The Sky ’ s the Limit
BY NICOLE TAFE
Peters Township resident Nicole Cleland recently opened Made by : you studio — a creative space for all ages .
On Nov . 7 , 2022 , Peters Township resident Nicole Cleland officially opened the doors to a dream creative space — and on her 50th birthday , to be exact ! Made by : you studio is a product of many years of thinking about what Cleland wanted to do with her life after more than a decade of life ’ s ups and downs . “ I decided it was time to get back to doing what I love , which is creating ,” she says .
Cleland , a 1991 USC grad , pursued a career as a jeweler and worked for her brother at JAB Jewelry for nearly 20 years .
Upper St . Clair had a great arts program when I was there ,” she recalls . “ I had the opportunity to try different mediums — my favorite was jewelry making , since it came naturally to me , and I was good at it . We learned metalworking and casting . My next favorite was pottery .”
Cleland notes that many schools have cut back their art departments , so students get to dabble in the arts , but don ’ t really get to fall in love with them . Classes have gone from being offered all year to just one quarter or semester , and while college prep and curriculum are important , she feels that students need a break from the grind and to be able to decompress through art and creating . “ I never would have guessed that making jewelry could be a career , until I took a class in high school ,” she says .
“ That ’ s where the idea of Made by : you came from . I wanted a place where the kids who love to create and get messy could go , and people like me could get back to it . I wanted it to be a place for everyone and anyone .”
The studio features a wide variety of artists who specialize in different areas .
There are things to do at the studio for people of any age , from crafts with kids as young as 3 , to events for Girl Scouts , and birthday or holiday parties . Almost every event or pARTy has offered something unique to the group ’ s desires . Painting in both acrylics and watercolor , paint pours with kids who dropped in , and for a birthday pARTy there are bath bombs , fairy jars and terrariums , resin keychains and jewelry , slime , wands and crowns — the studio is a fun free-for-all for kids , tweens and teens . For the adults , sessions for making centerpieces , wreaths , and door signs have been offered , as well as paint ‘ n sip nights . A jewelry studio will be rolling out soon , where people can learn metalsmithing , wire wrapping and beading .
“ But that ’ s not all we do !” says Cleland . There are also classes in calligraphy , pottery , a weekly meditative art session and an art class for kids ages 7-12 . Currently in the works are a few monthly “ Learn to ” draw and paint classes for teens and adults .
“ The possibilities are endless ,” she adds . “ I even have woodburning tools and a wax melt machine for candle making , and a few instructors who can teach Cricut classes for those intimidated by their machines !”
Cleland also offers to sell items people have made by hand . She buys craft kits as well , from small businesses that claim they don ’ t sell on Amazon .
“ You ’ re only restricted by your own imagination ,” she says . “ We like to bounce ideas off people until something sparks their interest . I feel like the community needed a comfortable , safe space to go to escape the worries of the world and just create . I ’ m very open to everyone ’ s ideas and suggestions — sometimes someone will ask a question or just say some sort of key word and the ideas start flowing — and I love every second of it !”
For more information , or to sign up for a class or book a pARTy with Made by : you , visit madebyyoupgh . com . n
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