TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Ceramics Studio Gets Residents Fired Up

ADVERTISEMENT

By DAVID SOMMER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 11, 2008

Updated: 02/10/2008 09:11 pm

TRINITY - Grandmothers appear to be the main beneficiary of one of Pasco County's newest businesses.

At Paint UR Pieces, artists and would-be artists of all ages are invited to paint raw ceramic bisque objects, which are then glazed and kiln-fired.

Partners Lindsey Seddon and Linda Sessa, who also run a home appraisal business, said they wanted to create a family-friendly, neighborhood meeting place.

"We're real estate appraisers and have been doing it probably 20 years, so we decided to do something more relaxing," Seddon said.

"We've been very happy with the response. People come in as a family."

Sessa said they hope to stage Saturday morning reading sessions during which children can paint characters from the stories they hear. The partners also hope to lure adult book clubs, stage occasional jazz concerts and work on getting a license to sell beer and wine.

For now, they offer a variety of hot and cold coffees and teas, California-style smoothies, muffins, cakes, cookies, and other goodies along with free Wi-Fi for laptop users.

Unfinished ceramic pieces run the gamut from bunny rabbits to deviled egg serving trays. There are pencil holders shaped like golf bags, a variety of plates, platters, bowls and pitchers, and all sorts of figurines, treasure chests, crosses - even ceramic, martini-glass-shaped cups.

Dog bowls shaped like bones and lizard-shaped wall decorations have proven popular, Seddon said.

For $8 plus the cost of the unfinished piece, customers are provided all the paint, brushes, sponges and other art supplies needed to create their masterpieces. After a piece is painted, Seddon and Sessa will dip it in glaze and fire it up in an electric kiln. Finished pieces can be picked up in about a week.

The pair also have several picture books on hand with design ideas for those looking for inspiration. Waiting to be fired last week was a large platter that a woman had painted with the birth date and name of her newborn around the rim. In the center were the little hand prints and footprints of her baby.

Jill Rankin and her 4-year-old daughter Ava showed up last week to pick up a statue of a house cat painted with a pink theme.

"It's a birthday present for her grandmother," Rankin said.

Rankin said her family lives behind the ceramic cafe off Trinity Boulevard in the small, Trinity Oaks shopping center just east of Tamarind Boulevard.

"We were just driving by" and saw the Ceramic Studio Cafe sign, she said. "I think it's a great idea."

Tina Panagiotopoulos, who works at a nearby barber shop, stopped in to pick up pieces painted late last month by her granddaughter and the child's friend.

Panagiotopoulos beamed with pride when she opened up a bright pink and lime-colored vase that was apparently intended for her.

"The first time she came here she made a little figurine, and I said, 'Why don't you make something you can give me, and I can treasure it?' because I treasure everything she makes," she said.

On the side of the vase, in Greek lettering, were the words, "Yia Yia," a term of endearment grandmothers love to hear, Panagiotopoulos said.

Reporter David Sommer can be reached at (727) 815-1087 or dsommer@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT