The soup I cooked for my partner

When I started putting together the soup for my partner Mary Shannon Hicks, I wanted to send her a good mix of beads and findings.

I started with few yellow Jasper, an Agate oval and added couple of strands of fresh water pearls.
Along came multicolored glass beads and crystals.

And here is a small collection of pewter findings I added to the soup.

For the focal and clasp, I added a hand and a flower clasp. I am very curious to see how Mary will use them in her designs, specially the hand. I have been trying to use the hand in one of my designs for some time but haven't been able to finalize on one. Hoping Mary's design will help me refine my ideas too.
 

Mary found the soup beautiful and fun. Eagerly waiting to see her reveal on the party day.

8th Bead Soup Blog Party - My partner and the soup she sent

This year my partner for the Bead Soup Blog Party is Mary Shannon Hicks who is an excellent seed bead artist and loves to create beautiful designs.

I was totally thrilled to see the soup Mary sent and my first reaction was wow! she sent me such an elaborate soup! It included obsidian, lava rock, cinnabar, howlite, pearls, agate, vintage beads and so much more.

And look at the clasps, ear wires, findings and the lovely chain she sent.

And here is the best part of the soup. The sterling wire wrapped focal.

I am so touched that despite her recent eye surgery Mary took out time to create this special focal just for me. This is the first piece I am going to use in my designs.

Thanks to Lori Anderson for creating these parties despite her long going illness and connecting beaders and jewelry artists across the world one bead soup at a time.