New Family Clay Workshop Projects for February Vacation  

MANCHESTER, NH – During February vacation week  Studio 550 will be offering guided Family Clay Workshops from 3:30-5 p.m.  Normally, these workshops are held only once a month on the first Saturday of the month, but the folks at Studio 550 wanted to give parents and kids something fun and creative to do together during vacation week!  

The workshop is open to all ages, but parents of kids under 5 should expect to help their child create their project.  

These clay projects will foster the creativity and fine motor skills of children and adults alike! The finished products will be food safe and microwave safe when they are done. Though a project is suggested for each workshop, there is ample room for customization and creativity. This way, independent thinkers can take the clay in whatever direction they choose. Also, since the project changes each workshop, families can participate in multiple workshops and never get bored! 

Pre-registration is encouraged as space is limited. The price of $15 per participant includes one hand-sculpted piece per person. Students could come to all the workshops and create their own unique table setting!   

The projects for Vacation Week will be: 

Monday 2/26, 3:30-5 PM: Decorated Bowls: Building with coils of clay placed inside a bowl form, participants will create their own bowl. They can then decorate their bowl, adding stamps, handles, quotes, and more.  

Tuesday 2/27, 3:30-5 PM: Personalized Mugs: Students will create a customized mug by using stamps, carving, painting patterns, and adding unique handles.  

Thursday 3/1, 3:30-5 PM: Small Textured Plates: Beginning with a slab of clay and a variety of different plate shapes, we will create a small plate. Students can use stamps, sculpted clay, and more to augment and dress up their dish.  

Friday 3/2, 3:30-5 PM: Animal Pinch Pots: Students will transform a ball of clay into a pinch pot that they can decorate and embellish to become whatever animal or creature they desire. The finished pots can hold treasures or hold small seedlings or plants and become a whimsical table centerpiece! 

On both Saturdays, March 3rd and 10th, we will be offering a Fairy House Workshop (or a Hobbit/Monster House, if you prefer) from 4-5:30PM.  Starting with a wheel thrown base made by one of our great studio potters, students will create a charming woodland residence that will invite imagination into any garden. Advanced registration is requested for this month so we can make enough house bases.  

On Saturday, April 7th students will be creating Leaf Dishes from 4-5:30PM. This project uses slabs of clay and leaves to create a collection of up to 3 leaf-shaped dishes. The finished products can be used as soap dishes, candy dishes and spoon rests, just to name a few! 

Project descriptions for future months can be found on the Studio 550 website.  

For more information, contact Studio 550 at www.550arts.com, 603.232.5597 or visit in person at 550 Elm Street in Manchester, NH.