%20(1).jpg)
Whether your child is new to clay and pottery or experienced and wants to learn how to make several projects on the potter's wheel, these are the classes to take! Get messy, create, and have fun!
At Charmed & Unfurled Designs, "Kids Pottery Classes" are special because they are small classes; up to 2 students max per session. What does this mean? This means each student will get that 1:1 hands-on instruction from their instructor, Amanda.
Amanda has a gentle, calm approach to teaching, and adds a little quirky humor to make pottery lessons fun, exciting, and successful for kids. She has 20+ years experience in pottery, both as a hobby, professionally, and teaching.
Amanda's experience comes from an educated and professional background. She has a bachelor's degree in Art Education, multi-ages, from the University of Toledo. She taught art and ceramics at Findlay City Schools, grades pre-K through 12 grade for 5 years, as well as the Findlay Art League. She then created and taught adult pottery and ceramic courses through Millstream Career Center in Findlay, for 10 years. Professionally, she has also created pottery and jewelry as an artist, showcasing and selling her artwork at art festivals and local galleries in OH.
At Charmed & Unfurled Designs, "Kids Pottery Classes" are special because they are small classes; up to 2 students max per session. What does this mean? This means each student will get that 1:1 hands-on instruction from their instructor, Amanda.
Amanda has a gentle, calm approach to teaching, and adds a little quirky humor to make pottery lessons fun, exciting, and successful for kids. She has 20+ years experience in pottery, both as a hobby, professionally, and teaching.
Amanda's experience comes from an educated and professional background. She has a bachelor's degree in Art Education, multi-ages, from the University of Toledo. She taught art and ceramics at Findlay City Schools, grades pre-K through 12 grade for 5 years, as well as the Findlay Art League. She then created and taught adult pottery and ceramic courses through Millstream Career Center in Findlay, for 10 years. Professionally, she has also created pottery and jewelry as an artist, showcasing and selling her artwork at art festivals and local galleries in OH.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I continue more pottery lessons after my package of 4 sessions are completed?
Yes- Absolutely!
The package of 4 pottery lessons (adult/kids) can be purchased for 2 types of students:
1. A new beginner who only wants to experience creating a pot/bowl on the wheel from start to finish and be done.
2. Or for a new or experienced students who's passionate to continue pottery lessons, has the desire to learn and build from their throwing skills and learn more glazing techniques. And for those students who have a goal in mind on what they want to learn to create.
Continuing more pottery lessons also allows the student who wants to learn how to make specific projects in mind.
At Charmed & Unfurled Designs, students receive customized 1:1 pottery instructions from Amanda. She will help you achieve your goals!
The package of 4 pottery lessons (adult/kids) can be purchased for 2 types of students:
1. A new beginner who only wants to experience creating a pot/bowl on the wheel from start to finish and be done.
2. Or for a new or experienced students who's passionate to continue pottery lessons, has the desire to learn and build from their throwing skills and learn more glazing techniques. And for those students who have a goal in mind on what they want to learn to create.
Continuing more pottery lessons also allows the student who wants to learn how to make specific projects in mind.
At Charmed & Unfurled Designs, students receive customized 1:1 pottery instructions from Amanda. She will help you achieve your goals!
Can I schedule 2 of my children for the same session?
Yes! With 2 requirements:
- Both kids must be ages 8+ in order to be scheduled together for pottery lessons.
- Children ages 5-7 must be scheduled with an adult during the "Mommy & Me/ Daddy & Me Messy Day Out" class.
- As long as there is no other student scheduled at that same time.
Please contact Amanda ahead of time to let her know you prefer to have your 2 children do lessons together so she can have them scheduled together:
- Call/Text: (419)581-0748
- Email: charmedandunfurled@gmail.com or amandakocsis.coaching@gmail.com
- FB messenger: Charmed & Unfurled Designs
Will I get messy?
Yes! You will get clay on your skin and clothing/shoes. Clay does wash out but some glazes may stain. Aprons are provided.
Here are some suggestions to make sessions go better:
Here are some suggestions to make sessions go better:
- Please wear clothing and shoes that are acceptable to get messy.
- Where an apron provided or bring your own.
- Take jewelry off before throwing on wheel (rings, bracelets, watches, etc.)
- Tie long hair back with hair tie, clips, hairband, hat, bandana, etc.
Why do my nails and skin feel dry?
Clay naturally dries our out skin and nails after handling it.
Here are some suggestions to help you out after sessions:
Here are some suggestions to help you out after sessions:
- After your pottery lessons during clean up, always wipe off large chunks of clay off skin and hands into the slop bucket with a wet sponge/paper towel before washing skin to minimize clay going down the drain (which can damage plumbing overtime).
- Wash hands with soap and water; warm water can help remove more clay from skin/nails.
- Use moisturizer for hands, arms, and nails after you get home.
- Keep nails trimmed if you want to pursue more pottery lessons, to minimize nails gouging the clay pots or getting caught in the clay; will also minimize nails from getting too brittle due to drying out.
- Optional: Use a Protective Polish: Keep your nails protected with a thick or strengthening base coat before you start working to prevent dry, brittle nails. (see also FAQs- "Why do my nails feel brittle or curl upwards after pottery lessons?")
Why do my nails feel brittle or curl upwards after pottery lessons?
Clay naturally dries out our nails and skin. If you choose to pursue pottery long-term, there is a chance for thin nails to feel more brittle. The tips of the nails may also curve upward. It's weird, I know, but very common!
Here are some suggestions to minimize those nail effects:
Here are some suggestions to minimize those nail effects:
- keep nails trimmed and short; this minimizes nails turning upward
- avoid long nails when throwing on the wheel; this is to minimize nails gouging the clay pots or getting caught in the clay while throwing; this will also minimize nails from getting too brittle due to drying out.
- always wash hands with soap and water after lessons.
- Moisturize hands and nails after lessons at home with your preferred hand moisturizer.
- Use a Protective Polish: Keep your nails protected with a thick or strengthening base coat before you start working. Many potters find that switching to a hard gel overlay (at a salon or using DIY systems like BIAB - Builder in a Bottle) provides enough structural integrity to stop the nail from bending.
- Adjust Your Hand Technique: Try using compressed sponges or a chamois cloth to shape your clay instead of your bare fingertips, which also prevents your nails from grinding away.
Will I receive a finished pot after my 4 sessions?
Yes! The package of 4 pottery lessons is tailored for any new student/beginner to experience how to create a pot/bowl on the potter's wheel, glaze it, and pick up their final project at a determined date outside of class time.
Each student will create 1 pot.
The only time where this may be different or if it's delayed would be due to:
Each student will create 1 pot.
The only time where this may be different or if it's delayed would be due to:
- any electrical storms in the area- will not fire due to safety issues.
- if the student is more advance and agreed to do continuous pottery lessons; pots may be fired at different times.
- if the pot experiences one of many pitfalls that can happen at any point during the pottery process (see FAQs- "What happened to my pot?!")
What happened to my pot?!
At any point in pottery, there are many risks that could damage a pot. That is the natural process of learning and creating handmade pottery... the good, the bad, and the ugly! Pottery teaches us to learn to let go of outcome because sometimes we can't control what happens.
Amanda, the instructor, will do everything she can to minimize the pitfalls and risks that sometimes happens in pottery. She has 20+ years experience as a potter and instructor. She will do everything she can to guarantee a successful journey in pottery!
Every potter, beginner or advanced, will experience and learn from these pitfalls at some point. This is not to scare you away from trying pottery. Amanda will minimize these as much as possible and teach students how to properly create and complete a finished pot. Pottery is such a fun and unique experience to create something by hand that is functional!
Here are some reasons why your pot may not have turned out the way you were hoping or at all (and hopefully this won't happen):
Amanda, the instructor, will do everything she can to minimize the pitfalls and risks that sometimes happens in pottery. She has 20+ years experience as a potter and instructor. She will do everything she can to guarantee a successful journey in pottery!
Every potter, beginner or advanced, will experience and learn from these pitfalls at some point. This is not to scare you away from trying pottery. Amanda will minimize these as much as possible and teach students how to properly create and complete a finished pot. Pottery is such a fun and unique experience to create something by hand that is functional!
Here are some reasons why your pot may not have turned out the way you were hoping or at all (and hopefully this won't happen):
- If a student mishandles or accidentally drops/breaks their pot before or after a kiln firing; this can damage the pot.
- Pots may crack during drying time, during a bisque firing, or glaze firing.
- Pots can be damaged if bumped or handled improperly.
- Pots experience intense heat to chemically change its structure during a bisque firing and even more intense heat during a glaze firing.
- Pots can explode if there are trapped air pockets in the clay during a bisque firing (kneading clay is taught to minimize this from happening).
- Pots can crack more with each firing if there was already a crack created during the drying stage.
- Glazes can run too much off the bottom and fuse the pot to the kiln shelf, making them unusable (learning about glazes and cleaning the bottoms of pots is taught to help minimize this issue).
- Sometimes trapped gases are not released during the glaze firing properly, causing a bulge or pits on the glaze surface after it cools down.
- A power outage at the time of firing could affect the pot.
- The porcelain clay used is recycled clay made by the instructor, Amanda. Sometimes, foreign particles (such as dirt or sponge chunks) get mixed in accidentally after students clean up. Usually those are noticeable while throwing on the wheel and removed right away. But if they are not removed, they will burn off during a firing. Sometimes the damage is minimal, but it can leave a hole or a pit in the pot.
What type of clay are we using?
The clay body is porcelain- "Mid Range & High Fire Porcelain Clay – Cone 5 to Cone 10" manufactured by Columbus Clay, from Columbus, OH. Amanda recycles her clay and remixes the scraps and clay slop as it accumulates.
Can I bring my own pottery tools? Where can I get pottery tools?
Yes, although not necessary. All clay tools are provided at the studio and communal, so they stay at the studio.
If you do bring your own clay tools, make sure they are clean to avoid cross contamination of old clay with the studio's porcelain clay. Be sure to have some type of a container or bag to hold all of your tools so they don't accidentally get mixed in with the class tools. You are responsible for your own set of tools.
Basic "starter" pottery kits can be purchased at most hobby/craft stores. There are many suppliers online to select from, including:
If you do bring your own clay tools, make sure they are clean to avoid cross contamination of old clay with the studio's porcelain clay. Be sure to have some type of a container or bag to hold all of your tools so they don't accidentally get mixed in with the class tools. You are responsible for your own set of tools.
Basic "starter" pottery kits can be purchased at most hobby/craft stores. There are many suppliers online to select from, including:
- Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/)
- Columbus Clay (https://www.columbusclay.com/)
- The Ceramics Shop (https://www.theceramicshop.com/)
- Bailey Pottery (https://www.baileypottery.com/)
Sometimes the weirdest yet effective tools can come straight out of our kitchen too!
What is Internal Truth Healing, LLC vs. Charmed & Unfurled Designs? I'm confused!
Internal Truth Healing, LLC, is the official business owned and operated by Amanda Kocsis. She provides 3 main modalities when working with clients/students.
- Relationship coaching changes patterns and transforms relationship with the self and others.
- Reiki energy healing is a soothing, relaxing healing that helps with mind, body, and emotions.
- Pottery and clay allows for a therapeutic, hands-on creative outlet.
All three of these styles of services are provided at Amanda's healing arts studio, that includes a private coaching and reiki room in one area and a pottery studio in another area.
Charmed & Unfurled Designs is an extension of Internal Truth Healing, LLC. It is the creative aspect of the business, which includes the pottery studio for students to take classes, as well as for Amanda to professionally create her own pottery and artwork to showcase and sell at art festivals and/or art galleries in OH.
Price
$80
By booking this package, you agree to these Terms and Conditions
This package includes
- 4- 60 min. classes
- Private lessons/small group size: 1-2 students max per session
- 1 finished pot
- Clay, tools, kiln firings
- learn beginner throwing techniques and stages of clay
- Learn how to glaze pots
- Skills can continue to build and be learned with further lessons
- More advanced students can make their own designs
- Lessons are structured individually and customized based on skills and interests on projects
- Pick up date of finished projects TBD at a later time