When I first came across Saara’s Instagram account @pieces_of_porcelain it instantly made me feel heiter. Her quirky yet clever ceramics each tell a story and make enjoying a hot drink a cheerful experience. I realised quickly that Saara was someone I wanted to get to know a little better and feature on my blog.

Please introduce yourself.

Hi, I'm Saara, a ceramist from Finland, living and working in Berlin, Kreuzberg.

When did you start making ceramics, and why?

I started ceramics in high school, where I attended my first two courses, and somehow got hooked. I liked how making ceramics made me feel at peace with myself.

So I applied to the University of Art and Design after my A-levels (Abitur equivalent) to study ceramics and glass art. That was in 2003.

After finishing my masters in 2010, I moved to Berlin and had a part-time job until the end of last year when I decided to change and be a fulltime ceramist.

What is your favorite piece of your collection, and why?

Oh, my favorite piece changes a lot. At the moment, I like the sprinkly cups because they always lift my mood but I also like building the big bottles, as I totally lose track of time when making them.

How many steps go into making your pieces? Can you briefly describe them to us?

This depends on the piece, of course. But for instance, a cup:

0. For each series I have to develop the concept and shape, once that is done I make a mold from plaster for producing the actual items

1. Mixing and meshing the slip, is a liquid mixture of porcelain and water

2. Pouring the slip into a cup mold and separate handle mold

3. After some minutes, the slip starts to dry on the plaster mold walls, which sucks out the water from the slip mixture. Then I pour out the slip and clean the rim.

4. After waiting until the slip walls in the mold are dry enough, I take out the rough cup from the mold and also remove and clean the handle.

5. Attaching the handle to the cup

6. Next day when everything is dry, cleaning the cup with a sponge

7. Bisque firing the cup at 900° Celsius

8. Sanding if needed to make everything smooth to the touch

9. Decorating, e.g., hand-painting the sprinkle pattern

10. Glazing the cup to make it waterproof and cleaning the bottom

11. Glaze firing (depending on the material used between 1170-1250° Celsius)

12. Sanding the bottom

How can people find you and your products?

I'm most active on Instagram @pieces_of_porcelain

I sell on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Piecesofporcelain

And in a few small shops:

RYOKO shop in Berlin, Friedelstrasse 11 12047 Berlin

LOKAL in Helsinki, Annankatu 9, 00120 Helsinki

What makes you feel heiter (cheerful)?

Besides going to my studio :)? Lavender lemonade and a good coffee

Words & image: Katharina Geissler-Evans, heiter magazine