Embrace Your Inner Artist
at Clay Cafe Chantilly!
My kids and I recently spent a hot and sticky summer afternoon making some cool projects at Clay Cafe Chantilly. There are multiple projects to choose from: from plates and mugs to piggy banks and jewelry boxes. And there are lots of samples to look at to gather inspiration.
My daughter had made a dinner plate at a birthday party a couple years back, so my son decided he wanted to have a custom made plate as well. My daughter chose a bowl and I chose to sit this one out since the creative genes in my family skipped a generation. Grace, Clay Cafe’s bubbly and artistic owner, insisted I join in, so I reluctantly chose a mug.
Grace explained that there are all kinds of easy and fun techniques to help even the craft-challenged like myself make a fun and creative project. You can use sponging, stamping, flinging and flicking, stenciling and tissue paper transferring…just to name a few. And the helpful and crafty staff are always walking around the room to help you out if you get artistic block or need some inspiration.
Grace helped my son draw his pirate motif on his plate and get me going on a sponging technique for my mug. My daughter decided on a three dot design for her bowl. We got painting and our projects took shape.
In addition to making something fun AND useable, I loved having sit-down time with my kids to just talk. We were able to laugh and help each other out with our projects and not feel rushed or stressed…and I wasn’t hearing the summer mantra of “I’m bored, what can I do?”
Grace explained how our projects would be glazed and fired in the kiln and gave us a tour of the kiln room. This process takes about a week, and my kids were off to camp, so we made a mental note to go back and get them and see how we did. And the results? A big thumbs up!
Clay Cafe runs amazing camps, after-school art programs and special events, and also hosts birthday parties in a private party room. Studio paint rates are very affordable (they offer half price specials on Tuesdays and Saturdays after 6 pm for just $3/hour!) and their pottery pieces start at $7. Check out their Facebook page for regular event updates and pics of some of the latest pottery and glass creations.
So if you’re looking for a fun outing for the kiddos on a hot day in summer, cold day in winter, or any time in between, this is the perfect spot. And you get a one-of-kind keepsake to remember your trip!
13894 Metrotech Drive
Chantilly, VA
(703) 817-1051
| Kid Friendly | 5 |
| Convenient/Parking Available | 5 |
| Affordable |
yes |
| I Would Return/Recommend to a Friend |
yes |
| Overall Rating |
5 |
All ratings are on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highest.
Meet the Reviewer!
Debbie Williams is a mom of
two and Associate Editor at
FAMILY Magazine.
