Mothers, Daughters Unite to Create

Ceramics is more than an art for Ginny Lou Puckett, though she’s a marvelous talent. Puckett regards her work as art therapy.

“My goal is to provide a wholesome alternative activity for youth,” Puckett, owner of Ginny Lou Creations, says as she carefully applies a delicate shade of green to ceramic leaves on a partially finished plaque. 

Two mother-daughter teams working on projects are a testament to that goal succeeding. Oksana Perez, 15, is working on a small box, while her mother, Carole, patiently paints a square vase. 

“Mom comes here to get away from Daddy,” Oksana whispers with a laugh. 

Perez rolls her eyes. “I’ve been a client of Ginny’s for years. Ginny’s great, she’s very knowledgeable. I work in a general surgeon’s office, and I like to make goodbye gifts for my patients.”

“She does a great job, too,” Puckett agrees with a nod. “She did a beautiful Christmas tree angel.”

Puckett’s business recently relocated from downtown Powder Springs to the corner of Alder Lane and Hiram-Lithia Springs Road. “I wasn’t happy with the through traffic I had at my previous spot, tucked away as it was. This location is off a major thoroughfare.”

Her business relocation has already won approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission and is expected to be official on Tuesday.

Most of Puckett’s business is by appointment since she teaches ceramics techniques and conducts day camps all summer.

“Since so many art programs have been cut from schools, we saw a need for something to keep kids busy and encourage them in the arts,” she explains.

The day camps are from noon till 3, five days a week for $70 a week. "I try to keep the single mom in mind with my pricing," Puckett says.

She used to make all of her own bisque pieces used in her shop, but her lungs eventually forced her to stop.

“The dust just was too much for me,” she says. “But we use as much local stock as possible. I like to support the local workers.”

Puckett puts together glasswork, painting and jewelry-making classes, but ceramics is the major draw.

“I did ceramics 15 years ago as a hobby,” says Laura Rose, who’s working on a project with her 6-year-old daughter, Evelyn. “I was looking for a ceramics class to make something for my husband for Father’s Day.”

She and her daughter trade grins as they paint. “We can’t say what the final project will be because we want it to be a surprise," Laura says.

Puckett encourages dads and husbands to be part of the fun. 

“We have Friday Night Date Night,” she explains. “We did a Polish sausage barbecue one week, had everyone paint t-shirts another week. And we had a deep-fried turkey feast for Thanksgiving.”

Puckett also brings ceramics to Presbyterian Village senior living center three times a week as a sort of therapy for the residents there. “I just really want to be able to help people."

She’s going for her master’s degree to become an art therapist and possibly expand her business. 

“We hope to make money at it, but the truth is, it’s a ministry," Puckett says. Prayer circles are not uncommon for her groups. “We lift each other up while we’re working.”