Project Description
Pottery Wheel Lessons & Experiences
Get Your Hands in Clay!
Experience the pottery wheel at Katie’s Clay Studio in Gibsonia, PA! Whether you’re trying the wheel for the first time, planning a creative date night, or looking to develop your pottery skills, we have an experience for you.
Choose from one-time lessons, couples experiences, specialty projects, and multi-week pottery classes. Our instructors will guide you through the process of creating your own handmade pottery.
Reservations are required for all wheel throwing experiences. Sessions are scheduled based on instructor and studio availability. Booking information and other helpful information at the bottom of this page.
Explore Our Wheel Throwing Experiences
| Experience | Price + Tax | Projects |
|---|---|---|
| One-Time Wheel Lesson | $89/person | 1 item per person |
| Clay in a Day | $105/person | 1 item per person |
| Date Night | $255/couple | 2 items per person |
| Wine & Wheel | $299/couple | 2 items per person |
| Date Night Deluxe | $325/couple | 3 items per person |
Additional projects and specialty add-ons may be available for an extra charge.
One-Time Wheel Throwing Experiences
One-Time Wheel Lesson — $89 + Tax Per Person
Create your own pottery and return to glaze it!
Perfect for beginners who want to experience the pottery wheel from start to finish.
What’s Included:
- Guided wheel throwing
- Create one pottery project
- Stoneware clay and kiln firings
- Return glazing visit at no additional charge
- Choice of two stoneware glaze colors
Additional Options:
- Upgrade to a second project for $55 + tax
- Specialty add-ons available for purchase
Age 14+. Reservations required.
Your pottery will need approximately 2–4 weeks to dry and complete its first firing before your return glazing visit. Our studio will contact you when it is ready.
Clay in a Day — $105 + Tax Per Person
One visit. One handmade creation. We handle the rest!
Want to try the pottery wheel without returning for a second visit? Clay in a Day is perfect for beginners, visitors, and anyone looking for a fun, one-time pottery experience.
What’s Included:
- Create one pottery project
- Stoneware clay and kiln firings
- Choose two stoneware glaze colors
- Staff trimming and glazing of your finished piece
- No return glazing appointment required
Additional Options:
- Specialty add-ons available starting at $5
Age 14+. Reservations required.
Finished pottery is typically ready in approximately 4–5 weeks. We will call when your project is ready for pickup.
Shipping is not available.
Couples Wheel Throwing Experiences
Looking for a creative date night? Get your hands in clay and make something together!
Our couples experiences include private instruction, stoneware clay, and kiln firings.
Date Night — $255 + Tax Per Couple
Two people. Four handmade projects.
- Guided wheel throwing
- Create 2 projects per person (4 total)
- Stoneware clay and kiln firings
- Return glazing visit included
- Two glaze colors per project
- Select add-ons included
Certain specialty add-ons, including berry dishes and travel cups, are not included.
Wine & Wheel — $299 + Tax Per Couple
Sip, create, and enjoy a unique pottery date night!
Enjoy a couples wheel throwing experience with the option to bring your favorite adult beverages.
- Guided couples wheel throwing experience
- Create 2 projects per person (4 total)
- Stoneware clay and kiln firings
- Return glazing visit included
- Select add-ons included
- BYOB for guests 21+
Wine & Wheel is our designated BYOB wheel throwing experience. Alcoholic beverages are permitted during this package only, for guests ages 21 and older.
Advance reservations required.
Date Night Deluxe — $325 + Tax Per Couple
More clay. More projects. More creativity!
Our upgraded couples experience for those who want to make the most of their time on the wheel.
- Guided wheel throwing
- Create 3 projects per person (6 total)
- Premium stoneware clay
- Kiln firings included
- Return glazing visit included
- Expanded specialty add-on options
Couples packages are available by reservation only. Advance scheduling is required.
Specialty Pottery Lessons
Starting at $125 + Tax
Looking to create something beyond a traditional bowl or cup?
Our specialty lessons focus on unique pottery projects such as clay pumpkins, chip-and-dip dishes, and other seasonal or specialty designs.
Wheel throwing and hand-building options may be available depending on the project. Clay used will vary based on the size of item requested.
Pricing varies by design, materials, and instruction required. An 18% instructor gratuity applies to specialty lessons.
Please contact the studio for availability and details.
Booking Your Wheel Throwing Experience
Reservations are required. Wheel throwing lessons are scheduled by phone to coordinate instructor availability and studio space.
We typically book 1–8 weeks in advance depending on the season. Weekend and evening appointments often fill quickly.
Typical Wheel Throwing Availability
| Day | Lesson Times |
|---|---|
| Wednesday | 11 AM — Date Night only |
| Thursday | 11 AM–6 PM |
| Friday | 11 AM–6 PM |
| Saturday | 12–4 PM |
| Sunday | 12:30 PM or 2 PM |
These are general scheduling windows, not guaranteed openings. All lessons are subject to availability.
Call 724-502-4700 to schedule. Or click our Forms link to request a reservation: Forms Page
Booking Retainers
- A $10 nonrefundable, nontransferable booking retainer per person is required to reserve a wheel throwing lesson.
- The retainer is applied toward the lesson cost.
- Rescheduling requires at least 7 days’ advance notice to retain the payment.
- Cancellations with less than 7 days’ notice and no-shows result in forfeiture of the retainer.
- A new $10 per-person retainer is required to book another lesson if the original is forfeited.
Glazing & Finished Pottery
Returning to Glaze Your Pottery
For lessons that include a return glazing visit, your pottery must first dry and undergo its initial kiln firing.
Once your project is ready, our studio will contact you to schedule your glazing visit.
You must complete your glazing within 45 days of our first notification. After 45 days, an additional $10 + tax per item will apply.
Our Stoneware Clay & Glazes
We use durable stoneware clay and a wide selection of food-safe, lead-free glazes.
When properly finished and fired, stoneware pottery is suitable for everyday use, including microwave and dishwasher use. Follow studio guidance regarding oven use and thermal shock.
Pickup
- Finished pottery must be picked up at the studio.
- Shipping is not available.
- We recommend one designated pickup person for larger groups.
- Unclaimed pottery may be discarded after the studio’s holding period.
Important Studio Policies
Groups & Payments
- One-time wheel lessons accommodate up to 6 participants, with participants taking turns on the wheels.
- Groups of 3 or more are required to have one designated payer.
- An automatic 18% gratuity is added to wheel throwing groups of 3 or more.
- Credit card transactions include a 3% processing fee. Cash and debit payments avoid this fee.
Food & Beverages
Food and drinks are not permitted in the clay work area, with the exception of our designated Wine & Wheel BYOB experience for guests 21 and older.
No food is permitted during wheel throwing lessons.
Pottery & Firing Disclaimer
- Pottery is handmade and undergoes several stages of drying and kiln firing. Cracking, warping, or breakage can occasionally occur.
- Cracks, particularly in the bottom of a wheel-thrown piece, can result from insufficient compression during creation.
- Cracked pieces cannot be repaired to their original food-safe condition and may require remaking.
- We cannot guarantee that every handmade project will survive the firing process. Refunds or credits are not provided for projects damaged during firing, except where a specific studio remedy is offered.
Glaze Colors & Finished Results
Part of the beauty of pottery is that every piece is unique!
Ceramic glazes are a little different from traditional paint. Colors can change, blend, react, and develop unexpected effects during kiln firing. The final appearance depends on several factors, including glaze selection, application, thickness, and how different glazes interact. Not all glaze combinations work well together, and results may vary from samples or expectations.
Our staff is happy to help guide you through color choices, application techniques, and glaze combinations. However, the final appearance of your pottery cannot be guaranteed, including pieces glazed by our staff using your selected colors.
Pottery is both a creative experience and a bit of an experiment! We encourage you to keep an open mind, embrace the unexpected, and enjoy the process. Sometimes the surprises are what make handmade pottery so special!
Please Note: Customer-selected colors and application techniques may produce results different from what was expected. Variations in glaze color, texture, and finish are a natural part of ceramics and do not automatically qualify for refunds, credits, or remakes.
Multi-Week Class Policies
- Courses are nonrefundable and nontransferable.
- Missed classes must be made up within 30 days, subject to studio scheduling.
- Classes not made up within that period are forfeited.
- Unfinished projects may require additional paid studio time.
- Glazing must be completed within 45 days of the studio’s first notification. A $10 + tax fee per item applies after that period.
- Unclaimed projects may be discarded after the applicable holding period, 90 days.
Gift cards cannot be used toward wheel throwing lessons, pottery classes, or clay projects.
Ready to Give the Pottery Wheel a Try?
Whether you’re planning a fun outing, a couples date night, or beginning your pottery journey, we’d love to help you get started!
Katie’s Clay Studio
Gibsonia, PA — North Hills of Pittsburgh
724-502-4700
Call to check availability and reserve your pottery experience.
