Both of these businesses offer a unique experience with pottery, whether painting different pre-made items or creating your own ceramics from the wheel!
A big bonus is that Designbyhart owner Teri Hartmann and Color Me Mine owner Angela McGhee are wonderful people who have the same goal of offering an artistic and inclusive experience for the Huntsville community.
Designbyhart
Designbyhart was established in 2014 after Teri moved to Huntsville and couldn’t find a place to create pottery. She knew that if she was looking for a place to create pottery, there were probably lots of others who were too.
Against the advice of some of her family and friends, Teri decided that she would start a business that offered space for those who wanted to do wheel throwing or slab rolling. She also eventually added painting pottery, as that was a reoccurring request.
Designbyhart has been so successful that Teri has moved twice and now occupies the largest studio at Lowe Mill, #150.
Teri enjoys owning a business, even with the many challenges that come with it. She had to pivot her business plan when COVID-19 hit and did so with take-home kits and the help of small business grants. Her daughter Dominque has always been part of Designbyhart, and you can find her instructing different classes and individuals at the studio.
Teri gets true joy out of running a business that offers many options for the community while helping each find their artistic voice.
Whether you are a kid or adult, Designbyhart offers pottery/painting classes, studio time, summer camps, date nights, and group activities.
Color Me Mine
About ten years ago, Angela McGhee saw commercials for a Color Me Mine franchise. Color Me Mine is an art-as-entertainment studio offering unfinished ceramics and other crafts which allow creative freedom to customers of all ages.
Angela felt that there was great potential for a concept like that in Huntsville and decided to put down the deposit to secure a Color Me Mine franchise. She flew to California for a week of training and was one step closer to opening a Color Me Mine.
Fast forward to the present, and Angela found a location she loved for the store and felt that Huntsville had grown enough to support the business. She opened Color Me Mine in October of 2021.
Angela is a super busy lady with a full-time day job, a family, and Color Me Mine to run. Her son, who is also her best friend, is one of the friendly employees you might run into while you are enjoying your time at the store, painting a masterpiece.
Angela loves ordering different ceramic pieces to ensure there is a constant flow of new items and many choices for all ages and sexes. If you let her know that there is something specific you are looking for, she will try her best to find it for you.
Color Me Mine is a great place to go with family, friends, a date, or yourself—relax and paint the night (or day) away!
Ashley Polesak
Ashley Polesak has spent the last 10 years living her best life in Huntsville, Alabama. She loves to explore all of the things that Huntsville and the surrounding areas have to offer and is a big proponent for scouting out local experiences. Ashley lives and breathes the outdoors and recreation opportunities in the area, you are very likely to run into her at a park or on a hiking trail. If she has her two rescue dogs with her, Oba and Twyla, please excuse their over-excitement, they are currently being trained and it's a work in progress! If she had to describe herself in television characters she would choose 1/4 Eleanor Shellstrop, 1/4 Leslie Knope, 1/4 April Ludgate and 1/4 Margaery Tyrell.
