User Manual; UDUMBARA planters.

UDUMBARA planters are made from wild clay from the small village of Kultela in Somero, Southwestern Finland. 

The material gives the products a wonderfully rich earthy character. By choosing this local raw material, Eva wants to emphasize the unique and ecological value of authentic/wild clay.  These flowerpots are also made using solar energy.

Wild clay planters are ideally suited for a plant's physiological needs. Part of their beauty is their tendency to beautify with age as they weather and absorb mineral salts from the soil. It's completely natural, porous, and has thermal properties that make it an asset to plants. The color of the planters will turn darker in use. The porous nature of clay also means you cannot easily overwater plants, the roots can breathe, and itself has excellent heat retention and repellent properties. All of this adds up to better plant care. 

Before planting anything new in a planter, you should pre-soak the pot. The porous nature of the clay tends to pull water from the soil. Soaking the pots in clean water overnight prevents this.

Photo courtesy of Michiko Erkola 

CLEANING UDUMBARA PLANTERS
It is easy to clean the planter, and it is all about keeping fungus and algae from growing.  The pores that naturally occur in the clay can harbor these and pass them on to the plants when you replant.  Empty the planter of all soil and residue, scrubbing and rinsing if needed. 

Baking the planters. 

Wild clay planters can be placed in an oven and baked up to 150 C (higher the heat slowly) about an hour. Do not remove the pots until they’ve cooled back down to room temperature as they will be sensitive to heat fluctuation. 

Cleaning wild clay planters with vinegar. 

Mix it at a (maximum) 1:10 ratio of white vinegar to water and cover the planters entirely into the water overnight. Let the pots dry in the open air for at least two days after cleaning.

If you don’t like the build up on the planters  (I love it! ),  you can try to remove it, mix baking and water into a paste and then scrub the crust. Fine steel wool can also be used.

To me, part of the beauty of the wild clay planter is their tendency to beautify with age as they weather and absorb mineral salts from the soil. 

Happy planting! 

Photo courtesy of Nina Skogster/Distylestudio

UDUMBARA Studio & Gallery (since 1994)

Earth-friendly pottery. Handmade ecological luxury; Tea Art, sculpture and flowerpots. Creating high-quality solar energy powered local/ wild clay ceramics. Ceramic artist Eva Spoof.

Available:
Kämp Garden, Helsinki
Allé Magasinet, Oslo
NID.ee Paris

We welcome visitors to our studio Helsinki, just make an appointment first
 at https://udumbara.youcanbook.me

Polttarit, Synttärit & Juhlat Udumbarassa studiossa.

Keramiikkapaja on hauska vaihtoehto juhlille. Udumbaran studiossa voi jokainen kokeilla onneaan dreijan äärellä. Kokenut keraamikko (Eva Spoof) ohjaajana pitää huolen, että kaikki onnistuvat ja tapahtumasta jää muistoksi oma itse muotoiltu kukkaruukku. 

Aikuiset ja lapset (vanhempien seurassa) ovat Udumbaraan tervetulleita. 

Studio sijaitsee Helsingin Kalliossa, keskeisellä paikalla Sauna Arlan vieressä ja  lähistöllä on monia hyviä muitakin jatkopaikkoja, ravintoloita sekä baareja. 

Lisätietoja ja tilaus: UDUMBARA juhlat
Täältä kalenterista voi tarkistaa koska on vapaita aikoja: UDUMBARA ajanvaraus:

Helsinki Day 2017: Painting Empty Bowls for Unicef

Empty Bowls Helsinki event is an annual HDW event that takes place at the atmospheric Crypt of the Helsinki Dome. The 2017 Empty Bowls Helsinki takes place on Saturday, September 16. Welcome: 

11 & 12 of June at  Helsinki Day celebrations we painted with new Helsinki residents 100 bowls blue and white (they are made from local Kultela clay) to celebrate 100-year-old independent Finland. 

The bowls will be donated for Empty Bowls Helsinki and also used in Helsinki Design weeks gala.

Here are some wonderful photos that Nelli Kivinen took of ready bowls for Unicef Helsinki. Thank you, Nelli. 

Here are some Facebook photos from the actual painting of the bowls at Udumbara in Helsinki Day 2017:

THE IITTALA & ARABIA DESIGN CENTRE , Master Class Workshop

Photo by wonderful Nelli Kivistö. 

The newest addition to Helsinki’s dynamic art and design scene – where you can take a deep dive into two of Finland’s best-known design and lifestyle brands, Iittala and Arabia.

More than a window into the history, present, and future of these legendary brands, the center invites guests to interact with working artists and explore their own creativity through exhibitions, workshops, guided tours, design talks, and events.

I am happy to announce, that among others I  too will give Master Class workshop there, the first ones will be in October and December:

MASTER CLASS WORKSHOP: EVA SPOOF

How to use Udumbara wildclay tea bowls.

UDUMBARA’s pieces are made from wild clay from the small village of Kultela in Somero, southwestern Finland. So, when you get UDUMBARA, you don't just get handmade pottery, you get a piece of Finland too. 

This natural material gives the products a wonderfully rich earthy character and thanks to the porous nature and rich iron and other mineral content of the clay, tea brewed in a wild clay bowl develops a richer flavor.

Udumbara wild clay bowls are made for use. You have to play with them and caress and rub them with your hands often. Wild clay, gains its shine from your touching and rubbing. A well "loved" wild clay bowl has a better glow than a less "loved" bowl.  

Photo courtesy of Nina Skogster

The light milky color, glazes will eventually develop fine crackles. As time passes, with use tea seeps in the crackles gives a patina that is prized and brings pleasure to tea connoisseurs. 

Never use soap or detergent on Udumbara wild clay bowls. Use it only for tea, it will absorb tea, as well as non-tea stuff.  Don't put your bowl near any funny smell, especially when they are wet. Use it only for tea.

After use, extract all tea leaves from your Udumbara bowl. Rinse it with hot water to wash away all tea inside. Wipe it with soft fabric to get rid of all water. Then leave the bowl in an airy place to dry.

Wine cooler workshop

Photo courtesy of Joanna Konarzewski

Wine cooler workshop  (in English)

# 1, Friday,  8th from5 to 9 pm and

#2, Saturday 30th of September 1 to 5 pm. 

How to keep the Chardonnay cool while waiting for friends to arrive?
 A terracotta wine cooler works nicely.  Make your terra-cotta Wine cooler from Finnish wild clay and you will keep your wine bottles chilled with your own personalized style. 

Come along and learn the pottery basics in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. At UDUMBARA you are submerged in a real pottery studio and learn how to handle local wild clay. In wine cooler workshop You will learn coiling and slap techniques. Whether you are a beginner or have worked with clay before, this class is the perfect place to get creative and make new friends.


General Class Information and registration: HERE. 

P.S. Udumbarassa osaamme myös suomea ja ruotsia. Kaikki on tervetulleita. 

Lantern workshop

,

Udumbara Wildclay pottery Kaarlenkatu 15, is in the cool Kallio "creative" district of Helsinki,
 next to Sauna Arla.  Photo by Kimmo Helsitö

Lantern workshop #2 (in English)
Thursday 28th of September from 5 PM to 9 PM, 2017

Brighten up your winter with your self-made tea-light lanterns.

To make it through the Nordic winter you need to add “Hygge” in your life.
"Hygge" means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. The warm glow of candlelight in a dark winter evening is “hygge" in essence.

Come along and learn the pottery basics in a relaxed and fun atmosphere. At UDUMBARA you are submerged in a real pottery studio and learn how to handle local wild clay. In lantern workshop, You will learn coiling and slap techniques. Whether you are a beginner or have worked with clay before, this class is the perfect place to get creative and make new friends.

Welcome to UDUMBARA. Registration: here

P.S. Udumbarassa osaamme myös suomea ja ruotsia, kaikki tervetulleita.

Lantern workshop #1

Registration:

Here is a link for one way of making a lantern: Amaco