Frequently Asked Questions

What are your coronavirus policies?

Please refer to our Coronavirus Health and Safety Policies page for a detailed description of our policies.

When are classes held?

Our entire selection of class offerings can be found here. We begin classes on time, so if you arrive late you might miss important instruction time and will need to reschedule. We are about the experience, so you don’t want to miss a minute.

What is your cancellation policy?

We ask for 48 hours’ notice. We understand that extenuating circumstances happen, but our classes are very popular and certain days and times fill up weeks in advance. Last-minute cancellations prevent someone else from being able to attend, and it hurts our small, local business. You wouldn’t want that, would you?

Where should I park?

The closest lot to us is Parking Lot D, located just off of Hamilton Street, which is accessed off of Main Street, next to the Visitor Center. That sounds more complicated than it is, so don’t fret! Lot D is a popular parking area and people come and go from it frequently … so it might take a few minutes to find a space. Plan to arrive about 15 minutes before class time.

How long are the classes?

  • Our pottery wheel class will last about 1.5 to 2 hours, depending upon class size and how well the students move through the various steps. Smaller classes will generally run quicker than the larger ones … but it won’t last longer than 2 hours. Of course, the memories will remain.
  • Our hand-building classes will usually last about 3 hours, depending upon class size.
  • Glazing your pottery pieces at your next visit should take about an hour.
  • Our mosaic classes generally last about 2.5 hours. But we don’t kick you out … if you want to take longer, go for it. It is all about the art and your enjoyment.
  • Our glass fusion classes average about 3.5 hours. Our instruction and a hands-on demonstration usually take about 25 minutes, and then you can take however long you need or want. It might be 2.5 hours or 4.5 hours. Leave the rest of the world behind and don’t worry about the time.

What do I wear to the pottery classes?

Dress comfortably. We have aprons, but you might still get a little clay on you. Clay, after all, is just mud, and it will wash off. That said, we suggest casual attire. No Gucci shoes, Prada pants or cashmere sweaters … that would just be silly. Your nails will likely get dirty, so don’t waste a manicure by having it done a few days before class.

What does multi-visit mean?

Our pottery wheel and hand-building classes require three visits. The first visit is when you create the piece from clay, and the second visit is when the glazing (coloring) takes place. Your third visit is just to pick it up. The first two visits require scheduling, but you can drop in anytime during business hours for pick up.

How long does it take to finish my pottery piece?

After creating your piece, the piece needs to dry slowly for about seven to 10 days and then we fire it in one of our kilns. That process takes approximately three weeks. Then you can make an appointment to come by to glaze your piece. We fire it again in one of our kilns, and it will be ready 10 to 14 days later. We promise that it’s worth it! We have very limited space, so 90 days after your wheel throwing, hand building, glazing or fused glass class, your piece reverts to us and we will find it a new “home.”

Do I have to come back on a specific day to glaze my piece?

You have up to 90 days after your class to come back to glaze your piece. Please schedule your glazing session online so we can be sure we have space for you.

We have very limited space, so 90 days after your wheel throwing, hand building, glazing or fused glass class, your piece reverts to us and we will find it a new “home.”

How long does the glazing session take?

Glazing your piece should take approximately 1 hour. We’ll be happy to see you again! Book your glazing session now.

If my group can't come back to glaze, then what?

If everyone can’t come back, either at the same time or at all, usually someone in the group will glaze the piece for them. So kind.

For group events, arrangements can be made for us to glaze your pottery and, if needed, mail out your pottery or glass fusion pieces. Additional fees may apply. Please call us at 443-812-1158 for group information.

Do I need to make an appointment to pick up my piece?

No … mostly. Your pottery pieces, once glazed, will be ready for pick up no later than two weeks after you glazed them. With your fused glass pieces, email us a copy of the picture you took of your piece on the day you created it. We’ll respond by email with an update on your piece. Some pieces need to be fired two or three times, so it might take a few weeks to complete. Once we let you know your piece is ready, come on in!

Oh, and if we are teaching a glass fusion class at the time you walk in, it might be a moment before we’re able to dig right in to find your piece … just because our attention is on the class in front of us. If you are choosing to just “stop in” and see if your piece is ready (not sending a picture first), we’ll go hunting … but it might take a few minutes.

Why do I need to send a picture of my glass fusion piece?

The picture you take of your glass fusion is how we can identify your piece since there isn’t a way to write your name on it. Email us to see if your piece has been fired in the kiln and show us your picture when you arrive. Take a new picture to share your finished piece on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We know you’ll want to.

How long do you hold pieces?

We have very limited space, so 90 days after your wheel throwing, hand building, glazing or fused glass class, your piece reverts to us and we will find it a new “home.”

Are there any classes you can do in a single day?

Yes. Our mosaic classes are one-day events. You’ll come in and choose an item on which to create your mosaic, and then create it! Same day! You can also create a piece of pottery or fused glass in one day but your piece will need to be fired before you take it home.

Pottery pieces require two firings: one before you glaze your piece and one after. If you are unable to return to The ClayGround to glaze your piece, we would be happy to glaze it for you for an additional fee and let you know when it is finished.

A fused glass piece needs one firing before it is complete. At class we will give you an approximate date for when your piece will have been fired and ready for pickup.

For guests who only have one day to spend with us in fused glass or pottery (hand building or wheel), arrangements can be made for us to glaze your pottery and, if needed, mail out your pottery or glass fusion pieces. Additional charges will apply. But to be clear, glazing is fun and you’ll miss out on the full ClayGround experience!

How many people can you accommodate for a group event?

Our building can accomodate the following numbers of people in a single class:

  • For wheel pottery, 14 people is our max but we’ve found that a group of 12 is the best size so that everyone gets the amount of guidance they need from our instructors. Sharing is caring.
  • For glass fusion, most classes are 10 people, but we can expand that depending upon the date, day of the week and time of day. With our can-do attitude, we can host groups and corporate events for up to 35 people.
  • For the mosaic classes, we aim for about 10 people at a time, but we’ve hosted plenty of events with up to 25 people. We are flexible depending upon the date, day of the week and time of day.
  • For our glazing sessions, usually we cap that at 10 people per session.

We can also host a combination of two or more of the above classes simultaneously. Call us at (443) 812-1158 so we can work with you to create a unique experience for your group.

Do you host group events?

Absolutely! Call us and we’ll walk you through the options for bringing your group and picking a date: (443) 812-1158. Or, send us a question. Learn more about our Custom Group Experiences.

Is there a minimum age?

We are very family friendly, and we also conduct classes for children who are homeschooled. We’ve had young’uns as wee as six in our pottery wheel classes designed for homeschoolers. For our regular pottery wheel classes, we ask that if someone is under the age of 15 that they have an adult participate in the class as well.

Do you sell gift certificates?

Yes. Please visit our gift certificate page for more information.