Paint-your-own pottery and wheel classes in Portsmouth

Firefly Pottery LLC is a paint-your-own pottery studio and shop on Mirona Road in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. You can pick a plain piece from the shop's wide range of pottery, in different sizes and styles, and paint it in the studio, choosing from many glaze colours. Besides painting, the studio runs clay classes, wheel throwing and glass fusing. On Google, it has a rating of 4.8 out of 5, based on 134 reviews.

The wheel throwing classes are the most detailed option. Each student pays £75 and receives materials to make two hand-thrown bowls, plus firing and painting or glazing. The classes are best suited to ages 10 and up, but adults are welcome too. The studio notes that good upper body strength is needed, and class sizes are small. Reviewers often mention the instructors, Anastasia and Sarah, for being patient and clear, especially during wheel throwing. If you book and don't show up without calling, the deposit is non-refundable.

If you just want to make something simpler, Clay TO GO costs £24 for a 3/4 lb ball or £30 for a 1.25 lb ball, and includes firing and painting. There are also hand-built tutorials for making clay turtles and clay monster buddies, and personalised items such as custom snowmen, pumpkins, Christmas trees, hand-carved lanterns, signature platters that recreate wedding invitations, and hand print art. The studio hosts birthday parties, with tea party themes among the options, and sells gift certificates in store, by email or by phone.

The studio is open seven days a week. Today, Monday, it runs from 10:00 to 18:00. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday hours are 10:00 to 21:00, Wednesday is 10:00 to 18:00, and Sunday is 12:00 to 18:00. The studio recommends reserving for weekends, school holidays and bad weather, and it may close early if the last slot has no booking. The entrance is accessible, and there is seating, a restroom and parking on site.

When your pottery is ready, the studio calls you. Items are held for 60 days after that call, so it is worth collecting them within that window. To book or ask a question, you can call 603-431-7682, email fireflypotterynh@gmail.com or visit fireflypotterynh.com. The address is 72 Mirona Rd #1, Portsmouth, NH 03801.