05/31/2026
Happy Birthday to Us
A little over 11 years ago, I got the brilliant idea of opening up a Paint your own Pottery Studio in Strongsville. I knew very little about the business, but I was convinced it would be a great addition to our community. A little over a year later, (on May 31, 2016) we opened the doors to Maggie & Ellie’s Pottery Studio. What a crazy ride it has been. My very first customer was little Ana Dade and her grandpa. Ana and her mom, Cindy, have been faithful customers over the last 10 years and my heart is so happy when I see them walk through our doors.
My life, personally and professionally, has seen some amazing highs - two grandbabies, a beautiful daughter-in-law, so many customers that have become good friends - to some horrible lows - Covid, where we lost so much money, and the loss of people I love so dearly, my mom, my mother-in-law, and my partner and love of my life, my husband Lee. But through it all, my love for this little business and the community we serve, has never wavered. My daughter Stacey joined the business shortly after we opened and has been the best business partner. We are definitely opposites and bicker, but we keep each other real, especially when it comes down to what’s right for the business.
We are blessed with an amazing staff and are pretty picky about who we hire. They need to believe in our mission (see photo below) and fill me with so much pride. They are hard working and committed to making our customer experience unforgettable. The business itself has changed over the years. We keep looking for new experiences to bring to our community. Some are hits and some are misses but we won’t stop trying. I want to give a heartfelt THANK YOU to all the customers we have or will serve. You have made some of the darkest days a little brighter. When I signed that first 5 year lease, I was praying we would make it to that mark. Our second signing came right after Covid but we knew we’d be ok. I am happy to report we have just signed another lease, so we aren’t going anywhere. I want to thank our landlords, Emmco Realty, who have been wonderful to work with and have supported us through these past 10 years.
I am posting so many pictures encapsulating our journey - please scroll through them. You just might find a picture of yourself!!
With much gratitude and love,
Barb & Stacey Disterhof
