The most amazing pottery gallery and studio! They have pieces that are mostly locally made but also…read moresome brought all the way from Jingdezhen, China (the ultimate destination for pottery artists). Owners Dan and Donna are also wonderful people. They teach pottery classes too!

Not great. This is predominantly a production outfit and there's nothing wrong with that. However,…read moreif you're after a piece or a selection of artful or hand thrown or wood fired or one-of-a-kind piece of pottery made without moulds or jiggers, look elsewhere.

I can't believe I hadn't been here in years. Totally taking for granted some of the amazing…read moregalleries we have in Pittsburgh. Attended a student art show last night with a friend who teaches a class at PCA. There were so fantastic pieces created by the adult students. In addition of course there were other exhibits that we were able to tour. When I was in art school this was a place we visited often. Time to get back in the swing of things. The gift shop is still fantastic and filled with lots of unique items.

Beautiful gardens and green house off of Mellon park. We stopped here on a sunny day to check out…read morethe printmaking facilities and buy some house plants. After brunch at Square cafe we needed to take a little walk and absorb some rays. It is a very serene setting and once they get the fountain running I may just come to sit and ponder. The building is so big and they offer many summer art classes so check out the website to see what they have. Events are held here all summer, mostly weddings. I went in to see the printmaking lab, I mostly do screenprinting but they don't have the light tables or screens here. The receptionist was so helpful and said that there would be printmaking classes over the summer and to call one of the directors to see what they might be able to do for me in regards to the type of medium I want to work with. If you need a place to do intaglio or relief printing they have a great space to print!

Met with Gingerly Press this past weekend at American Craft Made Baltimore show on Feb 21st. I…read morelearned a lot about their process and loved several prints. I'm still considering buying several for new wall space in kitchen. The earth-valued themes are depicted so simply but their design and colors are very appealing.

Lindsay provided my partner and me with an exceptional tour during an open house, showcasing her…read moreremarkable artistic process and sharing a wonderful story. I absolutely love her work and have decided to frame it on my wall.

This is a odd place to visit. It has an instructor that tells you to outline templates of faces,…read morepeople, pets, etc.......reptiles

One of the best paint classes I have ever been to! Paint Monkey is different than other classes…read more There is no instructor to follow along; instead, you get a painting with an outline and go at your own pace. The teachers get you started, go over some technique, then check on you and help as needed. The owners are really kind and want to get to know their customers. Such a great date night, family activity, or girls night. Paint Monkey was a staple for my boyfriend and I when we lived in Pittsburgh! Will definitely be reserving a class next time I'm in town!

went for the lawn spike class. I loved it. such nice…read morepeople. I've done a pumpkin, a wine glass, and now the lawn thing. I think it will be a great addition to my flower bed.

On July 31st, my boyfriend and I booked a glass blowing session for 2 people on September 30th at…read more3:30 pm. It was something we have always wanted to do, but it always sold out before we had the chance to. As the glass blowing experience approached, I took the day off work and we coordinated an entire day around the session. We were very excited to go. On September 27th, we received our confirmation email reminding us of our upcoming session. On September 29th at 3:07 pm, we received an automatic cancellation email that our appointment had been cancelled and we needed to reschedule. The email provided no explanation for the cancellation. There was no additional email sent and no contact attempted by phone. Confused, my boyfriend tried the number provided and left a message. He also sent a Facebook message. Concerned, I called the company as well and after 2 calls, reached Janine (spelling?). She explained that they didn't receive the glass supplies needed for the session and that they were cancelling all sessions on Saturday and all sessions on Sunday. I asked if they were going to reschedule or offer an additional session for those who have already signed up. I was informed that I could reschedule after January 1st, 2018 because the rest of the pumpkin workshops were booked. I mentioned that a glass pumpkin wouldn't really do me much good in January and she agreed. I asked if we could come another time instead. She told me that she would speak with the guys who run the workshops and call me back. She didn't seem concerned and it was like she was caught off guard by my questions. On October 4th, I still hadn't heard back. I called the company again and left a voicemail for Janine asking for a return call. Today is October 10th. I just attempted to reach Janine again and it went to her voicemail. I left another message, but it's been 11 days since our first conversation. I don't have high hopes that she will call me back. I understand that things happen. I'm not sure why supplies weren't ordered ahead of time (since we booked 2+ months prior and they had already had a weekend of workshops), but even then I can understand that it might have been out of their control. I'm not an expert in glass supplies, but I would imagine that there has to be more than 1 supplier. All of that aside, there is absolutely no excuse for how it has been handled. I would expect a phone call or email explanation for the cancellation. As a customer, I shouldn't have to make numerous attempts to find out if it was cancelled intentionally or in error. When called, I would expect that a business do everything it can to accommodate those that were cancelled. An additional session could have been opened for those who were still interested in attending a workshop. Ironically, Vessel Studio Glass has a 48 hour cancellation policy in which you will forfeit 100% of your session fee if you cancel within 48 hours of your appointment. They provided only 24 hour cancellation notice to us and were not apologetic in any way. They also did absolutely nothing to try and make it right. I am extremely disappointed with my experience and wish that we would have had the opportunity to attend the workshop that we signed up for.

The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts (now PCA&M) is one of those places that totally embodies all…read morethings art. I've visited more times than I can count over the years. What I love most about it is the deep sense of history you feel the second you step onto the campus. Knowing it started all the way back in the 1940s as a community-driven arts and crafts center is pretty fantastic. You aren't just taking a class; you're participating in an 80-year-old local tradition of keeping Pittsburgh's grassroots art scene alive and kicking. I've taken several classes, and the experience was always sensational. They offer a variety of courses from ceramics and metalsmithing to printmaking, and digital media and darkroom photography. The instructors are working artists who actually care about helping you develop your own style, whether you're a total beginner or just looking to sharpen your skills. Stopping by to see an exhibition of local art=fantastic.

They have a lovely campus and I've been to many of their exhibits. They also run summer camps, plus…read morearts classes like ceramics. I've never taken a class here, but if you look at their course offerings, you might see something interesting. You can rent the building or grounds as an event space. Also, it's a great place to walk a dog!

Michael's is a retail-store chain that sells party supplies (e.g., balloons and gift bags), home…read moredecor (e.g., artificial flowers, mirrors, candles, pillows, rugs, and holiday decorations), art supplies (e.g., paints, brushes, pencils, and canvases), office supplies (e.g., paper, pens, and markers), craft supplies (e.g., fabric, yarn, jewelry beads, Cricut, and sewing machines), baking supplies (e.g., cookie cutters, pans, and fondant), professional framing, and much more. My husband and I shopped at this particular Michael's in the Waterfront shopping center. No employees greeted or assisted us as we walked around the store, but we found what we wanted. The shelves were stocked full with merchandise, and the prices were reasonable. This store had a good selection of small paint brushes for my husband's hobby, and I liked the selection of Christmas decorations.

I appreciate being so close to a craft store but I noticed lately that every single time I go to…read morethe front to pay, an older woman will moniter me like Im going to steal all of my craft supplys and run outside. The first time I noticed this, I was using self checkout. She was pretending to clean a machine but also very obviously side eyeing me and looking over my personal cards? I get that theft might be something that happens here and Im sorry if It is, but her behavior makes me feel bad. The second time I went to pay, I ended up being short and I asked an employee to take an Item off. Shortly after the same lady busts out of the back room and stares daggers at me like Im trying to steal or something. Very weird woman. Other than that, good store.

Came here on Tuesday around 4pm, and it's wasn't busy at all. We did a walk in, and there was only…read moreone other party there. Unlike other painting places, this place has pre-sketched canvases that can guide you to paint a pretty picture. That is was stands out most to me, and what I love about this place. I believe they have classes as well, but you have to schedule an appointment for them. Many of their sketches vary from emojis, nature, characters like Harry Potter, unicorns, animals, all the great stuff! I believe the prices vary from $15-25, at least from what we painted. The workers there are very friendly and helpful! I'm not sure what the guy's name was, but he really helped turn my painting around! He taught me to play with the colors and adding contrast, and it really made a difference. Whenever you run out of paint, they are more than happy to get you more. They also give you another painting that you can try to replicate or add your own twist to it. They just started a stamp program, with every 4 purchases of a painting, you get the 5th one free! If you want to have a fun time for a cheap cost, come to paint monkey! I'll definitely be back and claim that free painting haha.

Due to the National Emergency we're all stuck at home and getting more bored by the day…read more Thankfully Paint Monkey was offering paint kits to go. We got the large ones for last weekend. Easy to order and extremely easy to pick up. Gave enough paints and brushes. Canvas had an outline on it already. Not much in the way of directions though. Mixing colors was a little challenging. All in all it was fun. This week we're doing smaller ones and requested something specific - this past weekend was a mystery. You could make requests which we did for two. Wish I had told them one was for a man. There really wasn't anything given to us that he really wanted. We had a Harry Potter theme, butterfly, toucan, cupcake, and shoe. The shoe really threw me off - like why would someone paint a shoe. Anyways it was still fun.

Forever will I remember Randy Pausch. I never met Randy, but his lecture video on the internet…read morehighly motivated me to embrace life. Rest in Peace Randy. You have given inspiration back to the world. Full CNN Report: 'Last Lecture' professor dies at 47 PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist whose "last lecture" about facing terminal cancer became an Internet sensation and a best-selling book, died Friday. He was 47. Pausch died at his home in Virginia, university spokeswoman Anne Watzman said. Pausch and his family moved there last fall to be closer to his wife's relatives. Pausch was diagnosed with incurable pancreatic cancer in September 2006. His popular last lecture at Carnegie Mellon in September 2007 garnered international attention and was viewed by millions on the Internet. In it, Pausch celebrated living the life he had always dreamed of instead of concentrating on impending death. Watch Pausch talk to his class » "The lecture was for my kids, but if others are finding value in it, that is wonderful," Pausch wrote on his Web site. "But rest assured; I'm hardly unique." The book "The Last Lecture," written with Jeffrey Zaslow, leaped to the top of the nonfiction best-seller lists after its publication in April and remains there this week. Pausch said he dictated the book to Zaslow, a Wall Street Journal writer, by cell phone. The book deal was reported to be worth more than $6 million. At Carnegie Mellon, he was a professor of computer science, human-computer interaction and design, and was recognized as a pioneer of virtual reality research. On campus, he became known for his flamboyance and showmanship as a teacher and mentor. The speech last fall was part of a series Carnegie Mellon called "The Last Lecture," where professors were asked to think about what matters to them most and give a hypothetical final talk. The name of the lecture series was changed to "Journeys" before Pausch spoke, something he joked about in his lecture. "I thought, damn, I finally nailed the venue and they renamed it," he said. He told the packed auditorium he fulfilled almost all his childhood dreams -- being in zero gravity, writing an article in the World Book Encyclopedia and working with the Walt Disney Co. The one that eluded him? Playing in the National Football League. "If I don't seem as depressed or morose as I should be, sorry to disappoint you," Pausch said. He then joked about his quirky hobby of winning stuffed animals at amusement parks -- another of his childhood dreams -- and how his mother introduced him to people to keep him humble: "This is my son, he's a doctor, but not the kind that helps people." Pausch said he was embarrassed and flattered by the popularity of his message. Millions viewed the complete or abridged version of the lecture, titled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," online. Pausch lobbied Congress for more federal funding for pancreatic cancer research and appeared on "Oprah" and other TV shows. In what he called "a truly magical experience," he was even invited to appear as an extra in the new "Star Trek" movie. He had one line of dialogue, got to keep his costume and donated his $217.06 paycheck to charity. Pausch blogged regularly about his medical treatment. On Feb. 15, exactly six months after he was told he had three to six months of healthy living left, Pausch posted a photo of himself to show he was "still alive & healthy." "I rode my bike today; the cumulative effects of the chemotherapy are hurting my stamina some, but I bet I can still run a quarter mile faster than most Americans," he wrote. Pausch gave one more lecture after his Carnegie Mellon appearance -- in November at the University of Virginia, where he had taught from 1988 to 1997. Pausch often emphasized the need to have fun. "I mean I don't know how to not have fun. I'm dying and I'm having fun. And I'm going to keep having fun every day I have left. Because there's no other way to play it," he said in his Carnegie Mellon lecture. "You just have to decide if you're a Tigger or an Eeyore. I think I'm clear where I stand on the great Tigger/Eeyore debate. Never lose the childlike wonder. It's just too important. It's what drives us." Born in 1960, Pausch received his bachelor's degree in computer science from Brown University and his Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon. He co-founded Carnegie Mellon's Entertainment Technology Center, a master's program for bringing artists and engineers together. The university named a footbridge in his honor. He also created an animation-based teaching program for high school and college students to have fun while learning computer programming. Continued here... http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/07/25/obit.pausch.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

Randy, You fought a…read moregreat fight. You told a unique story. You lived with inspiration. You made us cry and think. Thank you ...

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.