It's been about a year since I started taking pottery classes at Something Earthy and it literally…read morehas been a true joy. Though I still feel pretty insanely novice on the wheel, I've pumped out some pieces that I'm pretty proud of... and many pieces that... could use some work lol. Linda is the owner and head teacher at the studio and she is quite literally the best. She is SUPER friendly, always willing to help, and honestly has become someone who I consider a friend. Something Earthy is not just a studio that offers weekly classes though, there is a pottery shop that is filled with her work, students work, and other local artisan's crafts. As if that isn't a enough, Linda also makes homemade jams and jellys and freeze dried candy that she sells in the store portion. There are also small classes for younger children where they can choose a pre-molded ceramic and paint it. Linda even grows produce and sells it during the season. But yeah, it has become one of my favorite little retreats. This is the epitomy of a hidden gem and I could go on blushing about how amazing this place is for pages, but rather than TLDR-ing you, I'll just say that if you're in the area - or even if you're not - you should stop by shop and inquire about classes.

Unfortunately, my experience during the past two months was not a success. As a virtual beginner,…read moreI did not have six classes in the studio. I had six visits to the studio where I was mostly on my own. After some guidance during the first couple of classes, I was usually left to figure out what to do by myself. I didn't see the owner/instructor many times until an hour or hour and a half of my "class" began. Often when I did see you, it was just a casual hello sort of thing. Far from instruction. Overall, I was provided one or two demos of the various steps. I never mastered centering or trimming. I threw away about 1/4 of my clay because pieces flew off the wheel or the base collapsed. During my third or fourth time in the studio, I specifically remember the owner said to me, "You forgot what we talked about before..." It usually takes beginners three or four times to "get it" and incorporate learning into short term memory... The one time (first and only) the owner showed me glazing, she chided me for leaving the piece in too long. Strangely, that is one of the only pieces I actually have kept. Subsequent glazing was a disaster with tong marks and color unevenness. I threw away four finished pieces. I got some glazing assistance from an experienced "student" on my final two pieces. She was kind enough to help me use the bottles of glaze, find and use the brushes and try a different approach without dipping. Sadly, the base of the plate that I glazed by hand doesn't sit evenly on a surface, so I am not sure it will be the 10th anniversary gift that I intended. When I originally found Something Earthy's website, "class time" and "studio time" were advertised and new students were only taken on a particular schedule. I expected six classes of instruction. When I was a graduate school professor, I was in the classroom with my students for the full scheduled time of classes. I was their guide, their instructor and my assignment was to teach them and expand their knowledge of the subject matter. Advertising "class time" is misleading! I did not ask the owner for refund or concessions of any kind. I shared with her that I wanted to express my deep disappointment in what I experienced, as I was SO hopeful that pottery would become a life-long love for me as it was for her. I also encouraged the owner to either reconsider her approach with beginners or just advertise the studio to experienced artisans.

I don't usually update reviews, until they are a year old, but I just couldn't let this story go…read more I have pined away for the Haunted House by Lemax for a long time. They were out of stock at two other Michael's stores. I had a hard time trying to rationalize the price. This week, they went on sale! I went into this Michael's rationalizing, if they have the haunted house, it is meant to be. And, if they don't, then, I just wasn't supposed to get it! Well, I walked in and they had One Left. So, I did what any good customer would do- I bought it! This is the best stocked Michael's I have ever seen. Even though, it is all self checkout, there was a nice lady there to help. Somehow, a new Fall sign, some cute critters, a Halloween ghost, and my most prized Lemax Haunted House all joined me for the ride home. Thanks Michael's, we are going to be all jazzed up for Fall and Halloween.

Stephanie who is a part-time manager, was patient and willing to help me locate everything needed…read morefor my project quickly and effectively. Also, Stephanie had a willingness to help and held a willingness to ask questions about my project, which served to better help me. Even when it was getting close to closing-time in the the store, she did not make me feel rushed. She was empathetic to my needs as a client, and was extremely kind, caring and professional. I do not see that type of mindset in retail stores, but she was outstanding which is why I was happy to fill out this survey. She is one of the main reasons why I will continue coming back to this store as a customer, instead of going anywhere else! Sincerely, Corey F. (Happy Customer!)

Great place for kids and grown ups who enjoy creating art. There are canvas, ceramics, mosaic etc…read moreto choose from. We enjoyed painting and making art that we put up at home. They have birthday parties or sip n paint, the owner is flexible and works to create a package.

Located in one of those huge plazas in Germantown, it's a ceramic painting studio! The woman who…read moreowns it, Senora Roxana, is super hospitable, helpful and kind! From outside, you see a bunch of unpainted (and painted) ceramics in the windows. Once you step in, there are some tables scattered around to paint at straight ahead, and there's a chart on the wall to the left that shows how different colors look with 1 coating vs. 3 coatings. It's all very cool! So with Mother's Day coming up, I decided to get some crafts done for mine, and they should be ready just in time for the holiday! Senora Roxana was willing to answer any questions we had, and was willing to give recommendations where needed. All in all, it's a super fun place to be, and great for parties, for kids and adults alike! They're relatively new, so I hope they flourish! I need to return and get some stuff done for my house!

This is the most adorable store I've ever seen! It's tucked away on the top level of the…read moreClarksburg Outlets. There are tons of art and drawing supplies, nifty pens, notebooks, D&D dice, 3-D printed toys and dice towers that can be customized, kids books, puzzles, games and more! Prices are very reasonable - the notebooks can be customized on the front also. It is so sad that the store is closing Everything inside is 20% off. The owner was so helpful when we were checking out. Lots of cute items for gifts - go check it out quickly!

Brought my toddler in for story time today and almost immediately regretted not stopping in sooner…read more The kids were read a book then got to do a little take home activity/craft. All for free! That by itself was great. They offer art, books, journals, stationery, puzzles, games, and lots of other little knickknacks. Everything is adorable! They also have 3D printers which I think is super unique for a store like this, but it fits perfectly. The figures they make and sell are gorgeous and they can make (or teach you make) custom prints. Actually, many items in the store are customizable. I also met the owner and she was SO nice. Loved it. Will absolutely be back.

I had my first outing alone with my toddler, attempting to do some pottery painting. I was super…read morenervous not having my husband or anyone with me. We had such a fun time and everyone was so nice and gracious of my busy toddler. The woman working was so beyond amazing. She saw I had my hands full and offered to help us with the stencils and hand painting! She was so amazing with my little guy and so patient with us- I know we were chaotic and crazy. She was just so wonderful and kind to us even helping us while handling & answering the front desk phone. Things like this really mean a lot to us. Definately recommend & will be going back!

My husband and I had a wonderful experience here on Valentine's Day! We signed up for the nighttime…read morecandlelight pottery experience and were blown away with how special they made the evening. Our pottery was ready to pickup 14 days later and pickup took less than a minute (they also send you a picture of your completed pottery when they say it's ready for pick up!). Parking is super easy and cheap (lot nearby using the Park Mobile app) and they had lots of pottery options to choose from to paint. Definitely will be going back!

HOT TIP: Make a reservation online on their website, so you have a spot and are able to plan ahead…read more They do book up fast. I was going to be in the area visiting a friend. We were doing a little theme visit, arts and crafts. Earlier we made candles and then we headed to our afternoon reservation to make paint pottery at All Fired Up. Once we arrived we were instructed to pick out our piece we desired. We were seated at the front window, just the two if us. It was nice to sit with each other without others around. I chose two pieces, a topper for $13 and a strawberry container for I think $27. I felt the pricing was extremely reasonable especially since you used their glaze, they fire it, and they set up and clean up for you. They also offer a military discount, which handled around the cost of the tax. The staff were great. They were always making sure we were ok, without being to over the top. They kept things moving. . They do offer "private" parties and birthday parties. The set up was pretty nice, and quaint. There was a large table set in the back. While I was there there was two parties. Each party brought a cake and snacks. There are aprons available and an abundant selection of supplies available. It looks like they also do arts with glass. Parking can be tricky. So I suggest to leave time to navigate that, so you are not late for your appointment. We found street parking a few streets over. But, there was slot a lot where you paid.

Had the pleasure of hosting a work event here for a group of eight to ten. Booking online was very…read moreeasy, and the staff were friendly and welcoming. We were instructed to pick out any item we wanted, and they even had simpler options for those of us who aren't as artistic. Once we made our selections, we were able to grab our colors and brushes and start painting. The two-hour time limit was very reasonable, and the staff did a great job checking in and reminding us of our time. After finishing, we wrote our names on the bottom, and the staff took care of the rest. They glaze your finished piece, and you can return in about a week to pick it up. The space is small and simple, but it's a great choice for anyone looking for a fun activity or planning a group event. I also found the prices to be very reasonable.

My friends and I signed up for a one day pottery workshop and it couldn't have been a better…read moreexperience!! The three of us joined three others on a Saturday morning for a class using the pottery wheel. Rezgar Mamandi was our teacher- he was patient, kind and I learned so much! He has a wonderful rhythm to his teaching that allows all to find success - he demonstrates each step while thoroughly explaining, gives you time to try it while supervising and supporting, then allowing all to try and answering any and all question. out pieces were fired and we came back a few weeks later to paint our pieces. I picked them up today and I just feel so proud of the three pieces I made...and I can't wait to take more classes!

Very cute spot for a date! My boyfriend and I went and got matching mugs to paint. It was a very…read morepeaceful place. Seating was rather limited, so I would go early or reserve a spot (which I believe you can do). There is a variety of colors to choose from and have samples to know how the paint will look when fired. Some people have already mentioned it, but I highly recommend doing multiple layers. Our mugs ended up streaky in some spots. The paint dries fairly quickly, so it wasn't too bad applying layers. There were a lot of pottery pieces to choose from. I wish there were more like basic pieces though to have a more blank canvas. The prices were reasonable for each piece! The prices were written on the bottom. The firing process took about a week. My boyfriend and I have been using our mugs almost every day and they have held up well! Paint on mine did chip on the side, but my boyfriend's mug has been completely fine.

Artisans is a fantastic place to shop for the women in your life, especially moms, aunts, grandmas…read moreand teachers. Yes, they have gifts for men too, but it's mostly an afterthought. Great selection of Vera Bradley, Scout, and Spartina bags, Maryland-themed items, housewares, and unique jewelry at lots of price points. Friendly staff are always available to give suggestions, and hands down the best thing ever - free gift wrap when you purchase full price items! (Sale items can also be wrapped for a nominal fee.) It's a store that contains all the cutest items that you don't need, but that you definitely want to take home. Whenever I get a gift that's wrapped by Artisans, I know there's something fun inside!

This gift store has something for everyone on your gift list. There is a whole Maryland section…read morewith products showcasing the state of Maryland. There is also a section of gifts created by artists that reside in Maryland. I fell in love with the beach candle. It really smells like the beach. There is a children's section with both toys and clothes. They had some really cute toys. And, there was a section devoted to people who love pasta. They also had jewelry and clothing for women too. I was warmly greeted when I walked in the door. I really liked their selection of gifts. So, much so that I joined their mailing list. Prices are a bit higher, but you are paying for the unique items and the one of a kind gifts. Thanks Amy for sharing your thoughts on gifts and the selection. It was a pleasure meeting you. I will definitely be back to see you soon.

Shelley created an scrapbook for my daughter who recently graduated high school. The pics were…read morefrom the day she was born through graduation. Shelley is professional, responsive, thorough, talented and creative ... the end product was truly a work of art! If I could give Shelley 10 stars, I would. It is that beautiful. Many friends and relatives have viewed the books and were truly impressed. My daughter will treasure this for a lifetime! I have another daughter graduating in 2021 and you can be sure I will return to Shelley again for her creative talents. Thank you Shelley!

I have been doing crops for over 10 years now with Shelly's Scrap Shack. I have so much fun and…read moremade many friends that are so dear to my heart. These events are exciting, fun, relaxing, and often laughter filled. Shelley makes sure you are well cared for and quickly gets you what you need. She is dedicated to the completion of your albums with time tested quality products. She gives classes to help you improve and get creative juices flowing.