Teachers at the Studio
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Jaime Bliss, owner & artist
After working for 25 years as a social worker, I founded Bliss Pottery House in 2025. My career taught me the importance of human connection and validation—a basic human need that's vital for emotional health and well-being. When the pandemic hit, I found myself turning to art again. Pottery became my sanctuary, offering a tactile way to de-stress and find presence in the moment.
I've merged my two worlds of social work and pottery to build a community grounded in both creative expression and support. My approach to teaching is all about connecting with students and meeting them where they are. And, of course, a class with me is filled with lots of laughs and fun!
At Bliss Pottery House, you'll find a welcoming space where you can make art, build relationships, and find hope in a supportive community.
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Megan Smith, instructor & artist
Meg's worked in the art field for the last 25 years, after receiving a BFA from Alfred University. She worked at a bronze sculpture foundry and was a display artist with Anthropologie for 20 years. She is currently a floral designer with Barn Door Blooms.
Her focus has been on sculpture and mixed media, but she has always loved working with clay. She has taken pottery classes on and off since college and has recently dived more intently into ceramics, which has become a true passion.
Meg is inspired by the intrinsic beauty of handmade objects and organic forms. The process of learning how to create with clay is a wonderful journey and an experience she is excited to share with her students.
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Stephanie Haines, instructor & artist
Stephanie’s passion for ceramics began while studying sculpture at Montserrat College of Art in 2002 where she enjoyed exploring the contrast of organic and architectural forms. Her work since has turned towards functional ceramics with a focus on texture and pattern. Current works incorporate the use of bright colored underglaze carved and scratched away to create texture and depth. In this body of work the surface of the pots remain unglazed showcasing the raw beauty of the clay against the detailed botanical and nature inspired underglaze paintings.
Stephanie is the founder of the Connecticut Clay Guild and currently divides her time between her small studio in Manchester, Connecticut, teaching at several community studios in the surrounding area, and her responsibilities with the guild. Her approach to teaching focuses on understanding the individual needs of each of her students and how they learn. Within this model she believes in developing a strong technical foundation that honors the history of the craft while also helping students to push their creative boundaries.
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Gleidymar Rivera, instructor & artist
Gleidymar (Glay-dee-mar) is a ceramic artist based in central Connecticut. She makes functional work that blends modern forms with botanical imagery. Her journey with clay began during her undergraduate studies at Wheelock College, where she majored in Communications and Studio Arts. Since graduating, she has worked as a ceramics instructor and is excited to be sharing her skills with the students at Bliss Pottery House.
She enjoys exploring underglaze and surface application on both wheel thrown and handbuilt forms. Over time, her practice has developed into a way of exploring themes of home and heritage. Much of her inspiration comes from her Puerto Rican heritage, which she celebrates through pieces that are meant to be used, shared, and lived with.
