My Story

My favorite art teacher, Mr. Stewart

After a gentle nudge one day in class from my H.S. art teacher, I graduated with a bachelors degree in Art Education but never could have imagined myself having so much fun being a stay at home mom and of all things...a potter! Here's my story...

Mt. Monadnock, NH

After graduating from Mansfield University with a BA in Art Education, I took a high school art teaching job at Glen Burnie High School in Maryland. I was mentored by a teacher colleague who was previously in the pottery business for 15 years. She shared with me many tips and tricks. I spent hours after school practicing on the wheel in my classroom. After spending three years in MD, I headed up to beautiful New Hampshire where I became the middle school art teacher at Monadnock Middle School. I enjoyed teaching such a capable sweet age. I strived to foster their art skills as I've found that many students end their art education in middle school as it's often an elective. I ended up teaching 6 years in NH while starting a life with my husband Mike and soon to be born daughter. During this time spent in NH, I was artistically inspired by hiking the White Mountians, kayaking crystal blue lakes, climbing textured rocks, camping under pine groves and skiing the curved face of mountains. I was in love with the smells, sights and sounds of nature.

My family

My first daughter Sydney was born and the next day I handed my job over to a dear friend and fellow artist as I started my new journey. Staying at home with Sydney made for awesome times and times where I was looking to be creative. I decided to set up shop in our garage just tinkering around on a wheel and figuring out this new job of 'stay at home mom'. I was working with a wheel, glazes and clay donated to me and a kiln from Craig's List. It was the PERFECT beginning of exploration, mistakes and achievements. We loved our home and little family in the remote mountains of NH, but my husband and I decided we needed to be closer to family and opportunities. We then moved to Bluemont, VA where I took a year off from potting as we welcomed our second daughter Zoe into our family.

My chicken coop pottery studio

We quickly needed more space and thus ended up in Leesburg, VA in an old farm house plopped right in the middle of a cow pasture. It didn't hit me until I was desperate for a creative outlet again that I decided to clean up an old chicken coop in my back yard and turn it into my very own pottery studio. I quickly was introduced to black snakes in the spring, wolf spiders in the fall and mice in the winter. Whether they were hanging from the rafters, scurrying across the walls or pitter pattering along the corners of the floor, it was my coop, my studio, my second home!

Inside my spacious studio

I fell in love with the rustic feel. I was surrounded by ivy budding through the wall of chicken wire. The breeze that comes off the fields blew through the door and out the windows. The sun was free to shine around me lighting up my works. I was surrounded by the sounds and smells of the farm. It was the most dirty, yet healthy place I've ever worked in. I had found my paradise! Such earthly inspirations could not be found in my classrooms, but rather here I was surrounded by it. This only fueled my longing to be creative with my pottery. I started potting, and I practiced, I failed miserably but never gave up. Along with lots of flopped pots, I had incurred many costly mistakes including kiln and glazing disasters. Through all of this, I was developing a feel for the clay. I was experiencing how the clay moved, what I could and couldn't do to it, how far I could push it, when it would flop, and when it would become a work of art. I was developing the muscle memory that it takes to move each finger individually. With the help of books and videos, I was teaching myself which in turn gave me great insight into teaching others! I was well on my way to being a potter.

Teaching classes in South Riding

I began to sell my works through outlets such as Facebook, friends, family, events and stores. I started teaching adult wheel throwing classes and kids camps in 2010 and have been loving it ever since. The artistic environment is warm, friendly, and creative. I searched different downtown venues to sell my wares. I currently have pieces at the Cooley Gallery in Leesburg.

Workshop with master pottery Simon Leach

In the interest of furthering my skills, I have taken workshops / classes with master potters Simon Leach, Joe Campbell, Bill Van Guilder, Tim Sherman, Ray Boggle, and Shawn Grove. It was a treat to learn from so many wonderful potters.

The remnants of my studio after the storm

In July of 2012, a Derecho storm (wall of wind) passed through VA with 70 mph winds and blew 2 trees onto my chicken coop studio of which was leveled. I quickly had to set up shop on my front porch which quickly lead to moving into my dinning room because of the wind and precipitation. I must admit that I am LOVING the new view. It's a little crammed, but I'm destined to make it work. Now that my business is growing I try to book 4 - 5 fine art festivals a year in the tri-state area.

The new view off of my porch

This road is exciting but has not always been easy. My goal of creating a place of life inspired works made by loving hands is in my reach. I am excited for what the future holds and I hope this provides a little glimpse of the road that each piece has taken me. I consider myself lucky and privileged to be able to stay at home with my girls doing what I love. What an awesome journey!

Warm wishes

Carrie Althouse

WE HAVE FINALLY MOVED!!!

Oh what an exciting time!!! Welcome to our new abode as well as the new Althouse Pottery Gallery - Studio!
After searching for 2 years, we have finally found the perfect home and studio. No more potting in the dining room, no more glaze splashes in the sink with the dishes. We are spreading our wings and are so thankful for these many blessings. We will be opening our doors in spring 2017 as a studio, gallery and teaching space for workshops. This 24' x 24' space of goodness will be my new haven, decorated in rustic elegance. Stay tuned for a new chapter in this journey...