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Description
6-Week BEGINNER Pottery Wheel Series (SATURDAYS, 7/11-8/15)PLEASE READ ME! <3 Ready to advance your skills on the pottery wheel? Come enjoy a 6 week wheel throwing course! 6 sessions included! In this 6 week series, you'll learn how to make vessels on the wheel from start to finish. No clay experience necessary! Whether youve never been on the wheel or if youre simply looking to brush up on your skills, this will be a fun and informative class series meant to help you on your pottery journey. This is only $40
PLEASE READ ME! <3
Ready to advance your skills on the pottery wheel? Come enjoy a 6-week wheel-throwing course! 6 sessions included!
In this 6-week series, you'll learn how to make vessels on the wheel from start to finish. No clay experience necessary! Whether you’ve never been on the wheel or if you’re simply looking to brush up on your skills, this will be a fun and informative class series meant to help you on your pottery journey. This is only $40/session, and includes a complimentary bag of clay for you to practice with! Payment plans are available at checkout.
Important Information:
- Included: personal instruction, clay, tools, supplies, glaze, firings, storage shelf for work (additional clay is available for purchase if needed)
- Instructor: Alexis Mintz @mintzceramics
- Theme: Basics - Mugs & Bowls
- Who: Anyone aged 8 and older (children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult also enrolled in the class)
- When: Saturdays (7/11-8/15) | 10am-12pm (6 sessions)
- Where: Bookworm Pottery - 707 S 16th St, Wilmington, NC 28401 **CARGO DISTRICT LOCATION** PLEASE REFER TO OUR PARKING MAP. There is paid parking next to DesignWorx and free street parking on Queen Street & 17th Street. We are in the green unit through the double doors down the hall.
- Cost: $240 per person. Independent studio time outside of class may be purchased at $5/hour until the end of the series.
- Class Type: Wheel-throwing (on the wheel)
More Important Information:
- CLASS TYPE: This is a multi-part pottery wheel class. You will go over throwing, trimming, and glazing.
- GLAZING: If you miss your final glaze session, you may sit in on another glaze session that week (when available), elect to have studio staff glaze your practice pots for you, or you can sign up for another series and learn to glaze them in that course. Individual makeup dates for the final class are not available.
- MISSING CLASS: If you miss a class date, your ticket will not be prorated for missed time. However, you can sign up for Independent Time at $5/hr during the series or hop into another series class night within your 6-week time period (if space allows).
- ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTION (OPTIONAL): If you would like personalized 1:1 instruction from your instructor, a private lesson during our open hours can be arranged for an additional fee. Please email us at [email protected] to inquire about a 1:1.
- CARE: Ceramics should not be exposed to extreme temperature changes. Hand-wash or allow to cool to room temperature from the top rack of your dishwasher help prevent shattering. Avoid using boiling water. With care, your future little pots can bring you joy for a long while.
- TURNAROUND TIME: Pottery is a process and takes time to dry, glaze, and fire multiple times. Your creations will be ready for pickup from the studio approximately 2 weeks after the final session. You should receive a pickup email when they're finished, but if it is eaten by filters, please come by the studio after 3 weeks to check on your pots or send us an email. Any practice pottery left at the studio 2 months after the final course date will be donated, so please pick up your work in time if you want to keep them!
- WAIVER: Engaging in throwing classes can be taxing on the body. It is not recommended for individuals who have injuries in their hip, back, shoulders, or wrists; arthritis, tendonitis, carpal tunnel, or joint pain. By participating in pottery classes with Bookworm Pottery & Co., you understand and accept that you are throwing at your own risk, participation can exacerbate current/prior injuries, and release Bookworm Pottery & Co. from any liability during use of the studio. If you need special accommodations during class, please inform an instructor and we will make accommodations to the best of our ability, but cannot guarantee that we can perfectly accommodate every need. Please see the refund policy below.
- DISCLAIMERS: YOU MUST SIGN YOUR POTTERY WITH YOUR FULL NAME. Bookworm Pottery & Co. is not liable for lost pieces that are unsigned and mistakenly claimed by another student. Not all practice pieces are guaranteed to make it out of the kiln if instructions are not followed. Inconsistencies in thickness can cause cracks or even shattering in the firing process. Improper glaze application can cause the piece to fuse to the kiln shelf. However, the goal of this course is to learn and have fun, not the finished practice pieces, so don’t stress about it! By purchasing this ticket, you are agreeing that Bookworm Pottery & Co. is not held liable for damaged pieces.
- REFUND POLICY: Tickets cannot be refunded, prorated or exchanged for another workshop due to the special nature of our offerings and very limited enrollment. There are no exceptions. If something comes up that impacts your attendance, you are welcome to resell your tickets.
Shipping Notes
- Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
- Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
- Delivery to the USA:
- Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
- If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
- We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
- Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
- To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
- Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
4.6 ★★★★★
Based on 18 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
Better Than the Movie
Format: Hardcover, Format: Hardcover
I picked up Remarkably Bright Creatures after hearing so much buzz about it, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. This is one of those rare books that is heartfelt, funny, emotional, and completely unique all at the same time. The characters feel real and layered, and the story unfolds in such a thoughtful, satisfying way.
Marcellus the octopus completely steals the show. I didn’t expect to become so attached to an octopus, but his chapters were easily my favorite part of the book. They added humor, wisdom, and so much heart to the story.
If you’ve already seen the movie adaptation but haven’t read the book yet, you absolutely should. The book goes so much deeper emotionally and gives so much more background and connection between the characters. I enjoyed the movie, but the book made me care about the story on a completely different level.
The writing is approachable and easy to get into, but it still leaves a lasting impact. This would make a great book club pick or gift for anyone who enjoys character-driven stories with warmth and emotional depth.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Great story and characters
Format: Kindle
I had to see what all the hype was about and after seeing the trailer on Netflix I knew I had to read the book before I watched the movie. I have to say, this was one of the better books I've read so far this year. It's not a fast paced read but it held my interest the entire time. The characters are very well developed and I really grew to like Tova and Cameron, of course Marcellus is the star of the show and is as witty as they come. If you're looking for a good read I highly recommend this one. The octopus is a difficult creature to care for so I sincerely hope the "octopus tank craze" doesn't start over this like the "clownfish tank craze" did when Finding Nemo came out. Leave it to the expert level saltwater hobbyist to care for them or better yet, leave them in the ocean. I have to mention too that this is the author's debut novel and for a debut novel it's very impressive, I'll look for others from her in the future.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2026
★★★★★ 4
A Remarkable Book--I Want More Like It!
Format: Kindle
I stumbled on Remarkably Bright Creatures among my recommendations. As often happens, the premise intrigued me enough to read it even though I didn't know the author. Well, if Shelby Van Pelt often writes like this, I definitely want more of her books.
The friendship between Tova the aquarium cleaning lady and Marcellus the giant Pacific octopus is a definite selling point in this book. It's a great twist on the "A Kid and Their X" trope (the kind of thing you see in stuff like Where the Red Fern Grows, Old Yeller, Free Willy, and so forth). This one, I am pleased to report, is far less cheesy and saccharine. Tova is a multifaceted character whose life may seem small in her estimation, and probably is if we go by what is a "normal" life in a small seaside town. Yet that life has been stuffed with complex emotions, unanswered questions, and a longing for "more" that I think everybody can relate to. At least, I certainly could.
As for Marcellus, he's multifaceted, too. A part of me did stick with his point of view, and story, because it is a story of a "remarkably bright," underestimated creature trapped and controlled in a world he doesn't understand. I have cerebral palsy and was diagnosed as level 1 autistic this spring; I'm still looking back and trying to heal from a lot of the latter's implications. So in a visceral way, yeah. I'm not a captive animal or mistreated, but I understood how Marcellus felt. What I liked even better about his story though, is that Marcellus' story doesn't stop there.
Marcellus actually has a life and a history that Shelby Van Pelt, Tova, Cameron, and other characters dig into. He's not just a captive yearning for freedom and mourning lost opportunities, as often happens with similar stories. He makes wry, witty, yet quiet, non-snarky observations about humans. He cares deeply for Tova because she took time to know him as a "person," but also because she's the only human who has ever stopped long enough for Marcellus to know as a real "person." Marcellus gets to be the conduit of real revelation and change for people inside and outside his world. That's amazing, and frankly, it's a lot more than many human characters get.
Remarkably Bright Creatures couldn't succeed with just Tova or Marcellus though, or at least not as well as it did, I think. The other characters pop off the page as well. Cameron is my favorite, precisely because I didn't expect to like him at first. By his own admission, he comes off as a burnout and a loser, and I admit, that's how I saw him to begin with. But as with Tova and Marcellus, Cameron is hiding a lot of layers, a lot of depth. He's got a great heart, but he's still a typical, kinda clueless 30-year-old guy (and I'm still a 30-something so I say that tongue in cheek). He's vulnerable but not pitiful; he plays the victim sometimes, but then he gets mad at being called out on that and wants to do better. He struggles and is a burnout, but he's got good, solid friends and some real interests and potential. In other words, I got really into his arc, especially once Tova, Marcellus, and even Ethan got involved.
As for Ethan, he's unexpectedly cool, as well. I admit some brownie points with him, as I love all things Scottish or Irish and he is of Scottish descent. But I also didn't expect a shopkeeper in his '70s with a gruff edge to be a Grateful Dead fan or to get along so well with a neat and tidy, tiny Swedish aquarium cleaner, so brownie points on plot and character there. In fact, Ethan's role in the story, in particular, went all kinds of unexpected places, so without spoiling anything, I'll tell you to keep an eye on it.
Finally, Shelby wins some extra brownie points for a lot of the "little" things that "pop" out at me when reading a book like this one. For instance, I love cats and love the reluctant yet affectionate relationship Tova develops with a stray cat. I love Marcellus' Collection and the pride and care he takes in it. I love and felt some heartbreak over Tova's reminiscing about the attic playroom that never got to be a playroom.
But I think the thing I loved most about Remarkably Bright Creatures is how remarkable Shelby showed readers humans--and creatures--can be, without getting heavy-handed or cheesy. There are some romances here, so to speak, but this is a relationship novel, and those are, have been for the past several years, some of my favorite ones.
There is some language here, so caveat emptor if that's not your thing. From a writer's perspective, I also wondered how much some threads or characters were actually needed. For instance, looking back, I understand why Tova had a brother, but I'm unsure how much he furthered the plot. Similarly, I understand the roles of Avery and Marco but again, am unsure how much they furthered the plot.
Also, I almost hate to say it, and I could be wrong about this. After all, I know about as much concerning octopi as the average person who watches Jeopardy (which I do). But while Marcellus' plot thread is great, and while I definitely understand suspension of disbelief, I did wonder along with Cameron how much those boundaries were pushed. I mean, I buy Marcellus getting out of his tank, and with the right Collection items, I guess Tova and Cameron could've figured out whatever they needed to know. But...there's a logical shard of me that isn't quite sure she buys how everything lined up, I guess.
All that aside though, Remarkably Bright Creatures is still a remarkable book. As often happens, I'm now eager to find more like it. And yes, it does get a hearty recommendation. At the very least, I'll want to take closer looks next time I go to an aquarium.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Beautiful!
Format: Kindle
I heard about this book in a conversation at a craft party and ordered it the same night. I was not disappointed. I fell in love with Marcellus and Tova and their delightful relationship, and with all the ancillary characters that made this book so special. The ending was so very sweet and satisfying as well. Great 1st book!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2026
★★★★★ 5
It was as good as I'd hoped.
Format: Kindle
Marcellus McSquiddles, the giant Pacific Octopus who has lived at the Sowell Bay Aquarium for going on four years, is often exasperated with the humans who stare at him all day. But there is one human who is different. She speaks to him and more importantly, she keeps his nocturnal escapes from his tank, a secret. Tova is a gentle woman, a widower and still dealing with the loss of her son, more than thirty years ago.
When someone new strolls into town, Cameron Cassmore, looking for his dead beat father, he and Tova's lives will become inextricably linked, if they're not already. And Marcellus sees all of this and does his best to assist, where he can, since for the most part, he notices that haumans can be rather dull. But though, sometimes, especially in the case of Tova, there a a few who are remarkably bright.
This was a sweet, genuine, heartfelt and beautifully written, fun read. Van Pelt has created a delightfully jaded and long-suffering, sighing character in the form of Marcellus and he and Tova's story is told in such a unique and imaginative way. I'd been meaning to read this for so long and I'm so glad I finally did.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2026
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