My Blogs

My story started on May 1st, 2005, when I bought a 1000 square feet Paint Your Own Pottery studio, in Northdale.  After being laid off four times in seven years, this art business quickly became my escape from the corporate world. My entrepreneurial spirit and I set off on an adventure, learning hands on, not even knowing what a kiln was.  Who wouldn’t love a life style and an occupation where you create, express yourself, and meet creators who become loyal customers and friends. The rest is history.

When we outgrew the Northdale location, we already knew we were going to head North, where the majority of our customers reside and it was important to follow our customers. To our delight, an empty place at 19213 N. Dale Mabry, right next to Publix, in Lutz Lake Crossing Plaza, became our new location at the end of 2019.   

My passion and joy grows when I "play" with clay and teach Art. We have (and have had) the pleasure of doing so in several major venues like; Del Webb Bexley,  YMCA,  Fox Hollow, McKitrick Elementary Schools, homeschooler cooperatives, Carrollwood Day School, West FL Ceramic Guild, Wellcare, TECO, SunTrust, Hunter Warfield, St. Timothy’s Catholic, Shiloh Baptist Church, Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation, Carrollwood Cultural Center, Boy Scouts of America, among others. We also served communities' Annual Family Fun Days, festivals, and Land O Lakes library.

I am grateful and proud to say that I am fulfilling my purpose in life. I continue to impact the lives of many adults, children and teens, to help grown ups realize their dreams with opening their art studios, and to leverage my knowledge. I could not be more content for the many children who are now attending art colleges or have become teachers themselves.  I love the fact that they chose to be happy (=healthy) by doing what they love, some with the support of their families. 

Even if you don't think of yourself as an artist, that trait gets pulled out of you when you play and create. That is how you discover your talent, creativity, and what a powerful creator you are. Beware as you can even lose yourself in time.

As the saying goes, time flies when you're having fun! And this year, The Ceramic Garden, Where Art is Therapy celebrates its 17th anniversary!

Artfully yours,

Christine Terranova, Owner