Old Fashioned Potpourri

11″ x 14″ Mixed media on canvas

I’m so pleased how this collage turned out! There is a story, this one is about my mom!

Many years ago my mother started up a business called Potpourri Scentsations. She had an adorable little shop filled with home made gifts and she sold the ingredients to make potpourri, hundreds of different essential oils, flower petals, leaves, etc.. She and her partner were very successful for several years.

After she closed up the shop when my fathers health was declining, she gave me some of the supplies she no longer needed including some books. I still have her hand written notes and pages that are marked, she is a note maker!

Anyhow, I have always wanted to include pages from books in my collages but I have never been able to desecrate a book, it feels sacrilegious to me! But I did it. I justified the action by thinking nobody has opened this book in over 20 years, isn’t it better to give new life to one section of one page as opposed to it never being seen again? Of course!

While creating this painting/collage I thought back to all the fun times we had in the shop. I worked there on weekends and helped run classes on making potpourri and wreath making classes, it was just when my mom and I were rebuilding a troubled relationship during my teens, it was a good bonding experience.

In addition to the “Old Fashioned Potpourri” recipe, I’ve included some pressed leaves and flowers that my mom had pressed. I tried to make it look old and antique, while adding lots of bright colors. It’s hard to see, but I added some thread to symbolize the “common threads” or the intertwined interests that we share.

This is a special piece that I will keep for myself, but I would be honored to create something similar if there are any requests! 😊💕

26 replies to “Old Fashioned Potpourri”

  5. As I came to the end of your beautiful story I was thinking, you HAVE to keep this piece for yourself. And so came the relief when you confirmed it. It’s gorgeous and even more so because of the lovely meaning behind it. Do you plan to display it? Reading your story reminded me of a video I watched yesterday about how a makeup artist stays connected to her grandmother by decorating her home with her jewellery Here’s the video if you’re curious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6z2SII3nHc

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    1. Thank you so much, Gia! I have it displayed in my studio, it makes me smile every time I look at it! I just loved the video you shared!! That apartment is awesome, loved the gold cabinets, and yes, the way she displayed her Grandmothers jewelry is such a great sentiment! 🥰

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  9. Pingback: Old Fashioned Potpourri by Tiffany Arp-Daleo 😊 – © Felipe Adan Lerma – All Rights Reserved – Blogging at WordPress Since 2011 :)

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