Sunshine Glaze

So while she was checking out Sunshine Glaze, she casually told the owner, "It's been my dream to own one of these."

The owner said, "Buy mine," and handed her a business card.

DeRojas had been designing and making jewelry—not seriously thinking about owning a studio.

"I had no intention of purchasing a business," she said.

But she mentioned it to her husband, a businessman, anyway.

"Do your due diligence," he said.

Realizing this might be the right time after all, she did some research. DeRojas said she looked at the market and at whether the ceramics painting business had run its course in Southlake. Sunshine Glaze also offers glass fusing, mosaic-making and painting on canvas.

She concluded the business was still healthy. Having just turned 50, she also decided she was ready for something new.

"To me, it was the next chapter of my life," she said, adding, "Use it or lose it."

The transition wasn't hard for her, she said.

"I love change."

DeRojas has owned Sunshine Glaze for about 16 months and just signed a new five-year lease.

Though the business takes many hours of hard work, she is clearly enjoying herself in the bright, sunny studio. Her advice to someone thinking of getting into business for themselves: "If you have a dream, just do it."

She had taken ceramics classes, and time spent in retail and in customer service helped a lot, she said. She also grew up around ceramics—her mother worked in the medium and had a kiln.

Kids as young as 2 come in with their parents to paint, deRojas said. Many designs use children's fingerprints, palm prints or footprints, so the pieces become keepsakes.

Once a customer picks a shape in creamy, unfired bisque—pieces range from tableware to figurines—deRojas or one of her employees explains the process. Customers look at a color chart and choose their colors. Some bring their own ideas, but if they don't know what to paint, Sunshine Glaze has idea books, stencils and stamps. DeRojas also has many designs posted on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/sunshineglaze.

Customers can transfer the design to the blank pottery using tissue paper and a Sharpie. Or, Sunshine Glaze artists can paint the piece, using the child's handprint.

Sunshine Glaze also will do lettering for a nominal fee, deRojas said.

Cost

The least expensive ceramic piece is a 4 -inch square tile, $4.

Studio fee—$6 per hour per person.

Owner Susan deRojas said the average customer spends $15-$20.

Good to know

The studio has specials, such as "Fee Free Sunday" every day except Friday. It also offers glass fusion and painting on canvas.

Oops

If a customer breaks a piece and has to buy another, they pay half price for the broken one.

Many painting mistakes can be rinsed off or other wise fixed. Employees show customers how.

Sunshine Glaze, 405 N. Carroll Ave., Southlake, 817-424-1417,www.sunshineglaze.com

Open Mon.–Wed. 10 a.m.– 7 p.m., Thurs.–Sat. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. noon–5 p.m. (Last painter accepted 45 minutes before closing.)