š» In Memory of a Small Life: A Hamster and His Sunflower Seeds
Hello friendsš
Today, I want to share something especially tender ā a quiet story behind one of the most meaningful commissions Iāve ever had the honor to create. Itās not about a famous design, or a product launch. Itās about a little hamster named Morpheus, who loved sunflower seeds more than anything in the world ā and about the person who loved him even more.
šø Morpheus, the little soul with bright eyes and a curious spirit.
šļø One day, a message landed in my inbox.
A customer asked if I could make a custom pet urn, but not just any urn. She wanted it to feature not only her hamster's portrait, but also his favorite thing on earth: sunflower seeds.
Not just a sunflower seed. The whole idea ā the silliness, the joy, the character of Morpheus ā wrapped up in that small, simple request.
And my heart instantly said yes.
šø Morpheus loved to sit inside bowls and burrow in dried petals.
Every line I painted was slow and careful ā not out of perfectionism, but out of love. Because this wasnāt just a container. This was where a story would rest. A little life that brought someone joy. A little heartbeat that once belonged to a home.
šø The urn begins: hand-carving Morpheusās name and sketching his portrait.
āØ The final design shows Morpheus nestled between a corn cob and two sunflower seed pods under a gentle twilight sky. I added stars, as if the universe had made space for him too.
šø Painting the final colors ā starry sky, sunflower seeds, and Morpheus in full character.
Ā
This is the kind of work that reminds me why I do what I do. Ceramics may be hard and quiet, but the stories they carry ā theyāre alive. They hold our grief, our laughter, our small daily rituals. And sometimes, they even hold a hamsterās favorite snack.
š To Morpheus ā thank you for inspiring something so soft, and so real.
And to everyone who has ever loved a small animal, I see you.
Your memories matter. And they deserve to live in something made with hands, care, and heart.
With love,
ā from Utopia Life Studio
