Our summer camp is going like gangbusters with all kinds of incredible art being created! We are hand building with clay, glass fusing, making mosaics, creating beautiful watercolors and painting tons of pottery. Our studio dog, Lulu, even got in on the fun!

We still have spots available in the coming weeks. Give us a call at 703-646-6007 to register your child today!

Do you like to bake? Cakes, pies or cookies? Using a fun and easy technique called Layered Dots, we painted a colorful plate to showcase our favorite cookies. What use is a new cookie plate without cookies? Here is an easy, tasty recipe to try:

Lemon Whippersnappers

1 package lemon cake mix
1 (5 oz.) carton frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 eggs
1/2 cup powdered sugar

Combine dry cake mix, whipped topping and eggs. Drop by teaspoon in sifted powdered sugar. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Come in to #ClayCafeStudios and we’ll help you create a cookie plate to share your goodies!

Family vacations are a time to relax and bond while enjoying activities with your loved ones. Painting pottery is a great way to unplug the devices and connect with your kids with a creative activity. Many of our Clay Cafe family of customers have been visiting the studio as a regular family outing over the past 18 years.

Clay Cafe Studios belongs to an international, non-profit association of studios that offer very similar activities across the globe. If you are looking for a fun activity while taking a break from site-seeing, the sea or surf, it’s easy to find a local paint-your-own pottery (PYOP) studio nearby. Our association has a website with a locator that’s as easy as plugging in the city, state, zip code or country to see a local listing. There are even links to the studios so you can check out their hours and any events or special offers.

We hope you have a great time relaxing and having fun this summer. If you miss visiting us, you can satisfy that PYOP craving and visit the PYOP Studio Locator to find a studio nearby. Don’t forget to come see us at Clay Cafe Studios when you return home.
We love to know where our customers have been visiting.

Clay Cafe Studios is a creative business and as such, has attracted many creative individuals over the past 18 years. We love to get to know our customers and as a result, we have gained some interesting insights into their lives and passions.

We plan to occasionally highlight some of these innovative people in our weekly blog and share their creativity. We interviewed author Jason Helford who has published two books and has some other intriguing projects in the works.

What made you choose writing as a creative outlet?

Writing kind of chose me. It started out as lots of bizarre ideas and stories that would just pop into my head from strangely vivid dreams and daydreams, or just out of nowhere. When I was around 10, I started writing some of these stories at home for fun, but just for myself. After college, I took some advanced level courses and realized, with some time to hone my craft, I could actually be a writer. So, that’s what I did, and now I am one.
How would you classify your genre of writing?

Initially, that was actually very tough for me to figure out, since I mix genres quite a lot in my work. The nearest I can figure is Dark Urban Fantasy Literary Fiction.

What inspires and influences you?

As for inspiration, everything: comics, movies, news, a momentary thought, an event, conflating interests. I find that I get my ideas from lots of sources. My influences are all centered around originality and creativity. I love things that trod new ground and stick out like a creative sore thumb.

Do you have anything in the works you want to share?

I am currently working on two new projects. The first is a novel set in the future where the planet is beset with a technological calamity that threatens everyone. The second is a serial I am finalizing called Catalyst Jane. It’s part magic, part detective/mystery and part plain old weird.

Stephen King or Dean Koontz? Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings? Marvel or DC comics?

I loved The Stand. Definitely Stephen King. I have to go with Lord of the Rings because it brings back great childhood reading memories, and I loved the moves, too (no knock on Harry Potter, it was a close one). Make mine Marvel…but I love DC, too. As an equal-opportunity comic lover, that’s kind of like asking me if I prefer my left or right ear…I need them both!

Check out Jason’s website for more details about his books at http://www.jasonhelford.com/ or visit his Author Page on Amazon.com. Just remember to keep the lights on when you read his books. Follow Jason on Twitter @jasonhelford.

It’s that time of year where we have begun spending lots of time outdoors. Giving your patio or deck a facelift is a great way to start the summer season. We found some simple DIY projects to help you do just that, and no, they aren’t pottery … we just think they’re cool!

DIY Outdoor Canvas Rug

Using a simple drop cloth, paint a pretty rug to put under an outdoor table or lounge chair.
http://www.hgtv.com/design/outdoor-design/outdoor-spaces/painted-canvas-area-rug
All it takes is the canvas, some paint and you’re on your way!

DIY Decorated Flowerpot

There are many easy ways spruce up a flowerpot. You can decoupage, acrylic paint or mosaic decorative patterns that will showcase your plants.

Decoupage: www.nationalgardenmonth.org/index.php?page=decoupage

Paint: http://www.finegardening.com/painting-clay-pots

Mosaic: www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Mosaic-Flower-Pot

DIY Fused Glass Candle Holder

When you are sitting out on your patio or deck at dusk, it’s nice to have a little light and a way to keep the mosquitos away. Candleholders can fill both those needs. Watch this video on how to create a beautiful candleholder.

You can make this project at Clay Café Studios. Click here to learn more about glass fusing.

Summer, here we come!

Are you at a loss on what to get Dad this year? If you want to forgo the tie or other traditional presents, we have some great ideas for you. Whether your Dad is a sportsman or hobbyist, a new Dad or likes everything, we have the gift for you.

Animal Lover Dad

For the Dad who loves animals, we have plenty of animal-themed pottery to choose from at Clay Café Studios. We have mugs with lobsters, crabs and dolphins embossed on them. We have both small and large animal figurines, including some beautiful faceted elephants, giraffes and rhinos.

Cocktail Dad

What about the Dad that likes a cocktail at the end of the day? Paint a wine glass, martini glass or champagne glass for him to use for his favorite libation. These are always a big hit at Clay Café Studios!

Coffee Dad

Do we have mugs? Absolutely, in tons of different styles! Decorate a mug with Dad’s name on it in his favorite colors. We also have cappuccino and espresso cups, as well as K-Cup dispensers for the Keurig-loving Dad.

Gardening Dad

Does your Dad like to garden and enjoy nature? Why not make him a nature-themed gift? We have pinwheels and useful garden stakes to decorate his garden. We also have flowerpots for his favorite plants.

New Dad

Baby handprints or footprints on pottery are great ideas for new Dads. Commemorate the milestone of your baby’s birth with a mug or plate that he can use every day and will cherish for a long time.

Come to Clay Café Studios and let us help you pick out the perfect gift for Dad!

It’s that time of year when parents are looking for teacher gifts. Thanking someone who is an integral part of your child’s life is important. A little appreciation goes a long way. While you could give them a gift certificate to a store or restaurant or perhaps something apple- or teacher-related, why not give them a handmade, personalized gift from Clay Café Studios?

Fingerprint/Handprint Pottery

We have tons of cute ideas using fingerprints and handprints at Clay Café Studios. Kids of any age can paint their prints on a plate or mug and make them into animals, insects, people or other cute figures. Personalize the pottery with the teacher’s name, school and year. It’s easy and fun to do and produces beautiful results.

Message Pottery

Another great way to thank a teacher is to make message pottery. Paint a quote from your child or a heartfelt thank you message. Nice sayings like “Thanks for helping us grow” and “Thank you for teaching me” are sweet touches. You could also paint a mug saying “Mrs. _____, World’s Greatest Teacher” or “We Love You, Mrs. _____.” At Clay Café Studios, we have tools that make lettering easy when creating that special gift.

Gift Certificate to Clay Café Studios

Instead of giving a gift certificate to a restaurant or the mall, how about one for a fun activity? Painting pottery gives the painter a creative outlet which helps them relieve stress and relax. What a nice thing to do for a teacher as a thank you for the endless hours they spend with our children.

Any of these ideas are easy to make. Give us a call (703/646-6007) or stop by Clay Café Studios anytime and we will show you how to make gifts that are both unique and practical

When we talk about community engagement, what do we mean? Is it donating to local school auctions ( we do that ), participating in fundraisers by giving a portion to a specific group ( we do that ), or giving military discounts ( and we do that too ).

While we believe it is all those things, we also think it is something else. Let me illustrate by telling you a story.

A couple, newly dating, came in to paint pottery one day. They were very sweet, friendly and had a great time together. They visited Clay Café Studios regularly over the next few months. One day, the guy contacted us to see if he could set up a dinner and painting night to propose to his girl. Of course, we said yes! Cut to a couple of years later. The couple comes in to paint—with their new baby! They painted their baby’s handprints on a plate for a fun memory.

Families graciously let us into their lives and share their special moments with us. Being a part of the community for over 18 years, we see children grow up, starting as young campers or having their birthday parties at Clay Café Studios. They go off to college and come back to visit us as adults, bringing their own families with them. Since we are fortunate enough to be a business that has been in the same place for so long, our connection to families spans generations.

Now, that’s what we call community engagement! Aren’t we lucky?

Please call Gayla at Clay Cafe (703-646-6007) if you have any questions or visit our website.