If you searched "make your own mug in Toronto," you probably got a wall of custom printing shops. Slap a photo on a white ceramic mug, done in 24 hours. That's one way to do it.

But if what you actually want is to make a mug — shape it from a slab of clay with your hands, carve a handle, paint a design, and drink coffee from something you built — that's a pottery workshop. And it's a completely different experience.

What a Handmade Mug Workshop Actually Involves

At The Mini Pottery Studio's Mug Workshop in North York's Willowdale neighbourhood, you build a real ceramic mug from scratch using a technique called slab building. No pottery wheel. No prior experience. Just your hands, some clay, and 2.5 hours. The studio is on the Yonge corridor, a short walk from Sheppard-Yonge station.

What Is Slab Building?

Slab building is exactly what it sounds like: you roll clay into flat slabs (like rolling out dough), then cut, shape, and join them into three-dimensional forms. It's one of the oldest pottery techniques and gives you more control over the final shape than wheel throwing does.

For mugs specifically, slab building is ideal. You can make a mug any shape — cylindrical, square, tapered, wide, narrow. You're not limited by what a spinning wheel produces. Want to know more about how the two techniques compare? We broke it down in our handbuilding vs. wheel throwing guide.

Step by Step: What Happens in the Workshop

1. Roll and Cut Your Slab

You start with a block of clay and roll it into an even slab using guides to control thickness. Then you cut panels for the body of your mug using templates — or freehand if you're feeling bold.

2. Shape the Body

Wrap your slab around a form to create the mug shape. Score the edges, apply slip (liquid clay that acts like glue), and press the seam together. This is where the mug takes shape — and where you decide if you want something classic or something weird. Both are fine.

3. Craft the Handle

Roll and shape a handle from a separate piece of clay. Attach it to the body using the same score-and-slip method. This is the part people worry about most ("will it fall off?"), but your instructor walks you through it. The handle will survive the kiln just fine.

4. Add Texture and Detail

Carve lines, stamp patterns, press textures into the surface. This is where your mug stops looking like a class project and starts looking like yours.

5. Paint Your Design

Use underglazes — ceramic paints that survive the kiln — to add colour. Go bold, go minimal, write a word on it. The studio has a range of colours to work with.

6. Let the Studio Handle the Rest

After class, the studio applies a food-safe clear glaze over your design and fires the mug in a kiln. The whole process takes about 3 weeks. When you pick it up, the soft painted clay has become a hard, glossy, dishwasher-resistant mug. Our glazing and firing guide explains what happens during this stage.

Class Details at a Glance

Meet Your Instructor: Zoe Tong

Zoe is a ceramic artist with roots in Hong Kong, now based in Toronto. She made a career change from primary school teaching to full-time ceramics — and it shows in how she teaches. Patient, clear, and genuinely excited when your handle comes out right.

Her own work ranges from functional tableware to sculptural pieces. She treats clay as a storytelling medium, and that philosophy carries into the workshop. Your mug doesn't have to be perfect. It has to be yours.

Handmade Pottery Mug vs. Custom Printed Mug

These are two very different things, even though they both start with "make your own mug."

Neither is wrong — they solve different problems. A printed mug is fast, cheap, and easy. A handmade mug is slower, more expensive, and infinitely more personal. You're here because you want the second one.

Who This Workshop Is For

Coffee and tea people. If you already have a favourite mug, you know that mugs aren't interchangeable. Making one yourself is the ultimate version of that attachment. You'll reach for it every morning.

Gift givers. A handmade mug is one of the most genuinely thoughtful gifts you can give. You shaped the clay, painted the design, and waited three weeks for it to come out of the kiln. That story matters more than the object itself.

Complete beginners. Slab building is the most forgiving pottery technique. There's no spinning wheel to fight, no centering to master. If you can roll dough and use scissors, you have all the skills you need.

People who want something functional. This isn't a decorative piece for a shelf. It's a mug you'll drink from every day. Food-safe, kiln-fired, built to last. If you'd rather make something smaller and more decorative, the studio's mini pottery wheel class might be a better fit.

Groups. The workshop fits 10 people — great for birthdays, team outings, or a friend group that wants to do something hands-on together. Everyone leaves with their own mug.

Other Ways to Make Pottery at The Mini Pottery Studio

The Mug Workshop is one of several classes. If you're interested but not sure mugs are your thing:

• Matcha Bowl Workshop ($79) — handbuilding a matcha bowl using pinch technique. Same price, same duration, different piece.

• Taster Class: Mini Pottery Wheel ($99) — learn to throw on a mini pottery wheel. Make 3-5 small pieces, keep 2.

• Open Studio ($39) — 2 hours of self-directed handbuilding. Bring your own ideas, make up to 4 pieces. The most affordable option if you want creative freedom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need pottery experience to make a mug?

No. The workshop is designed for complete beginners. Slab building is the most intuitive pottery technique — your instructor Zoe guides you through every step from rolling to handle attachment.

Is the mug food-safe? Can I actually drink from it?

Yes. The studio applies a food-safe clear glaze and fires the mug in a kiln. It's safe for hot and cold drinks, and durable enough for daily use.

How big is the mug?

Standard coffee mug size — roughly 8-12 oz depending on how you shape it. Big enough for a proper morning coffee, not a tiny espresso cup.

How long until I can pick up my mug?

About 3 weeks. The studio glazes and fires your mug after class. You'll get a notification when it's ready for pickup at the studio (4909 Yonge St, Unit 2, North York).

What should I wear?

Comfortable clothes you don't mind getting a little clay on. Handbuilding is less messy than wheel throwing, but dust and smudges happen. Clay washes out of most fabrics.

Can I make more than one mug?

The workshop is structured around making one mug well — shaping, decorating, and personalizing it over 2.5 hours. If you want more free-form creation time, the Open Studio session ($39) lets you make up to 4 pieces at your own pace.

Is this a good group activity?

Great for groups. The class fits up to 10 people, and everyone works on their own mug side by side. Popular for birthdays, team events, and friend outings. Everyone leaves with something they made.

What if I want to make something other than a mug?

The Mug Workshop is specifically for mugs — that focused structure is what makes it work for beginners. But the studio offers matcha bowls, mini wheel throwing, and open studio sessions if you want to make different pieces. Browse all classes.

Book Your Spot

The Mug Workshop runs regularly with spots for up to 10 people per session. All materials, glazing, and firing are included in the $79 price.

Book a Mug Making Workshop →

Want to see the full class schedule? Browse all classes.