tried & tested

If your kids love being creative and you love displaying their creations, but you hate the mess and tidying up, then I’ve got a great idea for you!

During the Easter holidays, the boys and I were invited along to Potstop in Knebworth to paint some personalised plates in their studio.

It’s situated on Station Road in Knebworth, a little set back from the main road, close to the train station. If you’re driving like we were, they have 3 spaces in front of the shop, plus there’s parking for one hour on the main road.

We arrived to a very warm welcome from Yan and Potstop owner Amy who set up the business with her friend Melissa over 10 years ago, wanting something new and local to return to after their maternity leave, and have built it into a hugely successful community-minded business.  

Our table was all set up with our plates we’d chosen to paint, paints, brushes and water- after a quick run-through we were ready to go!

 

The boys selected 3 colours each for their plates (there’s a handy grid up on the wall showing what colour the paint is in the bottle vs what colour it will be after the kiln, as they do go darker) and got to work using the dabbers to dab the colours all over their plates. Myy eldest liked using the brushes for more detailed bits, whilst the toddler liked trying to eat the brushes (yay!).

 

The boys had a great time painting the plates, although my youngest at 20 months was a tad tricky, deciding he wanted to chuck things about and being in full strong-willed toddler mode for the duration (angelic in all pictures though, of course!). It’s hard when you go to places and feel like your toddler is the only nightmare in the room, but I have to say, they were so lovely and understanding, that it really wasn’t a problem.

Once they’d finished painting, we peeled off the stickers that had been stuck on to reveal their names and stars. It takes around a week for your creations to go to the kiln and then be available for you to collect- there was a whole unit packed with bags waiting to be collected, so they’d had a very busy Easter holidays so far! We collected our plates after the Easter weekend and are so pleased with them!

I can’t believe how much there is going on at Potstop- as well as booking to take your children along to make beautiful pottery creations, they also have evening sessions where adults can go along without the children, bringing their own drinks and nibbles (definitely going to try that!). Or go all out and book the studio for an evening- perfect for a group of friends, a baby shower or even a Hen Do. It’s also great for children’s birthday parties!

How does it work?

Book

Book a table or on to one of their events. When you visit, you pay a £4 studio fee per painter (this covers your paint and glaze) and then choose from one of the many pottery items to paint.

Create

The staff are on hand to help you get started with an idea or design, or you might even like to copy one of the many beautiful items that are on display. There’s a wide range of paints and glazes available to suit everyone from beginner to artist!

Collect

Once you’re done, simply leave your finished masterpiece with them and your creation will be ready to collect a week later.

We had a great time at Potstop and would definitely go back. For more information on booking your own session or perhaps a party, check out their listing here.

If you would like us to do a Tried and Tested feature on your family-friendly business or event, just drop me an email to [email protected].