DELAWARE — A new creative hub is taking shape in downtown Delaware.
Delaware Pottery Studio is moving into a larger space at 27 W. Winter St., where it will be joined by Wildflower Studio — bringing pottery, stained glass and expanded class offerings together under one roof.
The new location, just a few doors down from The Bare Bowl, marks what the studio describes as “a whole new chapter for this little creative corner of downtown.”
The expansion adds to an already unique setup on Winter Street.
Delaware Pottery Studio currently operates out of the basement of 5 W. Winter St., where it offers classes, memberships and open studio access for those interested in learning and creating pottery.
Upstairs, The Bare Bowl — a paint-your-own pottery studio that has been part of the Delaware community for more than 20 years — allows visitors to choose a piece, paint it and return later to pick up the finished product.
That existing space will remain open, while the new location introduces something new to the area: stained glass.
Wildflower Studio, based in Ontario, will bring its hands-on classes and custom glasswork to Delaware as part of the shared space.
The new space is expected to debut during a grand opening weekend scheduled for May 1–3, with a ribbon cutting planned for Friday to coincide with downtown Delaware’s First Friday event.
Learn more about the new Wildflower Studio
Wildflower Studio began with a single stained glass class that changed the course of Nikki Noel’s life.
She said the two-hour class grew her love for the craft, even if the load the tools and materials was intimidating. The experience led to buying all the things needed for doing stained glass at home that next week.
“Because that is how I engage,” Noel said. “I have always been creative and created art but never really honed in on any particular medium until I found glass.”
Stained glass art fits in her head in such a way that it feels like it has always been there, she said.
“Because of the way my brain works, I was really driven to learn as much as I could and challenge myself as much as possible,” Noel said.
This led to Noel and her husband, Tim Frey, creating a more inspiring studio space in a renovated 1991 Bluebird School Bus.
The current Wildflower Studio is located at 3635 Orweiler Rd. in Ontario, about a third of a mile up from The Ohio Bird Sanctuary. The couple positioned her studio to face the forest for all the inspiration she needed.
Before starting Wildflower Studio, Noel was a Licensed Massage Therapist for 11 years, until 2022, when she decided to go full force into the stained-glass business.
Noel said she began feeling the physical long-term wear of being a massage therapist, so she knew a change was on the horizon. But she had no idea what would eventually come to be.
“I shared with my husband that I’d love to create art and teach art, and that I thought we could make a go of it,” Noel said.
According to Noel, her husband said their business name was obvious.
“You belong among the wildflowers,” Frey said.
“It’s super cheesy and we know it. It’s cool. He always plays that Tom Petty song for me and Wildflower Studio took root.”
She said wildflowers are fitting for them. Along with their studio, they also raise bees on their property and are working every year to reclaim more square feet of grass back to native pollinators so they have an abundance of wildflowers.
Creating a space for everyone
Noel and Frey said they have a strong connection to the community and a deep desire to connect people with each other and art.
She said their business continues to grow organically since its inception, with so many things changing.
“We hope to keep building community, building relationships and to always remain a safe space for those in need. We’re a safe space for all including LGBTQIA and are an ally to those needing alliance and support,” Noel said.
Wildflower Studio offers a range of options, from beginner-friendly classes using pre-cut glass to private group sessions and one-on-one instruction for more advanced techniques.
The studio also creates custom stained glass pieces, sells supplies and offers take-home kits.
Those interested can stay connected with Wildflower Studio by following along on Instagram and Facebook. The website can also be found at https://wildflowerstudio.us/ for more information on booking a class.
(Pictures from the Ontario Wildflower Studio location. Photo credit: Hannah Martin)
