Mesa woman opening a special pottery studio

A Mesa native who spent nearly two decades helping entrepreneurs finance franchise businesses is becoming an owner of one herself.

Janelle McCann will celebrate the grand opening of Color Me Mine Mesa on Monday, July 13, bringing the paint-your-own pottery studio to the southeast Mesa area for the first time.

Mesa native Janelle McCann is opening a Color Me Mind franchise after a career helping others finance their franchise businesses.

Located at 4537 S. Power Road, Suite D-105, the studio offers customers the opportunity to paint ceramic mugs, bowls, figurines, vases and other pottery that is later glazed and fired for pickup.

For McCann, the business is more than a career change.

After nearly 20 years working as a Small Business Administration franchise underwriter, she decided it was time to put her experience to work as a business owner.

“Growing up in Mesa, I never imagined that one day I’d have the opportunity to open a business in a community that has played such an important role in my life,” McCann said. “It feels like a full-circle moment.”

The 1,850-square-foot studio is located near Cannon Beach and Revel Surf and is designed as a place where families and friends can spend time together while creating personalized pottery projects.

Customers choose from hundreds of unfinished ceramic pieces before painting them with studio-supplied colors and designs. The finished pieces are glazed and kiln-fired before being returned to customers.

The grand opening celebration will run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 13.

The first 25 guests will receive a free mug to paint while supplies last, and visitors can enter raffles for prizes including gift cards and surf passes.

Color Me Mine, founded in 1991, operates more than 140 locations in the United States and several other countries.

Information: mesa.colormemine.com.