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| - A wonderful little gem for kids' parties (they've got party packages), mother-daughter outings, or girlfriends wanting to chill and do something crafty. (There were some fathers and daughters enjoying themselves too!)
Walk-ins welcomed. (That's what we did!)
I haven't had experience at other ceramic painting shops before, so I can't really compare to any competitors. So this is based on my first-time experience - and it was really great!
My girlfriends and I wanted to do something artsy, low-budget and relaxing. And thanks to great timing, there was a group deal for The Clay Room some months ago! So the 4 of us bought the deal of the day, and headed down to the Danforth for a girls day out.
The Clay Room was bustling with activity on that Saturday afternoon. Not packed and uncomfortable but it had a nice vibe and there was steady traffic. There was a private birthday party downstairs, the benches upstairs were about half full when we arrived.
The instructions for us newbies were a little confusing at first. There was an instruction sheet posted on the wall, but it was located in an awkward spot and hard to read from a distance. There was only really one staffer behind the counter (another was working the party downstairs, and another was at the kiln in the next room) - so she was kept busy with one group at a time.
The staff was friendly enough, and we understood that they had influx of traffic because of the group deal.
So, you get there, and you:
1. Pick up an order form (you need this to pick up your piece after it's fired)
2. Choose a ceramic item (prices range depending on its size) and copy its code number onto your form
2. Select paint colours from the paint chip wall (kids only have choice of 3, whereas adults have unlimited selections) - right down their numbers on your form
3. Give your form to the staff and they'll give you the actual paints in a bucket.
And you're set to paint!
The store is equipped with stencils, hair dryers, sink, sponges and brushes for your use. There is a Studio Fee which covers your usage of all their space and equipment. It also includes the firing cost.
It takes a week for your item to be fired in the kiln. So plan to pick up your final artwork at a later date.
There is no time limit - which is great! But mainly because... it does take a LONG time to paint. Especially if you want a good solid coverage of paint on your piece. At least 3 coats of paint, and you need to dry each layer before continuing onto the next. Of course, a smaller piece of ceramic would take less time too. And depending on how many colours you're using and how much detail you're adding to it.
I painted a medium sized robot money bank (that's right - a robot! They have a wonderful selection of ceramic pieces - not just the usual plates and vases, but some really fun pieces that make great gifts), with 4 colours. And it took a solid 3 hours. So be warned to plan around meal times and such. :P
My friends and I all agree we'd go back again!
Happy crafting! :)
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