Clay With Me - 474 Richmond St. W., Toronto and 2112 Dundas St. W., Toronto
By: Wayne Bibby
This is the story of Gabriela Angulo, a former Seaton Village resident and passionate ceramic artist and educator. Gaby holds a degree in Ceramics and Visual Arts from Artes del Fuego College in Argentina, where she later became a professor of pottery. Her work gained recognition throughout Argentina, establishing her as a highly respected ceramist with a successful business. In 2010, Gaby moved from Argentina to Canada with her partner Matt and one-year-old daughter, Amancay. They started in Meaford, Ontario, then moved to Toronto's Seaton Village. Gaby initially lived on Palmerston Avenue before relocating to Manning Avenue in 2014, when Amancay was five and attended Palmerston Public School.
Gabby connected with other moms in Amancay’s class, and they arranged a rotating pickup and aftercare schedule. During her turns, Gaby introduced crafts and snacks, sparking the children’s interest in her pottery wheel. The children’s curiosity led to early clay instruction, starting with small hand-built projects. My daughter, Sophie, joined this afterschool group, bringing home creative clay pieces each week and even special ones for holidays like Mother’s Day and Thanksgiving.
What began as a couple of days a week quickly grew to five days, involving around thirty children. However, the influx of kids meant Gaby needed more space. One day, while walking in the neighborhood, she noticed a "for rent" sign on a former sign shop at Barton and Palmerston (now Tiny’s). After speaking with the owner’s son, and eventually negotiating a lease, Gaby moved in late fall 2016 with two tables, twelve chairs, and her pottery wheel. The new location, right across from Palmerston School, attracted plenty of foot traffic, and word spread about her offerings.
This location close to Palmerston Public School allowed Gaby to expand her programming, launching summer camps, school PA Day programs, and hosting numerous birthday parties (including my daughter’s). As word spread, talented moms like Sabrina Francescut and Adrienne Ball joined the team, enriching the pottery experience for the kids and growing the community.
The name Clay With Me emerged organically from the idea of “play with me,” influenced by the children. However, interest in pottery extended beyond kids; many parents inquired about adult classes. Soon, Gaby started offering adult only classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. As demand grew, she hired Eileen Quigg to teach some of these classes.
The business flourished, creating a vibrant community for participants in the Greater Seaton Village area. Gaby had not only built a business but also fostered a strong sense of community filled with energy, ideas, and talent.
In early 2020, when COVID hit, Clay With Me adapted as well as they could. Sabrina immediately set up a wheel at home to further develop her skills through the lockdown. Clay with me offered Clay To Go kits for purchase. Once restrictions eased, they reopened in stages with more and more in person sessions as restrictions allowed.
As interest in pottery continued to rise, Gaby found a new space on Portland Street right downtown. This location emphasized adult programming, including classes, memberships, corporate team-building opportunities, and customizable evening events. Gaby explored event licensing with the LCBO, allowing for evenings that included a glass of wine and delivered off-site catering. Valentine’s Day became a popular event for couples to enjoy the creative experience of clay together, reminiscent of the movie Ghost, with Demi Moore and Partick Swayze. A new website and online booking system made it easier for clients to book and pay for their classes.
In early 2022, as demand continued to rise and the Barton location became crowded, Gaby reached out to me for help in finding a new home for Clay With Me. I listened to her needs: location, size, natural light, and budget. We toured several buildings that met her criteria, but I suggested one a bit farther out that caught my eye—a corner location with ample windows and high ceilings. When we stepped into 2112 Dundas Street West, I could see Gaby’s excitement building as she envisioned her pottery wheels spinning in the sunlit space by the windows. Although it needed some work, its corner location meant plenty of natural light. After a couple of days to think it over, Gaby decided to make this her new location, bringing the Dundas Studio to life.
At the Dundas Studio, the focus remained on families, kids, and community, just as it had at Barton. With an existing website, booking new clients in the Roncesvalles neighborhood was smooth, and the business grew steadily, becoming a beloved community fixture.
In October 2023, Portland was consistently booked solid and the lease was ending in the not too distant future, Gaby contacted me again, this time with her sights set on the vibrant Queen Street West area, known for its designer shops, music venues, restaurants, and famous murals. It was a perfect fit. The moment Gaby entered 474 Richmond Street West, she was captivated by the finished nature and clean stylings. The building required minimal work to prepare for clay, and featured four designer floors with ample space for classes, events and material storage. Sunlight poured in through the south-facing windows, and a lovely outdoor deck space on the third floor was instantly envisioned. Although the deal was complex and took a long time to secure, the wait paid off, and Clay With Me moved into the new space in late February 2024. The building is a work of art, reflecting the creativity and community thriving within its walls.
Clay With Me has also hosted team-building events for various corporations. Muskoka Brewery created beer steins and Winners and Shopify brought employees for team-building activities. Even the Champagne Papi himself - Drake contacted Gaby to host pottery evenings at his Toronto mansion and led to a Clay Mobile which comes to you.
Clay With Me also gives back to the community with discounts for women’s shelters, programs for at-risk youth, and school fundraising efforts. These programs are so beneficial to people as they are tactile and incredibly engaging, allowing people to forget about other worries for a while.
Having known Gaby for many years, I've watched her pottery business flourish. What stands out is her commitment to the community rather than a drive for profit. Gaby channels her remarkable talent, understanding, and kindness into every piece she creates, every employee she mentors, and every student she teaches. While her artistic skills are exceptional, it’s her warmth and infectious spirit that truly distinguish her. The people based theme of Clay with me is really felt when you take a look at someone like Mia Kneeshaw, who began as one of the students and is now a valued teacher and a key member of the Clay With Me community.
"In a time when life has become more isolated, Clay With Me offers a much-needed space for artistic expression, tactile creativity, and genuine human connection."
Gaby is larger than life, radiating positivity and a “glass half full” attitude. Her genuine care for others makes every moment brighter and more enjoyable. I’ll never forget visiting the Dundas location with her; the moment she walked in, her team rushed to greet her with hugs, eager to share what they have been working on and genuinely interested in connecting with her. The warmth and care were palpable.
Patrons feel the incredible community within the studio and soon become part of it. While Clay With Me centres around clay and creativity, it’s fundamentally about the people. From the moment you step inside, you feel like you belong.
Connection - Community - Creativity
Find out more about Clay With Me or book a session at:
Sabrina Francescut is a professional photographer from Seaton Village and an instructor at Clay With Me.
Wayne Bibby is an Annex resident and Realtor With Sutton Group - Associates
