Pottery House offers creativity for all ages Ceramic painting, parties, are popular pastimes BY ERIN O. STATTEL Staff Writer CHRIS KELLY staff The Pottery House offers a variety of pre-made ceramic, metal and glass pieces ready to be painted. MATAWAN- Nisha Khanna's son loves to make pottery, but there weren't any pottery venues near their home. So Nisha and her husband opened the Pottery House at 251 Main St. in the Main Street Village Shopping Center. "My son Dev loves to paint the pottery and make all kinds of crafts, so we just decided to open our own place," Khanna said. "He is 4 now and has been painting since he was 2." Khanna, an engineer, said she just didn't want to commute to her job in Jersey City anymore after she had her second son Dylan, who is 10 months old and already likes to paint pottery. The concept ofmaking your own ceramic piece has proved popular, according to Khanna. "We are really busy on theweekends and when school's let out," she said. "It is such a fun activity for young children and adults alike so we offer different things." Khanna explained that the store has been a busy place for parents to bring their young children to make handprints and footprints for keepsakes as well. But the crafts aren't just for youngsters. "We hold 'Diva Nights' and 'Mom's Clubs' for a kind of girls night out," Khanna said. "Schools are coming here on field trips." Walk-ins are welcome and customers can bring in food for parties. The Pottery House uses lead-free glazes and paints so all the crafts made are safe and food ready. "For right now, it is just the two of us [Khanna and her husband] and I have a friend who helps out with the parties," she said. "But I am hoping to hire someone else because we have been very busy with parties." Khanna said that making pottery and crafts is a good way to be creative and have fun. At the Pottery House, patrons can paint a piece of pottery that is ready to paint and glaze ranging in price from$3 to $45. Pieces include piggy banks, platters and dishes among other items. Customers select and paint their ceramic piece, Khanna glazes and fires the piece, putting a nice sheen on the surface, and it will be ready for pickup in about seven days. In addition to pottery, the Pottery House offers other materials to work with, such as glass and metal, as well as beaded jewelry. Khanna and husband, Gurmeet Matharu, a graphic designer, live in Marlboro with their two sons. The Pottery House is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit theWeb site at www.thepotterybiz.com.