E.M. Ledford

Take a look at this cute raffle basket I put together for the Ohio Fairy Garden Festival! It’s filled with some of my favorite handmade pieces, including wish stones, garden worms, an herb stripper & garlic grater, and a whimsical mushroom fairy house.

You can enter to win it while enjoying all the magic and fun at the Ohio Fairy Garden Festival on June 20th from 10 AM–5 PM at Giddings Park.

Last year, Kala from and Julie from invited me to join the team organizing the festival. It has been one of the most rewarding and eye-opening projects I've taken on. I had no idea how much work happens behind the scenes to bring a community event like this to life... it is a LOT!

Thankfully, Sam from came on board as well. Her networking expertise and small business guidance have been invaluable throughout the process. It's been amazing to work alongside such talented people to create a day full of creativity, community, and a little bit of fairy magic.

It's almost summer camp time!

Explore the endless possibilities that clay has to offer kids!

Throughout camp, we will work on two projects each day with a provided snack in between. Some of the fun pieces we will make are silly tree faces, carved garden luminaries, and bee waterers.

Claytivity Camp
for grades 1-5
with Erica Ledford
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, June 22, 24, 26
9:30-11:30 a.m.
camp fee $105, materials fee $28
limit of 8 students

Ashtabula Arts Center Presents: Claytivity Camp Summer 2026 grades 1-5 Tickets are available now! Dates: Mon. June 22nd 2026, 9:30 am

Are you looking to give pottery a try?

The Ashtabula Arts Center offers SO many great opportunities to take prices at an incredibly affordable price.

This summer's line up is going to be amazing!

Register now for summery pottery classes! Call (440) 964-3396 or sign up at the links below.

Tuesday Pottery
for teens/adults
with Tracey K***z
6 weeks beginning June 16, 5-7 p.m
class fee $125, materials fee $35
limit of 6 students
https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/ashtabula-arts-center/6a1725a04fd197106ce3c055/tickets #/productions-view

Wednesday Pottery
for teens/adults
with Melanie Blake
6 weeks beginning June 17, 6-8 p.m.
class fee $125, materials fee $35
limit of 6 students
https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/ashtabula-arts-center/6a1725eee6550c106fc114bb/tickets #/productions-view

Thursday Open Clay Studio
for teens/adults
with Erica Ledford
6 weeks
Session 1 begins June 18
Session 2 begins July 30
10 a.m.- 2p.m.
studio fee $72, materials fee $40 (includes 1 small kiln firing and 25lbs of clay)
limit of 9 students
https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/ashtabula-arts-center/6a1735ce4fd197106ce44652/tickets #/productions-view
For students who have taken classes and would like extra time to work on their pieces, as well as grow their studio knowledge and techniques. Get full access and support to come and create. Additional materials are available at additional cost.

Saturday Pottery
for teens/adults
with Melanie Blake
6 weeks beginning June 20, 10-11:45 a.m.
class fee $115, materials fee $35
limit of 6 students
https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/ashtabula-arts-center/6a1726b94fd197106ce3cabb/tickets #/productions-view

Raku
for teens/adults
with Rebecca Stowell
4 weeks beginning Aug 1, 1:15-3 p.m.
class fee $54, materials fee $25
limit of 6 students
https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/ashtabula-arts-center/6a173fd7e6550c106fc1cee3/tickets #/productions-view

I made a few of these primitive piggy banks for an upcoming event. They were kind of a hassle to make... but cute enough that it was worth it. 🐷

Can you believe it is almost summer break??

Let's keep those creative minds and little hands busy.

Why do kids need clay? It helps to develop fine motor skills, encourage abstract thinking & problem-solving, and improves 3D conceptualization. This summer I am hosting a 3 day kids' claytivity camp on M-W-F, June 22, 24, and 26th from 9:30 to 11:30.
Finished work will be ready for pick up the following Friday, July 3rd.

Throughout camp, we will work on two projects each day with a provided snack in between. It is a LOT for one week, but our big skills/project focuses will be rolling out slabs to sculpt tree faces, fine tuning our pinch pot skills to make some little bee waterer cups, and carving luminaries.

Ashtabula Arts Center Presents: Claytivity Camp Summer 2026 grades 1-5 Tickets are available now! Dates: Mon. June 22nd 2026, 9:30 am

Here are a few of our projects from the Spring 2026 Claytivity session! Everything has been glazed, fired, and is ready to be taken home.

We had a great time practicing rolling coils to make flower pots, breaking down objects into basic shapes to create insect sculptures, and experimenting with surface decoration for our fairy garden doors.

They're ready!! These are my students' garden lanterns from this past week. I am just over the moon with how they turned out! I can't wait to see them little up with candles.

Due to a kiln emergency, this class is rescheduled for Monday, May 4th. There are a few slots available- join us in glazing a garden lantern!

Glaze a one-of-a-kind ceramic lantern suitable for indoor or outdoor use in Erica Ledford's workshop on Monday, May 4! These lanterns are a great way to add a little glow to your space.
Glaze a Garden Lantern
Erica Ledford
Monday, May 4, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
workshop fee $37
materials and firing fee $10
limit of 9 students
Register: https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/ashtabula-arts-center/69ab10a9ceca7e104fb58648/tickets #/productions-view
or call (440) 964-3396.

Happy One Year anniversary to Oliver's Emporium ! They are having a huge celebration today, so if you are in the Mentor Area, be sure to stop by and check it out.

We are officially open for business!

Stop in to Oliver's Emporium at the Great Lakes Mall and take a peek at my booth! It is right next to the area where the Easter Bunny is set up for photos.