If you are a crafty-minded person, you need Ringel's Ceramics in your life…read more Helen's shop features ready-to-sell ceramics for every occasion: Halloween, Christmas, Easter, every Pittsburgh sport, dragons, weddings, new babies, you name it. Her windows on Merchant Street are always decorated with beautiful pieces that she and the other gals have made. However, what's even cooler about Ringel's Ceramics are the weekly classes. On Wednesday evenings (7-10) and Saturdays (10-4), you can come in to the shop, buy an unfinished piece to work on (as well as all the brushes & paints you will need), and hang out in the shop, chatting with other crafty people and creating your masterpiece. Prices are so reasonable. You pay for your supplies as you go. You can purchase pieces for as little as $2.70, paints are just over $2 each, and class itself costs a mere $3 each time. Whatever you want to create, Ms Helen will find the mold for you. If you have a mold that you want to make, they can pour it for you, and then you can come to class and paint it! The classes are informal: everyone works on their own piece, at their own pace. There's a lot of chatting and laughing and oohing & ahhing over each other's latest projects. But you learn the different techniques of ceramics painting, and you get help and assistance throughout the whole process (for example, we all make Ms Helen paint the eyes on our characters, because she rules at this very difficult part of painting). There are often technique sheets available for the project you want to work on, and this can help you see how to enhance the painting as well. I came across the shop first on Nationality Days in Ambridge, and brought in a buffalo mold I had bought on eBay for $15. I really liked what the buffalo looked like, so I bought the mold without knowing how I would be able to use it. And even though it was an old mold in kind of a state of disrepair, they were able to pour it, and then Ms Helen helped me learn how to paint it (my first project!), and now I have a gorgeous buffalo statue at home. And once you start... well, you spend every class wandering around looking at the available pieces and wondering what you will paint next. There are so many options, you'll never run out. If you like to do crafts, even if you don't have any experience with ceramics or painting, please come and hang out and learn a little! It's the best way to spend your Wednesday night.

When I walked in it took me back to the 70s when every grandmother and mother painted the ceramic…read moremolds. The store had tons of product they also have classes. If you like ceramic statues or want to paint it's the place to go. It's a dying art

What an adorable art studio! Drop in projects available and reservations aren't required ( although…read moredepending on what time you want to go you might want to call as they have an afternoon " art club" for kids). Chose from pottery painting, mosaic painting, canvas paintings of various sizes, and glass fusion projects . The owner and her employee Natalie were friendly and helpful. The owner provided our kids with great tips to create their canvases ( helped pick out stencils for their designs , taught them techniques for blending and creating fine details). Worth the trek for this outing- perfect for kids, tweens and teens. A little on the pricy side but a good value for sure.A plus experience and a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

My five year old daughter and I met a friend and her daughter for a mommy/daughter date. It was a…read moregreat experience! First thing to note is that they aren't just pottery painting. They also have wine glass painting, fused glass and mosaics. We chose to paint pottery. One of the few downsides was the cost. My daughter picked a pretty small cat and it was $20. It was a bit more pricy than other studios I've been to. You get assigned a table and everything you need is on the table. There are additional paint colors (if needed). Make sure you give yourself time. If you do pottery painting it needs three coats to get the full color effect. They said to allow for a week for firing, but ours was ready in about three days. Overall, a really fun activity for any age.

I was looking for an activity to do on Friday, observed Veteran's Day. School was closed, and the…read moreveteran in our home was off of work. I randomly thought of Brushes & Beans. We called around noon, and they made us a 2:30pm reservation. We arrived a bit early so my husband and I could order coffees, and we bought a baked good for my children (ages 4 and 6). I think some might be caught off guard by the macchiato at this cafe, but they are true to Italian size and style (says the prior northern Italy resident). My husband ordered a double and had them add the bourbon caramel flavoring to it (not true to Italian style - ha!). He said he really liked it, and I enjoyed teasing him with a little "pinkies up!" call out when taking his photo. I ordered a decaf Americano (boring, I know) and also enjoyed it. Our children split a chocolate chip scone. There were a variety of muffins to choose from, croissants, and gluten-free items as well. Soon, it was time for our painting reservation. I have to say, everyone we interacted with was patient, helpful, and kind. They each seem to enjoy their job. They came around the tables often to ask if we need anything, and would bring additional paint or offer help and advice when needed. There is a nice variety of ceramics to choose from for painting as well. All in all, we very much enjoyed our visit and would certainly go back again! I was thinking it could be a fun outing for a Girl Scout troop or any kind of club or organization. You could go and paint ornaments, which are affordable and easy to do. I may have to pass that idea past our Girl Scout troop's leader. :)

I love Brushes and Beans! Usually paint your own pottery places are BYO for food and drinks, but…read morethey are half coffee shop, half pottery pain. They have a huge selection of items to paint and prices and pieces range from around $8 to up to $80. You pick your piece and paint colors and then go to work. To get the true color you need three coats, so it can tale awhile. But it is a really fun experience and the staff is really helpful. They fire your piece and you come back to pick it up in a week or two. Great for something to do with the kids, a date, time with friends or even a fun solo activity.

Clay Cafe is a wonderful little place to paint pottery in Sewickley, PA, a short drive from…read moredowntown Pittsburgh. I went with a group of friends for a low-key kick off a to bachelorette party weekend. It was an adorable little shop in an equally adorable little town. I had inquired ahead of time to bringing our little party to our shop, and they were so welcoming and friendly. They had set up a table for us with balloons and cookies, and allowed us to bring our own wine and snacks. For a $7 fee, you can paint as much as you want - you just pay for the cost of your piece. The pieces are manufactured in a factory, but there are so many to choose from! It's a low-cost, fun, relaxing activity that I would recommend for kids and adults alike. Unfortunately, I don't live in Pittsburgh so I probably won't be able to return, but I'm looking for a similar place where I live!

Loved this place! With the variety of clay pieces to choose from and the abundance of supplies…read more(brushes, paint, etc) you can easily spend a few hours here. The staff was welcoming and tended to any questions we had, as it was our first time there. Will definitely visit again the next time i'm in Sewickley.

My daughter and my three year old granddaughter enjoyed a play date here for Mother's Day. The…read moreshop is well organized. The two employees are very helpful and knowledgeable. We chose a project using acrylic paints, and worked to get it painted with three coats. Some folks brought wine, but we had bottles of water. This event was relaxing and unique. I strongly advise coming with family or friends when you are feeling stressed!

From the owner: Casey K Creations offers paint your own pottery/ceramics, mosaics and acrylic painting classes and…read moreoil painting classes.

Such an awesome gem in Lawrenceville! Perfect for kids, date nights (they are BYOB!), or roommate…read morebonding time which is why I went! There is so many pottery to choose from but I'd recommend having a rough idea of what you want to paint beforehand so you take less time selecting. I originally wanted to paint a matcha chawan bowl but they were sold out. I opted for a small bowl from the cheap pottery section (this is a section of slightly messed up pottery for a heavily discounted price). Prices in this section could range from $3-$20ish? Either way, it's on the low end and very affordable. You can choose 5 colors and you pay for the pottery piece you + the price of painting it (I believe we paid about $16-17 per person). So fun and we had a blast looking up painting inspiration from Pinterest and chatting while we finished our bowls! It takes about 2 weeks to get your item back so still waiting on mine but super excited to see how it came out!

I went here for a girls night and we loved it. We each painted something different and just shot…read morethe breeze and got artsy. They called us up when it was dry and couple of days later and now we have fun keepsakes.

Had a fun pottery date glazing, everyone was friendly, we had all our questions answered,…read more everything was clearly priced before you glaze which includes the firing, there are little snacks and drinks you can buy, so many pieces for all different skill types, and I also saw you can set up a class to make the pottery and also painting classes. We will definitely be back again!

I love this place. A group of us went for a girls day and had a blast and I enjoyed it so much I…read morewent back a couple weeks later. The staff is so nice and welcoming. Prices are reasonable too. Honestly it's a very relaxing experience!!!!

Pittsburgh Pottery is definitely one of the best shops in Carnegie, and is a must-visit for anyone…read morewho loves Pittsburgh. In their own words, this team strives "to provide locals, expats and newcomer Burgh fans alike with unique, functional and decorative ceramics." I personally own a few things from this shop, and I also keep it in mind as a local shopping option whenever a holiday or birthday is coming up. The items produced and sold here are all fantastic. From Steeler Nation and "nebby" mugs to pierogi magnets, the things that you think of when you think of the Steel City are very likely recognized in ceramic form at Pittsburgh Pottery. Regarding the specific items they sell, I'm particularly fond of their "Worsh" soap dispenser design, which is possibly the perfect combination of practical and Pittsburgh-centric design. The mug collection here is also great, with a variety of sizes as well as a variety of patterns (some of which also come with variations in their color schemes). Bonus points: since the business moved into a bigger storefront in Carnegie in the last couple of years, browsing through their fabulous creations is even more enjoyable. The extra space to walk and admire the store makes for a very relaxing visit, and the large front windows help to illuminate the shop and highlight the gorgeous ceramics. Plus, the new storefront even includes a "sale nook" - a little side room with items that, while still beautiful, have some sort of imperfection that has earned them a discount price. So there you have it, readers: yinz better stop in here soon if you love Pittsburgh! Alternatively, if you're holding off on visiting storefronts for the time being, you can browse their website and find the perfect Steel City trinket there. However you choose to shop, the ceramics made here are all high-quality, eye-catching creations, and you won't be disappointed.

The ceramics are whimsical and delightful, beautiful and practical. We shop here for gifts and…read moresometimes for ourselves! Locally made and well designed.

My 2yr old daughter loved it here! It was so much fun. The owner was very kind and she greeted us…read moreright away. There's ceramics, all kinds of colors of paints, and canvas. The brushes are nice and come in all sizes. The prices are amazing! Soo worth it. She got a little apron too; to protect her clothes. So cute! She dried the canvases for use before we left and gave us a bag to put them in. We will definitely be back for another painting! :) Highly recommend Artsy Doodle!!! They do paint and sips too which is amazing! Great for parties.

So many different artistic things to do here. Loved the pottery options. Went here for a birthday…read moreparty for a friend and it was so much fun! Make sure you leave enough time to paint the whole pottery as it take more time than you would think. They also had some awesome camps for kids and different birthday party options for all different ages from kids to adults!

My husband and I came here to paint a couple items. There is a TON to choose from here!! They have…read moreanimals & various figurines, plates, platters, mugs, and other dishes, as well as vases and planters. There's an option to paint or choose some sturdier pottery to do pour glazing on. They also do wheel throwing courses! For painting, we chose a mug and a small planter. The prices are listed on the bottom of each item and it comes with all the supplies, paint, and final firing. There is not table fee here like at other places. The staff is incredible. They remember you by name when you come in and are so helpful with picking out ideas, sharing techniques, and getting colors for you to use. If you don't finish your item the first time, you can come back and finish a 2nd time at no cost! ($10 if you come back after that on the same item.) We came just us the first time, and the 2nd time we came back with our son. It is a very different experience with kids vs adults, but either way is fun!

I called on short notice on a Saturday for a group of 12 for a bachelorette party. They were able…read moreto accommodate us with a larger table in the back. They were incredible! From explaining the different painting options to the different pieces to the pickup! We had a great time, and all of the pieces were bubble-wrapped, labeled, and had care instructions for pickup. I couldn't recommend Katie's Clay Studio enough for all ages. My mug was $29 before gratuity.