The Claypen is "a paint your own pottery studio" located in the West Hartford Center. You pick out a piece of pottery, choose your colors, design your piece with the provided stencils, sponges and stamps, and then begin painting. Once finished, your piece will take four to six days to be glazed and fired, and at the end you have a unique piece of artwork that you yourself created. You can also order custom pieces designed and painted for you for weddings, holidays, or any special occasion. The studio is a wonderful place for birthday parties, scout troop outings and girl's nights out and a great place for designing unique and special gifts.
Grafix, formerly known as Modern Craft Engravers, bills itself as a digital print specialist. Owners Trish George and David Pinard handle banners, vehicle lettering, labels, stickers, embroidered and screen printed wearables, real estate signs, trade show displays, machine engraving, nameplates, plaques, badges, engraved gifts and lazer engraving.
Grafix, which was founded in 1980, recently moved from Park Road to Sedgwick Road.
This location is the workshop of Artistic Wrought Iron, where the owner crafts wrought-iron railings and other pieces. It is not open to the public. The company's projects are exhibited on its website. Call for further information.
Fred Bagnall is just off New Britain Avenue in the lovely Elmwood section of West Hartford. He has been tuning and repairing pianos since 2004. He works out of his home and takes appointments by phone. Give him a call.
Since 1990, Jerry's Artarama has provided the community of West Hartford with art supplies and framing. It carries a wide variety of supplies, such as brushes, paints, knives, pens and markers, as well as a wide selection of paper for use with various mediums, including collage. It also carries easles, craft projects, clay and stone products. In the back of the store, supplies for framing are also available.
The Beadoir is tucked away behind Max's Oyster Bar in a small courtyard away from the hustle and bustle of the West Hartford Center. The Beadoir specializes in beads of all varieties, shapes and colors, as well as a large selection of charms and findings. The shop also sells finished jewelry products as well as shawls and handbags, and it makes repairs to all kinds of jewelry. Staff members are knowledgeable and passionate about their craft and conduct classes and workshops for all interested beaders, as well as birthday parties and adult beading parties. Stop in, whether you're looking to buy or just to browse.
From the numerous brands of cigars and cigarettes, to the fragrant tobacco, incense and racks of pipes and lighters displayed throughout the store, the House of Tobacco truly lives up to its name. Glass cases line the spacious area, allowing for easy browsing and comparison. Any and all questions are happily answered by the store owners and staff. Whether one visits occasionally or frequently, quality and quantity are constants in this shop.