CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE RECIPE WITHOUT SHORTENING

I made this piece for my friend's 6 year old daughter. I was having tea at their house one day with my kiddos, and she brought out this beat up picnic basket and her mom said maybe it was time to get rid of it. I immediately saw the potential in it and I asked her to let me make it into art. I asked her to give me a couple of the little girl's personal things to include in it. Among those are the pie bird, the "N" made from sticks, the gold star, and the glass bear.

Norah has been living in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, which is represented by the top part of this piece, and the Polaroid transfer I made of an image I took of a local ski mountain. She will soon be moving, which is why I used the fortune that says "The time is right to make new friends". The small birds are friends. The large bird, given to me to use, represents Norah and that she will soon fly. The middle of the piece features the "N" she made out of twigs and the fortune says "You are deeply attached to your family and to your home" in French (In Canada there are two official languages, French & English). The heart made out of sheet music represents Norah's family; her mother, father, sister, and herself are all musicians. The bottom of the piece represents where Norah will move to, the east coast of Canada. I included a Polaroid transfer I made of an image of a lighthouse. She is 6. This part contains her name because all people like to see their own name, and to make the already personal piece hers and hers alone. The fortune, "You stand in your own light, make it shine" is my way of saying not to worry about moving to a new place, you will be fine. The star pendant was given to me to use. Norah's favourite little friend, the bear, is holding a bird (as suggested by my 4 year old daughter) and since Norah is represented in this piece by a bird, he is actually holding and comforting her in this new place. The twigs represent nature in both places. And the buttons represent attachment to the past, the transition, and her future home. The red satin ribbons match the fabric that was already in the picnic basket but also work to attach the pieces and are the colour of love, which Norah is surrounded by in her life, no matter where she is. The wire is both a functional and decorative element. The beads add sparkle, something a little girl loves. The whole thing is in a picnic basket, which in this case is like a suitcase that Norah takes while traveling through her life.

Mixed Media Assemblage using Polaroid Transfer originals (images by me), vintage buttons, embroidery thread, satin ribbon, scrabble tiles, twigs, feather, wire, beads, charms, vintage sheet music, fortune cookie fortunes, pie bird, glass bear
Approx 6.5" x 18"
By Tiffany Teske
Not For Sale

This is a mama raccoon I caught exploring our back deck awhile ago. I followed her into the neighbour's yard but never did see her babies. I loved the guilty look she was giving me here.

Well, off I go to sell my work at another craft fair. I'll catch up with you all later!