By: Danielle Kearns 
Can you even believe it? Summer flew by in a flash and most Connecticut schools are back in session. The college kids are gone til Columbus Day. And the nights are getting chillier by day.

We know it takes a minute to get back into the routine of life, but we're here to help make that transition a little easier for you all -- especially those stay at home parents who are looking for educational fun during the day and after-school creative options for the older kiddies as well.

This September, we'll be offering many kid-friendly classes to meet those needs, starting off with a jam-packed Labor Day! This Monday, we will be offering TWO kids classes since it only took 3 days of school to warrant a day off. (You'd think they would have thought this school calendar through a bit more by now, right?) Here's what we have on the calendar: 

Toddler Time: 10:30-11:30am, September 2nd
Theme: Baby Shark 
Age Group: Perfect for 5 years old and younger
All of our Toddler Times include a read aloud story, take home craft project, pottery craft project, and nut-free snack. This particular event is bound to have a sing-a-long too. The shark scrubby holder is the pottery piece of choice this time around. It's both cute and functional. The perfect addition to any kitchen. If you love this event, look out for our Toddler Times, offered throughout the month. 
​Register Online here. ​

Kid's Drop Off Event: 1:00-3:00pm, September 2nd
Theme: Llama Plate Workshop 
Age Group: 7+ [Drop off event]
Llamas are so trendy these days and kids love them! This workshop will allow some of our older kids to learn some more complicated pottery techniques to achieve the effects seen in the sample below. This carved out 2 hour time-slot will also allow parents the opportunity to grab lunch in the center, kid-free.
​Register online here. 

For more information on these or any of our other events, reach out to Cait, our Events Coordinator, via email. Don't see what you're looking for? Contact Cait for suggestions for upcoming classes your kids will love. As always, stay in touch with us on social media for new classes and updates. Spots are limited.

​Note: All pottery is ready for pick-up one week after event. Registration cost includes 1 adult and 1 child. 

By: Danielle Kearns
We were proud to be donors for this year's Cruisin' on Main Street - an annual event that brings Manchester together for the combined love of cars and community. We were thrilled to be a part of this event and get to meet some of you in person to chat about our upcoming recent announcement about The Firestone opening this Fall.

It is one of the oldest car shows of its kind in the Northeast, which has drawn in over 400,000 spectators since 2001. Our table highlighted some of our art mediums that will be available on a walk-in basis with the classic Cruisin' logo. Attendees were invited to come up and ask about our new space and enter to win one of these awesome pieces of art. 

Congrats to our raffle winners!!!
​
Fused Glass - Megan Gagnon
Ceramic Platter - Alan Bieber
Cruisin' Linoleum Stamp - Steve Bradley
Wood Sign - Linda Zimmerman
Canvas Painting - Tricia Enderli

By: Danielle Kearns
​The summer is flashing by! Let's talk about my favorite items to paint this summer, which are exclusive to our summer shelves. Paint them before they're gone. 

1. ice cream cone bowl + pint mug
​Who doesn't need more ways to enjoy their summer ice cream? These are my two current favorites. The first is our ice cream cone bowl. The second, a pint mug, which is the perfect size to fit your favorite flavor of Ben & Jerry's ice cream to enjoy in the comfort of your home air conditioning and reduce the mess.

2. rope bowl 
We LOVE these nautical rope bowls, new these year. They make a wonderful center piece for your summer table or can be used to plant flowers or simply hold your keys. They are the perfect "catch all." 

4. sea shell hanging lantern 
Put these all around your outdoor summer table to give the perfect ambiance to your evening at the beach house. These can be hung around the garden to create an enchanted atmosphere.
​

5. beach pails 
We love these for flower pots, but they're also perfect to play in the kiddie pool or bring to the beach with you. Check out the sample below painted with our specialty glaze, perfectly named "Mermaid Scales."

Missing a seasonal favorite? Comment below with your suggestions and questions. We'll let you know if we have them in! 

Photos provided by Gare, Inc.

By: Danielle Kearns 
Get your inner child ready for some summer fun. The claypen will be offering several interactive games this summer to keep you (and the kids) coming back for more and earning extra rewards with us.

Claypen BINGO
First up, claypen BINGO! Running until September 15th, we are hoping to inspire you to create and try new things around our studio. Check out our technique cards, polka dot your piece, try a special pottery glaze, and more. You can earn up to 3 stamps per visit, all working towards your ultimate goal -- a BINGO! Earn coupons, merchandise, or free studio time with your win. The more you try, the more you earn! Each member of the family will get their own playing card. Don't forget to bring it with you each visit to earn your stamp. See the photos below to get a glimpse of the playing card. Cards can be picked up at the front desk of the studio.

Summer Scavenger Hunt
But don't leave our gnome friends out of this. We will be hiding our gnomes every Monday throughout West Hartford Center in our Summer Scavenger Hunt. Your job is to find them and bring them back to the studio to earn prizes. The hiding spots will become progressively harder throughout the summer, so the rewards will increase week to week! You must return the gnome in order to receive your prize. Clues will be provided every Monday via Instagram + Facebook, so be sure to Like + Follow us to increase your chances of winning. Don't forget to watch our stories for even more info and secret hints.

​People have absolutely been loving these gnomes, by the way. We have this design, plus several more options, available to paint at the studio. (Check out the photos below.) These are the perfect addition to any garden, so come on in and make one for your home. It might even earn you a BINGO.

By: Danielle Kearns 
Looking for some extra help this summer with the kids? The Claypen has several options to keep your kids entertained and creative the whole summer through, perfect for a drop-off date night situation or busy parents. As always, check our Events page for updates. Most of these events will require pre-registration, including our summer camp program.

​Our Summer movie series started Thursday, June 27th and will be every Thursday, all summer long, with pizza provided by our friends at Savoy and a corresponding art project. Due to licensing restrictions, we are not able to publicize the movie titles on our website or social media, so give the studio a call if you'd like to learn more about our movie schedule. These nights are a drop-off event for children 6+ and are $35 per child, which includes the pottery, popcorn, and 2 slices of pizza.

We are also running our Summer Art Camp, brought back by popular demand. There will be two sessions this year: 

Session 1: July 29th - August 1st 
THEME: Around the World

Session 2: August 5th - August 8th 
THEME: Safari 

Each session runs Monday-Thursday from 9a-12p. 
The cost per week is $250. (Discounted rate of $230 applies if child is registered for multiple weeks or if multiple siblings attend.)
Limit of 15 campers per session. 
Ages 7+

​For any questions about our kid-friendly events, contact our Events Coordinator, Cait at cait@theclaypen.com.