My Blogs

It's in June of 2003 that The Ceramic Garden was founded and on May 1st, 2005 that my story started, when I bought this 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 from trial and error, without even knowing what a kiln was.  However, before I knew it, the passion took over. This small business quickly became my “thing,” my joy, especially when playing with clay and teaching. Who wouldn’t love an occupation where you get to constantly create and express yourself while meeting people who become loyal customers and friends. That’s how I became the self-taught artist and teacher I am now.  The years flew by and this year The Ceramic Garden, Where Art is Therapy celebrated its 16th anniversary!

I've had the pleasure of teaching art in several major venues: Del Webb Bexley,  YMCA,  Fox Hollow, McKitrick Elementary Schools, homeschooler cooperatives, Wellcare, TECO, SunTrust, Hunter Warfield, St. Timothy’s Catholic, Shiloh Baptist Churches, Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation, Carrollwood Cultural Center, Boy Scouts of America, among others. Let's not forget several communities' Annual Family Fun Days, festivals, West FL Ceramic Guild, and Land O Lakes library.

When we outgrew the Northdale location, we already knew we were going to head North, where the majority of our customers reside.  To their 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.   

I am grateful and proud to say that I am fulfilling my purpose in life. I know I have impacted the lives of many adults and children. I have helped grown ups realize their dreams of opening their own art studios, I helped others by leveraging my knowledge with my consulting services. I also made an impact on many children who are now attending art colleges or who have become teachers themselves. I could not be more content for them. I love the fact that they chose to be happy by doing what they love, and some with the support of their families. Even if you don't think of yourself as an artist,  sometimes that trait gets pulled out of you through playing and creating.  And that is how you discover your talent and creativity. You discover who you really are. You discover the "I", not the I in I-phone but the I in "I am".

Artfully yours,

Christine Terranova, Owner