Patch Passport: Kid-Friendly Fun - Color Me Mine

With items ranging from plates and piggy banks to frames and figurines, deciding what to paint at Color Me Mine in Lake Zurich is the hard part. Getting into the messy fun is easy.

Opened in the Quentin Collection Shopping Center at 20771 N. Rand Road in September 2007, the pottery painting studio is the perfect place to spend an afternoon feeding your kids’ creative side - and yours too.

“We find that the families that visit our studio appreciate not only getting quality time together, but also that they can express their creativity and end up with a tangible, functional item,” said owner Natasha Braxton, who opened the franchise with her husband after experiencing the concept on one of their first dates.

At Color Me Mine, kids of all ages can choose their ceramic piece, select their colors and paint. The studio then glazes and fires the piece for pickup in about a week. Parents and grandparents will appreciate the convenience of not needing an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome. The studio also offers birthday parties, theme days, two-for-one buddy days and summer art camps.

Summer hours are 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (847) 550-5077 or go online at www.deerpark.colormemine.com.