Bear Hands Pottery — Local services in New Bern

This place is great! My husband and I did the 2-hour Clay Date session, and it was the most fun we've had in a while. We were given the option to make something by hand or use the wheel - we picked the wheel, of course! The owner, Shelley Mathiot, is kind, patient, and extremely knowledgeable in all things clay. Her studio is set up perfectly - she has everything you'll ever need! We were able to make a couple of items, pick our favorite one, pick our glaze, and leave Shelley to kiln them. We are so excited to see how they turn out when we pick them up in a couple of weeks! If you're looking for a fun night out doing something you don't typically do, do not hesitate to book a session here at Bear Hands Art Factory. Whether it's you and your partner, your child/children, or a group of friends- she can accommodate you all! I promise you will not leave wishing you'd gone to the movies! And you get a fun keepsake you made with your...

Shelley has excellent teaching methods. I watch her teach church groups, private lessons, and small groups all the time because we share a studio space. she takes time to get to know her students, and they get to spend plenty of time at the wheel. She guides them in best practices to empower them to be professional potters, to prevent injuries , and to maintain a safe work environment. She has proven, step by step methods that make wheel throwing feel simple. I watched her give a lesson recently and I was so impressed. I can vouch that longterm health and air quality is of extremely high importance to her. Her studio is very clean and she will give sound advice on cleaning and safety procedures. If you learn from her, you will learn...

This was so fun! A neighbor and I went just to try something new and different, and it is clear, we didn't know what we were doing, yet we enjoyed the learning process. Shelley is patient and absolutely knows what she is doing, and somehow managed to help my neighbor and I have a finished product that actually does look like a usable bowl; although interestingly, both of ours look very different even though we were given the same instruction. So it allows for you to have your own individuality and lots of laughs along the way. The biggest lesson? LET GO, relax and enjoy! We are so glad we went, and just...