If you are looking for a unique gift either for yourself or for someone else, come check out the Clay Place. It is located at 1555 Shadowlawn Dr. on the corner of Davis Blvd. in Naples. The outside of the Clay Place is a beautiful garden with old trees that provide the perfect backdrop to the pottery pieces displayed outside.
Inside you will find even more whimsical pieces to explore. The Clay Place has three buildings, a studio, a kiln room, and a gallery. The artist in residence is Jim Rice who I had the pleasure of meeting during my visit. Jim was born in Kent Ohio. In 1973 he moved to Naples where he opened his first studio. In 1980, he moved to his current location on Shadowlawn Drive.
Jim creates environmental ceramic pieces that include fireplace tiles, wall murals, pool tiles, animals, planters, serving dishes, bowls, and house numbers. Colors used in the pottery are reflective of the nearby Gulf of Mexico. To quote Jim "Plattery will get you everywhere!" You can find his pottery decorating the The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club.
Pottery ranges from a few dollars to the hundreds. The microwave bacon crisper ($35) would make a great hostess or shower gift as would the ($30) microwave egg poacher. While I was there someone was consulting Jim on their purchase of house numbers. This is a really unique and cool place to look around. You are sure to find something that you fall in love with. read more