I’ve always wanted to keep up with a blog, so here I am—blog post #1 of Alli’s Wedge. Here, I plan to share my slice of the ceramic world—what’s in my head, what’s happening at The Wheel House, and whatever clay-covered adventure comes next!
I know we’re all busy, so I’ll keep these short and sweet… hopefully a mix of humorous banter and useful clay knowledge.
A Little About Me…
I’m Alli! I grew up in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire—Lake Winnipesaukee, for those who know it. A beautiful area, though I wish I had appreciated it more when I was younger!
Shoutout to Laconia High School and my amazing art teacher, Linda. That was… well, let’s just say a century ago. I started at UNH thinking Psychology major? but quickly switched to Fine Arts. Then, I took my first ceramics class with Marvin Sweet, and the process—the therapeutic squish of clay—had me hooked.
One 8.5-hour drive later, I found myself transferring to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in the School of American Crafts. I even convinced my sister, Sarah, to come along—she studied New Media Design while I made an absolute mess in the ceramics studio. (Thankfully, she later helped me with things like logos and websites!)
On my first day at RIT, I met my ceramics professor, Julia Galloway. Her passion for clay was infectious—she spoke about the intimacy of holding a beautifully handmade cup in your hands, bringing it to your lips. That moment stuck with me. She was the first artist who truly inspired me to create. Here is a blog post about Julia Galloway.
For the next three years, I played with clay alongside an incredible group of artists—shoutout to Bethany Krull and the many talented RIT cohorts 2005-2008.
By my final year, I had the classic “What am I doing with my life?” moment. (Menty-B incoming.) But then, during my time as a teacher’s assistant for an Intro to Pottery class, I helped a student center their clay. The “ah-ha!” moment on their face—the sheer joy—it clicked. I wanted to teach.
So, I did.
The Teaching Years...
In 2009, I earned my Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from the Rhode Island School of Design. That fall, I became the only visual arts teacher for a K-12 school district in Lincoln-Woodstock, NH. Those first two years? Trial by fire.
Next, I took a position at a charter school in Longmont, Colorado. There, I learned a ton—made lifelong friendships, picked up roller derby, and fully embraced my inner crazy (as Sarah always told me to).
Long story short—I moved back to NH in 2013 and taught at a private school for 8 years, working alongside some incredible artists and educators. Got married in 2014 to my first crush and we blended our family - His two , our three - seven of us! One big Crazy family!
After I gave birth to my second bio-daughter, In 2019, I started Plourde Arts LLC, offering intro pottery wheel classes to adults. And I loved it. Adults bring this unique, eager curiosity to learning—it’s different from teaching kids. PostPartum had me yearning for creative adult collaborations and conversations. Plourde Arts LLC led to The Wheel House...
Journey to The Wheel House...
2019–2021: Moved to Worcester with my family. (COVID = nightmare. Story for another time.)
2021–2023: I Taught fine arts, ceramics, and digital design at a high school in Durham, NH—while still running evening pottery classes for the community through Durham Parks and Rec. and Plourde Arts LLC.
And that’s when I met Meaghann, Kathy, and Nicole. They took my first six-week pottery class, learned to center clay, threw many, many pots… and none of us quite knew that one day, we’d all be creating together in The Wheel House Pottery Studio in Portsmouth, NH!
Dream quest: Accomplished.
Thanks to the belief and partnership of Meaghann and her husband Guy—along with the support of my own husband—we opened The Wheel House of NH in October 2024. Since then, we’ve welcomed so many clay-curious folks into the studio—people seeking something real, something hands-on and messy, and a creative community that thrives beyond the digital world. It’s been incredible to see this space come to life, filled with laughter, learning, and the joy of making.
Embrace your Inner Crazy.
It's all about: Clay Creations & Community Connections.
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