By: Danielle Kearns
It may not be Halloween yet, but we are already look ahead to the holidays, that way we can ensure your personalized custom carved snowmen are here for you to create and paint. This is following our custom jack o'lantern sale that was hugely popular this year.

These cute little guys can be made uniquely your own. All you do is go to our online shop and pick which style of snowman you like best and what you want carved into them. (Orders are due by November 10th.) Then, allow a few weeks for these to come in as the process takes time. These will be delivered to our studio by December 10th unpainted, so you'll have to carve (ha!) out the time to come in and paint your snow-friend. Allow one week for your piece to be fired in our kiln. 

Once ready, each snowman will come with a light kit that can be used to illuminate the snowman from within and highlight your personalized name or message. These are perfect well beyond December, especially here in Connecticut, so consider these your new best friend through March... or maybe even April. 

Snowmen can be purchased right on our website in our online shop. More details and specifications can be found there, including character limitations and sizes|dimensions. 

Comment below with your favorite! 

By: Danielle Kearns 
Try something new the next time you're at The Claypen. Bottle slumping is a creative way to repurpose and recycle something to become functional and beautiful home decor. And, if the bottle is painted, the artwork will remain on the piece, like the sample above. How gorgeous is that? All you have to do is drop the bottle off.

Here are the requirements before you do: 
   - bottle must be completely clean of labels/paper
   - bottle must be completely dry 

That's it! Seriously. The kiln will do the rest of the work. We can melt the bottle down flat or arrange it on a mold to create a shape. 

Here are some bottle options to try out: 
 - wine bottle
 - champagne bottle
 - vodka bottles (think Grey Goose or Absolut) 
 - whiskey/bourbon bottle
 - glass milk jug
 - beer bottle (bomber bottles are perfect) 

Some uses for your slumped bottle: 
  - candle holder
  - cheeseboard 
  - spoon rest 
  - trivet
  - wall hanging/sun catcher
  - appetizer/snack dish

Note: Glass has a 2 week turn around 

Check out this informative video from another studio to get a better sense of how bottle slumping works. Love the awesome molds they're using.

And be sure to drop a comment below if you have any questions about glass bottle slumping or any of our other glass fusing options. 

By: Danielle Kearns    
There's a new small business in WeHa Center. Welcome b. kind to Farmington Avenue, a wellness boutique + collaborative space that focuses on organic products that will benefit your body, mind, and spirit. The space is warm and welcoming, filled with the romantic aromas of essential oils and bath bombs.

Although they've only been around for a few weeks, we have already had our first collaboration with them! Last week, they co-hosted a mandala night with us at our location, providing the DIY essential oil bar and wellness knowledge.

Their stock ranges from home goods, beauty products, chocolates, mixers, clothing, bags, candles, oils, and more. (Let me tell you, I've been using their migraine sleep mask most nights of the week, headache or not.)

And, going forward, if you come to paint at the claypen and we're on waitlist, you will be given a 10% off coupon to use across the street while you wait. How cool is that!? 

​We'll also be doing collaborative events in the b. kind space! If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below! 

By: Danielle Kearns 
For over 20 years, we have been a art studio that gives folks a space to relax, embrace their creativity, de-stress, and host parties and events. (We definitely host our fair share of birthday parties, showers, reunions, staff outings, and classes.) But we'd love to remind you of some of our most popular specialty items that can be created with the talent of our custom artists. Many of these suggestions are items that came to pass naturally with customer requests over the years, and we'd like to share them with you for an added bit of inspiration. 

Here are our top milestones that can be marked with a keepsake made at the claypen:

weddings  
We actually covered this exact topic in a previous blog post, which I'd like to link here. You can take this particular milestone moment in a lot of different directions, including gifts, guest books, artistic invitations, or photo frames. 

"gotcha day" 
For many families, the adoption process is a long, tedious, and necessary cycle, but with the ultimate reward of a completed, blended family. After making things official in court, families have come to the claypen (or taken a home-kit with them) to mark the occasion. Hand-prints are usually the most meaningful because they will show the passing of time in the future and bring you back to that moment when your child officially became yours.

retirement 
After years of hard work, the end is near and your accomplishments should be recognized. These days have shaped you. Create an item to mark the occasion and remember all you've worked for. These also make the perfect gift! 

paw prints
We love our pets like the fur babies they are. We are a pet-friendly space and have done many a pup print over the years. We have had past customers come in with their brand new family member and even the day they had to say goodbye. We are always looking for an excuse to have a studio dog.

cancerversary 
As difficult as it is, many people will experience cancer either personally or through the experience of a loved one. The day you're a told you're "cancer free" is truly a milestone and a day to be celebrated and remembered. For others, the cancerversary might be the last day of treatment... or maybe even the day of diagnosis. Whatever it might be for you, a cancerversary is usually celebrated yearly to recognize another day, week, month, or year of life. Five years is the mile marker for a (hopefully) future cancer-free as the statistic of reoccurrence decreases significantly. Celebrate this. Remember the fight. Recognize how far you've come.

don't forget our teachers!     
Say thank you this school year to your child's teacher, librarian, bus driver, coach, tutor, babysitter, or teacher's aide. There are so many people that help to shape our child's self that it is important to let them know we appreciate their time and effort.

For more ideas, check out our Pinterest page. 

By: Danielle Kearns
   It's May, summer is just around the corner (we hope!), which can only mean one thing... it's wedding season! Once you're in my age bracket, it seems like it's standard to have five weddings a year. (Sometimes I even do.) Registries are more and more the "standard" when it comes to showers and bridal party gifts, but why not take it up a notch and have something made with us for a truly personalized touch. 
     We have very talented artists on staff who can make a gorgeous gift unique to your favorite couple. These pieces can be functional in someone's house, but they can also just be show stoppers for presentation and household decor. Here are a few of our favorite ideas for wedding gifts: 

1. the wedding invitation 
My favorite version of this over the top thoughtful gift is replicating the wedding invitation itself. If the happy couple spent weeks mulling over which floral decor and color palette they were most into, then you have an example of their taste and style right there. Most people now frame their wedding invitation or slap it in a photo album, but a round presentation platter with a stand that can be placed in a hutch, on a fireplace, or a built-in that is a direct replica of the invitation itself is an above and beyond gift. Not to mention, it's a huge conversation starter! People will be begging to know where and how you got it done.

2. the guestbook
If you're short on time or trying to stay on budget, you can pick a large platter with us that can have the couple's names and wedding date painted on. We will fire it here and have it ready in one week's time. (We can wrap it in a beautiful box too.) You can purchase a porcelain pen with us that can be used for guests to sign upon arrival to the nuptials. To make those signatures permanent, you just re-bake the dish at home in your own oven. Pair it with a plate stand and you've got the ultimate wedding keepsake.

3. their house, home, + heart
Our custom artists are amaaaaazing. No, really. We have a few samples around the studio of house front paintings. They are gorgeous painted representations of people's homes from the curbside perspective. They are such a lovely touch for any couple's "first home," or a keepsake after a major move to remember their roots. They are vibrant, warm, and stunning.

4. photo frame
Really simple one here. You can have the artists add the names and wedding date to any frame to make it customizable. Perfect for your favorite picture from the big day. This is a great idea for those who couldn't be in attendance or a gift sent in the mail upon their one month anniversary to say "We're still thinking and celebrating you!" ... and yes, we ship! 

5. monogrammed dinnerware set
Forget the "Mrs. & Mrs." mugs. (Hello, people, that's not every couple's makeup. Get with the program.) Add a calligraphy-style brush letter monogram to any mug, bowl, or plate. Start with a mug for that morning cup of coffee, or bump up the personalization game and make it a set! Get a mug, bowl, and plate for a table of four to really push it over the edge. (You can even add a Christmas ornament to match!)

studio tip: 
May we also suggest the claypen as a stop during your next bachelorette party. We are the perfect place to start popping bottles, loosen up, get silly, and travel onto dinner. We have a relaxed and fun vibe that can help to get the party started!