The Sweada Mae Art Cafe

25/06/2025

Kenny has been a fixture in the Marion community, he used to stop by the studio to visit. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Donation jars are being distributed downtown to help with funeral and burial costs.

All of us at Downtown Marion, Inc. are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Kenny Spafford. If you’ve spent any time in Downtown Marion over the years, chances are you’ve seen Kenny—broom in hand—walking the sidewalks and quietly making our downtown a cleaner, more welcoming place.

Kenny truly knew no stranger. He was a dedicated supporter of our community—whether attending local sporting events, volunteering at the Marion Palace Theatre, or showing up for nearly every local 5K. His heart for service and love for Marion touched countless lives.

Thank you, Kenny, for your kindness, your commitment, and your ever-present smile. You will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all of Downtown Marion.

** Starting TOMORROW, June 26th, 2025 Downtown Marion, Inc. will be putting out donation jars to assist with funeral and burial costs. We will post tomorrow morning with a list of locations that can accept donations. **

14/05/2025

The studio is now closed.

Pottery pickups will be May 20th - June 7th at The Remnant. They are located at 187 W. Center St. Marion, OH. Please check hours of operation online.

11/05/2025

We have added extra hours for painting and pickups!

The studio will be open this Monday and Tuesday from 11 am - 7pm.

We are working extra to get everything from this weekend fired and ready for pickup on Tuesday. Pickups after Tuesday will be at The Remnant, during their normal hours of operation. They are located at 187 W Center St., Marion.

*Our goal has been to have hours through Saturday, May 17th, if we can swing it we will be sure to post it.

11/05/2025

06/05/2025

Dear Friends and Valued Customers,

After much reflection and with a heavy heart, I’ve made the difficult decision to close the doors of my paint-your-own-pottery studio.

This past year has brought unexpected challenges on the home front that have required more of my time and energy than I ever anticipated. As many of you know, running a small business takes a lot of heart—and while the passion is still there, the time and capacity simply are not.

To our loyal customers: thank you. Your creativity, your support, and your presence in the studio have meant the world to me. Watching you bring your pieces to life, celebrate birthdays, create gifts, and spend time with loved ones has been a joy and a privilege I’ll never forget. I could not have dreamed the impact this little business would have on not only myself but the community. Our customers have become like family and I am grateful for all of you.

That said, we believe this studio still has so much potential, and we’d love to see it continue in the hands of someone passionate about art and small business. If you or someone you know is interested in purchasing the studio, please reach out to me directly at [email protected] for more details.

We will be following through and completing our obligations over the summer even after we are closed. Though this chapter is ending, the memories made here will always be cherished. Thank you for being a part of our story.

With gratitude,
Rachel McCall
The Sweada Mae Art Cafe

IMPORTANT DATES:

May 13th - last day to paint (this may be extended slightly)

Pickups May 19th & 20th 12-6pm
We will announce additional pickup times.

29/04/2025

Hello friends, thank you for being so patient with us during this difficult time. It’s been a rough season. The studio will be closed this week while we prepare for and attend funeral services out of town for my sweet father-in-law.

We apologize for any inconvenience as we know adjusting schedules can make it difficult for you to pick up orders. We expect to have normal operating hours next week. Thank you again for showing us grace during this difficult time.

24/04/2025

There are so many reasons to support your local paint your own pottery studio:

- Close to home
- Small town prices
- Helpful and knowledgeable staff
- Create local jobs
- Support our local community
- No studio fees!!!!

22/04/2025

Updated schedule for the week of April 21-26.

We are adjusting our operating hours this week as we transition to the next phase of medical care. As mentioned last week, we had a family emergency. Thank you to those who have been so very patient as we try to navigate the extra needs at this time.

Pottery painted has been fired and up to date for pickups during this week’s studio hours. We apologize for the inconvenience.

*Please note, pickups are recommended 1 hr prior to closing. if we do not have painters 1hr before closing we will close early.

22/04/2025

Friendly reminder, our studio runs on a 7 day turnaround time for pottery and glass pickups. We work hard to keep this timeline, putting in hours of work on days we are closed. We occasionally have hiccups that can create minor delays. Any other firing delays are usually because our kiln masters are out of town.

We kindly ask that painters put a reminder in their phones for pickups as we do not call or text unless you have items that have been left here for an extended time. Once our little gal sends out the reminder text there is a 2 week window to retrieve your items. It’s our goal to make sure you get your items.

19/04/2025

One of my favorite parts of this job, other than getting to know the people, is seeing what people make and knowing the stories behind them. Each item is unique and seeing the excitement when someone first sees their fired piece is rewarding.