Ceramics by Tess

Ceramics by Tess's sunny studio welcomes adults and children to craft one-of-a-kind creations in a fun, supportive environment. Against a lilac wall in the warmly lit entryway, more than 6,000 ceramics await creative types to emblazon their utilitarian canvases in paint-your-own pottery sessions. A rainbow of acrylic paints and shiny glazes transforms the blank objects into original works of art, from a coffee mug emblazoned with World's Best Third Cousin Twice Removed to a piggybank filled with glazed dollar bills.

The studio also proffers hands-on, all-inclusive classes, which guide groups through the shaping of a single item, such as a bird molded from a lump of clay. Children as young as 3 may participate in some classes, and adults take over the shop Thursday evenings from 7 p.m. onward, sipping BYOB drinks and crafting more complex structures, such as life-size replicas of the Great Wall of China.