Not at all! Our Beginning Wheel, Beginning Handbuilding and Bowl in One classes are all geared toward absolute beginners and folks with a little bit of ceramic experience who need a refresher.

We strongly suggest you make sure you'll be able to come to each scheduled class session before signing up. If you have to miss a class, you may be able to attend a class on another day, though this isn't always possible when classes are full. We do have videos of many of our lessons so you can see what you missed, and your teacher can give you an abbreviated lesson when you return to class. As another option, you may be able to schedule a one-on-one make up lesson with a teacher for $60, though teacher availability outside of class times is limited. Email classes@stilllifeceramics.com if you'll be missing a class and we'll help.

While cancellations are not uncommon, we cannot predict if and when a spot will open up in a class. If there is an opening, you will receive a notification by email. Sign up quickly; this open space is available to the general public on a first come, first served basis.

Our beginning classes come with everything you'll need: clay, firing, and use of studio tools and equipment, so there's no need to purchase anything extra. We do have different types of clay available for purchase if you'd like to try another kind. The only thing we recommend bringing to class is a hand towel.

Continuing Wheel students are encouraged to bring their own toolkit, and we ask that you supply your own 12" bats.

Yes! If you want to hone your skills (or just feed your new pottery addiction), we have open studio hours in between classes.

Practice hour space is limited, so don't forget to sign up for a time slot in advance. Book Now >

During your time with us, you may come in during practice hours to work on your pieces and make more. All greenware (unfired pottery) must be submitted for bisque firing by the end of your last class meeting; you can't continue throwing or trimming after that. If you have bisque fired pieces that you didn't have a chance to glaze by the end of the last class, you may come in anytime during practice hours the following month to glaze your pieces.

We recommend that Continuing Wheel students feel comfortable with all of the steps and processes taught in Beginning Wheel, and can somewhat reliably wedge, center, and throw 2.5-3 lbs of clay. Typically, students take Beginning Wheel twice before taking Continuing Wheel.

Cancellations made 4 or more days before the start of a class will be refunded.

Cancellations made 4 or more days before the start of a workshop will be charged a refund, minus a $20 cancellation fee.

For cancellations made fewer than 4 full days, but more than 24 hours before the start time, a 50% refund or 50% credit toward another class or workshop will be issued. We cannot provide refunds or credits for cancellations or rescheduling requests made fewer than 24 hours before the start time of class, if you miss your class, or arrive too late to participate.

We hate throwing things away, but unfortunately we have limited space and need to clear out the shelves periodically. Greenware (unfired pieces) will be removed and recycled after the last class. Bisque fired pieces that need to be glazed, and completed pieces will be kept for one month after the end of class; after that, we can't guarantee that we'll be able to hold on to your piece. If there are extenuating circumstances, talk to your teacher or a staff member and we will likely be able to accommodate you.

For Bowl in One and Happy Hour classes, turnaround time is about three weeks. We will email you when your pieces are ready to pick up.

For 4 week courses, the turnaround time between when you glaze something and when it comes out of the kiln is generally 1 to 2 weeks, but sometimes the process can take some extra time. Due to the high volume of work that goes through our kilns, we cannot email you when your pieces are ready, but feel free to drop by to check. Please also understand that sometimes not everything you make will be fired at the same time, even if you glazed and handed everything in at the same time.

Our Ferndale studio is located at 700 Livernois, Ferndale, MI., 48220

No, we do not currently offer outside firing. However, we offer Firing Only memberships and you can fill out an application here.

Fill out the form on the Member Sign Up page and we will get back to you soon.

We have several membership tiers that offer different firing amounts per month. These are the minimum number of pieces that we guarantee can be fired with each membership; we will gladly fire more than this if there is space in the kilns.

• Red Tier: 10 pieces
• Orange Tier: 15 pieces
• Yellow Tier: 20 pieces
• Blue Tier: 25 pieces
• Blue Tier: 25 pieces

Most membership types offer 24/7 studio access.

There is a parking lot on the left side of the building as well as ample street parking.