INSIDE & OUT : Personal Pottery

Have you ever admired unique ceramic pieces but didn’t admire the price?

A new shop in Corona del Mar, It’s You, provides a studio for customers to adorn and paint unfinished pottery to their liking--affordably.

Owners Gaye Roche and Wendy Cox keep in stock a variety of ceramic pieces, priced from $2 to $40, and then provide the paints, the brushes, the kiln and the atmosphere for one to create personalized dishes, vases, knickknacks or keepsakes.

“You can create an entire set of dishes for reasonable prices and relax a little in the process. You can even bring in your own CD and unleash a little,” said Roche. “All of our materials are lead-free, nontoxic and food-safe.”

Roche, a former property manager, and Cox, who was an accountant, decided on their venture after wanting to use the “right side” of their brains for a change. After some research and extensive classes in ceramics, they opened their doors in November.

Roche and Cox help their clients select pieces--which are made by local suppliers--to work on, then assist them in selecting from among 50 colors of paints. Then the client goes to work at one of the studio’s several stations. The $6.50 hourly price for studio use includes four paints, all the brushes you need and kiln firing. Roche and Cox can also assist those interested in stencil or carbon work.

Finished pieces are ready for pickup after two or three days. The time delay is necessary for proper firing and cooling.

For more information or to make reservations, call (714) 673-5969 or visit the studio at 2919 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar.

Italian Line

Innovative, cutting edge, avant-garde. These words have become synonymous with Italian design, especially furniture.

The Cassina collection stacks up on all three points. Recently opening a showroom in New York, Cassina has assembled the works of some of the world’s top designers into one line of furnishings for residential and contract use.

Among the collection’s more unusual pieces is Andrea Branzi’s Revers chair ($447), with its birch-wood arm and metal legs. The chair has arms that form sweeping arcs and comes in natural birch-wood or with the arms stained black, red or green.

The Cassina collection can be purchased through Diva, 8801 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles. For more information, call (310) 278-3191.

On the Shelf

Lining your shelves with all-purpose mesh sheeting will not only make the task less of a chore, but could save your dishes from chipping too.

The open honeycomb design of the plastic liner from Williams-Sonoma allows air to circulate around your dishes for drying. The liner comes out for easy cleaning, which is done by rinsing in warm, soapy water.

Each roll ($15 plus shipping and handling) is 2-by-10 feet.

To order from the Williams-Sonoma catalogue, call (800) 541-2233.