Brown learned to crochet, knit and sew but really found her voice through ceramics. She pays homage to her roots by incorporating fabric into her pieces.

Now with a plethora of work, she's created a home studio and gallery space for the public.

"I pulled the history of my family," Brown said.

She literally presses fabric into her clay for intricate designs, her signature style. Doilies, found at vintage and antique shops, work particularly well with Brown's method, which she uses for functional vases and decorative works, as well as paper-thin, ceramic bookmarks.

She also makes small sculptures of clothing, with pieces finished in shoe polish, wood and other experimental glazes.

More recently, Brown began incorporating actual ribbon in her finished pieces, lacing up vases and pots like Victorian corsets.

She and her husband converted their suburban basement into a full-on ceramic studio -- complete with four potters' wheels and two kilns-- and their dining room into a gallery. Then they officially opened Dragon Lair Ceramics to the public.

"I see art as a treasure," Brown said, "and the dragon's fire and the firing of clay -- the name was a natural fit."

Both spaces are available to people by appointment, as well as during occasional open houses.

"It's kind of like Kevin Costner: if you build it, they will come," her husband said.

Brown is taking students and teaches one-on-one and group lessons.

The studio space is frequented by neighbors, in addition to Brown, and on a recent weeknight, friends came by to try out ceramics for fun.

Guests are well taken care of in the studio, with shelves full of clay, glazes, rolling pins, bowls, paint brushes, boards and even work shirts.

Brown is available for instruction and uses the studio space for her own work.

"I like working with my hands," Brown said. "I like the texture of clay. I like how it requires a certain amount of skill but it's a very flexible medium."

Shelves are lined with functional and decorative pieces, some waiting to be fired (she's got a rather large electric kiln), others midway through the process. Test tiles (essentially glaze samples) fill another shelf.

"I like making a variety of things," Michelle said. "I'm not a production potter."

Her great-grandmother may have sewn by necessity, but she was Brown's biggest artistic influence and led her to take art more seriously, earning a BA in art education from Kutztown University, Pennsylvania, teaching art, becoming a freelance muralist and exhibiting her work in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

"The doily process reminds me of my great-grandmother," Brown said. "I know she made doilies."

To learn more about Dragon Lair Ceramics or to take part in one-on-one or group studio time and instruction, contact Michelle Brown at neriroco@mac.com or 301-788-2070.

Post your comments » Round 2: Snow expected to fall today, Wednesday Fast on the heels of the largest 24-hour snowfall to hit the Frederick County since 1983, meteorologists are predicting another round of heavy snow and wind to hit today. The National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning Monday afternoon for the area, including Frederick County, and said 10 to 20 inches of snow is possible by Wednesday night. Weather-related closings, delays A list follows of weather-related closings and cancellations for this week. Fire and police blotter Police search for robber School closures cause makeup schedule revision Even though Frederick County Public Schools are closed today -- using the sixth snow day this school year -- the school system will not hold school on the Monday Presidents Day holiday as the first scheduled snow makeup day. Crowds pay respect to fallen marine Even U.S. Marines couldn't hold back tears Monday at the viewing of their colleague, Sgt. David Smith. The procession to the Frederick Christian Fellowship Church was led by Frederick County Sheriff's deputies. Dressed in full military regalia, Marines carried Smith's casket into the church followed by family members as more Marines stood at attention.