"the fortune teller"

This work begins with a vintage teacup and saucer.

A message is written in the cup using flower buds and petals of fragrant teas.  The same buds and petals are wrapped in silk and made into a tea pouch to which i attach a small hand made paper booklet which contains a customizable saying, poem or message.  

This work which was created as a birthday gift.  The petals form a message which is a fortune teller’s wish for happiness " A Magical Day Awaits You" .

The cup and saucer are placed in a translucent plastic version of the classic chinese food take-out container;  inside the container, real fortune cookies support the cup and saucer. 

The outside of the container is decorated with a hand painted and collaged image of a hollywood-style gypsy woman; her crystal ball is made of the tiniest glass beads in the world.

The booklet at the end of the silk tea pouch opens to a haiku  by the 17th century Haiku master, Basho,  and it reads...

"there is nothing you can see that is not a flower  

there is nothing you can see that is not the moon"