Autumn crafting: 5 ways to get the Denby Pottery Village experience at home

Autumn is here and so the challenge of keeping the kids entertained is heightened with the changeable weather requiring more wet weather activities!

Our friends at Denby Pottery are advocates of families spending quality time together while embracing their creativity. In fact, they have their very own craft studio in the heart of Derbyshire. The Denby Pottery Village is home to the largest selection of Denby stoneware in the world and is known for offering an array of experiences, from pottery throwing to seasonal crafting activities for the whole family. 

Why not visit the village this autumn, or if you’re simply looking for some wet-weather family activities,the Denby team are on hand to provide the inspiration for you here! Please read on to discover 5 ways to get a taste of the Denby Pottery Village experience at home:

Get crafty with clay trinkets 

A key aspect of the Denby Pottery Village is getting stuck in and crafting your own clay homeware, from plates and bowls to home decor. Whilst not quite as thrilling as working on a potter’s wheel, you can capture the element of working with clay at home and make a fun experience for the whole family. Creating small decorative trinkets is a great way to get a taste of pottery-making without throwing yourself in at the deep end, plus it gives everyone creative freedom to make something truly their own. 

There are plenty of air dry pottery starter kits available for those new to the hobby, which often include clay and plastic modelling tools, as well as paints, paintbrushes, and varnish. Or, if you and the family want even more hands-on experience, try making your own clay. This can easily be done with ingredients you already have in your home, like flour and salt, and you can even use stains to colour the clay. 

Personalise a plain ceramic mug 

Everyone loves having their own designated mug, and what better way to make it your own by decorating it to make it truly personal? Not only is this an entertaining activity in itself, but every time you sip from your one-of-a-kind creation, you’ll be reminded of your fun family experience. And fortunately, it’s something you can easily do at home too. 

Use plain mugs you already have, or treat the family to new Denby mugs to adorn. Then, simply get creative with ceramic paint or pottery paint pens and bake the mug in the oven. This is usually at around 140°C for roughly half an hour, but make sure to check the instructions on the ceramic paint before you start baking. Of course, not every material is suitable for baking. Always use a mug that is crafted from heat-resistant materials, such as Denby stoneware, and make sure that it is oven-safe before starting your art project. 

Make and decorate a clay pumpkin 

One Halloween-themed experience that is sure to go down a treat both at home and in the Denby Pottery Village is making and decorating your own clay pumpkin. Not only is this a great way to get into the spirit of the spooky season, but you can enjoy your newly crafted clay pumpkin on Halloweens to come too. 

If you’re looking to try your hand at something new, you can craft your own pumpkins with air-drying clay, and help your little ones use modelling tools to create classic pumpkin carvings in the clay before it sets. Alternatively, you can use ready-made plain clay pumpkins and decorate them with ceramic paint or pens if you’re looking for a quicker activity. Again, just make sure any ready-made products are oven-safe if you’re doing this activity at home.

This Denby Pottery Village experience is a great way to get little ones excited for the spooky day. But if Halloween isn't your thing, or you're looking to make something you can display year-round, another activity that's popular outside of the seasonal period is crafting plant pots. This activity is a great opportunity for teaching your children more about plants, and the wider natural world. Once they have their hands on their finished creation, they can use it for their own plant that they can take care of themselves. This can help them learn more about how humans can have a positive impact on their environment. Like crafting a pumpkin, you can either go all in and make the pot yourselves with clay, or you can opt for the quicker route and simply decorate a ready-made pot. 

Treat the whole family to an afternoon tea 

Crafty activities are just one part of the Denby Pottery Village experience — there are also plenty of dining opportunities on the site, one of the most popular being afternoon teas. You may think afternoon tea is typically an activity for grown-ups, but there are plenty of ways to create a kid-friendly version from the comfort of your own home. Get the children involved by asking them to pick their own sandwich fillings and get stuck in with the food prep. They can also help with sweet treats — younger children can help with baking by decorating your finished bakes, or ask older children to help measure and mix ingredients. Swap tea out for younger children with their favourite warm drink.

Of course, it isn’t just the food which makes an afternoon tea special. Create the perfect setting for your experience by using your favourite tableware, placemats, and tablecloth. You can also add a touch of luxury by displaying a fresh floral bouquet on the table and candles for an evening set-up (or artificial candles if you’re dining with little ones).

Set up a kids' creativity session 

Denby Pottery Village offers an array of wonderful activities for children, such as the self-led toddler Tuesday sessions which encourage little ones to get creative and unleash their imagination. As well as being a great way to help children explore their creative side, it also allows them to improve their social skills and make new friends. Plus, it gives the parents a chance for a get-together too! 

You can recreate this fun and sociable atmosphere at home with a kids' creativity session focused on pottery or ceramic painting. Set up a table with child-friendly supplies like paint, brushes, and plain pottery items, and invite your child’s friends and their parents over to take part. Whether it's decorating small plates, mugs, or creating handprint art, this is a fun way to get kids involved in a creative activity while spending quality time together. Make sure to have something for the grown-ups as well, including tea, coffee, and a good supply of biscuits. And if you want the adults to explore their creative side too, you can even get some clay and paints ready for the parents. 

"Recreating the Denby Pottery Village experience at home is all about tapping into creativity while spending quality time with your nearest and dearest. A flavour of the activities can be enjoyed at home, including the popular pottery crafting experiences. However, as you won’t have an experienced guiding hand like you do at the village, it’s best to stick to simple creations to start with, especially if you’re crafting with little ones.

“Most children enjoy getting crafty, so it shouldn’t be hard to encourage the whole family to take part. If you have teens who are less keen, you can tempt them in by giving them the materials to craft something they’ll love and get plenty of use from, such as a makeup brush holder, a ring stand, or even a phone holder.”

Sam O'Connor, Denby Pottery Village Manager at Denby

Whether you have a few hours or want to enjoy a full day out with the kids, come and visit our welcoming Denby Pottery Village, where you can discover a wealth of family-friendly Denby Pottery experiences that all ages will enjoy.

Join us at the Denby Craft Studio during the October Half-Term Holidays for lots of spooky fun. Secure your space today and choose from one of the following activities at the booking stage, subject to availability (until Sunday 3rd November):

1. Paint a Spooky Plate: Using our colourful glazes, paint a pre-stencilled Denby tea plate in a Halloween-themed design with a spooky selection to choose from. We’ll kiln fire their finished tea plate for you to collect at a later date and treasure forever. £12

OR

2. Make a clay pumpkin: Let their imagination run wild as they make a Halloween pumpkin from our Derbyshire clay. There’s a how-to guide to follow along if needed, and their creation can be taken away on the day to paint at home when dry. £7

OR

3. Design a Trick-or-Treat Canvas Bag: Get ready for Halloween and decorate a spooky 'trick-or-treat' canvas bag in their own design using our wide selection of colourful fabric pens to ‘make and take home'. £7

OR

4. Create your own Jack O’Lantern: Design their own Jack O’Lantern using a lidded glass jar, a selection of spooky paint colours and various craft accessories. Pop in a tealight (provided) and watch it glow. £7

OR

5. There’s also the option to paint a plate for Santa. Get set for the big day and paint a Christmas themed design onto a medium Denby plate, ready for the arrival of Santa and his reindeers. We’ll kiln fire their finished medium plate for you to collect at a later date. £15.95

BOOK HERE

OPENING TIMES

The Denby Factory Shop, The Denby Gift & Card Shop and The Denby Farm Shop

Usual opening hours:

Monday - Saturday: 9am - 5pm

Sunday: 10am - 4pm. 

The Denby Garden Stall. 

Daily: 10am - 4pm

Bourne’s Coffee Shop & Bistro:

Monday - Saturday: 9.00am - 4.30pm

Sunday: 9.30am - 3.30pm

The Denby Craft Studio: 

Tuesday - Sunday: 10am - 4pm

Last experience at 3pm

Closed Easter Sunday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.