Naming Ceramic Birds of Happiness
How I Name My Birds of Happiness – The Story Behind Each Name
The school year is slowly coming to an end, and with it arrives a special moment – the brightest day of the year. The solstice invites me to celebrate the light that conquers darkness. It’s precisely during these days that people often ask me how I name my Birds of Happiness.
That question always brings me joy because each Bird of Happiness carries a little story, and each story is unique. Today, I want to share with you the secrets behind the names of my handmade ceramic Birds of Happiness – unique figurines that come to life in my Croatian ceramics studio. These small, clay-shaped sculptures hold more than just aesthetic value; they are bridges between our inner needs and the outer world.
The Journey from Clay to Name
For me, the process of creating handmade ceramics begins with a lump of clay. My artistic ceramics go through a complex process of hand shaping, drying, firing at over a thousand degrees, glazing, firing again – and finally, naming. This naming is never accidental. It’s an act that completes the bird’s character and makes it a one-of-a-kind ceramic ornament.
Names Inspired by People Who’ve Crossed My Path
Sometimes I name the birds after people who have attended my pottery courses and workshops. (By the way, the next course starts on September 9, 2025, at 6:30 PM – sign yourself and someone you love up today!)
The Bird of Happiness Lucy was named after a wonderful young woman who helped me tremendously during the preparations for an important project in my studio. Her name means “light,” and she truly was a light for me through the administrative maze of that project. Thanks to her care, I had the time and space to create new ceramic pieces – and in gratitude, I named one Lucija.
Seynis and Ema were created during a personalized ceramics workshop. As the participants quickly mastered the shaping technique, two of my demo ceramic mugs transformed into little figurines and were named after them. Seynis has flown to its forever home, and Ema is still available in my online shop.
Special Days Deserve Special Names
The names of my Birds of Happiness aren’t only inspired by people. Sometimes, I name the birds after special days connected to the sun, moon, seasons, or holidays.
The solstice is coming – the longest day of the year, when I celebrate the victory of light over darkness. The Bird of Happiness Sol was named after the Latin word for Sun and carries the energy of the brightest day of the year. Summer brings a time when our souls open to new possibilities, and Sol becomes a perfect symbol of the transition from school obligations to the freedom of long summer days.
At this moment in the year, when nature reaches its peak, my Birds of Happiness named Sol gain a special spiritual dimension. They’re not just ceramic decorations – they’re carriers of light that we can take with us throughout the year.
Symbols and Meaning Embedded in Clay
Some Birds of Happiness are marked with special symbols and words. The bird named Peace bears the imprinted words joy, love, and peace, as well as symbols of the Bereginja energy. Inside her belly rest thin clay plates also marked with Bereginja symbols. Through the smoke and flame of raku firing, she became a bridge between ancient Slavic wisdom and the modern need for inner peace.
I create these personalized ceramic gifts as spiritual companions. They’re not ordinary souvenirs – they’re objects that carry intention and energy. Each Bird of Happiness becomes a talisman for its owner, a reminder of the values that truly matter in their life. Summer is the perfect time to meditate on those values as we prepare for autumn’s changes.
Colors That Whisper Names
Sometimes, inspiration for a name is hidden in the color of the glaze. The Bird of Happiness Viridian has delicate, hidden landscapes visible only when viewed from certain angles. You could say she reveals her beauty only to the attentive eye. She was named after the painter’s term for a deep green hue – viridian – which perfectly reflects the rich greens of late spring.
On the other hand, the Bird of Happiness Pinky honestly couldn’t have been named anything else, could she?
The Naming Process as Meditation
Some Birds of Happiness take more time before I discover their name. I watch them as they sit on the windowsill of my studio during these long summer days. I turn them in the light, look at them closely and from afar. I weigh them in my hand, carry them around the studio close to me, and wait until the name reveals itself.
Kozmo reminded me of the infinite universe. That name came to me naturally after a few days of stargazing under the summer sky. This naming process becomes a kind of meditative practice – where clay and spirit align.
Summer offers the perfect opportunity for moments like these. As nature turns toward its peak, I can also find my own inner peace through working with clay and creating objects that carry my energy.
Names That Arise Spontaneously
Sometimes, I invite fellow artists to help me name certain birds, and occasionally, spontaneous visitors give a figurine a name because it reminds them of someone or something.
The Bird of Happiness Lucky was named by a young man who came to my studio to pick out a ceramic gift for his girlfriend. Lucky was still in her early stages of creation, but she inspired him to literally exclaim, “Lucky!”
My Secret List of Names
Let me share a little secret – I keep a secret name list. It’s not a formal document but a collection of moments. Beautiful people appear in my life and tell me stories I never want to forget. I write down their names, and then wait for the right bird to appear – one that fits that name.
I wrote down the name Rein after a collector shared a story about her friend and her beloved pet bird named Rein. Just as the real Rein was precious to her owner, so this ceramic bird carries the same energy of connection.
Join the Story
If you have a desire or idea for naming a future Bird of Happiness, feel free to send me an email with your story. Who knows – maybe your name will end up on my secret list too.
Now’s the last chance to visit my studio before the summer break and choose a Bird of Happiness for yourself or someone you love. After summer, a new group of absolute beginners will start their journey into ceramics. Give someone you love the gift of a pottery course – it’s the kind of gift they’ll remember forever.