The Foundry Art show was well organized and thought out. It was my first time attending and it was…read morerelatively easy to find parking. There was a great selection of artists to purchase items from!

I have been trying to get to the Foundry Art show for the past couple years and this year I FINALLY…read moremade it. There are many local treasures (a great way to shop local!) and something for just about everyone with varying prices. If you don't find a gift for a loved one, I'm sure you'll find one for yourself! It's very well organized, a neat, and not overcrowded (went on a Sunday). Their "checkout" process is great. When you arrive you can get a shopping basket and you are allowed to stroll around and pick up the items you wish to purchase. When it's time to pay, you can purchase everything together at once. In my opinion, this is a great system! All of the vendors and staff were very friendly! Here are the hours/days for 2013! - I might even make it back for a second trip! Friday, December 6th, 12-8pm Saturday, December 7th, 10-6pm Sunday, December 8th, 10-6pm Friday, December 13th, 12-8pm Saturday, December 14th, 10-6pm Sunday, December 15th, 10-6pm

I took an offsite class offered by Vindauga Glass, so can't really comment on the studio itself. I…read morecan however review the quality of the instruction Deenie offered, and the preparation she put into ensuring that we had everything needed for both a fun experience, and unique glass piece I made by myself. Deenie came to the session shaped with a three page information sheet (including reminders about how sharp cut glass is!), pre-cut and beautifully shaped options in several colors that we could select from for the top and bottom layers of our pieces, about 12 colors of paint, glass "chips" to sprinkle on our pieces and larger shaped bars and bits of glass to use for more explicit forms on our pieces, glue and other needed items. I was most impressed by the care Deenie took to demonstrate a number of steps we could take and styles/materials we could select from to make a piece tht was truly "ours", and by her offer of gloves to protect our hands. She provided us each our own "work stations" and a shared marked space for used spoons, toothpicks, etc to ensure that the fresh and altered glass supply wasn't going to get mixed. Deenie clearly communicated the steps we'd need to finish our pieces at home after she fired them for us, and also how long that process would take and where she'd deliver the finished work. She made sure we all labeled our pieces and stored them safely for transport to her kiln for firing. Class ran about two hours, and at the end all of the 15 or so the participants swarmed the tables to see what each of us had created. This class was so much fun! Deenie is a talented artist - and a talented teacher.

I've hired Deenie to teach art classes for kids and teens in the library, and I recommend her, and…read moreVindauga Glass, without reservation. She expertly provides class instruction while also checking in with each student to encourage their individual creativity. Whether you're considering taking a class or commissioning a piece of artwork, know that Deenie is a professional master artist who takes great care to tailor her classes to the needs of each group, and great care in planning the creation of unique and beautiful works of art - making your design ideas come to life. Attached are photos of several pieces of Deenie's art. Check some out for yourself through a class or sale. You'll be delighted!

For jewelry artists and mixed media artists in general, Bead Chroma is a fantastic store to visit…read moreto get everything bead-related that you could possibly need. Not only is it very visually pleasing to see everything color-coded, but it's so easy to find what you need through this system. The shop owner is so kind and helpful. I'm so glad that there is something like this nearby!

My wife loves a good bead. Can't get enough of them. Likes to make her own earrings. She is new to…read morethe hobby so we are always on the hunt for a new bead store. On our way up to Boston we stopped by Bead Chroma (not Chroma Bead? Fair enough.) Well it's a real treat. Huge selection of beads. Really incredible. Beads as far as the eye can see. Arranged by color. So many colors. All of them really Hence the name Bead Chroma. Because chroma means color. I mean sort of. Not to get tied up in the name but it reminds me of those restaurants where you know the owners speak English as a second language and they've googled the word for delicious and ended up with a restaurant called Gratifying Noodle Shack. But very nice store. Well organized. Easy to navigate. Easy to figure out pricing. Lots of findings. No problem finding them (this is actually a coincidence, but a happy one). The woman at the counter very helpful and knowledgeable. There is a little table in the back where people can work on projects and she is available to help. Some high school girls came in at 4:45 and wanted to make bracelets (store closes at 5. Kids am I right? ) she was not able to accommodate them in the store but helped them find everything they needed. This led to a long discussion of the Dana Carvey movie, "Master of Disguise". Quite an old movie for a high school student to be watching. She was a fan. They also have samples that you can purchase or use for inspiration. And a little gallery up front. They had a bowl where you can scoop out a whole scoop of random beads. I was really into this idea. My wife would not have it. She never lets me make earrings. Except one time. Other than that not a fan of my aesthetic. Anyways. Check out Brad Chroma. As a store it is hard to bead. That's a joke. It's fairly straightforward.

I have been going to Clayart Studio of RI for few years now. I really enjoy my time there. Small…read moreclass setting which gives more of a one on one experience. Rena is a wonderful, talented and knowledgeable instructor. If you want to learn good techniques, it's the place to go!

Started with Rena about one year ago and her pottery classes have been incredibly relaxing and…read moreenjoyable. Her knowledge of clay is immense and I have made some beautiful pieces with her guidance. I would definitely recommend this clay class to everyone.

Just got home from this adorable little shop with some Annie Sloan Paint! The shop owner is…read moreextremely helpful and friendly. She had loads of samples, a little paint tester area, perfect understanding of each product in her shop, and was extremely easy to talk with. She also carries some very on-trend vintage items and colorful rugs. The hours change a bit so be sure to call ahead, though I think she does by appointment, also. Super glad we found this place... now off to try my new paint!

Just drove 20 minutes in the rain only to discover this store is closed to in-person shopping. This…read moreis NOT reflected on YELP or the store's website.

Dew Claw Studios is truly a Rhode Island gem! John and Kris are such kind, welcoming people that…read moremake ceramics accessible to all skill levels! The classes are relatively affordable and generally filled with diverse groups of people. Whether you're looking to hand build or throw pots on a wheel, Dew Claw Studios is a great pottery studio!

A bad place for beginners. The owner is extremely nice and affable, but his inability to actually…read moreinstruct (particularly for the price of these classes!) is absurd. I initially signed up for a hand-building class and noted that the instructor seemed to enjoy socializing with studio "regulars" more than spending a lot of time truly instructing. Indeed, one day the entire class (instructor included) spent the ENTIRE class talking and no lesson was provided at all. This was of course bothersome, but something that I could work through since hand-building can be fairly intuitive/self-taught. Also, I was motivated to learn and this is practically the only studio in the area that offers these courses. However, I then signed up for a pottery wheel course, at which point the cracks began to truly show in terms of the instructor's limitations in the teaching arena. Certainly, the pottery wheel definitely requires a LOT of practice in order to become proficient. But if the majority of your class can't even CENTER a pot--the foundation of pottery wheel work-- by the 4th or 5th lesson (and are being taught by a few of the other class members who have somehow caught on), that truly indicates there's a problem. I attended several open studio sessions in an attempt to hone my skills prior to additional lessons, but again, the instructor would spend the entire time socializing with others working in the studio. You felt as though you were dragging him away from his chit-chat with studio regulars in order to get instruction that you were paying him for. Two studio regulars sitting beside me at my first open studio session finally took pity on me and taught me how to center, which is certainly not their job. But there you are. I stuck out the wheel course for perhaps 5 sessions, in the meanwhile the majority of other students in my section stopped attending. I finally joined them, as I could certainly think of better things to do on my day off than try to wrangle a pottery wheel with little-to-no instruction. I imagine Dew Claw is a fantastic place for those with a background in pottery who are looking to build on their skill-set. But whether they realize it or not, this studio is truly taking advantage of new students who pay a reasonable amount of money and spend a large amount of their time for little return.

Ok this place has the best selection of FINE glass work. Yes, they do sell pipes and yes you can…read moresmoke whatever you want out of them, but like most head shops, you have to maintain a legal edicate and not use words like POT, WEED etc. or they may tell you they don't sell anything illegal and tell you to leave. That aside this is the most well put together, clean and professional glass shop in New England. Trust me. The only reason that I didn't give this place 5 starts is due to price. Granted most of the stuff is made by actual artists that put their time and money into it, but it comes at a price.

Don't come here for pampering or customer service. This is the best glass collection in New…read moreEngland, period. The owner has never compromised himself as 99% of other glass galleries have done. There are plenty of headshops with overseas glass that looks radical, but all copied without the techniques and attention to detail. It makes one proud to have a piece made by the person who originated the design. Be a comparison shopper, examine the quality (since American glass doesn't always mean there will be no problems here or there), but don't expect to get a deal. I see from other reviews Steve has a reputation for lecturing- But enjoy it! Nobody else will be this passionate about their products. If you want the glass art that becomes a member of your family for years, go here :)

Beautiful art that is fairly priced. Perfection! Mail order and in person st crafts show equal good…read moreservice.

Three Wheel Studio has a lot of beautiful, U.S.-made pottery. The store features pottery from…read moreartists from Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. The store features pottery by the owner, Dwo Wen Chen that is absolutely stunning. The pieces are perfect with autumn, decorated with red and orange leaves. This place is great when you are looking for unique, special gifts. I had a difficult time finding something small for my boss that was in my price budget. Expect to pay $20-$350 for a piece of pottery. For example, I paid $18 for a small tea bag holder about 3-4" in diameter. Definitely worth a walk-through, but keep in mind that prices are pretty steep.