Entry No. 58 — the Coeur d'Alene file — filed under: hands-on
MODE Ceramics Studio
A modern boutique pottery studio just over the line in Liberty Lake, an easy hop west of Coeur d'Alene. They have 8 wheels, two electric kilns and a full glazing room, with beginner-friendly drop-in sessions and class packages covering both wheel throwing and handbuilding, plus quarterly student exhibitions.
The story
Just across the state line in Liberty Lake—a straightforward twenty minutes west on I-90 from Coeur d'Alene—MODE Campus isn't your average standalone ceramics den. It operates inside a sleek multi-purpose campus on North Molter Road where tech remote workers, workout regulars, and clay throwers share the exact same address. Tucked into the creative wing, the ceramics studio keeps eight pottery wheels, two electric kilns, and a fully stocked glazing room behind its doors.
The setup skips standard recreational fluff to focus on genuine studio time. Complete novices can book isolated single-session drop-ins like three-hour wheel intro workshops or two-hour Friday night date sessions, while anyone wanting serious skill building can commit to six-week course blocks covering wheel throwing and handbuilding. Because the venue sits within a wider community campus, students also get to put their fired work on display during quarterly studio art exhibitions.
What it's like
Pulling up to 2110 N Molter Road lands you at a contemporary business campus rather than a dusty back-alley workshop. Inside the ceramics room, class sizes stay tight—capped at eight throwers per session—so you aren't fighting for wheel access or instructor oversight. You will spend two to three hours spinning wet clay, pulling cylinder walls, and getting thoroughly splattered; dress accordingly with closed-toe shoes, clothes you don't mind ruining, and short nails. The catch: you won't leave with a finished piece that night. Clay demands drying, bisque firing, glazing, and a second kiln run, meaning your final mug or bowl will take roughly two to three weeks before it's ready for a return trip pickup.
The move: Drive over for a beginner drop-in wheel session, each throw a mug, then make a coffee date of it once your fired mugs are ready.
📍 Before you go It's in Liberty Lake, WA (roughly 20-25 minutes west of CdA), and fired pieces require a return pickup. Reserve drop-in or package spots online.
- 📍 Liberty Lake
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2110 N Molter Rd, Liberty Lake, WA 99019
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Racketeer Lounge — After slinging wet clay on the wheel, drive ten minutes east into Post Falls for a stiff drink poured from a genuine absinthe fountain.
- Treaty Rock — Stop at this small Post Falls park on your drive back toward CdA to stretch your legs and inspect an 1871 land treaty carved directly into granite.
- Old School Liquor Bar — Makes a great evening pit stop on the route back to Coeur d'Alene for a cocktail inside a repurposed 1920 schoolhouse.
- Gizmo-CDA Makerspace — If working with clay sparks a urge to build things by hand, head to North Idaho College's campus to explore blacksmithing and laser cutting.
Good to know
Where is MODE Ceramics Studio located relative to Coeur d'Alene?
It is located at 2110 N Molter Rd in Liberty Lake, Washington, about a 20-to-25-minute drive west of downtown Coeur d'Alene across the Washington state border.
Can I try wheel throwing without signing up for a multi-week course?
Yes. The studio offers single-session entry points including three-hour Ceramics 101 workshops and two-hour Friday Date Night Pottery classes alongside its six-week course packages and open studio memberships.
Do I get to take my ceramic creation home the day of the class?
No. Your piece must dry completely, undergo an initial bisque firing, receive glaze, and go through a final high-temp kiln fire. Finished pieces are ready for pickup in approximately two to three weeks.
What should I wear or bring to a ceramics class?
Wear comfortable clothes that can get muddy, closed-toe shoes, and keep fingernails short for proper wheel control. All clay, wheel tools, and firing processes are provided in the class fee.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: findyourmode.com · loopnet.com · Yelp
last checked: 2026-06-24