You Do the Fun!

Having three children (or any number greater than one, I suppose) means having to divide your attention, so we try to give each of our children what we call a "Special Day" once in a while. This means she gets both parents all to herself, with no siblings, and gets to choose where she wants to go (within reason of course— no trips to Europe). I have to confess that I got this idea from Kate Gosselin and her eight children. Anyway, one of the most frequently chosen destinations is a place called You Do the Dishes.

If you've never painted pottery, you simply don't know what you're missing. I love this place so much that I secretly cross my fingers that it will be chosen for a Special Day, and when it is chosen, I am doing a happy dance in my head. Now I don't actually have any other pottery-painting places to compare it to (you know - since I've never been to any other ones), but I refuse to believe that any other place would ever measure up to You Do the Dishes.

One of our daughters had her sixth birthday party there and we've been there for a friend's birthday party, but what I like best is when we take one of our kids for their Special Day on a Friday night, when they have what's called "Freaky Friday." After 5 p.m., children ages 13 and under paint for $4.00 per hour (not including the price of the bisque, of course). Even though it's basically kids' night and the cost is reduced, it has been surprisingly peaceful and quiet on every Friday night we've gone. I hope I'm not letting some sort of well-kept secret out of the bag that will change that … 

I just adore walking in there and being surrounded by amazing finished sample pieces on the shelves and walls. I actually have myself convinced every time that I am going to make something as incredible as this artwork that has been made by some pretty talented people (because of course I have to get in on the action, too). But in actuality, the coffee mug I made looks as though one of my kids did it. I'm no artist, but I had fun painting it, darn it, and I use it all the time! 

You choose your bisque (plain white pottery), your brushes, and your paint colors. Besides dishes, they have other kitchen items, figurines, picture frames - I even made a cell phone holder once. Yeah, it looks like my kids made that one, too. They also have stencils and sponges and stamps galore. Then you therapeutically paint your troubles away while music plays in the background. What could be better? When you're finished, you leave behind what you have painted and they glaze and fire it for you. They will call you when it's ready for you to come back and pick up—usually in two or three days.

Not only do we paint while we're there, we usually partake of their coffee bar, complete with coffee and tea among other drinks and desserts, too. I am just completely in love with the atmosphere and the entire experience there. 

I believe I may have to declare a Special Day for myself so I have an excuse to go back again.