KathrynLHall
The artist picked up our group downtown and took us to her studio. She gave us an introduction to the tile of Catalina and then instructed us as we each made 3 tiles in the molds of our choice. She will then fire and glaze the tiles and when finished mail them to us for no extra charge. This was an excellent deal as the cost was only $45 per person. There were only 5 in our tour, which was a comfortable size. The tiles used all over Avalon add greatly to the charm of the town, and the tiles produced by the artist are available in many local stores. We enjoyed hearing the history of the tiles and making the tiles and we took advantage of the limited shopportunity at her studio. Robin was very friendly and entertaining.
Anupama27
Hi there. I am very sorry to hear that you had a frustrating experience. All time is precious and it is especially so during a vacation. Hopefully I can clarify some of the confusion. Silver Canyon Pottery is a production facility that provides products to several retail locations in the main town of Avalon and offers small tours by appointment only. Due to the industrial nature of the area and associated safety concerns we are not well suited at this time for a retail shop or walk-in experience. We have a listed tour hotline on our website, on Trip Advisor, and the Avalon Chamber of Commerce website and associated printed materials that is designed to direct folks towards the product or service they are seeking. Thank you for letting us know that there is this gap that can lead to confusion and we will work on ways to clarify things for future visitors Although we realize you have probably left the island I would like to try to make right the situation as best as possible. If you would like to e-mail me your address at silvercanyontile@gmail I would be happy to send you a gift certificate for a tour on a future visit or a little packet of tile goodies. Thank you again for the feedback. It helps us to correct the problem. Robin Cassidy, owner Silver Canyon Pottery
811aliciar
Thanks so much! We just got your tiles out and the little bowls turned out amazing. Hope all is great with you and take care! Robin
wavcpa
We did not tour the facility, but my wife spoke wit Robin Cassidy about the products and we found at the Casino Museum Store. Wonderful local product.
114juditha
My daughter, granddaughter, son-in-law and I were delighted to be picked up by an "Island car" at our cruise arrival site by a vivacious native of Catalina Island. She give us an interesting running history of the area and answered all our questions. We loved her studio by the ocean in a quiet, remote location. As the weather was beautiful we worked on our clay tiles outside. The 11 year old learned something and had fun at the same time. Those tiles were easy to do and quite pretty. We are looking forward to receiving them in the mail after they are fired. I would visit this nice lady on any future trips there.
mckavalon
Catalina decorative tile is a big part of the island's history, as the originals were only produced between 1927 and 1937. Robin's studio is located on the grounds of the original tile plant, and she has revived this art form. She taught us how the tiles were made, then guided us in making our own tiles. She mails the finished tiles to the visitors after they are fired. No other souvenir can compare to a beautiful glazed tile honoring the rich history of the island and hand made on the island.
TammySue88
She was wonderful! We made beautiful tiles. She promptly shipped them to me. It's a unique souvenir.
JulesVerne2U
My friend & I went to Catalina Island as part of an itinerary for our Carnival Baja cruise and decided this would be a unique experience. We loved it! Robin met our group near the pier and had a shuttle takes us to her studio about a mile away. She gave our group some background history of the island and Wrigley's efforts to rebuild it. Then we were given lessons in making tiles and provided the clay to make 3 tiles. Additional tiles can be made for an additional small fee. After the tiles dry, colors are selected and Robin takes care of the rest - she finishes the tiles (firing, painting, etc.) and mails them to you at home. Charge for the 4 hour experience with 3 tiles is $45, with $5 for each additional tile, and she offers other items for sale at her studio.
EricLB
So glad you loved it. As luck would have it, your tiles just got sent out yesterday so being so close right there across the pond, hopefully you are enjoying them already. Pop in again next time and thank you!
jasonsP7657CP
Thanks so much! I always joke with gals who call that we specialize in reluctant boyfriends. Everyone enjoys hammering the clay with the mallet for sure. I get so many photos of my dog Bailey sent to me that my family keeps saying she'll have to get her own fan page. Take Care and look us up again next time.
VDonaldson
Hi Virginia. Your tiles just got sent out. Send a pic when you get them in your kitchen. I'll have to add a gallery on my website for finished projects. Thanks for the inspiration!
ChiRedFlyer
Sometimes it's hard to pick an activity on an island with so much to do, but the Silver Canyon Pottery Studio Tour is the way to go! Reservations were easy. I left a message for Robin the owner and she called back the same day to arrange a time for my group of three. She paired us up with a another two curious visitors for a 10:30 tour on Saturday. Space is very limited because of the size of the studio, but totally worth it.Robin met us in town where she calls for a complimentary taxi out to the old factory site. You can also take your own golf cart but we chose to get a ride. First, you go up stairs to the studio overlooking the water, just gorgeous view, next she gives you a brief history of the tile making on the Island while weaving stories of the Wrigley family, local lore, etc. Then the fun part really does start, you get to pick out a tile mold and start making your own Catalina tile! I know I'm sounding a little dorky about tile, but it symbolizes so much of the island history AND they're 1/2 the price of buying on in the shops!At first everyone's nervous when making your first tile but Robin leads you through and fixes any mistakes. I was busy taking way too many photos and missed some of the steps but because it's such a small group, there's plenty of time, and clay, to fix it. The tiles dry a bit in the sun as you make another two. By this time you're a pro (well kinda, not really) and everyone is laughing and talking about the other stuff they've done or plan to do in Avalon and now it's time to pick some classic tile glazes. There are hundreds of examples to get an idea from. She will glaze your tiles and mail them back to you along with anything else you might want from the pre made tiles. I LOVE THIS!!!!! Who wants to lug breakable tiles through airport security, not me, so this is a really nice perk of the tour.So if you're looking for an interesting activity, out of the sun for a few hours, reasonably priced and fun for friends or family, do this tour. It was really really pretty neat.
JohnandDeb2
This was our second visit to Silver Canyon Pottery. We decided this time to take the 2 hour studio tour and were glad we did. We enjoyed our time with Robin as she explained the history of Catalina tile production and taught us to create our own personal tiles. Robin explained the different steps in making tiles and placing the clay into the molds. The two hours were relaxing and productive. We received our completed tiles that Robin finished and they are beautiful.
Tracy026
Robin was a wonderful, patient teacher. We got to make 3 tiles each after hearing the history of the famous Catalina Tile. She was going to finish them and ship them to us in a few weeks.
Catalinawalkers
Great products, good quality and not overly priced. Need to keep stores better stocked but quality products