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!

When I was little I saw a film about Latgalian ceramics and still remember the scene with a little boy playing a svilpaunieks. 20 years later and now a potter, I saw the film again and recognised my teacher – the little boy with the whistle. Let the svilpaunieks also bring you pleasant surprises!

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.

This clay bird is not something to put on a shelf to collect dust on. You can play the whistle by covering and uncovering the holes and creating archaic melodies of 3-4 notes which will take you back to the olden days.