Crafting your way into someone's cupboard is the craftiest way into his or her heart. For $15, you get $30 worth of pottery to paint at The Pottery Patch in Valrico. The Pottery Patch is a spacious, comfortable studio where friends and family can paint, stencil, and sponge imagery that's wildly innovative, beautiful, or commemorates the ancient Athenian victory at Marathon on pottery ready to be filled with flowers, pencils, or wishes.

Start by selecting any plate, bowl, flowerpot, mug, jug, or unexpected pottery discovery from a variety of contemporary and functional finely crafted artifacts. The Pottery Patch's colorful design books and friendly staff can help if you need inspiration or artistic guidance. After you make a sketch, you'll pick out paint colors (The Pottery Patch has more than 50 pigments). Then carefully direct your brush in tune with your dreams and wishes, letting your creative juices flow wildly onto the dinnerware of your choosing and spill onto the floor that is thoughtfully provided. There are no studio fees at The Pottery Patch, and pottery ranges from $7 to $75, depending on size and type. Once you're finished, The Pottery Patch glazes and fires your piece in a kiln; it'll be ready for pick-up in about a week, just like a slow-baking cake or a reverse movie rental.

The Pottery Patch's cheerful studio is a great place to get friends together for a small ceramics gathering, ceramics rave, or first-ceramics-blind-date rave. If you don't know how to paint, or only know how to paint the Venus of Urbino, the friendly staff can help you draw a stegosaurus. Kids love learning crafts, so get multiple Groupons and make it a family affair. Because The Pottery Patch allows you to BYOB, it's the perfect spot to let loose with paint-slinging thrills on a girls’ night out or all-ages bachelor party.

The Pottery Patch is closed on Mondays.

Reviews

Though reviews are at times polarized, one Citysearcher, a Google Maps user, and a SuperPager give The Pottery Patch a perfect five stars. The Downtown Women's Club of Tampa is also a fan of the store:

• A big thanks to everyone who battled traffic and the fog last night for a fun event last night at The Pottery Patch! We had a BLAST! – Downtown Women's Club Tampa, Facebook
• They offer a wide variety of ceramic things to personalize and fire them for you. The kids really enjoyed it. – D-thal, SuperPages
• My children and I have had a great time painting at the Pottery Patch. We were so surprised to see how everything "popped" after they baked it. The employees were so helpful. – momof2!, Google Maps