Stray saucers

Porcelain saucers get my sympathy at Flea Markets. They were once someone's precious possessions. Remainders for what a wonderful industry we had in Helsinki.  Arabia fine china. Before  WWII it was the largest porcelain factory in Europe. But like all the good Saga's, it too came to its end.  

RIP Arabia, made in Finland 1873-2016.

My mother was an Arabia factory guide. She loved her job.  I grew up visiting the factory, hearing so many stories from Arabia's history. I guess that's why I am a ceramist now.

In the early 2000s, me, Mom "Bigi", my sister Annika & her daughter Taika.

I  like to use stray saucers like the grannies use to use them...under the flowerpots. I love the miss match they make with my pots. Rustic wild clay terracotta pot, paring with elegant, delicate china.  

Photo courtesy of Nina Skogster. 

Old glass plates are perfect for round shapes

Photo courtesy of Nina Skogster.

Astialiisa in a great place to find good soucers under our pots!

the name

UDUMBARA the name.

The Udumbara flower, or “an auspicious flower from heaven” in Sanskrit.

The time I started the pottery (1994) and for many years I was a practicing Buddhist. 

UDUMBARA name comes from Buddhism, plainly it means no sorrow. The name is a memory for the quest to live an authentic life...finding the way for true self is not easy, not for anyone. 

Thich Nhat Hanh places the flower in the context of enlightenment. 

To see a fully awakened person, a Buddha, is so rare that it is like seeing an udumbara flower. In the Tu Hieu Monastery in Hue, there is a scroll which says: "The udumbara flower, although fallen from the stem, is still fragrant." Just as the fragrance of the udumbara flower cannot be destroyed, our capacity for enlightenment is always present. The Buddha taught that everyone is a Buddha, everyone is an udumbara flower.

Helsinki's Unicef is organizing "TYHJÄ KULHO 2016" Empty Bowls Brunch.

The 13th Empty Bowls event will be held on Saturday the 10th September, 2016 at 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the atmospheric Crypt of the Helsinki Dome. https://www.facebook.com/tyhjakulho/

Many volunteers attend: Kitchens, musicians, potters and  many others. If you're interested to take part,  all the information is at www.tyhjakulho.fi

Getting ready to do my contribution:

Since last year I have been donating  for them wildclay terracotta flowerpots instead of bowls.  I think they are more useful for many quest who have join us many times already...They have too many bowls already, but you can never have too many flowerpots! 

Empty Bowls Helsinki´s donations go to the Finnish UNICEF, which uses ithe money to build and renovate wells, water pipes, pumps and dry toilets, and to teach children in poor countries the basics of hygiene. Work is done in over 90 worst-off countries.