PANTEGO, Texas—On a corner in Pantego, the inside of Creative Hands is splashed with paper vines, handprints and games of hopscotch and tic-tac-toe created by the community.

The studio, located at 2225 W. Park Row Drive, is more than a paint-your-own pottery shop. For owner Camarie Wallin, it is a place where creativity and connection meet.

The Creative Hands story began with Wallin’s best friend, Priscilla Cunningham, who started by taking plaster pieces to daycare centers, offering young people the opportunity to paint and glaze the pieces. Later, she wanted a storefront and found one at the now-demolished Forum 303 Mall, and she was there for about a year.

In 1999, Cunningham moved the business to its current location. She didn’t know what to call it, so she held a contest inviting the community to suggest a name. The original winning name carried complications, but Creative Hands was the second option and so that is what Cunningham decided to use.

“So Creative Hands was born,” Wallin said.

Wallin took over ownership about 10 years ago, adding her own touches to the store. She called it a labor of love, one that has been shaped not only by her hands but also by the community’s.

“When we had COVID, that was a really tough time for us,” she said. “I didn’t know if we were going to make it. Customers were part of the success of that.”

Wallin said that the shop would take orders from customers and deliver them directly to their cars.

“Some of these people’s orders would be $20, and they would just give us a $50 tip,” Wallin said. “It would almost make me cry and still does.”

The community’s support helped to keep the shop alive through this rough time. Kind customers and a generous landlord who was willing to work with Wallin on rent allowed the shop to stay on its feet.

Gallery • 6 Photos

Kaycee Davidson works on a piece at Creative Hands.

Wallin said that a deep sense of a rooted community is one thing that she prizes about the enterprise.

“People love this place, and they really get attached to it,” Wallin said. “It becomes a place where they hang out.”

Wallin said another thing she finds rewarding has been watching her young employees grow. For many of the employees, it is their first job. Wallin takes pride in helping shape their early career experiences and said she maintains relationships with them years later.

“I have never enjoyed coming to work so much,” Wallin said. “It’s not easy. No job is easy, but when you love what you do, it makes it easier to do the hard stuff.”

Wallin said Creative Hands can be summed up in three words.

“Fun, positive and creative,” Wallin said. “Anybody of any age can come here and have a good time. Whether you are 2 years old or 100 years old, whether you are going on a first date or you have been together for years, you can come here and have a good time.”

To hear Camarie Wallin talk about her business, Creative Hands, please click here.