The Samford Crimson

Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: Expressions

Concentrating on the piece, Samford alumnus Caleb Chancey paints a ceramic jack-o'-lantern at Do It Yourself Crafts in Homewood. The craft shop gives students an outlet for expressing themselves by painting pottery and working with glass. Students can make personalized gifts for family members or friends at DIY Crafts.

Though students are desperate for chill-time away from Samford, crowded restaurants and loud malls make it difficult to relax. Next time your mind needs a break from the stress of school, head to Do It Yourself Crafts to relax and let your hands do the thinking.

"I would love to visit a pottery place to relax because I enjoy painting and making personalized gifts, which are much more special," sophomore undeclared major Rebecca Rigell said.
Located off Oxmoor Road in Homewood, DIY Crafts opened eight years ago in June 1999. After starting out with branches in stationery and paper, DIY Crafts decided to specialize in what the store does best. Pottery and mosaics became the preferred commodity, and guests have been welcomed inside ever since.

"We're in a great location. We love Homewood," store manager Virginia Terry said.

No stranger to Southern Living magazine and its photographers, editors are frequent visitors to DIY Crafts in search of the perfect addition to a photo-shoot, such as decorative plates and bowls.

The plates and bowls, both functional and decorative, are displayed alongside seasonal items. Grinning pumpkins peer down from the shelves this month. Bare picture frames, plain piggy banks and white figurines give new meaning to the term "blank slate." The colors dancing off sample pieces offer inspiration and possibility for the blank items beside them.

Most of the samples are made by Terry herself. Her Auburn Tiger bias is evident on some of the pieces, while others seem fit to top tables at the most elegant wedding shower.
"It's one of my favorite parts of working here. I also enjoy rearranging each month and doing parties," Terry said.

The process is ancient and simple. After the artist puts the last strokes on the pottery, it is dipped twice in glaze and fired in the kiln. Plates and bowls are made food-safe by this technique. The process takes about 24 hours, and the finished product is ready to pick up in a few days.

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