I'm inspired by the well-known Latvian folk song: "Run little oriole, howler of hills, call me back home, the traveller of the world…" My svilpaunieks is this oriole flying in the world as a memory from Latvia!

My home and workshop is on top of a hill. Often we experience winds blowing from all four directions. So, naturally my svilpaunieks has a sleek shape with a slender neck so it can withstand the wind, fly and reach faraway lands.

Ancient Latvians used svilpaunieks in spring to shoo away the bad and call the good birds to help with the crop harvest in the autumn. Let the song of svilpaunieks blow away your worries and bring in luck and happiness not only in spring but in every day of your life!

God took clay and created human. Ancient Latvian in-between making clay pots created svilpaunieks - just to brighten up someone's day. And to this day we still do it. Is it a tradition? Certainly! But it's also a reminder not to forget to be happy while doing the important things!