By Elizabeth Lowe
Staff writer
Goodrich – Children designing plates at Barb MacClare’s ceramics shop are constantly on the lookout for reasons to use them.
The sense of accomplishment from family meals served on children’s artwork is just one advantage of ceramics, says MacClare, owner of Fantasyland Ceramics & Gifts in downtown Goodrich.
The hobby also helps children learn concentration, art skills, color coordination, and patience, she says, noting one mom’s surprise at how ceramics classes helped her son’s behavior more than a slew of doctor visits.
Kids, who create projects on Saturdays or other days school’s not in session, choose from thousands of greenware pieces.
Ceramics aren’t the same as pottery, which is shaped by hand, notes MacClare.
Before children come in to the shop, she starts pouring a brownish-gray liquid, called slip, into one of more than 40,000 molds. Air-dried pieces’or greenware’need to be cleaned, finished with paint and glaze, then fired at 2,000 degrees in a kiln.
Due to high temperatures used to heat the greenware, children aren’t allowed in the kiln room. Scout troops get a demonstration when the large kilns are cold.
White pieces that have been fired without paint or glaze are called bisque. For children whose hearts are set on taking a project home the same day, bisque pieces can be acrylic-painted and spray-finished, says MacClare.
Rows of shelves offer nearly every imaginable types of pieces’pedestal mugs, teapots, ice cream and casserole dishes, steins, miniature tea sets, and seasonal decorations, including enough Santa Claus pieces to earn MacClare the name ‘Santa Claus Lady?.
The shop carries a variety of nativity scenes, angels, lighted 3-D wreaths, candle holders, canister sets, melting pots, vases, plaques, candy jars, lampshades, bowls, coasters, flowerpots, decorative and practical snowman figures, religious figures, jewelry, windchimes, banks, eggs and baskets, napkin rings, southwestern decorations, tiles, and countless animals.
Customers will also find unadorned Snowbabies figurines, and lighted Christmas village pieces, including pottery shops, row houses, blacksmith shops, courthouses, bicycle shops, butcher shops, hay bales, water troughs, old-time cars, animals, and accessories of all kinds.
Dinosaurs and dragons appeal to some young artists, as do specialty chess and tic-tac-toe sets.
A red hat on a purple stand displayed in the window has inspired many grown-up customers to decorate their own hats.
There are clocks, music boxes, lotion bottles, lighted trees, and lampposts with working mechanisms all available on site to complete the project.
Yard pieces range from stepping stones’including grouted varieties popular with children’to plaques, planters, ‘tree faces?, unique birdhouses, seed dispensers, a small chiminea, a yard pagoda, bird baths on pedestals, or tall figurines holding bird seed, or offering up plates of cookies to indoor visitors.
MacClare also custom-designs greenware.
For Spartan or Wolverine fans, ceramic decals can be purchased, as well as decals in floral or other themes.
Practical handmade children’s ceramics make cherished gifts for parents, and grandparents. Prices are reasonable and instruction is more complete than customers may find elsewhere, says MacClare.
Many greenware pieces are priced less than $10, with the cost of firing the piece equal to half the greenware price. Children receive two hours of instruction, including the use of brushes, paints, and glazes, for $5.
Adult classes are also offered. Summer classes’at $4 per session, not including materials’are held mornings, afternoons, and evenings beginning May 2.
Students generally pay by the month, and are advised to wear old clothing, although smocks are also available.
MacClare, owner of Fantasyland Ceramics & Gifts for 13 years, embarked on ceramics years ago at the prodding of a friend.
With proper instruction, she discovered her artistic flair, and now receives regular requests to custom-design wedding and party favors.
‘I was amazed at the things I made that I thought I had no talent to make,? said MacClare. ‘I just love it.?
Located in a circa 1881 building in downtown Goodrich, customers will find Fantasyland Ceramics & Gifts at 10241 Hegel Road.
The shop is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Fantasyland re-opens for adult classes from 7 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.
Call (810) 636-7072.