only fires pieces which are created from our clay.  Contact the Studio if you need a specific clay manufacturer, type, color and we will do our best to obtain it for your use.

Additional classes will be coming in May!!!

SIGN UP ON LINE to be on our class mailing list.  Classes will be small so you will want to keep up on class information.

Taking the Next Step....Bricks and Mortar????

Well, I have been doing pottery for 7 years.  It is truly a passion.  I think constantly of pieces that I want to make, things I want to try, things I would like to teach.  In my personal life, we are also trying to navigate the transition into adulthood for our son who has special challenges.  On top of that, I have once AGAIN outgrown my current studio.

My husband and I had a long talk, then we had a long family talk.  The result...we began a search for potential places to open a studio.  We envision a place where I will work, teach, have a sales gallery, and provide studio space for other pottery hobbyists who would like a space to create their treasures. My son will be my CEO, he will manage the studio, handle my books, class registrations, and since he is an whiz with chemistry....he will be developing my own glazes!

Now, you may be thinking....well, she can create pottery, but can they actually handle all the aspects of running a business.  Good question.  The answer is yes, we believe we have the combined experience to do just that.

From the perspective of finding a suitable property, to renovating it for our use and setting up a studio. We have lots of experience.  We have built and set up my own private studio, and I have worked and created in many other studios. My husband, before he was a financial whiz in the corporate world, owned a building company.  He built our home and has done major renovation and construction work for all types of properties.  When he decided he wanted something to challenge his brain everyday, instead of his back, he went back to school and earned his MBA (about 18 years ago). So the construction and numbers aspects are checked off! 

In terms of finding a property, I have my own skill set to bring to the table.  Before deciding to be an at home mom, I worked for many years as an Urban Planner in both the public and private sector. I worked to do just what we are interested in doing, analyzing properties for various uses, and when the existing zoning didn't allow what a potential owner what to do, I would work through the zoning aspects with local jurisdictions to help make it happen.

From the perspective of running a retail gallery, I think we are good to go!  I was the manager of a high end jewelry store in a mall here on the east coast, and before that I worked in various retail stores through high school and college.

From the perspective of running a pottery studio and teaching, I also think we are good to go!  I have not only run my own studio and taught privately, but I have also run after school programs, worked with preschools, and have managed a pottery studio locally where I also taught classes for students aged 3-92!

So we are trying to make this dream a reality.  Follow along as we attempt to take my pottery making into a full fledged bricks and mortar business.  Wish us luck!  We may need it :).