b'have pottery.1 Ifyouarein-2 terestedinbuy-ing some amazing ceramicsfrom up-and-coming artists,thecom-munityreaches outtothepub-licforoccasional MakersMarket sales.Thenext Shevkun opened CLAY by Indigo Road Studio in Januaryoneisduring 2023 and then the Workshop studioin June 2024. SouthOranges 3 SmallBusiness 5 the studio became too small for theSaturday on Nov. 30 near the Work-number of students who wanted toshop at 63B South Orange Avenue.take classes.SoShevkuntookanotherleapPERCH HOME & CO.andinJuneof2024openedthePerch Home & Co. is a fun exam-Workshop studio for more advancedple of a retail store with such a good students in the alley off South Or- vibe it grew into its own third space. angeAvenuenearPetWants.ThisMicheleBesseyopenedPerch studio caters to students who haveHome & Co. at 6Highland Place 4 taken classes and are ready to devel- in 2006. It calls itself a stylish and op skills on their own. curated lifestyle shop and somehow Lookingaroundthestudio,themakes you feel happy when you go magicofthepotterycommunityisinside.Itstartedwithatinyspace everywhere.Thereisadiversityofbut was oversized in its welcoming ages and backgrounds. Some studentslook and feel. People wanted to come who didnt know each other a year agoin just to enjoy the ambiance. The are now friends. Ideas are swapped ascuratedmerchandisesourcedfrom students work. Ceramic glaze issueslocal artisans made it a fun place to arediscussedcasuallyamongthosepoke around.6 throwing new pottery on the wheel.Wedseecustomerscomeinto Photos are posted in the communitysshop and wind up chatting for 20 min-7 Whats App Chat when finished ce- utes with other customers, says Claire ramics are placed on the shelf as theMcGee, Columbia High School class kilnisemptied.Studentsrushtoof 09 and store manager. But the store compliment others who tried some- was small and didnt support the level 8 thing daring or difficult. of socialization it inspired. Says Workshop member JoAnneSo when Perch Home & Co. lost Steglitz, I dont need a therapist. Iits lease in 2022, Bessey and McGee saw a silver lining. Now they could find a new location and remake the store to be the third space it seemed meant to be.Perch Home & Co. relocated to its new space across the street at 89 Baker Street in 2023. This space is much larger and has space for more 1. Keep this Lumin Solscape journal handy for when inspiration hits, $12, Communitymerchandise. Cafe, 90 Laurel Avenue, Union, instagram.com/communitycafe.lumin, 646-580-15162.Plus it offers an eating area of 10 Hammitt Mr. G Med in soft cabernet pebbled leather with bold red zipper detailing, $525, Maker + Muse, 170 Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood, maker-muse.com, 973- tables, spaced so its easy to have con-313-27223. The Cereal Dreams granola collection features six delicious, small-batch, gluten-free varieties (16 ounces each), for individual purchase or as part of a curatedversationswithneighboringtables, gift box, $18-$34, cerealdreams.com, 917-621-65954. Frames by optical design housebringing to mind a bistro in Paris or Tura, $279, Dawn Opticians, 63 Second Street, South Orange, dawnopticians.com, 973-762-91005. High quality wood cutting board made in Vermont, $49, Kokoro, 172Florence. Maplewood Avenue, Maplewood; kokoromaplewood.com, 973-378-79886. Whip up some fun with this traditional wooden toy ice cream machine, $44.95, Toy Division, 94Students at CLAY by Indigo Road StudioThe addition of food, beverages Baker Street, Maplewood, toydivisionshop.com, 908-936-23957. Blenko tangerinelearning the art of making pottery.decanter, $280, Valley Vintage, 168 South Valley Road, West Orange, valleyvintage168. and gelato brought chef Fateen Cart-com, 973-323-17118. Increase your curb appeal by painting your front door, Wilbers 36/ matters magazine / holiday 2024Painting, 2087 Millburn Avenue, Maplewood; 973-762-6333, wilberspainting.com'