HAND-BUILDING WITH RAW CLAY
Ok, you've painted one of our ceramic pieces, now it's time you tried creating your own pottery from raw clay! We've got instruction sheets, lots of tools, and a creative staff to help you. Just bring yourself, an old shirt maybe, and your imagination.

You can purchase blocks of raw clay for $17, $24, or $30, all-inclusive. We can show you the age-old techniques of slab rolling, pinching, and coiling. Make a pot, a Christmas decoration, a bowl or mug - why one customer even made a piano! The sky's the limit with this craft. Talk about a stress-reducer! There's nothing quite so "grounding" as playing with raw clay. Very earthy!

After you finish molding your piece, we'll let it dry for several days and then fire it in the kiln. When you see it the second time, it'll be ready to paint, just like our other bisque. Then use our regular paints, and we'll fire it again. Nothing says "original" like your own clay masterpiece!

Check out our address sign over the front door at Clay Café to see what is possible at Clay Café in hand-building. This sign was made from 4 large slabs of clay - and we were surprised they all fit in the kiln!

PIECE OF THE WEEK
Unloading the kiln often feels like opening presents - it's such a delight to see the finished products emerge after firing!

Each week we select an exceptional piece to win "Piece of the Week" - the winner receives a free mug to paint, and the honour of having his or her piece on display for all to see!

MOSAICS!
Our bathroom countertop may inspire you to try your hand at doing mosaics at Clay Café. We have complete supplies and instructions for you to do your own mosaic masterpiece. A first in the Metro area, we're delighted to bring the ancient art of mosaics right to Quinpool Road . It's challenging without being complicated, its fun and creative, and probably something you haven't done before!

Mosaics can be done in 2 or 3 sessions. If you'd like to use the tiles we have in the studio, you can pick from 12 bright colours, a selection of glass and glass beads, and a box full of miscellaneous "bits" we've been collecting. Or you can paint your own tiles however you wish, and then have fun breaking them up! We've got "nippers" and tile cutters to help you break your mosaic pieces just the way you want them, and we also supply the adhesive and grout. The tiles run around $8-9 per 100 grams.

Many shapes of wood, ceramic or glass can be used for a base for your mosaic piece. Bring something from home, or try one of the sample pieces we have in the studio. We have a detailed instruction sheet for you, and each of our staff has been trained in working with mosaics. Mosaics are BIG this year, especially at Clay Café!

MIDNIGHT MADNESS
Friday night is the liveliest at Clay Café! Every Friday night we stay open 'til midnight and you can paint to live music! Each week we invite local musicians to entertain you as you paint. In keeping with our desire to give you a relaxing experience, we'll promise no heavy metal! Our Fridays are great for a date or a gathering with friends (kid's are welcome too!)

GIFT CERTIFICATES
Give the gift of a clay day at Clay Café with our colourful gift certificates! Hand-made by our staff on six inch tiles, our popular gift certificates come in denominations of $10-$50. They are redeemable anytime. Treat that special someone to painting fun at the studio - guaranteed to be a great present!

FREQUENT FIRE CLUB
Have you got the painting bug? It's contagious, we know. Let us give you a free membership to our "Frequent Fire Club" and you'll earn towards free pieces each time you paint!

After 8 visits, we'll take the average of what you spent each time, and give you a gift certificate for that amount. Easy!

New in 2004, we now have a Frequent Fire Club card for families. Bring everyone in the family and paint 16 pieces at Clay Café - then you've got a free one!

TECHNIQUE TILES
Our staff is always experimenting with great new ideas for painting on pottery. When we invent something spectacular, we like to share it with our customers. We paint up a sample on a 6 inch tile, and write the painting instructions on the back. Just take the tile to your table and follow the instructions. You'll find the technique tiles at the paint bar

WE SHIP ANYWHERE!
Visiting us from away? Or sending a gift to Mom and Dad? We'll wrap your artwork carefully and send it on its way.

DRINKS AND SNACKS
Halifax 's finest coffee can be found at Clay Café! Have a Steve-O-Reno's coffee in regular, dark roast or decaf, served in an individual French Press.

We also have a great selection of teas, fruit juices and sodas, and an array of treats. Our customers are always welcome to bring in their own food as well. Do you anticipate "camping out" with us for awhile?

Bring your own goodies from home or try a carryout from one of our many neighboring restaurants!