Last updated October 31, 2026
The Works is a pottery and art studio at 809 Grogan St in downtown Lavonia, GA, where you can take wheel and painting classes that run about $40 to $100 and pick up your fired piece about two weeks later.
Every time I come through Lavonia, I stop by The Works to see Denise and her assistant, Roxy. I have been more times than I can count at this point, and I have done a little bit of everything there: throwing cups and bowls on the pottery wheel, painting pieces, and even hosting a group class for a Lavonia event I put together. If you are planning the rest of your day, start with my Lavonia, GA small town guide.
If you have never touched clay before, this is a great place to start. The Works is a ceramic and art studio on Grogan Street in downtown Lavonia, run by Denise Smith, a retired art teacher who teaches adults and kids, first timers and seasoned hobbyists. You walk into a gallery full of handmade pottery up front and a full working studio in the back.
Here is everything you need to plan a visit.
The shop at The Works in downtown Lavonia
At a Glance
Address: 809 Grogan St, Lavonia, GA 30553
Phone: (762) 735-9840
Email: theworks.809groganst@gmail.com
What you can do: Wheel throwing, painting pottery, group classes and private events, monthly studio memberships
Class prices: The classes I have taken ranged from about $40 to $100 depending on the project. Check the current class list for exact prices.
Booking: Classes are listed and booked online through the studio's class page
Ages: Classes for adults and kids
Getting your piece back: Plan on about two weeks for your pottery to be fired and ready
Parking: Downtown Lavonia street parking
Website: theworksceramics.com
What The Works Is Like
The Works logo wall inside the studio
The front of the studio is a shop and gallery. Shelves and tables are covered in handmade mugs, bowls, plates, ornaments and seasonal pieces, and there is local art on the walls. You can browse and buy even if you are not taking a class.
Handmade pottery for sale at The Works
Behind the shop is the studio itself: wheels, work tables, shelves of tools and glazes, and pieces in every stage of drying. It is a big open room inside one of downtown Lavonia's older brick storefronts.
The shop up front with the working studio behind it
Pottery Classes in Lavonia, GA at The Works
The Works runs classes for all ages, and the lineup changes through the year. The current schedule and prices are on the studio's class page. Here is what I have done.
Pottery Wheel
The wheel is the main event. You sit at the wheel, center your clay, and pull it up into a cup or bowl with guidance the whole way. I have made both cups and bowls here.
Denise working clay on the wheel at The Works
Denise shaping a piece on the wheel
When your piece comes off the wheel, it is not done yet. It has to dry, get fired, get glazed and get fired again, which is why it takes time to get it back.
Me at the wheel at The Works
A fresh cup straight off the wheel
Painting
If the wheel sounds like a lot, painting is the easier way in. You pick a piece and paint it however you want. It is a good fit for kids, date nights and anybody who wants to be creative without getting covered in clay.
Seasonal Pieces
On my September visit, a whole table was full of little handmade ghosts, pumpkins and witch hats for Halloween.
Handmade Halloween ghosts and pumpkins in September
The Small Town Experience: Our Group Class
In partnership with the Lavonia Downtown Development Authority, I hosted a Small Town Experience day in Lavonia. We learned about the town, had lunch from 211 Main Street, and spent part of the day at The Works in a class where we worked on the pottery wheel and made Georgia plaques.
A finished Georgia plaque on display in the front window
A couple of weeks later, the finished plaques were fired, glazed and ready to take home.
Unwrapping a finished Georgia plaque from our group class
If you want to bring a group, a birthday or a work team, reach out to the studio directly to ask about a private class.
Studio Membership
If you already know your way around clay, The Works offers a limited number of studio memberships. For 2026, membership is $175 a month, billed monthly. According to the studio, it includes:
Use of the potter's wheels, tools and studio equipment
Kiln firings (within reason)
Studio glazes, or your own cone 5/6 glazes
Shelving for your work and personal items
Access to the studio whenever it is open, except during some workshops
Spots are limited, so call or email the studio to set up a time to meet.
A Little History
Lavonia grew up around the railroad. Local businessmen built the town around a new station on the Elberton Air Line Railroad, and it was incorporated in 1880. The town was named for Lavonia Hammond Jones, the wife of a railroad official.
The Works sits on Grogan Street, which is part of the Lavonia Commercial Historic District. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and covers downtown's old brick storefronts along Jones, Augusta, Vickery, Grogan and Bowman Streets. You can see that history in the studio's brick walls and old wood window frames.
When to Visit
Any time of year. This is an indoor activity, so it works in summer heat, winter cold and rainy days.
Book ahead for classes. The studio says spaces fill up fast.
Plan around the holidays. Pottery takes about two weeks to get back, so if you are making a gift, give yourself extra time.
Pair it with a lake day. Tugaloo State Park on Lake Hartwell is about 15 minutes north of downtown, so a class makes a good second half of an outdoor day.
Mistakes to Avoid
Expecting to take your piece home the same day. Wheel pieces need to dry and go through the kiln. Plan on about two weeks.
Wearing nice clothes. Wheel throwing is messy. Wear something you do not mind getting clay on.
Showing up without a booking. Check the class page or call first instead of assuming there is a spot.
Living far away and forgetting pickup. Ask the studio about pickup when you book so you have a plan for getting your finished piece.
Skipping the shop. Leave a few minutes to look around the gallery up front. It is full of handmade pottery and local art.
How to Get There
Lavonia sits right on I-85 near the South Carolina line, about 94 miles northeast of Atlanta.
From Atlanta, take I-85 North to Exit 173 (GA 17). Follow GA 17 south into downtown Lavonia. The Works is at 809 Grogan St in the heart of downtown, with street parking nearby.
The Works Lavonia FAQ
Are there pottery classes in Lavonia, GA?
Yes. The Works at 809 Grogan St in downtown Lavonia offers pottery wheel and painting classes for adults and kids, booked through the studio's online class page.
How much are pottery classes at The Works in Lavonia?
The classes I have taken ranged from about $40 to $100 depending on what we were making. Check the studio's class page for current prices.
How long does it take to get your pottery back?
About two weeks. Your piece has to dry, be fired, be glazed and be fired again.
Can kids take classes at The Works?
Yes. The Works offers classes for adults and children, and Denise Smith, who runs the studio, is a retired art teacher.
Do I need experience to take a pottery class?
No. Classes are made for first timers as well as people who have worked with clay before.
Can I book a private class for a group?
Yes. I brought a group for a wheel class during a Lavonia event. Contact the studio by phone or email to set one up.
Does The Works offer studio memberships?
Yes. Memberships are $175 a month for 2026 and include wheels, tools, glazes and kiln firings. Spots are limited.
Where is The Works located?
809 Grogan St in downtown Lavonia, GA 30553, inside the town's historic commercial district.
Make It a Full Day
Lunch: 211 Main Street is a short walk away on West Main Street, and it catered lunch for our group day. It is open weekdays, so plan a weekday visit if you want lunch there. For steaks to cook later, Texvonia Meat Market is right on Grogan Street too, and so is Morgan Hardware, a hometown hardware store open since 1895.
Get outside: Tugaloo State Park on Lake Hartwell is about 15 minutes north of downtown.
See the whole town: My Lavonia, GA small town guide covers coffee, lunch, the lake and evenings in one day.
Add a waterfall: Toccoa Falls is about 25 minutes north.
Go bigger: Tallulah Gorge State Park is an easy add if you want a big hike on the same trip.
Plan more: Browse every North Georgia town on the North Georgia page, or build a trip with Find a Trip.
More state parks: See all my Georgia State Parks guides.
Plan the Whole Weekend
Want a full North Georgia weekend already planned? North Georgia Weekends ($79) gives you five trips, each with a Saturday planned hour by hour, Friday night and Sunday plans, three places to stay and a rain plan for every stop. Just want one great day? Start with 5 Perfect North Georgia Saturdays ($9.99).
Hike With Us
More in North Georgia, or find a trip by drive time.
Want to explore Georgia with a group? The Explore Georgia Hiking Club is free, and every pace is welcome.