Sit and Spin at Palm Harbor Pottery

With Father’s Day fast approaching, one downtown retailer is offering you options to think outside the box and literally get behind the wheel for gift-giving ideas.

Palm Harbor Pottery owner and lead artist Zane Kuhle has been instrumental in helping dads avoid adding to their arsenal of terrible ties for several years.

"Parents always appreciate something their child has made, and with this medium, it can literally last a lifetime," shared Zane, a Palm Harbor native.

With more than two decades of pottery precision, he has crafted a class and workshop schedule that has something for every member of the family.

Wheel Workshops at Palm Harbor Pottery can accommodate up to four students at a time, with advance reservations strongly recommended.

When it comes to learning pottery-making techniques, Kuhle equates becoming wheel proficient to learning a new musical instrument.

"You need to learn the notes, where they are on the instrument, and practice those basic things before you can even think about playing a song," he said. "With the wheel, you must learn the technique to center the clay on the wheel, and practice it until mastered before you can succeed with further steps, such as raising the walls, shaping, etc."

Hand Building workshops - a more basic, human-powered form of clay molding - can accommodate up to 10 students, making them an innovative option for group or team-building get togethers.

Kuhle says that when people come in as a group, it gives them a chance to share their creativity, and enjoy not only what they are making, but admire and enjoy others' work as well.

And there are peripheral benefits, including the therapeutic. Had a bad day? Punish the clay.  Kuhle says, "If things don’t go well, you can ball it up and smash it, feel all better, and start again." Which is not a course of action this writer recommends for an office environment.

"Everyone secretly likes to get their hands dirty, and the soothing texture of clay allows them a chance to do just that," Kuhle concluded.

Other activities offered at Palm Harbor Pottery include a kids workshop on Saturday mornings, and a summer camp starting in June. Then there’s the ever-popular BYOB ladies night – accommodating up to six participants and happening the last Friday of the month.

For more information about Palm Harbor Pottery, the class schedule, and hours of operation call 727-945-2313 or visit their website palmharborpottery.com.