BARGAINS : THE ART OF SAVING MONEY.

Byline: Trisha King & Deborah Newmark

If you or your children have the desire, you can make something beautiful together or separately at Kids' Art Space, the first do-it-yourself ceramic art studio in the Valley. Not only does the store offer discounted prices on unfinished ceramics and supplies, it also offers free advice and assistance on any project.

Perhaps you've been looking for a large platter as a centerpiece for your dining room table but either haven't found the right colors or the $150 price tags are too expensive. At Kids' Art Space you can buy a ready-to-paint, 20-inch platter for $49 ($60 elsewhere) for your own unique piece of art.

Studio time is free at Kids' Art Space, no matter how long it takes you to finish your project. Included in the free studio time are 78 colors of paint (there are fired samples, so you know how the colors eventually will look), paint brushes, cleaning tools (to fix mistakes) and a painter's smock. Other do-it-yourself ceramic studios charge $6 an hour for studio time and include three colors of paint (extra colors are $1 each). Free studio time is not included on blow-out sale items.

Glazing and firing of your finished project, depending on size, takes one to three days. Glazing and firing generally run $6 a piece ($8 to $10 elsewhere). The price for firing and glazing is the same whether you buy your piece here or create your own at home.

In addition, if you've advanced past ready-made ceramics and enjoy creating your own, Kids' Art Space is also a full-service ceramic supply house. For example, 25 pounds of low-fire white clay runs $6.50 ($8 to $13 elsewhere) or $5.95 if you purchase other items, kilns are $750 to $2,500 (usually $900 to $2,800), and various pottery wheels are 10 percent below retail. Molds are available, and owner Al Abrams will teach you how to pour and remove the item, plus clean the seam lines free of charge.

Ceramic painting parties are available at the studio or in your home, and special orders and projects are always welcome.

Kids' Art Space is at 12532 Riverside Drive, North Hollywood; [phone] and [phone]. The store also can be reached on the Internet at www.ceramicartspace.com or ceramicartaol.com. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday though Sunday (closed Mondays). Most major credit cards are accepted.

Inside info

A picture's worth a thousand words, but getting it framed doesn't have to cost a bundle. Fantasy 2000 will frame your 36-inch-by-24-inch picture in your choice of colored metals. The store will assemble it with glass, cardboard backing and wire at a cost of $28.95 (retail $40). Fantasy 2000 is at 14901 Magnolia Blvd., Sherman Oaks; [phone]. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

Until Jan. 30, Great Changes, a store that features up-to-date fashions for women sizes 14 through 24, is having its once-a-year sale. Most merchandise is 30 percent to 70 percent off retail. Prices start at $20 for a workout top (retail $45) and go up to $195 for an evening dress (retail $400). Items on sale are lingerie, workout wear, sportswear, sweaters, pants, skirts, blouses and dresses. Great Changes is at 12516 Riverside Drive, North Hollywood; [phone]. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

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Photo: Hada Lev, 7, left, works on a baby rabbit while Emile Caple, 8, tends to a baby dragon at Kids' Art Space in North Hollywood.

David Sprague/Daily News