I took ceramics classes in the 80's also. There was a small shop here where I live and I loved it! There was always about 10-12 of us painting and we had the best times. Unfortunately, the lady that owned the shop moved and there wasn't anyone else to run the store.

If you can find a shop that has classes, I highly recommend doing it.

I did a ton of ceramics in the 70's - at one point we had 4 studios in our development of 144 homes so there was always one you could go to and be assured of knowing others in the class. We had so much fun. I did this Santa cookie jar in 1974 and also did a green christmas tree with the little plastic inserts and then it sat over a light. In fact just about 2 hours ago it fell and one of the branches shattered **crying** - it can be turned to the back and since it was the lowest layer of branches it won't show but it did make me mad and sad. It was my very first ceramic piece

Can't find a place around here anymore. I made my Mom a huge frog once. I did a Santa statue standing beside a chimney. My daughter has it now. Would love to do some more things now. Sigh..
Betty

You know I was just thinking about this this afternoon. I saw a beautiful Lenox set, red and white, with silhouetted holly branches. I thought, "I can do that!" We do have a ceramics studio in town and I'm wondering if I can make plates...

- Magpie

I used to do ceramics also, two evenings a week in the basement of a woman's home. It could be bought as greenware, where you gained the experience of cleaning the piece~seams, bumps, etc.,~or as a fired piece. I loved giving it away for Christmas gifts! I also did pottery where you 'throw it on the wheel'. I had a lot of laughs in that class. ;o)

I did that in the 80's also and loved it. It was once a week and always had a great time. We have a shop here but never went to it. It is pretty expensive but do have to check it out.

You may try looking for adult classes in your area. Some times they have stuff like that.

Never did the clay on the wheel but always wanted to.

My sister and BIL used to do ceramics and go to numerous craft shows to sell things. They still have their kiln, but don't use it anymore. We have a couple of ceramic stores in town where they still have classes. You might also check your community colleges since they might offer something like this in their continuing education classes. Our local high school art classes often include ceramic units also.

I'm another one who did ceramics back in the 70's. DH was stationed at an Airforce base and they had classes there for the wives. We learned to pour the slip into the molds, then clean off the seams and they would fire it for us. I made so many things back then, especially the year DH served in Thailand. Finally gave away most of my santas and such several years back--not sure why I did that as I'd love to have them now. The ceramics sort of went out of "style" like so many crafts do for awhile. Now there are the places that have plates, mugs, figurines where you can go and paint them again. Look in your phone book, there just might be one in your area.

Luvs

Never did ceramics..Mom did though. But in the 90's a friends mom had a plastercraft shop.. Everything made from plaster and some greenware... it was a blast to go there every week and hang with the girls. No firing just spray it with several shiney coats of acrylic spray. Gave most of mine as gifts.

Me too! Back in 1978-80, I belive, my mom, sisters, SIL and I used to meet once or twice a week in the evenings to make them at a small local shop. We had so much fun laughing and chatting together while we cleaned and painted the greenware pieces. What great memories! I made my Christmas village there along with many other decs for Christmas, Easter, Halloween and town where you could paint your own plates, cups, etc. I think it went out of business, though. Too bad, as it's a fun way to get creative and make things for your home.
Lynn

I was a stay-at-home-Mom(so was everyone else I knew!)and this was my outlet. With so many working Moms today, I think women are too tired, so consequently 'crafting' has become a dying art. At the moment, the economy doesn't help, either!

Oh, I don't know if its gone out of style, at least over here. :) I took a pottery class last two winters at the local community college, after being inspired by a friend who does some amazing pottery. And the class was always quite packed! But thats if you want to make the pottery pieces. There are stores here where you can buy the pieces fired and then glaze it/paint it and then have it fired again. Pottery stores that sell glazes (atleast here) will fire it the second time for a few dollars. I know a lady who has a business where she takes these fired pieces+ paints+glazes to parties where people paint them, glaze them and she would fire it for them and then bring it back.

Letmag, you do have to be careful with it being food safe glaze if you are going to make plates and such, I think.

So glad many of you got to do this craft. I looked up a few locations here in town and was able to find a couple. There is even one that has a 70's night and play 70's music while you paint. I remember my aunt letting me paint a few small pieces.

It's definitely something I'd like to try.

me too in the 70's we poured our own molds in the school system and then in the parks system. Later we went to ceramic shops and bought already poured molds (greenware) so much fun. I think there are a few shops around that sell plain fired shapes that you just have to paint now. I still have a lot of the ones I did back then